I noticed there being plenty of posts over the last year or two asking about specific situations regarding individual situations with this company and that company. However I’m looking for some advice from those of you who have lived here awhile. I have worked with a company in Nagoya for a few months on a short contract, all things taken care of: phone, internet, insurance, etc. However, I’m leaving for a higher paying job with a long-term contract (also in Nagoya) which means my current company phone/modem/insurance, etc, will be gone as well.
So, for someone who will be in Nagoya for the next few years, what services do you use? Should I just go with standard advice and get the GTN all-in-one for foreigners package? Mobal for its non-strict rules? Rakuten? I don’t see a solid throughline from the other posts on this subject, so at this point I’ll take any advice in the comments. What SIM do you use? Where do you get your WiFi? My new apartment is up to me to furnish, and my new job is an independent contract, so basically I’m on my own and don’t want to stumble into a rookie mistake if I can avoid it. I have some friends here I can ask as well but it’s important enough that I’d like a lot of input before jumping into contracts.
All help is appreciated!
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You may try Sakura Mobile which I used before (works well in some rural Hokkaido area) and probably will use again in the near future. English service speaker (via email) and quite cooperative as long as you communicate well with them.
ahamo is fantastic as a provider using the docomo network. Using what arguably has the widest coverage in Japan in the docomo network, you get a generous 20gb per month, with an option to add 80gb for a total of 100gb for a good price. I myself have gone over 20gb but never used the add option because the “slowed down speed” after you go over the limit is still a generous 1mbps. Plus you get free use of your data (within the first 20gb) overseas for up to two weeks, and it’s available in 82 countries.
Wifi-wise, you could stay on the same docomo network and apply for docomo hikari, but it really doesn’t change things much and you can apply for any provider you want for wifi. I’m on the rakuten hikari line myself. Best to check with your apartment if they already have a hikari (fiber optic) line or if you need to have it installed. Another option here is to go the 5g route with providers like softbank air or the rakuten turbo 5g for your home wifi.
I’m not broadly informed on it, but I’ve been fine with an IIJmio SIM in my phone for a number of years now.
For my phone, I’m on [Rakuten’s Saikyo](https://network.mobile.rakuten.co.jp/fee/saikyo-plan/) plan, where the monthly price depends on the amount of data you use. It starts at JPY990/month if you use under 3Gb, and “unlimited” (#) data is capped at JPY2,980/month.
Unlimited free outgoing calls and SMSs (but you have to use their voip app for it) is a nice plus as well, and free global roaming data (2Gb limit, then it falls to low speed).
One possible downside is, they do not “grandfather” previous plans. Everyone on their previous UN-LIMIT 6 plan was pushed onto the UN-LIMIT 7 plan last year; and everyone was later moved to their Saikyo plan this year.
Supposedly, some have said they have pretty poor coverage; but I haven’t had that problem. I’m based in Tokyo however, and that might make a difference.
(#) “Unlimited” while connected to their network. You’ll want to check [their coverage maps](https://network.mobile.rakuten.co.jp/area/), as well as the bands your phone supports if you’re [bringing your own device](https://network.mobile.rakuten.co.jp/product/certified-products/?l-id=campaign_byod_product_certified-products).
I’ve been using a Wimax as my main “home” internet for several years now. Every 2 years, they’ll contact me to renew the contract, and provide me with a new device. Recently, they’ve been trying to push for a 3 year contract instead, but I’ve always asked for the 2 year one instead.
I only use Wimax, and never use the LTE coverage. Unlimited data, but speed is throttled to 1Mbps between 18:00-01:00 daily if your total usage in the last 3 days exceeds 10Gb (I always do).
I started using it because there were no internet options at my first apartment, but continued to use it as it was one thing less to deal with whenever I moved; and I liked the flexibility of being able to bring my internet with me when traveling domestically.
You can find their [coverage maps here.](https://www.uqwimax.jp/wimax/area/) I’ve also noticed that the speed would drop (slightly?) when it’s raining.
I feel confident with my knowledge of this kind of thing.
For your phone, it depends on your usage, but Rakuten is a solid choice. Povo is another solid choice. Povo lets you charge it when you want to, and you can get free data by shopping at Lawson and using AU Pay if you’re into saving money that way. I actually have both with a dual-sim phone, and never pay more than 1000 yen a month.
LineMo and Ahamo are also fine choices, but don’t offer as much value as Rakuten or flexibility of Povo.
For internet, find out what companies offer fiber internet (hikari internet) to your building. Probably you have a lot of choices. You’ll have to choose between something with a contract length or something without one. Kakaku.com will be your best friend for this.
If you choose something that uses NTT’s infrastructure, make sure you get something that has IPV4-over-IPV6. The most useful implementation of this is called V6Plus, as it’s the one that lets you open certain incoming ports. There are many non-long-term-contract options on NTT’s infra with V6 Plus. For instance otegaru hikari, en hikari, and various others. Choose one without any installation costs (make sure if you cancel after a month, you pay for only one month when you get your call from them to confirm the set-up)
If you are OK with a 3 year contract, options that don’t use NTT’s infrastructure can be better choices. Companies like Nuro, AUN Hikari, etc.
You also may be able to get free Rakuten hikari for a year if you go with Rakuten mobile. At least they used to have this promotion.
Note that hikari internet may take two weeks to two months to get installed, sadly.
The above is the advice I’d give a Japanese person. If you need English support or other foreigner-specific features of some kind, my advice doesn’t consider that aspect at all.
When I first got here I had Rakuten as my primary mobile and internet (both mobile) service, with IIJMio’s docomo-based eSIM as a backup in case Rakuten had coverage holes. I’ve had to use the data from that SIM a couple of times in underground areas and also for one coverage hole on the train ride to and from Osaka from where I am (lasts about 2-3 stations so it’s not major).
I switched my phone to YMobile for 20000 yen in Costco gift cards. I am underwhelmed. I’ve had to use my IIJMio backup *more* than when I was on Rakuten because while SoftBank has wider signal coverage, they seem to be oversubscribed where I am because data slows to a crawl (as in the fast.com speedtest won’t even *load*) in the mornings and evenings. Now that I’ve stayed long enough that I don’t have to give back the Costco cards, I’m going for Ahamo; there’s a cashback campaign going on at a mall near me so the support fee and activation fees are outweighed by the 20k yen I’ll get the following month (and they said actual money, not dpoints).