Mobile phone plans in Japan, explained simply
Getting a phone contract in Japan is not hard. It is just badly explained. These guides walk through the real screens, in order, in five languages β written for people who live here, not for tourists.
People who live in Japan and have a residence card (ε¨ηγ«γΌγ). You need one to sign a phone contract.
If you are visiting Japan for a short trip, you cannot sign a normal contract and these guides will not help you β you want a prepaid or travel data SIM instead.
Start here
The main guide. What documents you need, every step of the application, and the points where people get stuck.
The exact order you must do things inβIf you are using a referral link, the order matters more than anything else. Do it wrong and nobody gets any points.
Referral deadline calculatorβEnter the date you clicked the referral link. Get the exact date and time everything must be finished by.
What you need before you start
- A residence card (ε¨ηγ«γΌγ) that is still valid.
- A Japanese address that matches your card.
- A payment method. A Japanese credit card is easiest. Debit cards and bank transfer are accepted for some plans but not all.
- A Japanese bank account if you are not using a credit card.
- Your MNP reservation number, only if you are keeping your current phone number.
Why this site exists
Most guides about Japanese phone contracts skip the parts where people actually get stuck: what happens when the name on your card does not match your application, why an eSIM fails to activate, and what you have to do after the SIM arrives.
These guides contain a referral link, and we say so plainly on every page that has one.
Updated: 31 July 2026