Guide to Verizon’s International Plans in Japan

There are three types of international plans offered by Verizon that you can use in Japan.

Unfortunately, the fact of the matter is that all of these options are quite expensive and difficult to recommend.

In this article, we will be breaking down each of Verizon’s international plans as well as introducing a more cost-effective and better-performance option: prepaid SIM cards for Japan.

Let’s get started.

Table of Contents

1. Verizon’s International Plans in Japan
2. Who should use Verizon’s International Plans?
3. If you need unlimited data at a cheap price, we recommend …
4. Things to make sure of
5. Enjoy your trip to Japan!

1. Verizon’s International Plans in Japan

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(tax excl.)

*Data speeds are reduced after the first 0.5GB used starting from the beginning of the day. You can purchase additional high-speed data for the remainder of your session. The additional 0.5 GB of data is $10.
**Overages: $0.25/min, $0.05/message, $20/GB

What do you think? The way the fees are calculated is quite complicated, so you might have some questions.

Below is a more detailed table that should make the plans a bit easier to understand. The breakdown is based on the amount of time that you are planning to spend in Japan and includes the amount of data you can use and how much you can expect to pay for it.

(tax excl.)

Below is more information on each point shown in the table.

Is 0.5GB/day enough?

If you refer to the table, you will notice that for Verizon International Plans, the average amount of data available per day is 0.5GB.

(*The amount of data is even less for the International Monthly Plan)

The question then becomes, “Exactly how much data will I need during my trip to Japan?”

For your reference, the following is about how much data you will need to complete different activities on your phone.

If you are only expecting to use Google MAP and send texts during your trip, then 0.5GB a day should definitely be enough.

Conversely, if you are hoping to use your phone for other reasons (researching restaurants and tourist areas, posting pictures on Instagram, etc.), there is a good chance that Verizon’s international roaming plans will not provide enough data.

Are these good prices?

Unfortunately, the international plans that Verizon offers would not be considered cheap.

There are various providers that sell prepaid SIM cards for traveling in Japan for about half the price of Verizon; some even have options for unlimited data.

Verizon’s International Plans are convenient because you are able to use your phone without having to take out and switch the SIM card. However, note that this convenience also comes at a steep price.

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2. Who should use Verizon’s International Plans?

To summarize, we can recommend Verizon’s International Plans to individuals who fit the following criteria:

On the other hand, these are the people to whom we cannot recommend Verizon’s International Plans:

If you are feeling that Verizon’s plans do not have enough data or you want to use more for less money, buying a prepaid SIM card would be the best choice.

If you place an order online in advance, you can even pick up your SIM card at the airport. This is a convenient option that will give you connection as soon as you arrive in Japan.

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

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

Sakura Mobile is the provider that we would 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.

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

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

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4. Things to make sure of

Is your phone compatible with Japanese frequency bands?

Before leaving for Japan, you must ensure your phone is compatible with Japan’s frequency bands. This is something that you need to check regardless of whether you are using Verizon or Sakura Mobile.

The 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.

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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 that you are planning to do while traveling to Japan.

However, if you are unable to use your phone for even a little bit, there is a large chance that things might go wrong.

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

In order to be as safe as possible, we recommend that you get Sakura Mobile’s unlimited data SIM card.

Thank you for reading and best of luck!

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