- A Japanese phone number is the master key, banks, apartments, and utilities all want one. Get it in your first few days.
- Sakura Mobile and Mobal are foreigner-friendly SIMs that set up before you have a Japanese bank account (they take foreign cards), the fix for the chicken-and-egg problem. Switch to a cheaper MVNO later.
- Electricity is deregulated (pick a cheaper provider, activates same/next day), but gas needs a technician appointment, book it before move-in or no hot water night one.
- Home fibre takes 2–4 weeks to install, bridge with pocket WiFi. Many share houses include internet.
- Set up Suica/PASMO + PayPay to go nearly cashless; pay utilities by bank auto-debit (口座振替).
Get a phone number first
A Japanese mobile number is the master key to everything else, bank accounts, apartment applications, utility signups, delivery slips, and most app registrations want one. Prioritise it in your first few days. You'll generally need your Residence Card and often a Japanese payment method, which creates a chicken-and-egg with the bank account. The fix is a foreigner-friendly SIM that accepts a foreign card (below).
Carriers vs cheap SIMs
| Option | Cost/mo | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Big 3 (docomo, au, SoftBank) | ¥5,000–9,000 | Max coverage, phone financing, family plans |
| Sub-brands (ahamo, povo, LINEMO) | ¥2,000–3,000 | Same networks, online-only, simpler |
| MVNO / cheap SIM (IIJmio, mineo, Rakuten Mobile) | ¥1,000–3,000 | Domestic value once you have a bank account |
| Foreigner MVNOs (Sakura Mobile, Mobal) | ¥2,000–4,000 | Week one, English support, no Japanese bank needed |
Foreigner-friendly SIMs (the week-one fix)
Sakura Mobile and Mobal specialise in foreigners: English support and signup, they accept foreign credit cards (so you don't need a Japanese bank yet), and they can arrange a SIM for airport pickup or delivery to your first address. Slightly pricier than a domestic MVNO, but they dissolve the chicken-and-egg problem. Once you have a bank account, you can port your number (MNP) to a cheaper domestic MVNO if you want to cut cost.
eSIM & arrival connectivity
For the literal first hours, a travel eSIM (Airalo, Ubigi, or a Sakura/Mobal eSIM) gives you data from the moment you land, before you've sorted a real plan. Handy for maps, translation, and calling your share house/landlord on day one. Make sure your phone is carrier-unlocked before you fly.
Home internet, fibre vs pocket WiFi
Fixed fibre (光, hikari) is fast and cheap (~¥4,000–6,000/month) but installation can take 2–4 weeks and sometimes needs landlord permission to run the line. Bridge the gap with a pocket WiFi or home router (WiMAX, Rakuten) usable from day one. Many apartments and most share houses include internet, check before arranging your own, and check whether the building is already wired for a specific provider (it speeds installation).
Electricity (deregulated, choose cheap)
The electricity market is deregulated: you can pick a provider rather than defaulting to the regional monopoly. Beyond TEPCO/Kansai Electric etc., cheaper alternatives like Looop, ENEOS Denki, and au Denki often cut bills. Activation is usually same/next day via a web form or phone call, there's a breaker you flip in the new apartment to start service.
Gas, the appointment you must book
Water & the move-in card
Water is run by the municipality. Usually you just submit the move-in postcard left in the apartment or call the local water bureau; service is rarely an issue and often already on. Billing is typically every two months.
Paying bills (auto-debit, konbini, card)
Three ways: auto-debit from your bank (口座振替), set-and-forget; konbini payment, take the paper slip to any convenience store; or credit-card autopay once you have a card. Auto-debit is the least effort once your bank account is live.
The NHK question
A collector for NHK (public broadcaster) may knock asking you to pay the receiving fee if you have a TV-capable device. The legal situation is nuanced and much-debated among foreigners; many people handle it by simply not owning a TV/tuner. Know that the knock will come and decide your approach; you're not obliged to sign anything on the spot.
Suica/PASMO & QR pay
Get a Suica or PASMO immediately (or add Suica to Apple Wallet / a Google phone). Tap it for trains, buses, konbini, vending machines, and many shops; top up with cash at any station machine or auto-charge from a linked card. Add PayPay (QR pay) once you have a bank account or card, between the two you can go nearly cashless.
The smart setup order
- Land → travel eSIM for instant data; keep Residence Card on you.
- Ward office → address registered (jūminhyō, My Number).
- Phone via a foreigner-friendly SIM (Sakura/Mobal), works before a bank account.
- Bank account (now you have address + phone).
- Utilities to auto-debit; book the gas appointment; order fibre (bridge with pocket WiFi).
- Add Suica + PayPay; optionally port to a cheaper MVNO later.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a phone number in Japan as a new arrival?
Use a foreigner-friendly SIM, Sakura Mobile or Mobal. They offer English support and signup, accept foreign credit cards (so you don't need a Japanese bank account yet), and can arrange a SIM for airport pickup or delivery to your first address. This solves the chicken-and-egg problem where a bank wants a phone but a normal carrier wants a bank. Once you have a bank account, you can port your number to a cheaper domestic MVNO.
Can I set up a phone before I have a Japanese bank account?
Yes, that's exactly what Sakura Mobile and Mobal are for. They accept foreign payment cards, so you can get connected in week one before your bank account is open. For the literal first hours after landing, a travel eSIM (Airalo, Ubigi) gives you data immediately for maps and translation, just make sure your phone is carrier-unlocked before you fly.
How do I turn on electricity, gas, and water in a Japanese apartment?
Electricity is deregulated, pick a provider (cheaper options like Looop or ENEOS Denki beat the regional default) and it activates same/next day via web form. Gas requires a technician visit to turn it on and check appliances, so you must be home, book it before move-in day. Water is run by the municipality; submit the move-in card or call. Pay all of them by bank auto-debit (口座振替) or at any konbini.
How long does home internet take to set up in Japan?
Fixed fibre (光, hikari) is fast and cheap (~¥4,000–6,000/month) but installation takes 2–4 weeks and may need landlord permission to run the line. Bridge the gap with a pocket WiFi or home router (WiMAX, Rakuten) usable from day one. Many apartments and most share houses already include internet, check before arranging your own.
Recommended next steps
Estimate your move
Upfront costs are the big surprise. Get a number first.