{"id":20,"date":"2026-03-22T23:01:28","date_gmt":"2026-03-22T14:01:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/japanstartguide.com\/?p=20"},"modified":"2026-03-22T23:19:38","modified_gmt":"2026-03-22T14:19:38","slug":"best-sim-cards-japan-foreigners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/japanstartguide.com\/?p=20","title":{"rendered":"Best SIM Cards in Japan for Foreigners (2026) \u2014 No Japanese Required"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Are you new to Japan and confused about how to get a SIM card?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Signing up for a phone plan in Japan can feel overwhelming \u2014<br>especially when everything is in Japanese. But don&#8217;t worry.<br>This guide covers the best SIM cards for foreigners in Japan<br>that you can apply for with just your Residence Card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u25a0 Common Problems Foreigners Face<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When trying to get a SIM card in Japan, you might run into<br>these issues:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u30fbApplication forms are only in Japanese<br>\u30fbMany carriers require a Japanese credit card<br>\u30fbSome services reject foreign applicants<br>\u30fbIt&#8217;s unclear what documents are needed<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The SIM cards on this page were chosen specifically to solve<br>these problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u25a0 SIM Cards You Can Apply for with a Residence Card<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Dare Demo Mobile (\u3060\u308c\u3067\u3082\u30e2\u30d0\u30a4\u30eb)<br>Monthly fee: From \u00a52,178 (unlimited calls + 3GB)<br>Credit check: None<br>English support: Yes<br>Why we recommend it: No credit check required. Anyone with<br>a photo ID and a Japanese bank account can apply. One of the<br>most foreigner-friendly SIM cards in Japan.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rakuten Mobile (\u697d\u5929\u30e2\u30d0\u30a4\u30eb)<br>Monthly fee: From \u00a51,078 (up to 3GB)<br>Credit check: Yes (relatively easy to pass)<br>English support: Yes<br>Why we recommend it: English-speaking staff available at<br>some stores. Online application accepted. Residence Card<br>accepted for identity verification.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>IIJmio<br>Monthly fee: From \u00a5850 (2GB plan)<br>Credit check: Yes<br>English support: Partial<br>Why we recommend it: One of the cheapest options available.<br>Simple application process. Popular among long-term residents.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>\u25a0 Comparison Table<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Service | Monthly Fee | Credit Check | English Support | Foreigner-Friendly<br>Dare Demo Mobile | \u00a52,178~ | None | Yes | \u2605\u2605\u2605<br>Rakuten Mobile | \u00a51,078~ | Yes | Yes | \u2605\u2605\u2605<br>IIJmio | \u00a5850~ | Yes | Partial | \u2605\u2605\u2606<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u25a0 Top 3 SIM Cards for Foreigners<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1 Dare Demo Mobile<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p>No credit check. English support available. Only requires<br>a photo ID and Japanese bank account. Best choice if you<br>just arrived in Japan and don&#8217;t have a credit card yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2 Rakuten Mobile<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p>Only \u00a51,078\/month for up to 3GB. English-speaking store<br>staff available. Great if you want in-person support during<br>the application process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3 IIJmio<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p>Starting from \u00a5850\/month \u2014 one of the lowest prices in Japan.<br>Best for those who are comfortable with online procedures<br>and want to keep costs down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u25a0 How to Apply: Step-by-Step (Dare Demo Mobile)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Step 1: Visit the official website<br>Step 2: Choose your plan (Unlimited calls + 3GB recommended)<br>Step 3: Prepare your ID (Residence Card or Passport)<br>Step 4: Enter your Japanese bank account details<br>Step 5: Submit your application<br>Step 6: Receive your SIM card by mail (approx. 3\u20135 business days)<br>Step 7: Insert the SIM and complete the activation process<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u25a0 Frequently Asked Questions<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Q: Can I apply with just a passport?<br>A: For Dare Demo Mobile, you need both a passport and<br>Residence Card. If you are on a tourist visa, we recommend<br>a prepaid SIM instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Q: Can I apply without a credit card?<br>A: Yes. Dare Demo Mobile accepts payment via Japanese<br>bank account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Q: Can I apply in English?<br>A: Dare Demo Mobile and Rakuten Mobile both offer English<br>support. The application forms are in Japanese, but you<br>can follow the step-by-step guide on this page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Q: How long does it take to receive the SIM?<br>A: Usually 3\u20135 business days after your application<br>is approved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u25a0 Summary<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Getting a SIM card in Japan is easier than you think \u2014<br>as long as you choose the right provider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u30fbNo credit check, apply today \u2192 Dare Demo Mobile<br>\u30fbEnglish support at the store \u2192 Rakuten Mobile<br>\u30fbLowest monthly cost \u2192 IIJmio<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Pick the plan that fits your situation and get connected<br>from day one in Japan!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links.<br>If you sign up through our links, we may receive a<br>commission at no extra cost to you. All recommendations<br>are honest and independent.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Are you new to Japan and confused about how to get a SIM card? Signing up for a phone plan in Japan can feel o [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[34],"tags":[29,28,32,26],"class_list":["post-20","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sim-card","tag-foreigners","tag-mvno","tag-residence-card","tag-sim-card"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/japanstartguide.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/japanstartguide.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/japanstartguide.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/japanstartguide.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/japanstartguide.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=20"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/japanstartguide.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21,"href":"https:\/\/japanstartguide.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20\/revisions\/21"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/japanstartguide.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=20"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/japanstartguide.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=20"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/japanstartguide.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=20"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}