Having a phone number when traveling is a relief.
In Japan, there are very few SIMs for travelers that come with a phone number.
It’s inconvenient.
When it comes to those that can be picked up at the airport, the choices are even fewer.
Among them, I recommend the rental SIM from “SoftBank Global Rental.”
You can pick up at Haneda Airport (Tokyo), Narita International Airport (Tokyo), Chubu Centrair International Airport (Nagoya), and Kansai International Airport (Osaka).
This service is provided by SoftBank, a major Japanese mobile company, and includes a phone number and data communication that can be used within Japan.
*Other major mobile companies are “DOCOMO”, “au”, and “Rakuten”
The rental SIM fee is 1,100 JPY per day.
In addition, there will be an initial handling fee of 330 JPY.
Data communication is unlimited, and calls within Japan cost 100 JPY per minute.
Reservations can be made until 1:00 p.m. the day before the rental starts.
Payment is by credit card.
The shortest rental period is 3 days, and even if you return the item within 2 days, you will be charged the rental fee for 3 days.
Returns can be made 24 hours a day, as there is a return box set up at the airport counter.
If the SIM card is lost or not returned, the SIM will cost 3,850 JPY and the SIM case will cost 550 JPY.
The disadvantages of rental SIMs are that they are more expensive than data-only SIMs, require reservations, and must be returned.
If you don’t need a phone number, a data communication-only SIM is better.
Data communication SIMs are sold at each company’s counter at each airport or at airport vending machines.
The price of a data-only SIM varies depending on the product, but 2GB / 30 days is about 3,000 JPY, and unlimited / 7 days is about 4,500 JPY.
Even for SIMs with phone numbers, SIMs with numbers starting with 050 can only be used for IP telephones.
IP telephones can make regular calls, but they cannot make emergency calls to the police, ambulance, or fire engine.
The rental SIM from “SoftBank Global Rental” is assigned a phone number used in Japan, so emergency calls can be made.
In Japan, dial 110 to call the police, and 119 to call an ambulance or fire engine.
Rental SIMs with phone numbers are expensive and have some disadvantages, but it’s a good idea to use them for peace of mind.
However, if there is a Japanese person nearby, I’m sure they will call the emergency number if you ask them ☺.
[via=SoftBank Global Rental]