How we compare
We ask the same five questions about every plan, in the same order. The first three decide whether you can sign up at all. The fourth tells you what it costs to leave early. Price comes last.
On this page
At a glance
- Questions we ask
- 5, in the same order for every plan
- The first three
- Decide whether you can sign up at all
- Prices shown
- Monthly, tax incl., before discounts
- Information from
- Each provider’s official website
Apply in English
Can you sign up, get help, and read your bills in English?
We look at three stages separately: the sign-up page, customer support, and bills / My Page. A provider can have an English sign-up page and still send bills only in Japanese, so we show each stage.
Services you can only sign up for in Japanese are listed too, marked “Japanese only”.
Residence card only
Can you finish the online application with just your residence card (在留カード)?
Some providers ask for extra documents or a Japanese bank account on top of your residence card (在留カード). We note whether the residence card alone is enough to apply online.
We also note whether the new residence cards issued from 14 Jun 2026 are accepted, as stated on the provider’s official website.
Foreign-issued card
Can you pay with a credit card issued outside Japan?
If a provider does not accept cards issued abroad, you will need a Japanese card or another payment method before you can sign up.
Minimum contract / cancellation fee
How short can the contract be, and what does it cost to cancel early?
This matters if you might leave Japan or move before the contract ends. We list the shortest contract on offer and the cancellation fee stated by the provider.
Monthly price (tax incl.)
The monthly price in yen, including consumption tax.
We compare price after the four questions above. A cheap plan does not help if you cannot sign up for it. Prices are shown including consumption tax (tax incl.).
Tables sorted by price use the monthly price including tax.
How tables are sorted
Each category uses one fixed order, shown in a line under every table. Monthly prices are compared before any discount, including tax. Rows with the same value are sorted by provider name, A to Z. If a value is marked “Checking”, that row is listed last.
- Mobile & SIM: Monthly price, lowest first
- Fiber internet: Monthly price, lowest first
- Home routers: Monthly price, lowest first
- Pocket Wi-Fi: Provider name, A to Z
Where the information comes from
We take every value from the provider’s official website and note the month above each comparison table. When a value is past its check date, it shows as “Checking”.