· Updated
By the HalfKey team
Setting up a Japanese phone plan for a 60-90 day Tokyo stay
Check whether you'll need a Japanese number before choosing a SIM or eSIM. The right plan must also work with your phone and identity documents, and passport-based collection can involve a different setup from delivery to a registered address.
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For a 60-to-90-day stay, first decide whether you need internet access alone or a Japanese number with voice and SMS. Then check whether the company accepts your identity documents and whether the plan works with your phone.
If you only need maps and internet messaging, start by comparing data-only plans. If a service you intend to use requires a Japanese number or an SMS code, check voice-and-SMS plans before ordering. Ask that service what it accepts; restaurant bookings, clinics and delivery services do not all use the same rule.
Checked 8 September 2026. The company examples below show how documents, collection and activation can differ. Follow the application instructions for the plan you choose.
Choose the service before the SIM format
A physical SIM is a removable card. An eSIM is installed digitally on a compatible device. Neither format tells you whether the plan includes voice calls or SMS.
Mobal's eSIM range includes both voice-and-data products and data-only products. Its data-only listings explicitly exclude voice and SMS. Buying an eSIM does not automatically give you a local phone number.
| What you need | Plan feature to confirm | What to check separately |
|---|---|---|
| Maps, browsing and internet messaging | Mobile data | Coverage, data allowance and validity period |
| A Japanese service sends you a verification text | A Japanese number with incoming SMS | Whether that service accepts the number |
| Normal telephone calls to Japanese numbers | Voice calling | Call charges and excluded numbers |
| A laptop connection away from home | Sharing your phone’s internet connection, or using a separate router | How much data you can share, any speed limits, and whether your devices support it |
If you need verification texts, ask the bank or app which numbers it accepts as well as checking that the phone plan includes SMS. Do not buy a plan solely because a review says it works with every Japanese app.
Check the documents for pickup or delivery
Start with the documents you actually have, including whether they show your current address. Do not order a delivery method first and discover later that it needs a document you cannot provide.
Sakura Mobile's monthly voice application page distinguishes these routes:
- A valid residence card must show your current address.
- A valid My Number card must show your current address.
- A valid passport is listed for airport or office pickup.
Sakura's non-resident application FAQ says passport-based voice contracts require face-to-face identity verification. A digital SIM does not remove that step. Follow the company's instructions for receiving or activating the particular SIM or eSIM you order.
Mobal's SIM collection instructions ask for the order confirmation and passport at the selected collection point. Check the chosen product's document and activation instructions before paying. Delivery to a residential address can have different requirements from collection.
If the company does not accept your residence documents and you cannot get to a passport-checking pickup counter, ask whether it offers another way to apply. Arrange a data connection you can use while waiting for the voice application.
What to ask the mobile company
Use the company's official support channel. A useful first message is:
I need service from [start date] to [end date]. I need [data only / a Japanese number with calls and incoming SMS]. My phone is [exact model and country of purchase]. I have [document type] and would like [pickup / delivery / eSIM]. Can I apply with these documents and use this phone? Please tell me how to start the service, what I will pay in total and when I need to cancel.
You can name the document type in that first enquiry. Send identity images only through the company's designated secure application process when requested.
Compare the written answers for the exact plans. Include activation charges, monthly or fixed-period fees, expected calls, data limits, the final billing month and cancellation terms. Avoid comparing a headline monthly price with a prepaid package covering a different number of days.
Confirm that your phone can use the plan
Give the mobile company the exact model, not just “iPhone” or “Samsung.” Ask it to confirm the version sold in your country. Check whether your phone is unlocked, supports the offered SIM format and is compatible with the plan's network.
Mobal's device guidance requires an unlocked device for its eSIM. A phone that supports eSIM can still be locked to your home carrier. If you are unsure, ask that carrier to confirm before buying.
If you keep both your home and Japanese SIMs active, follow the phone manufacturer's instructions to choose which SIM the phone uses for internet access. Review your home carrier's roaming charges before leaving its line active for calls or verification texts. If your housing includes internet, check that connection before buying a large mobile allowance for home use.
Arrange pickup and test before relying on it
Read the pickup confirmation for the exact terminal, location and opening hours. Allow for immigration, baggage and a delayed flight. If the counter will be closed, arrange another receiving method before departure; the desk may close even while the terminal remains open.
Follow the activation instructions supplied for your plan. While you still have Wi-Fi, save the company's support details and setup guide. Sakura's application instructions include APN settings, the network settings used to establish mobile data.
Test mobile data with Wi-Fi turned off. For a voice plan, test an ordinary call and incoming SMS before relying on the number for an appointment or account setup. If any of those fail, contact support with the plan name, device model and error message.
Before cancelling the plan, update any services that still use the number for verification. Keep the mobile company's cancellation confirmation so you can follow up if another bill arrives.