How to Get a Japanese Phone Number as a Foreigner (2026)
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In a hurry? Two ways to get a Japanese phone number, and one that won’t work:
- A big carrier (docomo, au, SoftBank): you show your residence card and passport as original documents (docomo doesn’t ask permanent residents for the passport).
- An English-friendly provider (Mobal, Sakura Mobile): you apply online in English. Both accept a passport if you collect in person.
- Not a data-only eSIM: data-only plans don’t come with a phone number.
If you are moving to Japan to study or work, a Japanese mobile number is one of the first things to sort out. Sakura Mobile describes it as the kind of number you need to open a bank account and rent an apartment. This guide explains what you need for a plan with a phone number, what the big Japanese carriers ask for, and how the English-friendly providers Mobal and Sakura Mobile differ. We checked each company’s English pages on October 13 to 18, 2026.
Plans with a Japanese phone number need an ID check
A plan with a phone number is a voice plan, and Japanese providers have to check who you are before they open one. docomo, for example, says Japan’s law on preventing improper use of mobile phones (in effect since April 1, 2006) requires it to confirm your identity with original documents and keep a record. Sakura Mobile also says that, by law, voice SIM cards and eSIMs require an identity check. So whichever route you take, have your ID ready. If you show it in person, at a shop or a pick-up counter, bring the original: docomo, au and SoftBank don’t accept photocopies, and Mobal asks for your actual passport, not a copy or scan.
Route 1: docomo, au or SoftBank
The three big carriers publish their requirements in English. Here is what each one asks a foreign resident to bring for a new contract:
| Carrier | ID for a foreign resident | If your stay ends soon |
|---|---|---|
| docomo | A Japanese driver’s license or My Number Card with your current address, or a residence card and foreign passport (permanent residents don’t need the passport); with the residence card, an extra document unless you pay by credit card or bank card | Less than 3 months left: pay by credit card in your own name |
| au | Residence card and foreign passport, showing your current address | Less than 90 days left: pay by credit card in your own name |
| SoftBank | Residence card and passport, plus proof of your current address if it differs | If your stay ends before the installment period, no installment plan for the phone |
A few more points from their pages:
- Originals only. All three ask for original documents, not photocopies.
- You apply yourself. docomo says a new contract in your own name must be made by you, the subscriber, and au says the person named on the contract must be at the store when signing up.
- Fees and deposits. au charges a ¥3,850 contract fee, added to your first bill, and may ask for a deposit of up to ¥100,000.
- Buying a phone in installments depends on your period of stay: au and SoftBank say you may not get an installment plan if your stay ends before it does.
- Online shops exist, but docomo’s and au’s online-shop guides are in Japanese only, and au’s online shop takes credit cards only.
The big carriers make sense if you already have a residence card with your current address and are comfortable signing up at a shop. For the full lists, see the docomo, au and SoftBank English pages.
Route 2: Mobal or Sakura Mobile (in English)
Mobal and Sakura Mobile both sell monthly plans with a real 070, 080 or 090 number on the Docomo network, and you can apply in English before you arrive. They differ in a few ways that matter when you are new to Japan:
| Mobal | Sakura Mobile | |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest plan with a number | ¥1,430 a month (voice and SMS only); ¥1,650 for 1GB | ¥3,278 a month (5GB) |
| Upfront | ¥4,950 for the SIM or eSIM (eSIM ¥4,455 through our link) | ¥5,500 activation fee |
| With only a passport | Show it when you collect (for delivery, the ID Mobal accepts for your country is shown at checkout) | Collect in person at an airport counter, the Shinjuku office or a partner counter |
| eSIM by email | No (the access code is posted or collected) | Yes, if you apply from inside Japan, pay by card and verify online with a residence card or My Number Card showing your current address |
| Under 18 | No (a parent or guardian can order in their own name) | Yes, with a parental consent form |
| Cash | No (card or PayPal) | Yes, at convenience stores, with a deposit |
| Keeping a number you already have | Only with the latest Voice eSIM | Yes on SIM cards; a separate help page covers eSIM |
Sakura Mobile says you don’t need to be a resident of Japan to apply. For people on a temporary visitor status, its help page also points to its travel plans. Neither company’s pages we checked list which other visa statuses can sign up, so check with them if you are unsure.
See the Mobal eSIM → See Sakura Mobile plans →
For the details of each, see our Mobal guide, our Sakura Mobile guide, and our Mobal vs Sakura Mobile comparison.
Why a data-only travel eSIM won’t give you a number
Airalo’s Japan eSIMs, for example, are listed as data-only, and Sakura Mobile’s own data-only plans don’t include a phone number either. A data-only plan gives you mobile data but no number. If you need a number for SMS codes, or for the bank account and apartment Sakura Mobile mentions, you need a voice plan from one of the routes above.
Which route fits you?
- You already have a residence card with your current address and want a big-carrier plan: visit a docomo, au or SoftBank shop with your residence card and passport.
- You want to sort out your number before you fly: Mobal or Sakura Mobile, collecting at the airport with your passport.
- You need a number but very little data: Mobal’s voice-only plan (¥1,430) or 1GB plan (¥1,650).
- You are under 18, or want to pay in cash: Sakura Mobile, which accepts both (Mobal doesn’t). If you pay in cash, you can’t pick up at the airport.
- Your stay ends within about three months: docomo (under 3 months left) and au (under 90 days left) ask you to pay by credit card in your own name. At au and SoftBank, you may also not get an installment plan for a phone.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a Japanese phone number with just a passport?
Yes, with Mobal or Sakura Mobile, if you collect your SIM or eSIM in person and show your passport. If you want Mobal to deliver instead, it shows the ID it accepts for your country at checkout. docomo, au and SoftBank list a residence card for foreign residents.
What do Japanese mobile numbers start with?
Mobile numbers from Mobal and Sakura Mobile start with 070, 080 or 090.
Do I need a Japanese bank account?
Not for Mobal or Sakura Mobile: Mobal takes cards and PayPal, and Sakura Mobile says you can sign up without one and accepts cards issued outside Japan. At docomo, foreign residents with less than three months left on their stay must pay by credit card in their own name, and au’s online shop takes credit cards only.
Can I keep my number when I switch providers?
Often, yes, through number porting (MNP). Sakura Mobile supports it on SIM cards and needs your MNP number to have more than 8 days left. Mobal supports it only on its latest Voice eSIM.
Final thoughts
Getting a Japanese phone number comes down to your ID and your timing. With a residence card showing your current address and your passport, you can apply at docomo, au or SoftBank. If you want the number arranged in English before you arrive, Mobal and Sakura Mobile both offer that, with a passport accepted at pick-up. If you show your ID in person, bring the original document.
Only visiting for a few weeks and only need data? Our comparison of travel eSIMs for Japan covers data-only options.
