How to Get a Japanese Phone Number as a Foreigner: SIM Options, Requirements and Costs (2026)
If you have a residence card with a Japanese address, you can have a Japanese phone number within a day or two, for around ¥1,000–1,500 a month, with no contract period. A data-only SIM or pocket Wi-Fi won’t do: banks, payment apps, landlords and the ward office all need a number starting 070, 080 or 090 that can receive SMS and calls.
This guide covers who can get a number, what each option costs, what you need to apply, and how to choose between a cheap voice-only line and a full plan.
Why You Need a Japanese Number (and Why Your Home Number Isn’t Enough)
Four things in Japan are hard or impossible without a domestic mobile number:
- SMS verification. Banks, PayPay and other payment apps, Mercari, ticket sites and Mynaportal send one-time codes to Japanese numbers only. Many won’t send to a foreign number at all; others do, unreliably and at roaming rates.
- Opening a bank account. Every major bank asks for a Japanese phone number on the application, and uses it for two-factor login afterwards.
- Renting an apartment. The application form has a phone number field, and the agent, guarantor company and management company all call it. A foreign number is a red flag for screening.
- Daily life. Clinics confirm appointments by phone, delivery drivers call when they can’t find you, and the ward office calls about your residence registration and taxes.
Wi-Fi and data-only SIMs cover the internet but come with no number, so none of the above works. See our utility setup guide for what else the ward and utilities will ask for.
Who Can Get One
Japanese law requires carriers to verify identity and a Japanese address before issuing a voice number. In practice:
- Mid- to long-term residents (work, student, dependent, spouse, working holiday visas) qualify as soon as the address is printed on the back of the residence card—do the ward office registration first.
- Short-term visitors (90-day tourist status) can’t get a standard 070/080/090 number. Data eSIMs and a 050 internet number are the options, and neither satisfies most SMS checks.
- Payment: most providers want a credit card; a few accept a Japanese bank account, which you may not have yet—another reason the SIM usually comes before the bank account.
Your Options Compared
Prices are as of September 2026 and include tax; check the provider’s site before ordering, since plans change.
| Provider | Monthly | Data | English | Contract | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mobal Voice-Only | ¥1,430 (SIM fee ¥4,950 → ¥3,465 with the Aikagi link below) | None (upgrade later) | Full: site, app, support | None—cancel anytime | Getting a number fast, in English, before a bank account |
| Mobal Voice+Data | from ¥1,650 (same SIM-fee discount applies) | 1–200 GB | Full | None | One SIM for everything, in English |
| Rakuten Mobile | ¥1,078 / ¥2,178 / ¥3,278 | up to 3 GB / 20 GB / unlimited | App and site in English; shops mostly Japanese | None | Cheapest full plan if you can complete eKYC in the app |
| IIJmio, mineo, other MVNOs | ¥850–1,500 | 2–10 GB | Japanese only | None | Lowest price if you read Japanese |
| LINEMO / povo / ahamo | ¥990–2,970 | 3–30 GB | Japanese only (online brands of the big three) | None | Good networks, but the sign-up is in Japanese |
| Docomo / au / SoftBank shops | ¥3,000–7,000+ | large or unlimited | Some shops have English staff | No lock-in since 2021, but fees add up | Family plans, phone financing, in-person support |
The pattern: the English-language providers cost a little more per gigabyte; the cheapest plans assume you can handle a Japanese sign-up and Japanese support. If you only need the number—because home Wi-Fi covers your data, or you’ll run a separate data eSIM—a voice-only line is the cheapest way to tick the box.
Aikagi readers: order through the link below and Mobal charges ¥3,465 for the SIM or eSIM instead of ¥4,950—a ¥1,485 saving. It applies to both the Voice-Only and the Voice+Data plans, with the same no-contract terms. (Prices checked September 2026.)
What You Need to Apply
- Residence card with your Japanese address on the back (My Number card or Japanese driver’s licence also accepted)
- Credit card for the monthly fee (some providers accept a Japanese bank account)
- A phone that’s SIM-unlocked—phones bought on contract abroad may be locked; check with your old carrier before you leave
- For eSIM: a compatible phone (most iPhones since XS, most flagship Androids since 2020)
Identity checks are done online (eKYC): you photograph the card and your face in the app. Rakuten and the online brands do this in Japanese; Mobal’s is in English.
Physical SIM or eSIM, and How Fast
- eSIM: approved and active the same day, often within an hour. Best if your phone supports it and you want the number immediately—for example, to open a bank account this week.
- Physical SIM: delivered in 1–3 days within Japan. Mobal can also ship overseas before you arrive, so the number is live the day you land—useful for the apartment search, since agents will want a number on the first form.
- Number portability (MNP): if you later switch providers you can usually keep the number. One exception to check: some entry-level voice-only lines can’t be ported, so if you expect to keep the number for years, confirm before you buy.
A Few Things That Trip People Up
- 050 numbers aren’t the same. Internet-based 050 numbers are cheap, but many banks and services reject them for SMS verification. You need 070/080/090.
- Your name must match. The name on the SIM application, residence card and bank application should be identical, including middle names and order.
- Don’t let the line lapse. If you cancel a SIM, every service tied to that number—bank, PayPay, Mynaportal—needs updating first. Keep the cheapest line alive rather than dropping it.
- Give the ward office your number when you register your address; it’s how they reach you about health insurance and tax notices.
FAQs About Getting a Japanese Phone Number
Can I use my home-country number for SMS verification in Japan?
Usually not. Japanese banks and payment apps send codes only to domestic 070/080/090 numbers, and where a foreign number is accepted, delivery is unreliable and charged at roaming rates.
Is a data-only SIM or pocket Wi-Fi enough?
No. They provide internet but no phone number, so they can’t receive SMS codes or calls from a bank, landlord or clinic.
Can I get a Japanese number without a residence card?
Not a standard mobile number. Tourists are limited to data eSIMs and 050 internet numbers. Once your residence card has your address on it, you qualify.
Are there plans without a contract period or cancellation fee?
Yes—all the providers in the table above. The two-year lock-in at the big carriers ended in 2021.
How fast can I get a number after arriving?
Same day with an eSIM once your address is registered; 1–3 days for a physical SIM by post; or before you arrive if you order a Mobal SIM for overseas delivery.
What’s the cheapest way to have a Japanese number?
A voice-only line (around ¥1,000–1,500 a month) paired with home Wi-Fi or a data eSIM. If you want one SIM for everything, Rakuten Mobile’s ¥1,078 tier is the cheapest full plan with an English app.
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Setting up a phone number is one of many steps when you arrive. Aikagi helps English-speaking residents find and rent apartments across Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, and Chiba.