Landing in Tokyo without a working phone feels stressful — maps, messages, your bank app and almost every appointment seem to need data. The good news: getting connected is very doable, and you have more choices than the airport counter in front of you. This guide walks through the main routes so you can pick what fits your stay, your budget, and how settled you already are.
Your main options
- Big carriers (大手キャリア) — Docomo, au (KDDI), SoftBank and Rakuten Mobile. The most shops, the widest coverage, plenty of in-store help, and bundles with a new handset. Usually the priciest route and often a longer commitment.
- Budget MVNOs / 格安SIM — smaller brands (e.g. IIJmio, mineo, and foreigner-friendly names like Sakura Mobile, Mobal or GTN Mobile) that rent capacity from the big networks. Much cheaper monthly, mostly SIM-only (bring your own unlocked phone), and many are month-to-month with easy cancellation. English support varies, so check before signing.
- eSIM — a digital SIM you activate by scanning a QR code, no physical card. Great if your phone supports it: you can often be online within minutes of landing. Tourist/data-only eSIMs usually just need a payment method and email; a resident eSIM with a Japanese number still needs ID like any contract.
- Prepaid SIM — pay upfront for a set amount of data over a set number of days, with no ongoing contract. Sold at airport counters, big electronics stores (Bic Camera, Yodobashi) and some convenience stores. Perfect as a bridge for your first week or two while you set up something longer-term.
How to get connected
- 1Decide your timeframe. Here for a few days or just arriving? A prepaid SIM or eSIM gets you online immediately. Settling in long-term? A carrier or MVNO plan with a Japanese number is usually better value.
- 2Check your phone is unlocked. A SIM bought in Japan only works in an unlocked handset — confirm this with your home carrier before you fly. For eSIM, also confirm your device model supports it.
- 3Gather your ID. For any contract with a Japanese phone number you'll generally need photo ID and your residence card (在留カード) and/or passport. The exact documents accepted vary by provider, so check the provider's page first.
- 4Pick a plan that matches your data use. Light user (messaging, maps)? A small monthly allowance is plenty. Streaming and tethering? Look at larger or unlimited plans.
- 5Sign up — in store, or online for many MVNOs. Then insert the SIM or scan the eSIM QR code and follow the activation steps the provider gives you.
The single most important caveat: requirements and the documents accepted differ from one provider to the next, and Japanese law requires identity verification (本人確認) for any phone-number contract. Don't assume what worked for a friend applies to you — always check YOUR chosen provider's own requirements before you go. And remember a Japan SIM only works in an unlocked phone.
Mistakes newcomers make
- Locking into the priciest carrier plan at the airport on day one, before comparing cheaper MVNO options.
- Bringing a phone that's still locked to a foreign carrier — the SIM physically won't work.
- Assuming a tourist data-only eSIM gives you a Japanese phone number. It usually doesn't — you get data, not calls or SMS from a Japanese number.
- Not checking the cancellation rules. Some contracts are month-to-month; others have a minimum term or a cancellation fee.
- Underestimating data needs — maps, translation and video calls add up fast in your first weeks.
- Do I need a residence card to get a SIM?
- For a contract with a Japanese phone number, you generally need ID such as your residence card and/or passport — identity verification is required by law. Tourist data-only SIMs and eSIMs usually need only a payment method and email. Requirements vary by provider, so check the provider's own page.
- Contract or prepaid — which should I pick?
- Prepaid (or a data eSIM) is ideal for your first days and short stays: no commitment, online fast. A contract plan from a carrier or MVNO usually gives better value and a real Japanese number once you're settling in. Many newcomers start prepaid, then switch.
- Can I get online the moment I land?
- Yes. You can buy a prepaid SIM or rent pocket Wi-Fi at major airport counters, or activate a data eSIM before or right after you arrive. Free Wi-Fi at the airport lets you set up an eSIM on the spot.
