Softbank sim card japan People visiting Japan multiple times a year!(want to use same telephone number). How likely would you be to recommend finder to a friend or colleague?. of their products or services. We may also receive compensation if you click on. As you can see from the above, there is lots of fine print with each of these Japanese SIM card plans. Things to look out for are daily maximum usage limits, connectivity speeds, payment methods (as noted, all accept Japanese credit card, some also accept direct debit from Japanese bank accounts) and age restrictions (some are restricted to 20 or over, while others are fine as long as you have a credit card). If you're in to using Data more than Voice(as apps like Skype, LINE, Viber), and especially if you're into using with your tablet for video, like Youtube, etc. You'll want to be aware of this: Most of these SIM companies will throttle your data speeds down to about 200kbps after you go over 366MB data use within 3 days. If your device doesn't support all the bands (Shuhasu) of the underlying network (Like Docomo or Softbank), then you'll won't get very fast speeds. Make sure your device can support (I'd say) at least 2 of the bands) Next is, since you're not a primary customer of the network provider (i.e. you're not a contracted customer with Docomo), you won't get preferential data speeds. (during peak times etc, you'll definitely notice a difference). My contracted Docomo phone vs. my other device using one of these SIM providers on the same network has proven that to me. (Sakura Mobile's setup is a little different). They all charge somewhere in the region of 29-47 yen/minute for voice calls and 3-30 yen for sending domestic SMS texts. Receiving texts (both domestic and international) is free. Mobile phones that do not support the SoftBank mobile network cannot be used. - Data communication is metered at 0.32 per packet (128byte) and capped at 970 a day (378.88KB). Renting a Wifi Router in Japan: The Best Options. Notes for using a mobile phone purchased from another carrier/company. The service can be purchased at SoftBank shops and certain SoftBank retailers. Data + voice SIMs differ to data-only SIMs in that they typically have a minimum
contract period and cancellation fees. Just like the data SIMs, they have a starting fee of approximately. There is also a prepaid SIM card available for tourists, called the "Tourist SIM". It comes in two options: "Hello Kitty" and "Mt.Fuji". SIM cards come with 1GB of data valid for 31 days, and is data-only on 3G and 4G/LTE. There are over 400,000 SoftBank Wi-Fi hotspots located around Japan that can be used for free with these prepaid SIM cards. If you connect to the Internet without properly configuring "Access Internet Plus", customers who have a flat-rate service subscription may also incur high data usage fees. Please be careful when configuring the settings. 3G and 4G packets are available with the Simple Style (smartphone) exclusive packet fixed amount service. Theo, That's a good question. I know that at least one of the B-Mobile tourist SIMs blocks VOIP, but I'm not aware that any of the above providers do. I tried to examine the fine print as much as I could for each of the plans but didn't see anything that mentioned this. There's all sorts of extra fine print that pops up when you actually agree to the service though, so i guess you need to check that. I found an article in Japanese in which the writer is recommending a Data SIM with VOIP, it's not clear if they've actually tested it though so I'd take it with a grain of salt. Usable systems and frequencies for your terminal are the following. Rates differ according to country. Click here for details. - Above SIM can only be used with SIM unlocked smartphones. SoftBank SIM locked iphone also can be used. Japan's Data and Voice SIM Providers Compared (Long-Term Options). If you're just visiting Japan, most of the above won't really matter. However, make darn sure your device supports the bands that the network provider uses in Japan. BIC SIM and RAKUTEN MOBILE use the Docomo network, for example. Thanks for sharing your experience. A lot of them have daily usage limits and I've tried to shine a light on as much of the fine print as possible. AFAIK, they all use the Docomo network while Mineo is the only one to also give an AU SIM option. NTT DoCoMo has the best network in the country and a market share of almost 50%. A 2G-only phone does not work, because there is simply no 2G. Before you travel you need to apply on their website and create your ID account. The select your plan and place to pick up the SIM, and pay with a credit card. You can earn more high speed data by filling out questionaires and
watching ads. - The number of product which can be reserved with this service is 1 (one) per product per person for any product. If you wish to reserve more than 2 (two) of any product, please consult with our Customer Support. GSM or CDMA -incompatible WiMAX operators are not mentioned in this survey. 700*, 800, 1500, 1800 TNO, 2100, 3500 (TDD) Bands: 1, 3 TNO,19, 21, 28, 42. 3 GB for 30 days: 3,020 at Yodobashi and 3,020 at Bic Camera (tax incl.). Tap "Cellular" "Cellular Data Options" and turn on "Enable 4G". In the menu, tap "Save", and select the APN set in the APN list. - A plan can only be purchased after your subscription plan has ended. The special application by econnect Japan Inc. gives users full control over their SIM. The app allows users to set the SIM, make top-ups, check data usage, and much more. The app is available for both ios and Android. Users can also use the web application. Step1.Insert the SIM card into your phone and set up "APN" setting. In the menu, tap "Save", and select the APN set in the APN list. SIM unlocked mobile phone usable around the world including Japan!. If you are roaming from a CDMA carrier in another country, you may still use au 's CDMA network. Setting and application is required before using the 4G prepaid sim. Very popular as souvenir from Japan or as a second mobile phone!. The prepaid smartphone data SIM cards offered by MVNO B-mobile provide data on NTT Docomo's 3G/4G network. They used to have voice too, but this has been suspended. After purchasing the card, activation process in which personal information is asked to enter is required to start using. To all prices add 8% tax. For the 100 MB/day plans, once the user uses up their 100 MB for the day, speed will be slowed down to 128 Kbps. The speed will go back to normal once the clock hits 0:00h JST the following day. Users can optionally choose to make a 'Refill100' to add 100 MB for the rest of the day for 300 Yen. However, if this data is not all used up, the remaining data will not be rolled over to the following day once the clock hits midnight. For the other plans, once all the data is used up, Internet gets disconnected immediately. You are only able to access the ecoonect website to top up credit. If users cannot make a top-up within the 3 days, the SIM is automatically terminated. Otherwise, the SIM card can be used up to one year, if the user continuously makes top-ups. AnyFone JAPAN (Global Mobile Service -
Rental & Prepaid -). You can continue to use the mobile phone number during the valid period!. 700* = LTE on 700 MHz is on band 28 like in Australia and soon in Europe, not on bands 12-17 like in the US. Note that because NTT Docomo and Softbank's band 28 frequency belong to the Upper Duplex section of the band 28, some phones like Google Nexus 5X that only support the Lower Duplex section of the band 28 will not be able to use the band. Because the 700 MHz band is shared with some other digital services in some area of Japan, this band is not universally available yet. It's expected to last until 2017, before the band can be completely cleared for mobile use. Get travel insurance for Japan - we recommend World Nomads (and here's why ). I repay the cost of switching in 7 months, and save a total of 75 000-100 000 yen for the two-year duration of the voice contract. I can think of a lot of things I'd rather do with 100k yen than giving it to Docomo for no good reason. A trip to Bali? A new computer? A lifetime supply of toilet paper (2)? The possibilities are endless! 700*, 800, 1500, 1800 TNO, 2100, 3500 (TDD) Bands: 1, 3 TNO,19, 21, 28, 42. enough today. And some of those phones are dual-sim capable: you could skip the flip-phone, use the Docomo and IIJmio SIMs in the same smartphone, and have both voice and data, just like with a regular Docomo smartphone plan, but without the smartphone plan prices. If you want to make phone calls and get online, then you have three options:. 2. Buy a dataonly SIM card from major electronics retailers in Japan like Yodobashi Camera or BIC Camera. You'll find branches of these stores all over Japan, including Shinjuku and Akihabara in Tokyo, and near Osaka and Kyoto stations. These stores carry prepaid SIM cards that are aimed at tourists. These SIMs allow you to log on from almost anyplace in Japan (except wilderness and some rural areas). Thus, for most travelers, this is a perfectly workable way to get data service for your iphone or ipad. For details, see these posts about buying a sim card in Kyoto and buying a sim card in Tokyo they both explain how to get the sim delivered to your hotel. The SIM is rechargeable, but only from the handset containing the SIM, which must currently be located in Japan. Recharging must be done within 10 days of the expiry of the previous plan. Recharging uses a credit card and is 500 for 1 GB per day. The Nearest Airport To Kyoto and Kyoto Airport Transport. Twice a year Apple releases a new
smartphone. And like clockwork, my wife goes to a Docomo shop, asks about the phone and about smartphone plans, then gives it up when she realizes how much it'd cost. 3 GB for 30 days: 3,020 at Yodobashi and 3,020 at Bic Camera (tax incl.). Frog has no time for your antics. Frog expects another fly any minute now. So many flies, so little time. I have an unlocked Sony Xperia XZ phone, and I could not get this Japanese sim card to work with my Japanese phone. Very Strange. I followed all the instructions explicitly, and when the sim card was installed in the phone, it would not connect to the internet via a cellular connection. My Japanese wife contacted Softbank, and with their assistance I still could not connect to the internet (see photo). My operating system is Android 7.1.1 Nougat. Luckily my wife has an unlocked Apple iphone 6+, and when inserted into this phone, it worked beautifully. On my wife's iphone, I got great reception and coverage throughout my travels. From Tokyo, to Nakata, to Kumamoto Castle, to Osaka, to Kyoto, to Nagoya, and in Kanagawa prefecture, the sim card worked great in the iphone. If you have an iphone, this will get you connected and work like a charm. If you have a Android operating system beware, you may not be so lucky. Not compatible with Verizon V (confirmed with main SOFTBANK stores in Japan). 10 Day Japan Itinerary: Tokyo, Kyoto and Kanazawa. I had a Docomo contract, but I had bought my phone separately (overseas), so I had no handset contract with them. Had I had to buy off my phone from them, things would have gotten expensive very fast. I've also had my contract for more than 8 years so I didn't have to pay a cancellation charge. Solo Female Travel in Kyoto (and the Rest of Japan). TNO = only available in an area around Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka. See. The APN must be set manually (see below) and you must fill out an online form with your personal data for SIM cards that have not been bought on their website. If you want to make or receive voice calls in Japan, you will be limited to these choices:. As I looked around the Docomo shop, an idea struck me. I asked the clerk at the store, then verified everything in detail at home. A few days later I went to Bic Camera in Namba and came home with this: use VoIP with data-only SIM ( cheap, see below ). Buy a data-only SIM card online for collection when you arrive at Kansai International Airport (for Osaka and Kyoto) or Tokyo's Narita Airport.
Or rent an unlimited data pocket wifi router.