Top Best and Affordable SIM Cards in Japan 2024 for Foreign Residents

For foreigners living in Japan, access to the Internet is essential in their daily lives. Therefore, many foreigners opt for affordable SIM card plans to use the Internet at a lower cost.

However, with the increasing availability of cheap SIM card plans, choosing the right mobile network package can be challenging, especially for foreigners who are not proficient in Japanese. If they sign a contract with an unsuitable SIM card, they may end up paying for unused features or incur fees when they want to cancel the contract.

Moreover, when foreigners residing in Japan need to communicate with public offices or banks in Japan during their temporary stays, they require an affordable SIM card with the ability to make calls, send SMS, and access data even when they are abroad. Therefore, selecting an affordable SIM card that can be used abroad is crucial.

In this article, we introduce two recommended plans from Rakuten Mobile and ahamo for foreign residents in Japan.

Overview of Rakuten Mobile and ahamo

Rakuten Mobile

Rakuten Mobile is a mobile service provided by the Rakuten Group. The biggest advantage of Rakuten Mobile is their unlimited data plan, priced at only 3,278 yen per month. Foreigners without home Wi-Fi can comfortably use the Internet without worrying about data usage limit.

ahamo

ahamo is a mobile service provided by NTT Docomo, one of Japan’s major telecommunications companies. ahamo attracts customers with its straightforward plans and the stable network of Docomo. Unlike Rakuten Mobile’s unlimited data plan, ahamo offers fast and stable Internet connectivity.

Detailed Comparison Between Rakuten Mobile and ahamo

Below is a comparison of Rakuten Mobile and ahamo based on five criteria.

Plan Types

Rakuten Mobile

Rakuten Mobile offers data plans with a variety of prices based on data consumption. For users who use less than 3GB per month, the cost is only 1,078 yen. The unlimited data plan applies for 20GB and above, priced at 3,278 yen per month, making it suitable for users without home Wi-Fi.

ahamo

ahamo provides two plans: 20GB per month for 2,970 yen and 100GB per month for 4,950 yen. Although there is no unlimited plan like Rakuten Mobile, ahamo stands out with the stable network of NTT Docomo, especially suitable for users who already have home Wi-Fi.

Data Transmission Speed

Source: minsoku.net (measured in 11/1/2024)

Rakuten Mobile

In general, Rakuten Mobile offers fast and stable data transfer speeds, but there can be variations depending on the location. In urban areas, you can access the Internet at high speeds, while in some rural or mountainous areas, the speed may be slower.

ahamo

ahamo uses NTT Docomo’s network, ensuring consistent and fast data transfer speeds nationwide. This makes ahamo a better choice for activities like streaming YouTube and Netflix in FHD quality, even while you are on the move.

Coverage Areas

Rakuten Mobile

Rakuten Mobile provides high-quality data services in urban areas but may not serve some rural and mountainous regions. However, Rakuten Mobile is deploying a new network system (Rakuten network) across Japan. Therefore, in the coming years, they may build a network that is on par with major providers like Docomo or Softbank.

ahamo

ahamo utilizes NTT Docomo’s extensive network, providing coverage nationwide. Its strength lies in offering stable communication services not only in urban areas but also in rural and mountainous regions. Additionally, Docomo strives to maintain stable communication services during disasters such as earthquakes and major storms.

Use Abroad

Rakuten Mobile

Rakuten Mobile allows users to use up to 2GB of data per month without the need for pre-setting or incurring additional fees when abroad. You can also make and receive phone calls or SMS, enabling you to stay connected with Japan while abroad, for example, during a trip or a visit.

When you need to make domestic bank transfers from abroad, such as receiving SMS authentication codes from Japanese banks, Rakuten Mobile can receive these messages. If you use up the 2GB data limit, you can purchase an additional fee about 500 yen for 1GB to continue using data.

ahamo

ahamo allows users to use up to 20GB of data per month abroad without pre-setting or incurring extra fees for international roaming. Compared to Rakuten Mobile’s 2GB limit, ahamo provides more data and faster access speeds, especially suitable for those who need high-speed internet access while abroad.

However, unlike Rakuten Mobile, international calls from Japan are not free with ahamo, which may be suitable for those who only require data usage. It’s worth noting that after 15 days of using data abroad, the access speed may decrease, so it’s important to keep this in mind if you plan to stay abroad for more than 2 weeks.

For foreigners visiting their home country, many already have local SIM cards, making ahamo unnecessary. ahamo’s international data service is most effective when traveling or working in other countries.

Payment Methods

Both Rakuten Mobile and ahamo accept three payment methods, including bank transfers through banks like Yucho Bank. This allows individuals such as interns or international students who do not own Japanese credit cards to make payments easily.

Affordable SIM Cards for Foreigners Living in Japan

Rakuten Mobile is recommended for foreigners living in Japan who fit the following criteria:

1. Those don’t have Internet or Wi-Fi at home.
2. Those looking to minimize communication costs.
3. Those in need of a means to stay connected with Japan while abroad.
4. Those requiring SMS verification while abroad.

ahamo is recommended for foreigners living in Japan who fit the following criteria:

1. Those who already have Internet or Wi-Fi at home.
2. Those in need of high-speed mobile network connectivity when outside.
3. Those who do not require communication with Japan while abroad.
4. Those who do not need SMS verification while abroad.

Rakuten Mobile is suitable for users who do not have Internet at home and need low-cost mobile data, or those who need frequent communication with Japan while abroad. On the other hand, ahamo is suitable for those having Wi-Fi at home and in need of stable, high-speed network connectivity when outside, or those who plan to use a large amount of data in a short period when abroad.

Summary

Rakuten Mobile and ahamo are both affordable SIM card options with different advantages. In Japan, there are various other telecommunications services available, but for foreigners living in Japan, Rakuten Mobile and ahamo are often the top choices.