Hello everyone, I am a first-year JET heading to Kosaka in Akita-ken. It’s a rural placement and my pred says I may not have wifi at home for at least a month (considering how slow it is to get someone out there to set it up). I am looking for a reliable phone plan with a decent amount of data. I will be driving and will likely rely heavily on Google Maps/translate to get by in my rural community. I would like a Japanese phone number, but plan to do most chatting/calling with LINE. My pred used one of Docomo’s basic plans and it seems that Docomo has good coverage in rural areas (whereas Rakuten doesn’t, so even their unlimited data plan wouldn’t work).
I saw that Docomo began offering a new cheaper plan in 2021 called Ahamo, which is targeted toward younger people. From what I can tell, it offers 20gb for \~$30, but also 100gb for \~$50, also unlimited domestic calling up to 5 minutes. I have an unlocked iPhone XR. The Ahamo application is all online with no in-store support and they will mail you your SIM (they also offer eSIM but I’ve never done anything with that before).
Not to seem too “gen-z” to y’all, but I really do rely on streaming services/youtube to de-stress after work (usually with ASMR videos). So access to maps, youtube, LINE, and a web browser are pretty common to my daily routine. I can live without Instagram/TikTok until I get to a Wifi spot, so those aren’t really an issue.
Does anyone have experience with this plan? It seems like a good deal for my needs, but other suggestions would be great. Thanks!
14 comments
The application process is not terribly easy. Any mistakes and they will deny the application. You might want to go to the store to sign up and pay a 3,000 yen fee if you don’t like waiting.
Otherwise, Ahamo is good value and comes with just about the best network in Japan. Plus no annoyances like with SoftBank.
I have povo which is a bit similar to ahamo.
The esim process and application took me about an hour in total, so it’s really easy. However, this might depend on what you use for verification (most likely your residence card). You’ll also need your bank account set up in Japan.
I say give it a shot! You might want to rent a wifi hotspot or something for at least a couple weeks just so you have some data before you set ahamo up (can’t do it until you get to Japan)
Also, heads up, applications are online only. You cannot get ahamo in a store despite what people say
Hello, this sounds like a good plan, based on what you’ve said it may be pretty reliable.
There are also other sims that use NTT DOCOMO services too, that may not be able to offer 100gb but have pretty alright prices for lower gb packs; and have English support. One example is Japan Wireless Mobile’s 25gb plan. Not sure if it’s the biggest size in terms of data but it is definitely cheaper.
You got to speak to your predecessor already??? I still haven’t heard from mine or know where I’m living or what schools (other than type)/how many I’m teaching at when I get there. Hope to hear from them soon
I don’t have experience with that plan but I do use a similar sort of plan in AEON Mobile. 25gb for about $20 IIRC.
I still would recommend getting a pocket wifi or sim from a bigger brand like MOBAL / anything with coverage from the bigger networks for at least a month while you figure out options when you’re actually there. AEON was something I didn’t really know about until I got here. If possible, try out stuff that is easy to cancel because you don’t want to end up in a contract without knowing if the coverage would work well in practice. In my case it was with pocket wifis (although they use the same networks as phones) that required some trial and error to find the right one, since networks like WiMax showed that it had coverage where I’m at but it was piss poor stuff. I have Docomo for my sim plan but even that is significantly slower than my pocket wifi which is on Softbank. It’s not really a problem since my pocket wifi is on me all the time and my phone data is more a backup.
I am a rural Mie placement and I use that Ahamo plan. Best decision I made. I dropped the horrible coverage I had with Mobal (using SoftBank towers). It was a ripoff anyways.
However, signing up for Ahamo will be a pain in the ass. The online sign up for Ahamo itself will refuse you if you have a middle name, or write any combination that doesn’t have your passport, bank account, and residence card all matching up. The site is too dumb to recognize that you’re the same person.
This can be circumvented in a tedious way by going to the local Docomo shop, since Ahamo is part of their network. If you aren’t up to the task of speaking (I wasn’t), see if a JTE or your supervisor is willing to help you. Offer to buy them a coffee or something.
Sign up for the cheapest Docomo plan (not Ahamo) avalible. Decline on all extra offers. This will get you into their system since it’s a real person verifying your idenity and bank information.
Once you get your account and SIM card, go online to the Ahamo site and start their process as an existing Docomo user. This will let you seamlessly transfer to the Ahamo plan unlike signing up from scratch.
The 20GB is enough for me to use when I’m desk warming, although I have internet at home. If you are worried, try asking your school to borrow a pocket wi-fi device if they have them until you get regular internet set up. In my case, I did just that because my Mobal pocket wi-fi was garbage and had no service.
Iijmio is worth taking a look at. The signup process is relatively straightforward, their prices are really good and they use DOCOMO.
Get SakuraMobile (might be more expensive but if you care about keeping your phone number it’s worth it) or Mobal so that you can have access to data and have a number to sign up for things with on day 1. Once you get all your documents sorted out and settled in, switch as soon as you can to Ahamo/Linemo/Povo whatever you want.
I used Docomo when I was on JET, and just recently switched to Ahamo as soon as the 100GB plan became available (I had been on Docomo’s unlimited plan, which was around 8500 yen a month, but I never used more than 100GB in any month). The coverage is the same, and I personally never needed to go into the Docomo store in person for anything, so it is definitely worth it for me. I’m not sure what the procedure is like for new customers, and I’m not sure if you would be able to sign up until you have a permanent address, so if you want phone/internet from the moment you arrive at the hotel for orientation you might need to get a pocket wifi or low cost sim to tide you over.
I originally had Mobal and switched to Ahamo. Mobal would stop my data even if I had 5GB left and I ended up stranded in another prefecture with no way to use the internet. The service also wasn’t the greatest and you can’t keep your phone number.
Ahamo is a great plan! I find 20GB is enough data to browse the internet and use line everyday, use google maps etc.
Like another user said, it’s a giant pain to sign up. I have two middle names and my first application was rejected. I had to contact support, create an entire new email and have support approve it due to my name. Their solution was having me type as much of my name that would fit and support recognized due to character limit that the rest didn’t fit and approved it the second time around. If they reject your application and you can apply again, you cannot use the same email address. Also keep in mind the app is also only in Japanese but your iPhone cellular settings will show how much data you’ve used which is helpful!
I’ve had no connection issues and the price is decent. You also get the first five minutes of calls free and up to 20GB of data no roaming charges when you go overseas. I used my laptop and translated each page when filling out the application. I’ve never heard of it being targeted towards younger people though 🤔. I’m an older JET (millennial) and was approved.
I highly recommend Ahamo!!!!
Ahamo is good but as other commenters have said you will need an address in Japan and some ID to register. Also they have no English support so if you have any difficulties and need to contact them at any point it will all be in Japanese.
Not phone related but I would recommend looking into getting a pocket wifi for the first few weeks or a month or so, because I’m assuming you will need to wifi installed. Unless your house or apartment has included it, technicians will need to go out to wherever you live and get it installed for you. I was lucky because my building included it but I’ve heard of some people waiting over a month before they got wifi installed. It might be helpful too for the first month too if you’re planning to use a lot of google maps because that app eats your data.
Fuck pocket wifi, fuck Sakura/Mobal and other “for foreigner” companies. Get sorted with Linemo/Ahamo/some other MVNO and you’ll be good. You’ll pay less for the same data amounts, most times.
Ask your supervisor when you get here for help signing up, if you need it. I lived off my Linemo 20gb data for a couple months before i got internet at home, but it only took a couple months because i got here just before december so they were fucked for installations thanks to the end of year period.
Yes my predecessor said I won’t have WiFi for a month. Should I get a pocket WiFi? Or does the phone plans offer hotspot so I can use my other devices??