Need to open a bank account? You need a Japanese phone number. Planning on renting an apartment? You need a Japanese phone number. Signing up for some Japanese services or purchasing concert tickets? Believe it or not, you need a Japanese phone number.

We highly recommend getting a Japanese phone number if you are moving to Japan for work, school, etc., and will live there for three months or more.

A common misconception is that, while messaging apps like LINE and WhatsApp are popular in Japan, some may think a Japanese phone number is unnecessary. However, having a Japanese phone number is essential for numerous things in Japan and can make life much harder without one.

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Are you planning to stay in Japan for over ninety days and wondering about your SIM card options?

You might be asking yourself:
• How can I get a monthly long-term SIM card contract in Japan?
• Can I get a phone number as a Visitor?
• Are there affordable alternatives to docomo, SoftBank, and au?

Keep reading to find your answers!

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Alongside docomo and au, SoftBank is considered one of the three big phone carriers in Japan.

Recently, more and more mobile virtual network operators (MVNO) are offering cheaper phone plans, but SoftBank continues to be one of the most popular in terms of market share and number of customers.

This article will explain the costs and services included in SoftBank’s mobile plans in more detail.

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UQ mobile is a mobile service provided by UQ Communications Inc. and is a subsidiary of one of Japan’s top three major mobile carriers, au.

Its best feature is that even though it is an MVNO (mobile virtual network operator), it uses au’s network so the network connection is stable and fast.

In this article, we have created an English guide for UQ mobile.
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“I am interested in au’s Mobile Plans and have read the homepage but it is too difficult to understand…”

This might be what you’re thinking.

In this article, we are going to explain the plans that au provides in a simple and easy-to-understand way (the unlimited data plan and the small data plan).

After reading this article, you will understand the cost, network speed, coverage, and other things you should know before registering for an au cellphone plan.

Read ahead!

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Are you interested in Rakuten Mobile plans (or Rakuten SIM card plans)?

Offering affordable monthly plans that include unlimited data, Rakuten Mobile is a popular cellphone service in Japan.

Outside of Rakuten’s service area, the WiFi connection will change to au and then you can only use monthly 5GB of data. There also is no guarantee that all the operations on your phone will be able to work.

In this article, we will be providing all the information you need to know about Rakuten Mobile plans.

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In this article, we will introduce 10 of the smartphones we recommend among the phones currently available for purchase from SoftBank.

SoftBank is one of the 3 largest mobile carriers in Japan, and they offer a wide variety of phones and phone plans.

However, with the sheer amount of different models, it’s hard to know what to choose.
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Are you interested in picking up a new phone? Wondering what devices will be right for you?

In this article, we will recommend 10 devices among the smartphones available from docomo.

This article also introduces docomo plans and instructions on how to buy a phone from them. Their official website has little information in English, so there may be many people who want some guidance.
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Choosing the right prepaid SIM is essential if you’re heading to Japan and plan to use your smartphone while traveling. A reliable data connection ensures you can navigate Japan’s busy cities, access translation apps, stay in touch, and share your experiences online. But with so many options available, how do you decide between a limited or unlimited data plan?

Let’s break down the pros and cons of each plan to help you figure out which one best suits your needs during your time in Japan.
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