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Prepaid SIM cards for travelers and short stays?

So! I'm revisiting this thread because I'm heading back to Japan later this year for a few months and I would like to stay connected while I'm there. I have AT&T here in the states, but their roaming plans are ridiculous, the prices are in addition to regular monthly fee, and they're limiting the data, which is really what I need the phone for in the first place. Definitely won't be doing that. (they apparently piggyback on NTT docomo and Softbank's infrastructure.

Fortunately, I have an old Galaxy S3 that should serve, the question is, is B-Mobile still the best option for a travelers who need data? Between Line, Viber, Skype, Google Voice and Facebook, a phone number seems pretty moot.
 
Hmm Japan has been coming out with a lot of MVNOs recently for prepaid data, not much on the voice front, although some of them have IP numbers available (starts with 050). If you're here for 3 or 6 months I know that So-Net does a 90 and 180 day sim, the data goes up to 12gb for the 180 there isn't much in terms unlimited data unless you go one of the contract rates, there are a couple that do 1 year contracts that include data and then the cancellation fee is like 1.5-2months. Anyways the So-Net info is Prepaid LTE SIM | So-net and then the 180 day prepaid sim is actually kinda hidden on Amazon here Amazon.co.jp： Prepaid LTE SIM プラン12G 標準SIM版: 家電・カメラ there are a few other companies now doing the Prepaid sim system even Book-Off is doing something. OCN-Net and IIJ as well, I believe all of these are MVNOs for NTT Docomo and they include their Xi LTE network.
 
Thanks for the update, @cewong2! I'm glad to hear there's been some development in this area. I remember B-Mobile was talking about updating their plans for visitors, about 6 months after my last trip there haha. Sounds like So-Net has a solid following, and seems like it could be the best option for data plans right now. I can just buy the sim now and then activate on arrival? (assuming I can get them to ship it to the states... or just have a friend in Japan order it for me and pick it up on arrival)
 
I'm not sure on the delivery, but like all pre-paid I'm sure you can get it in hand and activate when you arrive, I think it activates when you basically connect to the network, and then would like you to register some information if I rememeber correctly when my friend did it. But she bought the one you can buy in the store (they do up to 3 month ones in stores). I've never done the 6month one so I'm not too sure.

It's Amazon, so I'm pretty sure you can get them to ship it to you in the states, you may even be able to find it on the US site, but it might be at a premium, so shipping to a friend might be easier haha. Also your US Amazon account won't work with the Japanese Amazon store.
 
SOLUTION

I echo the sentiment of OP: in Thailand, Korean, Cambodia, Philippines, Indonesia, China, Singapore, Taiwan, you can get a fully working SIM card either within 5 minutes of arriving in the airport or upon visiting a convenience store, complete with calls and internet; in Japan...

Why?
システムは正しいだから, システムは正しいだ
Apparently in Japan banning prepaid phone numbers to tourists stops crime dead in it's tracks. Quite comedic.

By far the easiest and most acceptably priced option for new arrivals I have found is:
  • Buy an econnect prepaid SIM card, which is restricted to data-only (obviously due to a law, not due to the company). Website: Prepaid Data SIM Card - eConnect Japan . I use the "3GB for 1 month" one (the biggest), works very well. They mail it direct to your hotel/hostel, and there is also an airport pickup option.
  • Get the Skype app for your phone, and buy some credit. I vaguely remember adding $15 a long time ago, and it still hasn't run out. Skype calls work fine over the above SIM card.
  • Get a local Japanese Skype number. Skype asks you "are you a resident of Japan?" before you can continue, but that is the sum total of their "residence check". The number-rental cost is so small I forget how much it was.
  • Done.
The only caveat is the awkward recharge method each month. You have to go to the 'topup request' form on their website (which you won't be able to access if your credit has run out) and send a request. They then email you a paypal link to pay the fee. I'm not sure why they don't just allow this to be automated, but I'm guessing there is some statute involved.
 
I used it in the US for my mom since she just needed an emergency phone. When you sign up there are lots of upsells but it does what it says. The network coverage didn't work for my mom, though. Basically nowhere in the area in which she lives did we get enough signal for it to be usable, much less near her home.
 
Ahh I see, that makes sense. Too bad it's too good to be true, thank you for sharing your experience Wonko. Are you in Vietnam now??
 
nice gaijin said:
Ahh I see, that makes sense. Too bad it's too good to be true, thank you for sharing your experience Wonko. Are you in Vietnam now??
Click to expand...
If might work if you're in an area in which the network is solid. I'm sure they piggyback off of some network but I don't know which one.

I'm just over here doing a couple of weeks of volunteer work in a clinic and university. I'll be back in Tokyo at the beginning of August.
 
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