I’m not really sure where to start looking at cell service options. I know it makes the most financial sense for me to have a provider in Japan rather than remaining on my family’s cell plan. Just knowing how other people tackled this would help a ton!
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Check previously made topics about [cell phone plans](https://www.reddit.com/r/JETProgramme/search/?q=cell%20phone&restrict_sr=1&sort=new), or [SIM card options](https://www.reddit.com/r/JETProgramme/search/?q=SIM&restrict_sr=1&sort=new). Lots of options have been discussed.
Personally I’m doing the 30GB mobal plan for the first month (JETs get the sim card for just 99 yen) then I’m immediately switching to the 20GB ahamo plan for around 3000 yen/month.
I have Ahamo through Docomo. 20GB a month, and if you go abroad you can use your data for up to two weeks per month (great for a vacation abroad or a trip home to visit).
Y’all really gotta use the search function 😂
Ahamo. 20GB for under ¥3000 and it includes free international roaming.
I’d avoid Sakura and Mobal. Especially if you intend to stay longer than a year.
Rakuten if you want unlimited (they’re the cheapest by far), Ahamo if you want the docomo network, povo if you don’t need unlimited but you want more flexibility (you can buy data as you need it).
If you are going somewhere inaka, make sure to check service maps! Originally I wanted to go with Mobal but that uses SoftBank and my area doesn’t have SoftBank service, so I went with Sakura Mobile instead as they use Docomo towers.
IIJmio , they also have internet service plans, there is an English guide that they provide. The website is in Japanese but you can use google chrome to translate the page and it’s pretty straightforward.
I’m currently using their GIGA plan so I have 20 GB of data plus voice for ¥2000~ /month. It’s really easy to apply online once you gave your zairyu card, you will need your Japanese address too so that they can send you the SM card. They use AU and Docomo, you can pick which one you want or (depending on which is best for your phone). You can also visit a Bic Camera and ask about IIJ. I had Mobal before but they only gave 7GB /month and I was always struggling by the end of the month.
Don’t bother with any recommendations of using “foreigner friendly” phone companies in Japan. They’re often more expensive than native plans, and the likelihood you will ever talk to a support agent is zero because they’re all managed through internet portals anyways. You never need to speak with anyone to sort your payment options, or cancel a contract, or anything.
Go with a local MVNO with Linemo. I use Linemo and it’s around 2700 yen for 20GB of data a month. Beats the piss out of all the “foreigner friendly” services.
Rakuten. ¥3300 a month for unlimited data.
I’m an incoming JET too. I’m also on my family’s plan. I decided to switch my US number to an eSim, then I’m gonna get a Japanese number on a physical sim card. I talked with the current JETs in my placement about which company and it sounds like they all use the same one because we’re in a bit of a smaller town. Maybe talking with your pred or CO (if you’re in contact with them) about the different options in your area would help! Not saying my way is necessarily the best, just showing you options!
I highly recommend you do NOT go with Sakura mobile. The plans are terrible and don’t come with calling or texting for international OR domestic Japanese phone numbers. They’ve got dumb pricing for every minute or text you spend. I highly recommend you go with a Japanese cell service company in Japan that does give you at least some minutes and texts included into the plan. I hadnt realized the Sakura plan I had didnt include any minutes for calling. I had to make calls to a few Japanese companies that lasted around 30 minutes for some of those calls and my phone bill that month was astronaumical. Learned my lesson the financially painful way rip.
Rakuten Mobile is the way to go! You can apply on line if language isn’t an issue or in store (where they usually have people who speak several languages on certain days!) it’s cheaper then most of the other plans out there!
Start first month or 2 with mobal so you have cell when you get to japan but move to Rakuten unlimited asap