Guide to AT&T International Plans in Japan

There are two international plans offered by AT&T that can be used in Japan.

Unfortunately, many of these options are quite expensive and difficult to recommend.

In this article, we will be breaking down each of AT&T’s international plans as well as introducing a more cost-effective option: prepaid SIM cards for Japan.

Let’s get started.

Table of Contents

1. AT&T International Plans for Japan
2. Who should use AT&T International Plans?
3. If you need unlimited data at a low price, we recommend …
4. Things to check
5. Enjoy your trip to Japan!

1. AT&T International Plans in Japan

Scroll right for more →→

（Excluding Tax）

What do you think? After reviewing the above, you may have some questions about how the fees are calculated.

Using the International Day Pass, you can use your current AT&T plan overseas for $10 per day. Even after 10 days, the maximum monthly usage fee for the IDP plan is $100.*

Refer to the following table for examples of how the International Day Pass plan is charged.

Please note that the prices will change depending on whether you use your plan within a month or over a span of several months while overseas.

Using the IDP plan within the monthly billing cycle (e.g., October 1 – 31)

 

Using the IDP plan over a month（e.g., October – November)

 

Let us review some of the above information to get a better idea of the plans AT&T provides and if either suits you.

Do you really need to make phone calls?

Recently, smartphone applications such as Whatsapp, Instagram, FaceTime, etc., have become the means to chat with and call friends and family instead of making traditional phone calls.

Since these applications use data, they can be used overseas as long as you have access to the internet.

Data-only services may be all you need unless you need a local Japanese phone number for work, etc.

Are these good prices?

As you can see, the AT&T international plans may not be considered affordable and are quite confusing. The cost will be even higher if you go overseas for over a month.

There are numerous providers that sell prepaid SIM cards for usage in Japan that are about half the price of AT&T’s plans, with some even offering options for unlimited data.

AT&T’s International Plans are convenient because you can use your phone without taking out and switching the SIM card. However, it should be noted that this convenience also comes at a steep price.

↑ Go back to the table of contents

2. Who should use AT&T International Plans?

To summarize, we can recommend AT&T’s International Plans to individuals who fit the following criteria:

On the other hand, these are the people to whom we cannot recommend AT&T International Plans:

If you want to save money or are fine with just using data, then buying a prepaid SIM card for the country you visit may be the best option.

If you order online before your trip, you can even pick up your SIM card at the airport. This convenient option will get you online as soon as you arrive in Japan.

Out of all the carriers that sell SIM cards to travelers, we recommend Sakura Mobile.

↑ Go back to the table of contents

3. Sakura Mobile is recommended if you need unlimited data at a reasonable price

Sakura Mobile is the provider we recommend for your SIM card needs. Over the years, Sakura Mobile has served thousands of visitors to Japan. With over 3,000 customer reviews and an average rating of 4.7/5, Sakura Mobile has gained a reputation among travelers for having reliable service and great support.

Aside from airport pickup, Sakura Mobile can also deliver the order to your hotel and residence in Japan, or you can pick up your product directly from the Tokyo office.

Currently, Sakura Mobile offers a campaign on travel SIM cards that will get you free shipping. Be sure to take advantage of it while it is still available!

↑ Go back to the table of contents

4. Things to check

Is your phone compatible with Japanese frequency bands?

Before leaving for Japan, you need to make sure your phone is compatible with Japan’s cellular frequency bands. This is something that you need to check regardless of whether you are using AT&T or Sakura Mobile.

Devices that will work with Sakura Mobile SIM cards can be found here.

• Sakura Mobile SIM card device compatibility

If you cannot find your device on the above page, please feel free to contact us with any questions. Our customer support team will get back to you by the next day.

↑ Go back to the table of contents

5. Enjoy your trip to Japan!

Eating traditional Japanese foods, staying at Japanese-style inns, and visiting shrines and temples might just be a few of the exciting things you plan to do while traveling to Japan.

However, if you cannot use your phone for even a little bit, there is a significant chance that things might go wrong.

The people in Japan are kind and will help you if you need assistance, but a good percentage of the population does not speak English well. If you cannot navigate using your phone, it might be difficult just to find your hotel.

To be as safe as possible and enjoy your trip to the fullest, we recommend getting Sakura Mobile’s unlimited data SIM card.

Thank you for reading, and best of luck!

↑ Go back to the table of contents