Updated on March 21,2024

Cell phones are a modern necessity wherever you are, but no more so than if you are a student looking to make the most of your stay in a foreign country like Japan. Whether you are trying to navigate through streets labeled with kanji characters, arranging to meet friends at an izakaya Japanese bar, or sending the latest Mount Fuji pics to your family, it’s nice to know that the people you love and the places you want to go are just a touchscreen-tap or phone call away. Fortunately, there are plenty of Japanese cell phone plans for both short and long-term students. Before going to study in the Land of the Rising Sun, take a look at some of the options and decide which one is right for you.

Here are our options for:

• Short-term students (less than 3 months)
• Long-term students (more than 3 months)

Japanese Cell Phone Plans: Short-term vs. Long-term

Short term Students

Phone Rental

If you need a local number during your stay, then you can rent a phone from a variety of outlets, both online and in a variety of stores. While convenient, this option comes with a number of caveats.

• Buying online: Need to know the shipping address or pickup location. (Shipping may be difficult if you are moving to a new country.)
• A deposit may be necessary.
• Device choices may be limited. (Older models, low-spec models, etc.)
• Additional charges may be required and may not be initially listed.

These are some of the things to consider when thinking about renting a cell phone in Japan.

SIM Cards

Of course, not all Japanese cell phone plans even require an actual phone! A cheaper alternative to cell phone rental is to use your current phone as an IP phone, making and receiving calls through internet services like Skype and LINE. You can do this by getting a SIM Card or an eSIM from Sakura Mobile. This lets you keep your current phone while enjoying the benefits of the super-fast Japanese mobile internet. Check with your provider to see if your handset is unlocked first before you fly, of course! The only downside of renting a prepaid SIM Card in Japan is that you will not have a local telephone number, but don’t worry: A temporary number can be bought through services like Skype and LINE and will last a year.

Long term Students

Prepaid Phones

For those who wish to stay longer, it’s still possible in a few places to get a cell phone in Japan that is purchased along with a credit balance and can be used to make calls and send messages. These phones will have a local telephone number, but that aside, offer very few advantages over other options. The phones are usually older and tend to be aimed towards those who use their phones for calls and nothing else. Premium call pricing also means they are not the most economical option, and topping them up often requires visiting a physical store to buy credit.

Any cellphone in Japan will be domestically marketed, meaning that all the paperwork will be in Japanese, as are all bills and customer support. If you run into problems, you will more than likely end up visiting a store to resolve any issues.

Finally, due to the basic nature of these phones you might find yourself carrying around two devices in order to access the internet. With smaller screens and older technology, even if you can access the internet it may well be too cumbersome to bother with, depending on how patient you are. This is not to mention the cost of data, which combined with voice and messaging is more expensive than other options.

Contract Requirements

Before March 31^st, 2022, many phone carriers in Japan required users to sign a two-year contract when applying for cell phone plans. Users were charged with a cancellation fee when ending the contract in less than two years. But after a new regulation made by the Japanese government, most of the two year contract systems have been abolished (as of January 2024).

However, some phone carriers may have requirements when signing a contract, such as a minimum length of a contract period for long-term users. Although it is now easy for users to change phone carriers, you should check your contract before canceling/applying!

Also, be aware that paying in monthly installments means you won’t be able to terminate your contract until all the installments are paid. If it’s possible to terminate the contract early, be sure to check the payment period. (Terminating the contract early may be possible, but you will need to pay for the remaining payments all at once.)

Get a SIM Card

Because a monthly SIM Card plan allows you to buy data on a month-by-month basis and ensures you are not bound to a lengthy and unwieldy contract, it may provide a more flexible option than some other Japanese cell phone plans. You can keep using your current (unlocked) phone and choose the contract that best suits you. You can even have a local Japanese phone number for use throughout your stay with some plans. This makes small inconveniences like buying things online and signing up for services easier as your phone number will be readily accepted by Japanese retailers and utilities.

Regardless of how long you study in Japan, Sakura Mobile is a popular option among students. Not only are the SIM Card plans affordable, you can easily manage your plan from delivery to return all online, with 24-hour support available in English and Japanese should there be any need for help along the way.

For the best SIM cards for long-term stays in Japan, be sure to check out the following article!
8 Best SIM Cards for Long-Term Stays in Japan

Furthermore, Sakura Mobile also provides eSIM, which is short for “Embedded SIM”. If you want to avoid the hassle of picking up and changing your SIM cards, eSIM is a convenient choice. 

If you are a long-term student looking for a Voice + Data SIM Card plan, Sakura Mobile is the best choice for several reasons.

Japanese Cell Phone Plans Don’t Have to be a Hassle

If you’re coming to Japan as a student, staying connected to your school, friends, and internship company is essential. There are many reasons to rethink waiting to get a new phone until you arrive in Japan, from the expensive and inflexible options of prepaid and rental phones, to the burdensome and lengthy contracts of the commonly available two-year plans provided by Docomo and SoftBank. The Sakura Mobile Data SIM Card for short-term students and Voice + Data SIM Card for long-term students are ideal choices for starting your education in Japan off the right way!

If for some reason you do not want to get a SIM card, Sakura Mobile offers Pocket WiFi rental services that are great if you are bringing devices that are not compatible with SIM cards, like laptops and eReaders and need a mobile hotspot without tethering your phone. In addition, long-term students are also catered to with a variety of monthly plans.

With all these choices, Sakura Mobile is sure to keep you connected the way you want.

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