Getting a mobile phone number in Japan

Major network operators (click here to see details)

The major network operators are the companies that own their own network infrastructure to provide their customers with network services. There are currently four companies known as major network operators in Japan(as of June 2021). The communication quality and speed are stable and fast compared to the other service providers' services. The monthly cost is relatively higher compared to the others. All of them, except Rakuten UN-LIMIT, have physical shops all across the country to sell their services as well as to help their customers in person. Generally, they sell SIM cards along with the latest mobile phone models, but you can also make a contract only for sim cards*. 

^{*In case you just want to get a sim card from them and use it on the phone you brought from overseas, the service provider must confirm that the phone you brought from overseas conforms to the technical regulations specified in the Radio Law by checking if there's a  "Technical Conformity Mark" on the phone. If they confirm that the phone has the mark, you can opt to make a contract just for a sim card and use it on the phone. If the phone doesn't have the mark, you are required to purchase a phone from them along with a sim card.}

List of the major network operators

• au by KDDI

• NTT docomo

• softbank

• Rakuten UN-LIMITED

Sub-brand services provided by the major network operators (click here to see details)

Sub-brand services provided by the major network operators refer to the simpler and cheaper services that are provided by the major network operators using their own network infrastructure. The cost for these services is relatively cheaper than their regular service plans. Most of them require online registration for their services. UQ mobile and Y!mobile have physical shops to sell their services as well as to help their customers. Communication quality is said to be more stable than the services provided by the MVNOs.

List of sub-brand services (major network operator providing the service in brackets)

• LINEMO (softbank)

• povo (au by KDDI)

• ahamo (NTT docomo)

• UQ mobile (au by KDDI)

• Y!mobile (softbank)

Mobal (Foreign company offering Japanese mobile phone numbers)

Mobal is a foreign company that provides Japanese mobile phone numbers provided by Softbank. This company's SIM card can be picked up at the Naha Airport or delivered to your home by international shipping before coming to Japan. Usually, applying for a Japanese SIM card requires a residence card with a permanent address. However, this company's SIM card can be acquired only with a passport. It is one of the solutions for having a Japanese SIM card before you settle in at a permanent address.

what Mobal can provide

• The required document: only Passport

• How to pay: credit/debit card or cash **Initial cost needs to be paid by credit/debit card

• Application can be online

• How to obtain a SIM card: Pick-up at Naha airport or have it shipped to your house **It can be delivered to your house by international shipping before coming to Japan.

• Termination: The termination can be done through the Mobal account online.

Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) (click here to see details)

Mobile Virtual Network Operators are the network operators which rent network infrastructure from the major network operators to provide their customers with their services. The communication quality and speed are not as stable or fast as those of the major network operators because they only have a limited number of band channels allocated for them to use. The communication speed is said to decrease during the daytime or morning rush hours. The monthly cost is relatively cheaper compared to the major network operators. One of the advantages of subscribing for their services is that one can opt to buy just a sim card while the major network operators require the subscribers to purchase phones from them when subscribing to their services. If you have brought a phone device with you to Japan, it will be better just to buy a sim card from one of the MVNOs. One can also opt to buy a phone from some of the MVNOs as some of them sell smartphones for a reasonable price.

List of some MVNOs

Services provided by the major network operators

Sub-brand services

• LINEMO

• PlanA: 990JPY/month for 3GB data allowance per month
• PlanB: 2,728JPY/month for 20GB data allowance per month

You choose one of the above plans, then choose a call option from below:

• Call option1 (0JPY/month): pay-as-you-go ^(44JPY/min)
• Call option2 (550JPY/month): 5-minute unlimited calls^*
• Call option3 (1,650JPY/month): unlimited calls

✓ Monthly bills can be withdrawn directly from a Japanese bank account or a credit card

^{*each call must be within 5 minutes - 44JPY/min will be applied if a call exceeds 5 minutes}

• ahamo

• PlanA: 2,970JPY/month for 20GB data allowance per month
• PlanB: 4,950JPY/month for 100GB data allowance per month

You choose one of the above plans, then choose a call option from below:

• Call option1 (0JPY/month): 5-minute unlimited calls^{* (already included in the above plans)}
• Call option2 (1,100JPY/month): unlimited calls

✓Monthly bills can be withdrawn directly from a Japanese bank account or a credit card

✓Data communication overseas is available up to 20GB or 15 days, whichever comes first

^{*each call must be within 5 minutes - 44JPY/min will be applied if a call exceeds 5 minutes}

• povo

You can get a tailor-made plan based on your needs:

Data plans:

• 24-hour unlimited data allowance: 330JPY
• 1GB data allowance for 7 days: 390JPY
• 3GB data allowance for 30 days: 990JPY
• 20 GB data allowance for 30 days: 2,700JPY
• 60GB data allowance for 90 days: 6,490JPY
• 150GB data allowance for 180 days: 12,980JPY

Call plans:

• Pay-as-you-go^(44JPY/min)
• 5-minute unlimited calls^*: 550JPY/month
• Unlimited calls: 1,650JPY/month

✓ Monthly bills can be withdrawn from a credit card (direct-debit from a bank account NOT available)

✓ If no plans are selected for 180 days, the contract might be terminated.

^{*each call must be within 5 minutes - 44JPY/min will be applied if a call exceeds 5 minutes}

• UQ mobile

Their plans change constantly - Please ask the shop staff

Their nearest shop is located in Ishikawa, Uruma city(location)

An appointment with them can be made through the Resource Center

• Y!mobile

Available data plans:

• Simple 2 S plan (4GB/month): 2,365JPY
• Simple 2 M plan (20GB/month): 4,015JPY
• Simple 2 L plan (30GB/month): 5,115JPY

On top of the above plans, you need to choose a call option from below:

• Call option1: 0JPY/month - pay-as-you-go^(44JPY/min)
• Call option2: 880JPY/month - 10-minute unlimited calls*
• Call option3: 1,980JPY/month - unlimited calls

^{*each call must be within 10 minutes - 44JPY/min will be applied if a call exceeds 10 minutes}

MVNO services