Japan Mobile Plan Comparison
Major Carriers for Foreigners — April 2026
Comparing Rakuten Mobile, docomo, SoftBank, au, Y!mobile, ahamo & Sakura Mobile
Major Carrier Comparison
A summary of major SIM plans available to foreign nationals in Japan.
| Carrier | Monthly Cost (tax incl.) | Data | Calls | Recommended for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rakuten Mobile Rakuten SAIKYO Plan Pricing auto-adjusts based on data usage |
¥1,078 | Up to 3GB | Free domestic calls via app ※Under Rakuten Link. ¥22/30s without app. ※Some numbers excluded. |
Students, workers & long-term residents |
| ¥2,178 | 3–20GB | |||
| ¥3,278 | 20GB+ (Unlimited) ※Speed may be restricted due to fair service provision during peak times and other conditions. |
|||
| docomo docomo MAX Pricing auto-adjusts based on data usage |
¥5,698 | Up to 1GB | Paid (additional charge) | Those already using docomo services |
| ¥6,798 | 1–3GB | |||
| ¥8,448 | Unlimited | |||
| SoftBank Merihari Unlimited Plus Pricing auto-adjusts based on data usage |
¥5,775 | Up to 2GB | Paid (additional charge) | Those already using SoftBank services |
| ¥7,425 | Unlimited | |||
| au (KDDI) Unlimited Data MAX+ 5G/4G Pricing auto-adjusts based on data usage |
¥5,588 | 1–3GB | Paid (additional charge) | Those already using au services |
| ¥7,238 | 3GB+ | |||
| Y!mobile Simple3 (SoftBank network) |
¥3,058 | 5GB (Simple3 S) | Paid (additional charge) | Those using SoftBank services or focused on cost |
| ¥4,158 | 30GB (Simple3 M) | Paid (additional charge) | ||
| ¥5,258 | 35GB (Simple3 L) | 10 min/call free (additional charges apply beyond that) |
||
| ahamo | ¥2,970 | 30GB | 5 min/call free (additional charges apply beyond that) |
Cost-conscious users who want docomo network |
| ※ Optional 110GB plan available for ¥4,950. Additional 1GB available for ¥550 (tax incl.) | ||||
| Sakura Mobile Voice + Data SIM/eSIM |
¥3,278 | 5GB | Paid (additional charge) | Short-term stays of a few weeks / English support prioritized |
| ¥3,828 | 15GB | |||
| ¥4,378 | 30GB+ | |||
| ※ Plans of 40GB, 60GB, 80GB, and 100GB are also available. See the official site for details. | ||||
| Tourist SIM (Prepaid) | ¥1,500–5,000 (total) | 1–10GB (limited) | None | Short-term stays of a few days to a few weeks |
※ Discounts may apply via various campaigns.
※ Information as of April 2026. Subject to change without notice. Please check each carrier's official site for the latest information.
※ All prices include tax. Sources: Rakuten Mobile · docomo · ahamo (30GB) · ahamo large (110GB) · SoftBank · Y!mobile · au (PDF) · Sakura Mobile · Tourist SIM (Prepaid): Based on official carrier sites and general market prices
Why Rakuten Mobile is Recommended
✨ Chosen by Foreign Residents in Japan ✨※1
No need to choose a plan
Over 1 year use: cancellation fee free※4
🎁 Earn up to 14,000 points by applying via referral link※8
Points can be used for mobile payments and shopping on Rakuten Pay.
See the campaign page for full details
Apply for Rakuten Mobile (with referral campaign) →※1 MMD Research Institute survey "Communication Services for Foreign Residents / April 2025" ↗ Rakuten Mobile Tops MMD Labo Survey as Most Used Mobile Service Among Foreign Residents
※2 Speed may be restricted due to fair service provision during peak times and other conditions. Excludes call charges, etc.
※3 Cumulative activation fee free for up to 4 lines. Fee applies from the 5th line onwards.
※4 No cancellation fee for lines used over 1 year. For Rakuten SAIKYO Plan, ¥1,078 applies within 1 year.
※5 As of June 2023. Population coverage rate is calculated based on areas where communication is possible in more than 50% of approximately 500m grid segments used in the national census.
※6 Connection may be difficult inside buildings and in some areas.
※7 Counted as plan data usage.
※8 Conditions apply, such as logging in via the referral campaign URL or starting service use before applying. Points will be awarded in installments starting 4 months after the referral login month.