2026 Comparison
Side-by-side comparison of Japan's most popular mobile plans. Find out which SIM card is right for you.
These voice-and-data plans are available to foreign residents in Japan, subject to each carrier’s identity verification and payment requirements. Rakuten, ahamo and LINEMO bill monthly; povo has a ¥0 base fee with separately purchased data toppings. Prices are in Japanese Yen (tax included), before optional discounts; additional charges may apply.
| Rakuten Mobile Our Pick | ahamo | LINEMO | povo 2.0 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Network | Rakuten / au | NTT docomo | SoftBank | au (KDDI) |
| Monthly Price | ¥1,078 (~3 GB) ¥2,178 (3~20 GB) ¥3,278 (20 GB~) |
¥2,970 (30 GB) ¥4,950 (110 GB) |
¥990 (~3 GB) ¥2,090 (3~10 GB) ¥2,970 (30 GB) |
¥990 (3 GB/30 days) Pay-as-you-go toppings |
| Unlimited Data | ✓ ¥3,278/mo | ✗ Max 110 GB | ✗ Max 30 GB | ● 24hr pass ¥330 |
| Domestic Calls | ✓ Unlimited free (via Rakuten Link app) |
5 min/call free then ¥22/30sec |
Best Plan: ¥22/30sec Best Plan V: 5 min free |
¥22/30sec (paid add-on available) |
| Overseas Roaming | ✓ 2 GB free 100+ countries |
✓ Up to 30 GB, shared with domestic data 91 countries & regions; slower after 15 days |
● Available (paid) | ● Paid data toppings 160+ countries & regions |
| eSIM | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cancellation Fee | Within 1 year: up to ¥1,078 | Within 1 year: ¥1,100 | Within 12 months: Best Plan ¥990 / V ¥1,100 |
✓ None |
| English Support | ✓ Website & app | ✗ Japanese only | ✗ Japanese only | ● Partial |
| Physical Shops | ✓ Nationwide | ● Paid docomo shop support | ✗ Online only | ✗ Online only |
| Sign-up Bonus | ✓ 14,000 points for MNP 11,000 for new sign-ups |
● dPoints (campaigns) | ● PayPay points (campaigns) | ✗ |
| Best For | Overall best for newcomers | Heavy data users who speak Japanese |
Light users who mainly use LINE |
Tech-savvy users who want flexibility |
The best choice for newcomers to Japan. It's the only carrier with English support, physical shops where you can get help, unlimited free calls, and unlimited data at a reasonable price. Auto-adjusting pricing means you never overpay. Plus, earn 14,000 Rakuten Points for MNP transfers or 11,000 points for other new sign-ups via referral.
ahamo includes up to 30 GB of overseas data in 91 countries and regions, shared with your domestic allowance. After 15 days abroad, speed is limited to 128 kbps. The current 30 GB plan costs ¥2,970/month. Online procedures and chat support are primarily in Japanese; docomo shops offer paid application and procedure support. See the December 2026 change notice above.
LINEMO is a strong low-cost option if you use LINE a lot. The current lineup goes from ¥990 for 3 GB to ¥2,970 for 30 GB, and Best Plan V includes 5-minute domestic calls. But no English support and everything is online.
Buy data toppings as needed with a ¥0/month base fee and speeds up to 128 kbps without a data topping. Overseas data requires a separate topping. 180-day inactivity rules apply: without paid toppings or qualifying usage, service may be suspended and eventually cancelled. Procedures are online, and some English website information is available.
Yes. You can switch using MNP (Mobile Number Portability) to keep your number. For new sign-ups today, early cancellation fees apply: Rakuten up to ¥1,078 within one year; ahamo ¥1,100 within one year; LINEMO ¥990 (Best Plan) or ¥1,100 (Best Plan V) within 12 months. povo has no cancellation fee. Exceptions and rules for older contracts differ; check the official terms linked below.
Coverage depends on your address, building, device and local network conditions. ahamo uses docomo, LINEMO uses SoftBank, and povo uses au. Rakuten uses its own network and au partner coverage in designated areas. Check each carrier’s coverage map for the places you use most; no carrier is best everywhere.
Yes — you need one for banking, utilities, apartment contracts, and daily life in Japan. All four carriers provide a Japanese number (080/090/070).
Check your exact phone model on the carrier’s official compatibility list, including supported bands, voice calling and eSIM. An unlocked phone or eSIM support alone does not guarantee compatibility. Activation time depends on identity verification, application processing and any MNP transfer.
Sign up through my referral link and earn 14,000 points for MNP transfers or 11,000 points for other new sign-ups!
Sign Up with Referral Link →Rakuten · Rakuten — Cancellation Fee · ahamo · ahamo — Cancellation Fee · LINEMO · LINEMO — Cancellation Fee · povo — Overseas Roaming · povo — 180 days
Plan details checked on October 3, 2026. Current standard prices are shown; the announced December ahamo changes are noted above. Plans, fees and campaigns can change — check the official sources before signing up.
This is an independent referral comparison for newcomers to Japan.