Japan SIM Card for Tourists: What You Can Buy, Where, and for How Much
You land in Japan, your phone shows no data, and the train route you meant to look up won't load. Here is the short answer on a Japan SIM card for tourists. Almost everything sold to visitors is data only, with no Japanese phone number. Two of the four big networks sell their own visitor product: KDDI sells povo2.0 Japan SIM at LAWSON convenience stores and online, and SoftBank sells a Prepaid SIM for Travel. We found no visitor SIM on NTT docomo's own site.
In short:
- Tourist SIMs in Japan are mostly data only. A Japanese number usually means a rental phone.
- KDDI's povo2.0 Japan SIM launched at about 14,600 LAWSON stores in July 2025, from ¥2,200 for 3 GB and 7 days, cash only.
- SoftBank's travel SIM is a plastic card for unlocked phones, and it takes only your original passport.
- If your phone supports eSIM and is unlocked, you can set up data at home. Our Japan plans start at $4 for 1 GB and 7 days (price on November 3, 2026).
Japan eSIM from $4Install at home, connect when you land.See plans
Moosetrip sells eSIMs, and we have not tested these networks or stores. Facts come from the pages under Sources. Dollars use a rough ¥150 to $1.
Data only or a Japanese number
Visitors pick from two kinds of products:
- Data only. Mobile internet, no Japanese number. This is what KDDI, SoftBank, and IIJmio sell to tourists.
- A voice rental. A rented phone or line is the usual way a short-stay visitor gets a Japanese number.
ID rules are tightening: data SIMs come under ID checks by late May 2027, as our Haneda Airport SIM card guide explains.
Your US number can stay on as a second line, so bank codes still reach you. See how to keep your US number abroad.
What each Japanese network sells to tourists
Japan has four mobile networks: NTT docomo, KDDI (au), SoftBank, and Rakuten Mobile. Here is what we found on their own sites, checked November 3, 2026.
| Network | Visitor product | Where to buy | SIM type |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDDI (au) | povo2.0 Japan SIM | LAWSON stores, or online | eSIM |
| SoftBank | Prepaid SIM for Travel | SoftBank shops, electronics stores, airport counters | Plastic SIM |
| NTT docomo | None found | Not listed | Not listed |
| Rakuten Mobile | No visitor page found | Ask at its Narita counter | Not listed |
KDDI: povo2.0 Japan SIM
KDDI started selling povo2.0 Japan SIM on July 1, 2025, at about 14,600 LAWSON stores. You take the card to the register, name your plan, and pay in cash. Then you scan the QR code on the back and enter the PIN. That sets up the eSIM built into your phone, in as little as 3 minutes by KDDI's own measure. It runs on the au network.
On August 28, 2025, KDDI added an online version, called Japan SIM. You download the eSIM while you prepare for the trip, so data can work when you land. JR East's Welcome Suica Mobile app also links to it.
Launch prices, tax included:
| Where | Plan | Price |
|---|---|---|
| LAWSON | 3 GB, 7 days | ¥2,200 (about $15) |
| LAWSON | 10 GB, 30 days | ¥3,280 (about $22) |
| LAWSON | Unlimited, 7 days | ¥4,500 (about $30) |
| Online | 1 GB, 3 days | ¥300 (about $2) |
| Online | 10 GB, 15 days | ¥1,750 (about $11.70) |
| Online | 20 GB, 30 days | ¥2,700 (about $18) |
| Online | Unlimited, 3 days | ¥1,540 (about $10.30) |
Both releases say the lineup may change. We could not open a current price list on povo's site, and the online release doesn't say which cards it takes. Treat these as launch prices.
The LAWSON card is not a plastic SIM, so your phone must support eSIM. KDDI doesn't mention unlocking, so check that your phone isn't locked to your US carrier.
At launch prices, povo's online plans cost less than ours at 10 GB and 20 GB. If they still hold and take your card, that is a good deal.
SoftBank: Prepaid SIM for Travel
SoftBank's page sets the rules:
- It is a plastic SIM, data only. "Voice calling is not available."
- You must be 18 or older, and only your original passport is accepted. You register online with a photo of it.
- It works only on SIM-lock-free phones.
- It is sold at SoftBank shops, consumer electronics stores, and SoftBank rental counters at airports.
The retailer sets the price. SoftBank also stopped taking orders for its 500 MB add-on, priced at ¥1,650, on February 18, 2025. When your data runs out, you buy a new SIM.
Apple says iPhone 14 and later models bought in the US are eSIM only, so this card won't fit them.
docomo, Rakuten Mobile, and IIJmio
We found no visitor SIM on docomo's own site on November 3, 2026.
Rakuten Mobile has a counter at Narita Terminal 1, as our Narita guide shows. We found no visitor product page on Rakuten's site, so ask there what it sells.
IIJmio, a smaller brand, sells a Japan Travel SIM. Our Narita guide covers its plans. We found no prices on its pages.
Japan SIM card with unlimited data
The unlimited options we could confirm:
- povo: 7 days for ¥4,500 at LAWSON, or 24 hours for ¥660 and 3 days for ¥1,540 online, at launch. KDDI notes speeds may drop when the network is busy.
- IIJmio: unlimited plans for 10, 15, or 31 days, per its site on October 30, 2026. Prices not confirmed.
- Pocket Wi-Fi: routers sold as unlimited. Our pocket Wi-Fi vs eSIM comparison runs the costs for 1, 2, and 4 people.
We don't sell unlimited. Our largest Japan plan is 20 GB for 30 days. As a generous rule of thumb, 1 GB is about 5 hours of maps and taxi apps, or 1.5 hours of video calls.
Where to buy a prepaid SIM in the city
- LAWSON stores for the povo card. Bring cash.
- SoftBank shops and electronics stores for SoftBank's SIM. Bring your passport.
- Bic Camera and Yodobashi Camera. The Japan National Tourism Organization names these megastores for SIM cards and says your phone must be unlocked. Its page has no date, so ask about stock.
At the airports, Narita lists SIM machines in all three terminals, with most counters closing at 9:00 p.m. In Haneda's Terminal 3, two counters sell SIMs until 11:00 p.m. Our Narita and Haneda guides list them by floor.
What US carriers charge in Japan
Roaming keeps your US number working as usual, but data costs more.
| Carrier | Daily option | Longer trips | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verizon | TravelPass, $12 a day, 5 GB high-speed per session | $100 monthly plan, 20 GB | October 30, 2026 |
| AT&T | Day Pass, $12 a day | At most 10 daily fees per line per bill period | October 31, 2026 |
| T-Mobile | Not checked | Not checked | Site returned an error |
A 7-day trip comes to $84 on either pass. Without a pass, Verizon charges $2.05 per MB in Japan. AT&T's page doesn't list countries, so confirm Japan. The math is in our Verizon TravelPass and AT&T Day Pass guides.
T-Mobile's pages returned an error to us on November 3, 2026, so we quote no T-Mobile price. Check your plan in its app before you fly.
Coverage and 5G in Japan
Japan's communications ministry published its latest 5G figures on July 27, 2026. At the end of March 2026, 5G reached 98.6% of the population nationwide, and 89.2% to 99.9% by prefecture. The summary gives no per-network split. The target is 99% in every prefecture by 2030.
Population coverage counts where people live, not every mountain trail. We found no 2025 or 2026 figures by network.
Our Japan eSIM lists NTT docomo, Rakuten Mobile, KDDI/au, and SoftBank. For the SoftBank bands a US iPhone uses, see our Japan and Korea eSIM guide.
When an eSIM is simpler, and when you don't need one
An eSIM from home fits if your phone supports eSIM and is unlocked. Check your phone here. You install it at home over Wi-Fi with a QR code. Days count from your first connection in Japan. Your US number stays on as a second line, and you can add data to the same eSIM.
Our Japan prices on November 3, 2026:
| Data | Days | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | 7 | $4 |
| 3 GB | 30 | $7.50 |
| 5 GB | 30 | $10.50 |
| 10 GB | 30 | $17 |
| 20 GB | 30 | $28 |
All plans are on the Japan page.
You may not need ours if:
- Your plan covers Japan. Verizon Unlimited Ultimate includes data in 210+ destinations, with 15 GB of high-speed data a month. Check that Japan is on the list.
- You want unlimited data, or povo's online plans still cost less when you buy.
- Your phone has no eSIM. If it is unlocked and has a SIM tray, SoftBank's SIM fits. If not, look at pocket Wi-Fi or roaming.
- You need a Japanese number. Our eSIMs are data only, so ask about a rental phone.
Questions
Can I get a Japanese phone number as a tourist?
Usually through a rental phone. The visitor SIMs from KDDI and SoftBank are data only.
Do I need a passport to buy a SIM card in Japan?
For SoftBank's travel SIM, yes, the original only. KDDI's povo releases don't mention ID. Carry your passport anyway.
Where can I buy a prepaid SIM card in Tokyo?
At LAWSON, SoftBank shops, Bic Camera, and Yodobashi Camera, plus both airports.
Is there a Japan SIM card with unlimited data?
Yes. povo and IIJmio both list unlimited plans.
Sources
- povo2.0 Japan SIM at LAWSON, KDDI, dated 2025-06-26, checked 2026-11-03
- Japan SIM online, KDDI, dated 2025-08-26, checked 2026-11-03
- Prepaid SIM for Travel, SoftBank, notice dated 2025-02-18, checked 2026-11-03
- 5G deployment, end of FY2025, Japan's communications ministry, dated 2026-07-27, checked 2026-11-03
- Wi-Fi in Japan, JNTO, checked 2026-11-03
- Mobile phone fraud law report, Japan's communications ministry, dated 2026-08-03, checked 2026-11-01
- Which type of SIM your iPhone uses, Apple, dated 2026-10-22, checked 2026-10-30
- International travel plans, Verizon, checked 2026-10-30
- International services and pricing, Verizon, dated 2026-10-08, checked 2026-10-30
- International Day Pass, AT&T, checked 2026-10-31
- International Day Pass details, AT&T, updated 2026-03-02, checked 2026-10-31
- Japan Travel SIM, IIJmio, checked 2026-10-30