Japan Prepaid SIM (1GB Data for up to 15 days)

This card is close to half the price on Amazon than at the airport in Japan. The 1gb of data worked best for us since we are not heavy data users. The card was easy to install and for our whole trip (19 days) the data speed was fast (usually LTE but occasionally 3G)If you go past the 15 days you can buy more data to extend the card.We installed the app before traveling to Japan as instructed. The day after we arrived we installed the SIM card with no issues. The app was easy to use and it did the rest of the set up on our iPhones with only a couple prompts. It created a profile which could be found in the "General" settings. This is important because when it comes time to remove the SIM card and replace it with your home SIM card the profile must be removed. Directions to install the SIM were easy to follow and easy to find online however the uninstall directions were not.The app has a helpful meter that shows how much data you have used and how much you have remaining. The path for adding data to the SIM card is direct and simple to follow.We were able to use iMessage several times on our trip with the only issue being the temporary phone number assigned. iOS kept asking if we wanted to add the number to our contacts. Slightly annoying but has nothing to do with the card.We used maps regularly, email and some apps such as Foursquare, Airbnb, Trip advisor and Open Table and some light use of the web. At the end of the trip we had not used all of our data. We did use the wifi at the hotels and the Airbnb places we stayed all had wifi so that helped.One other thing, we also purchased docomo wifi access but found it too difficult to use. Don't waste your money. The docomo wifi access is pretty common however to use it requires logging in every time with a login you cannot set or change so it is hard to remember.We explored several options for wifi access while in Japan and at the end of our trip concluded that the SIM card from eConnect was the most economical, reliable and over all best option. In the future we will go with this SIM card. If you use large amounts of data you might want to consider other options.I have seen some reviews that suggest buying something at the airport (Narita) and I can say definitively that is a bad idea. You will pay close to double than if you buy it before you leave no matter your choice, portable hotspot or SIM card or the company involved. There might be some rare chance that you find some incredible deal but it is a chance not likely to happen often. Consider this; how often do you find inexpensive food at the airport? How often can you get good exchange rates at the airport vs the bank? With a little planning and buying when you have the luxury of taking your time to make a choice will end up costing you a lot less money.If you use a lot of data daily be sure to explore all your options. A few Google searches will give you more than enough information on the different companies. eConnect's prices were not the most competitive in some areas however with this card and the ease of use I feel that if you are going for the low data option they are the best choice.Pros:- Price- Connection speed. We were reliably connected the whole trip and the data speed was fast- Ease of use. We did not spend a lot of time fiddling with settings and passwords. With a couple steps we were up and running- Coverage. We were in the countryside a few times and had coverage. Docomo is the supplier and they are a big provider in Japan.Cons:- The uninstall process was not as well explained.- Currently the app deletes any previous profiles you may have on the iPhone so you will need to replace it after removing the eConnect SIMHow to uninstall if you are curious:1. Go to the app and deactivate the SIM card2. Remove the SIM and replace it with your carrier's SIM3. Go to General Settings and find the profile that says eConnect. Delete it.4. If your carrier automatically sets your APN you don't need to do anything else.5. Get to where you have a wifi connection and go to your carrier's support site. Usually they have a link to download a profile for setup. If that is too confusing you can call and they usually will text you a link to download a profile.

I have been to Japan 3 times in the last 1.5 years and I have found this prepaid SIM card to be one of the best in terms of convenience, service coverage, and price.Convenience: You can use this prepaid SIM card the moment your plane lands in Japan and you can also use it as your plane is preparing for take off. This is because you get the SIM card before you even leave for your trip. Most other services are merely SIM card rentals. You must pick them up at Japanese post offices (or at an airport kiosk) or at your hotel and drop them off at a mailbox just before you enter the security line at the airport. I have used SIM card rentals during my 1st and 2nd trip to Japan, and while the prices were reasonable, I didn't like having to pick them up at the airport post office and mailing them back just before I left Japan.An additional convenience is that this SIM card allows you use your phone as a hotspot device. If it doesn't work right away, give it some time or toggle the hotspot mode on and off a few times. I was able to use my iPad and computer tethered to my iPhone. They certainly don't block you from doing so.Service Coverage: This SIM card uses Japan's best cellular network (NTT DoCoMo). Tokyo is great and all, but I actually spend more time in Japan's smaller towns/cities and rural areas and I have found that NTT has great LTE coverage even in lesser populated areas as well. The only places where service cuts out are in some long train tunnels in rural areas and some forest/mountain areas. If you're only staying in Japan's big cities, don't worry about coverage with this SIM card; it will work just fine everywhere in those areas if your phone has the proper frequency bands.Price: The initial price for the SIM card, SIM ejection tool, and 1 GB of data is reasonable. In my opinion, the price for top-ups are also reasonable.App: I was afraid that the app that is recommended to use with this SIM card would be buggy, but I have found that it works great. It displays your data usage with updates in near real-time, and buying top-ups within the app when my data was running low was super easy. The app also made applying the proper NTT APN an amazingly painless process. Download and install the app before you leave your home country for best convenience to use the SIM card as soon as your plane lands in Japan.The fact that this SIM card does not come with traditional voice minutes or SMS is not a big deal since there are so many VoIP options out there for free calling back home or anywhere else you need to call.Note: If you have an iPhone and you only see "4G" instead of "LTE" displayed when using this SIM card, don't worry, you are still getting LTE speeds. (I don't have the energy to explain why LTE is displayed as only "4G" in Japan and in some other countries outside the USA, so look it up if you really want to know.) If you only see "3G" displayed at all times, that is when you might be concerned that you're not getting the fastest data speeds. Double check your phone's settings and that it has all the proper frequency bands for LTE on Japan's NTT DoCoMo network.Service tested on unlocked American iPhone 6s bought directly from Apple.