Japanese Mobile Phone Carriers and Budget SIM Cards: 2024 Guide

Major Mobile Phone Carriers in Japan

The three mobile phone carriers we will be featuring account for the majority of smartphone users in Japan. The shops you often see in the city are mostly those of these three companies.

Each of these companies offers high-quality call and data services, along with robust customer support in their shops, making them recommended for those who prioritize quality.

1. NTT Docomo

Picture courtesy of PR TIMES
NTT Docomo boasts the largest share of smartphone users in Japan. They are known for their stable and consistent speeds. Due to their expansive cellular coverage, you'll stay connected in most parts of the country.

Additionally, Docomo offers a point program called d Point (Japanese). You can earn and use points through your phone bill and make purchases at affiliated stores.

NTT Docomo
Official Website	https://www.nttdocomo.co.jp/english/
In-store Support	https://www.nttdocomo.co.jp/english/support/inquiry/
Store Locations	https://www.nttdocomo.co.jp/english/support/shop/
Coverage Area Map	https://www.nttdocomo.co.jp/english/area/

2. au

Picture courtesy of PR TIMES
The second-largest phone carrier in Japan is au. Their commercial series, “Santaro,” which features heroes from Japanese folklore, is popular overseas, too.

Au has a wide variety of phone plans and, similar to Docomo, its cellular coverage is extensive.

au
Official Website	https://www.au.com/english/?bid=we-we-gn-1009
In-store Support	https://www.au.com/english/support/aushop-service/
Store Locations	https://www.au.com/english/storelocator_multilanguage/?aa_bid=we-we-egn-1003
Coverage Area Map	https://www.au.com/mobile/area/ (Japanese)

3. SoftBank

Picture courtesy of PR TIMES
SoftBank is known for its commercials featuring a cute white dog. In addition to selling mobile phones and cellular plans, SoftBank also owns the Fukuoka Hawks, a professional baseball team in Japan.

Yahoo! Japan is part of the SoftBank group, so SoftBank users can earn benefits for Yahoo! premium members (Japanese) when shopping and traveling (some plans are not eligible).

SoftBank
Official Website	https://www.softbank.jp/en/
In-store Support	https://www.softbank.jp/en/shop/
Store Locations	https://www.softbank.jp/en/mobile/shop/
Coverage Area Map	https://www.softbank.jp/en/mobile/network/

Important Points

While none of these carriers will encounter any issues in cities, some are more suitable for rural areas than others. Make sure to check the coverage map before choosing a carrier.

Since Japan has three major mobile carriers, the stores may be busy. Prepare your passport, Japanese cash card, and residence card in advance to ensure a smooth registration process.

Budget Smartphone Service in Japan

In exchange for reliable speeds and extensive support, a phone contract with one of the three major carriers may cost up to 10,000 yen per month. If you're looking to save money, we recommend checking out one of the budget smartphones and SIM options. The basic plans start from around 2,000 yen/month.

The table below shows the basic monthly fees of each service along with the data limit and the charges for phone calls in Japan. Some of these services might have special benefit campaigns so please check each official website for details.

Company	Monthly fee	Data limit	Domestic calls
1. GTN MOBILE	1,200 yen	3 GB	22 yen/30 seconds
2. Rakuten Mobile	1,078 yen	0-3 GB	No limit
3. LINEMO	2,728 yen	20 GB	22 yen/30 seconds
4. ahamo	2,970 yen	20 GB	22 yen/30 seconds
5. HIS Mobile	290 yen〜	1〜50 GB	9 yen/30 seconds
6. Y!mobile	2,365 yen	4 GB	22 yen/30 seconds
7. UQ Mobile	2,365 yen	4 GB	22 yen/30 seconds
8. povo	Basic fee 0 yen	Option system	22 yen/30 seconds
9. IIJmio	850 yen ~	2 GB〜	11 yen/30 seconds

*The fees do not include the initial costs.

1. GTN Mobile

Picture courtesy of GTN MOBILE
GTN MOBILE is a specialized service for international residents that offers support in multiple languages. All you need to apply is a Certificate of Residence or a student ID card which makes it a very convenient service.

A popular plan is the Eazy Sim which is a great deal with basic monthly fees. You can choose from four plans based on data usage that range from 3GB to 50GB. The fact that you aren’t tied down by a contract period is another plus. The service is suited for those on a one-year study abroad or working holiday, or even a short-term stay in Japan.

Eazy Sim
From 3 GB	1,200 yen per month
Domestic calls	22 yen/30 seconds

With GTN Mobile, you can pay your monthly bills at a convenience store. You do not need a Japanese bank account or credit card. Of course, you can also pay with a bank account or credit card.

GTN Mobile
Official Website	https://gtn-mobile.com/en/

2. Rakuten Mobile

Picture courtesy of Rakuten Mobile

Rakuten Mobile, operated by the e-commerce company Rakuten, is a newcomer to the carrier business having started in 2018. 

By using the Rakuten Link app, you can make free calls to other Rakuten Mobile users as well as to users of other carriers and to landlines.

Rakuten SAIKYO Plan
Unlimited data	3,278 yen per month
Domestic calls	Unlimited (see *1)

*1: For unlimited calls using the Rakuten Link app.

Fees are determined based on your monthly data usage. It costs 1,078 yen for up to 3 GB of data usage, helping you to avoid unnecessary expenses.

Rakuten Mobile
Official Website	https://network.mobile.rakuten.co.jp/

3. LINEMO

Picture courtesy of PRTIME

You can register for LINEMO online. With simple menu options, the registration process is easy to understand. Users can choose to use cellular lines from Softbank, Docomo, and au.

Example of payment plan
20 GB	2,728 yen per month
Domestic calls	22 yen/30 seconds

We highly recommend this plan to LINE users as it enables you to use LINE without spending your data limit.

LINEMO
Official Website	https://www.linemo.jp/

4. ahamo

Picture courtesy of ahamo
ahamo can be easily applied for online! The payment plans and option services are very easy to check and use.

Example of payment plan
20 GB	2,970 yen per month
Domestic calls	5 minutes free, afterwards it's 22 yen/30 seconds

If you often use the internet from your phone, this service might be ideal for you.

ahamo
Official Website	https://ahamo.com/

5. HIS Mobile

HIS Mobile is a phone service offered by Japan's major travel agency, H.I.S. They offer both budget domestic SIM cards and international SIMs.

Example of Free 290 Plan
up to 100 MB	290 yen per month
Domestic calls	9 yen/30 seconds

If you use your internet connection only occasionally, you'll pay only 290 yen/month for up to 100 MB. There are plans for up to 3 GB of data (770 yen) or up to 7 GB of data (990 yen), so we highly recommend this plan to those who seldom use the internet on their phone.

HIS Mobile
Official Website	https://his-mobile.com/

6. Y!mobile

Picture courtesy of PR TIMES
To purchase a SIM card from Y!mobile, you can visit one of their stores or select Softbank stores.

While most budget SIMs use data lines from the major carriers, Y!mobile directly uses Softbank's line, which is its parent company. This enables Y!mobile to offer more reliable connections.

Example of Simple 2S plan
4 GB	2,365 yen per month
Domestic calls	22 yen/30 seconds

For any new registration, or for applying for this service in combination with SoftBank Hikari or SoftBank Air, you'll benefit from a discount!

Y!mobile
Official Website	https://www.ymobile.jp/

7. UQ Mobile

Picture courtesy of PR TIMES
UQ Mobile reportedly has the fastest data speeds despite being a budget mobile phone service provider. They offer ways to save money, such as a data saver mode that allows you to use social media without consuming your data.

Mini Mini Plan
4 GB	2,365 yen per month
Domestic calls	22 yen/30 seconds

UQ mobile
Official Website	https://www.uqwimax.jp/

8. povo

Picture courtesy of PR TIMES
Povo is the name of a plan offered by au that can be applied for only online. The greatest feature of Povo us that the base fee is 0 yen! The fee system is very flexible, allowing you to customize your plan by choosing "toppings" that are priced based on your data usage and expiration date of the offer.

Example of payment plan
Fee	0 yen (base fee) + Toppings (1 GB, 7 days for 390 yen~)
Domestic calls	22 yen/30 seconds

There are a rich variety of toppings available, including offers such as 1 GB (7 days) for 390 yen, 20 GB (30 days) for 2,700 yen, and more.

povo
Official Website	https://povo.jp/

9. IIJmio

IIJmio is an older mobile service provider compared to other companies, having begun offering its services in 2012. They offer low-price plans that are popular among many international students. Their main feature is the flexibility of their plans, allowing users to choose from 2 GB to 50 GB of data.

Monthly Plan
2 GB	850 yen per month
Domestic calls	11 yen/30 seconds

Call rates are cheaper compared to other companies, and they also offer an abundance of options. This service is especially suited for users who primarily use their phone for calls.

IIJmio
Official Website	https://www.iijmio.jp/

Find the Best Mobile Phone Plan in Japan

Both major carriers and budget SIMs have their pros and cons. Consider your priorities to find the right mobile carrier and plan for you. After securing a smartphone plan, you will have an easier time applying for jobs and filling out necessary registration forms.

Main image courtesy of Pixta