🧩 SIM Cards in Japan – Complete Guide & Comparison
🔗 Related Guides
| Guide | Link |
|---|---|
| 👤 Plans for Tourists | Plans for Tourists |
| 🏠 Plans for Residents | Plans for Residents |
| 📶 Pocket Wi-Fi Rental | Pocket Wi-Fi |
| 📝 How to Register Your SIM | How to Register Your SIM |
📱 What Is a SIM Card in Japan?
A SIM card allows you to use mobile data, calls, and SMS in Japan.
This guide compares all major options for both tourists and residents, helping you choose the best plan based on your needs.
🏆 Best SIM Cards in Japan – Quick Comparison
| SIM Type | Best For | Price Range | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tourist SIM | Short-term travelers | ¥2,000–¥6,000 | Easy activation, prepaid | Limited validity |
| Resident SIM | Long-term users | ¥990–¥4,000/month | Stable, cheap | Requires ID |
| Unlimited SIM | Heavy users | ¥2,980–¥3,278 | Unlimited data | Speed may vary |
| eSIM | Instant activation | ¥450〜 | No physical card | Requires eSIM-supported phone |
🔥 Top SIM Providers in Japan
1️⃣ UQ mobile（安定性トップ）
- Very stable au回線
- Best for long-term residents
- Plans from ¥1,628/month
- Recommended for heavy data users
2️⃣ Y!mobile（バランス最強）
- Uses SoftBank network
- Good for families or people needing consistent speed
- Plans from ¥2,178/month
3️⃣ Rakuten Mobile（最強コスパ × 無制限）
- Unlimited data available
- Best for high data usage
- Simple pricing (volume-based)
4️⃣ LINEMO（最安クラス）
- From ¥990/month
- Uses SoftBank network
- Good for light-to-medium users
5️⃣ povo（0円スタートの新しい形）
- Base fee ¥0
- You add “toppings” for data
- Ideal for low usage or Wi-Fi users
6️⃣ IIJmio / mineo（格安・人気のMVNO）
- Cheapest SIM for moderate users
- More flexible data plans
- Speed varies depending on time of day
🧳 SIM Cards for Tourists
(自動的に別ページへ誘導できるように誘導リンクあとでつける)
Best options:
- Mobal
- Sakura Mobile
- Japan Wireless
- Airalo eSIM
Best for 1–30 days stays, easy activation.
🏠 SIM Cards for Residents
(これも「Plans for Residents」ページにリンク可能)
Recommended:
- UQ mobile
- Y!mobile
- LINEMO
- Rakuten
Residents need:
- Residence card
- Passport
- Credit card
📦 Where to Buy SIM Cards
✔ Airport (Narita, Haneda, Kansai)
Tourist SIMs available everywhere.
✔ Big electronics stores
Bic Camera, Yodobashi, Yamada Denki
✔ Online (最安＆最強におすすめ)
Ships to home, easy to set up.
🧭 How to Choose the Best SIM Card
Choose by category:
| Usage Style | Best SIM |
|---|---|
| Heavy data user | Rakuten / UQ |
| Light user | LINEMO / povo |
| Remote worker | UQ mobile |
| Budget user | IIJmio / mineo |
| Family | Y!mobile |
| Short-term traveler | eSIM / Tourist SIM |
🎯 Conclusion
Japan has many SIM options, but the best choice depends on:
- How long you stay
- Your data usage
- Whether you need unlimited data
- Budget vs stability
You can’t go wrong with:
UQ mobile, Y!mobile, LINEMO, or Rakuten Mobile.
🔗 Related Guides
| Guide | Link |
|---|---|
| 👤 Plans for Tourists | https://japanmobileguide.jp/wp-admin/post.php?post=17&action=edit |
| 🏠 Plans for Residents | https://japanmobileguide.jp/wp-admin/post.php?post=19&action=edit |
| 📶 Pocket Wi-Fi Rental | https://japanmobileguide.jp/wp-admin/post.php?post=15&action=edit |
| 📝 How to Register Your SIM | https://japanmobileguide.jp/wp-admin/post.php?post=21&action=edit |