The best SIM card for travel abroad from Japan | The real review of Rakuten SAIKYO plan and share the alternatives

 
 

Mobile network service is one of the concerns when you travel overseas.
A stable and reliant network makes your travel more comfortable.

This is an article about Rakuten mobile usage for people living in Japan or Japanese residents who travel abroad.

If you live in other countries, the alternatives, which I shared in “Other SIM cards for alternative” might be more applicable.

*Some of the posts include affiliate links in the blog.

Rakuten mobile is the most convenient and reasonable SIM for tourists from Japan so far

I’ve tried some SIM cards when I travel overseas but Rakuten mobile was the most convenient one so far.
Here are the countries and the regions where I used Rakuten mobile.

I could use the network as usual in Japan in most places.

FYI, you can get 13,000 Rakuten points if you change your carrier but keep the phone number to Rakuten mobile(MNP) for the first time through the following link!

If it’s not MNP, you still can get 6,000 points. Please take advantage of it: )

You can get extra discounts if you are age 22 and under or use Rakuten mobile with your family together!

The best part of Rakuten mobile for travel abroad

The reason why I use Rakuten mobile is the value of the price and the convenience, which is one of the greatest features.

Let’s dig into the details!

 
 

You don’t need to change your SIM card when you move to new countries

You can use roaming in 72 countries and regions seamlessly based on the official information.
It seems Ukraine was also added to the list recently.
Learn more about the detail:
https://network.mobile.rakuten.co.jp/service/global/overseas/

As you see on the official site, you can use this SIM card in most of the countries where people go for a trip.

I know it’s a bit annoying to change the SIM card in every place if you stop over somewhere in transit or visit multiple countries and regions.

In most cases, you need to activate your SIM card at the place after your arrival, and some of them are required to connect to the Wi-Fi.

But you may sometimes face difficulties to connect stable Wi-Fi in some places when you go overseas.

In my case, my phone couldn’t connect to stable Wi-Fi at Gimpo airport, and took some time to activate the SIM card in the past.

I totally can understand going abroad without a stable internet connection makes you feel uncomfortable and stressed.

But Rakuten mobile makes my trips easier as I don’t have to change the SIM card and it doesn’t take my time to prepare the connection.

Besides, I had no issues for using Uber or Grab as I didn’t have to change my phone number.

(I got notices from the apps to change the phone numbers when I changed my SIM card in the past.)

 
 

You can activate it in Japan

As I described above, you can activate a Rakuten mobile SIM card in Japan before you leave.

So you can avoid activation failing on-site when you buy the SIM card.

You’ll be also able to save your time after the arrival and make more time to enjoy!

 
 

You can use 2GB overseas roaming every month

Monthly 2GB overseas roaming is included in the plan when you use Rakuten mobile!

That’s one of the best benefits and a happy thing♪

You can get another 2GB the following month.

So it’s reasonable when you travel somewhere in a golden week (Japanese long holiday).

FYI, I used just 2GB 5 days 4 nights of travel.
*It was almost 3 full days as I arrived there at 10 pm and left at 8 am.

What I used as follows:
・Route and location check by Google map
・Web browsing for research
・See Instagram sometimes

It should be good enough if you don’t watch videos:)

 
 

You can add data only JPY 500 per 1GB

So how it will be after you use all 2GB?
No worries. You can add the data by JPY 500 per 1GB.

You’ll get a notification by mail or banner when the data is below 400MB.
The only thing you need to do is tap the banner, follow the screen, and buy it at My Rakuten mobile link app.

Usually, it takes time and effort to buy the data and keep connection when you use other SIM cards. Sometimes they are not available to purchase additional data and have no language options.

Another good point, especially for Rakuten users, is you can earn Rakuten points when you use Rakuten mobile!

If you don’t want to buy the data, you can still use the internet connection at 128kbps speed when you fully use 2GB.
It takes time to load but I could use Google map at least!
(I couldn’t see the video though.)

Besides, the following SIM cards, which I introduced in “Other SIM cards”, might not have options for additional data purchase. It would be less stressful if we had options when you use the full data and buy it easily just in case.
(No remarks on the SIM card for Europe, but you can’t add the data for the Asia SIM card at least.)

 
 

You can reduce your baggage

The reason why I don’t carry a Wi-Fi router is it’s not that reasonable but it takes space in my bag.

I want to keep the baggage minimum and travel easily or lightly.

It’s not only for Rakuten mobile but you don’t have to increase your baggage and make it simple when you use a SIM card.

If you’re using Rakuten mobile in Japan too, then you can also avoid the risk that you lose your SIM card that you’re using.

 
 

You can use Hotspot

Not only in Japan, but also you can use Hotspot when you travel abroad!

I could share the internet with my PC.

But it consumes a lot of data and it runs out easily. I do not recommend it if you’re supposed to use it a lot honestly.

But I do recommend having this option for emergencies, so that you can share the internet with someone you travel with.

Side benefit

No data limitation in Japan

This is one of the benefits when you use Rakuten mobile in Japan but you can use data with no limit.

And you can also use Hotspot.

I use Rakuten mobile and share the internet with my PC.

And no further data communication expense, just JPY3,000 in total per month!

FYI, sometimes the connection is bad but it usually recovers when I turn on and off the airplane mode.

The limitless data and 2GB overseas roaming cost only JPY 3,000! That’s such a good deal and great value for the price:)

You need to take care of the international call

I use Rakuten mobile as there are lots of benefits but it would be better to take care of the call service.
The international call includes some paid features even though you use the Rakuten Link app.

You need to pay international call charges(Country/Region Rates) even if you use the Rakuten Link app if you call overseas when you’re not in Japan.
This is applied to both Android and iOS users.
ex) Call to US when you’re overseas via the Rakuten Link app: ¥34/30 seconds

*But it seems they don’t charge when you call from overseas to Japan via the Rakuten Link app.
https://network.mobile.rakuten.co.jp/fee/saikyo-plan/detail/en/#call-02

And you can’t receive incoming calls by Rakuten Link if you use an iPhone.
They charge by Country/Region Rates.
ex) When you receive an incoming call via AT&T line by iPhone in the US: ¥195/minute
https://network.mobile.rakuten.co.jp/guide/international-call/overseas/#global

*It seems they don’t charge you if you receive an incoming call by Android when you in abroad as it can receive an incoming call via Rakuten Link.

FYI, I had to call from the US regarding the insurance treatment last year. It was charged about JPY 1,700(25 minutes call in total)as I called from abroad(out of Japan) to abroad.

But some SIM cards are not available to use call. It is a good thing to have a call option for emergencies.

Other SIM cards for alternative

Now you know the pros and cons of Rakuten mobile. But some people might not be able to use this carrier for some reasons.
So let me share some other SIM cards that I used in the past as follows!

 
 

【ThreeUK Europe】For multiple place prepaid SIM card

You can use this SIM card in 72 countries and regions, mainly in Europe.
The data amount is 10GB and 4G or 3G high-speed data services are available for 30 days from the activated day.

The carrier is “Three”, which is one of the leading telecom companies in the UK.

It seems the SIM renewed from what I used in the past but I could use it when I traveled around Europe via Hong Kong.

Before I used Rakuten mobile, I used the “Three” SIM card mainly for travel abroad.
It was very convenient that I didn’t have to change the SIM card site by site when I was across the borders and didn’t face difficulties using it.

The data amount and available days are also great and the price is around JPY 2,000, which has a good value of the price.
You can contact them by LINE if you have any inquiries. And it seems they are ok with multiple languages.
(I think I couldn’t contact them by LINE a few years ago.)



But please note the following points!

【Personal comment】
I had a transit flight in Hong Kong and this SIM card was also applicable there.
So that was a useful point as I could use both Europe and HK.

I used it for about 2 weeks including the transit but I didn’t use all 10GB.
What I used for is below.
・Google map
・Browsing for research
*Didn’t see the videos without Wi-Fi.

FYI, here’s the rough guide of the 10GB.
900 minutes of video watching by 720p(High image quality) at Youtube.

This is good for the people who will go to Europe and no need to call.
(You can use LINE, WhatsApp, or the same kind of messages service calls.)

【WISE SIM】ThreeUK ヨーロッパ　周遊プリペイドSIM / SIMカード 4G・3Gデータ通信　データ容量10GB 価格：1,900円（税込、送料別) (2024/5/18時点)

 
 

【WISE SIM】For multiple places in Asia(12 countries and regions) 10GB SIM card

You can use this SIM card in 12 countries in Asia.
The conditions are not that different with the above “Three” SIM card.
The data amount is 10GB and 4G or 3G high-speed data services are available for 30 days from the activated day.

You can contact them by LINE if you have inquiries.
The price is JPY 2,500, which is reasonable for the period and the data amount.
My family used it in Korea and Malaysia but it worked well for both countries. (But couldn’t use it in Hong Kong as it is not on the list.)

Please note the following points!

This SIM card is provided by Hong Kong telecom company(UNICOM HK) but HK is not included in their service.
The reason is that complex conditions are required for telecom companies in HK after the return.

If you think about visiting multiple countries and regions including Hong Kong, I believe Rakuten mobile is more convenient.
But this also works well.

【WISE SIM】アジア12ヶ国周遊SIM データ容量10GB 利用期間 30日 4G/3Gデータ通信 プリペイドSIM ローミングSIM SIMピン付 prepaid sim travel ※台湾利用不可 価格：2,500円（税込、送料別) (2024/5/18時点)

Wrap-up

・No data limitation in Japan and 2GB for global roaming is available every month.
・No need to change SIM card
・Additional data purchase is available by ¥500/GB
・Less baggages
・Call is available(Free call is also available under some conditions)

When we take into account for these benefits, I believe Rakuten mobile is pretty convenient and great value for the price.
I keep using Rakuten mobile as long as I don’t find any better services both in Japan and abroad.
If you’re planning to go abroad, I’m happy if this post is useful: )

If you access the following page and start to use Rakuten mobile, you will earn Rakuten points!

You can get extra discounts if you are age 22 and under or use Rakuten mobile with your family together.

It might be useful for a graduation trip and a family trip: )