My life in Japan blog, “The Wagamama Diaries,” is where I got my start as a full-time content creator. And, now that new arrivals are slowly (but finally) trickling into Japan to start a new chapter of their life, my latest blog post is all about how to get a SIM card/phone service in Japan with JP SMART SIM!
Disclosure: “Staying Connected in Japan With JP Smart SIM” is part of an Instagram campaign sponsored by JP SMART.
What’s a SIM Card & Why Do I Need One For Japan?
A SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card is a tiny, yet indispensable part of your phone. It’s what stores your phone number and allows your phone to access and function on a wireless carrier network. SIM cards make it incredibly easy to transfer your phone number from one phone to another. Meaning, you can use your current phone in Japan simply by switching out your SIM card for a JP SMART SIM!
Why JP SMART SIM?
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As I mentioned earlier, a SIM card is how your phone accesses a mobile carrier’s network. There are 4 major cellular networks in Japan, AU, Softbank, Docomo, and as of recently, Rakuten.
JP SMART SIM uses the Docomo network, which makes up nearly half of Japan’s market share. In fact, Docomo has the most cell towers. (Including the iconic Art Deco NTT Docomo Yoyogi Building in central Tokyo that stores switching equipment for its mobile service).
JP SMART SIM is the most popular SIM card service among foreign nationals according to a survey conducted by the Japan Marketing Research Association (JMRA).
Here are 5 reasons why JP SMART SIM is the best SIM card choice in Japan:
1. Easy online application using your passport or residence card
JP SMART SIM service is available to anyone in Japan, whether you’re here as a tourist or for a few days on business, a short-term* visa holder or long-term visa* holder.
*Yes, I know it’s technically a status of residence and NOT a visa.
All applications completed before 2 PM will be sent out on the same day, with next day delivery in many cases. You can also receive your JP SMART SIM card at your hotel or pick it up at the airport.
2. Choose between long term (call + data/data-only) and short-term (prepaid) plans
JP SMART SIM data plans start at 1,243/month for 3 GB and call plans start at 1,628 yen/month for 3 GB.
3. No binding contract or contract termination fees
A contract administration fee of 3,300 yen (tax included) is required at the time of application.
4. No Credit Card? No Problem!
Getting a credit card in Japan can be a real hassle, but at least with JP SMART SIM you won’t need one to sign up for its services. Use one of the following payment methods:
- SmartPit (Convenience store payment service)
- Direct Debit
- Cash On Delivery (COD) for the initial payment
- WeChat Pay
- Alipay
- UnionPay
5. Multilingual customer support
JP SMART SIM offers customer support in Chinese, English, Japanese, and Vietnamese.
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