If you are planning a trip to Japan or preparing for a longer stay, one of the first things you will need is a reliable mobile connection. Whether it is for navigating the city 🗺️, translating signs, or staying in touch with friends and colleagues, having access to mobile data is essential 📶.
This article will help you cut through the confusion. We will explain the different types of SIM cards available, where to buy them and what documents you will need ✅.
What Kind of SIM Card Should You Get?
Different SIM cards offer different features, so it’s important to understand what works best for your situation!
- Prepaid SIM Card: Perfect for short-term stays (under 6 months), usually data-only.
- Contract SIM Card: For long-term residents with a residence card. These can include phone calls and more data but require more paperwork and sometimes a Japanese bank account.
- eSIM: If your phone supports it, you can buy an eSIM online and activate it instantly without a physical card.
Where to Buy a SIM Card?
Once you’ve decided which SIM card is right for you, the next step is knowing where to buy it.
- Airports
- Electronics Stores: Bic Camera, Yodobashi Camera, or Yamada Denki.
- Mobile Carrier Shops: Docomo and Softbank stores but usually require longer contracts and a residence card.
- Convenience Stores: Some 7-Eleven or Lawson stores but the options are limited
- Online
What You Need to Buy a SIM Card?
Depending on the type of SIM card and where you buy it, certain documents or requirements may apply.
- Your passport (required for ID)
- Your residence card (for long-term contracts)
- An unlocked phone (SIM-free) that works in Japan
- A Japanese address
- A Japanese phone number (sometimes required for contract SIMs)
- Payment in cash or credit card
Japanese Vocabulary for Buying a SIM Card
To avoid confusion and get exactly what you need, here’s a quick list of Japanese terms commonly used when buying SIM cards.
| Japanese (日本語) | Romaji | English |
| SIMカード | SIM kādo | SIM card |
| プリペイドSIM | Puripeido SIM | Prepaid SIM |
| データ専用SIM | Dēta sen’yō SIM | Data-only SIM |
| 音声通話SIM | Onsei tsūwa SIM | Voice + data SIM |
| 容量 | Yōryō | Data capacity |
| 有効期限 | Yūkō kigen | Validity period |
| 料金 | Ryōkin | Fee / Price |
| 設定 | Settei | Setup / Configuration |
| 本人確認 | Hon’nin kakunin | Identity verification |
| パスポート | Pasupōto | Passport |
| 在留カード | Zairyū kādo | Residence card |
| SIMフリー | SIM furī | Unlocked phone |
| 電話番号 | Denwa bangō | Phone number |
| 日本の住所 | Nihon no jūsho | Japanese address |
| 購入 | Kōnyū | Purchase |
