English Guide to Y!mobile | Prices, Reviews, and How to Apply

Y!mobile is a low-cost smartphone carrier from SoftBank that has been in operation since 2014. It was born from a merger between two phone carrier brands, eAccess, and Willcom.

You’ve probably seen one of Y!mobile’s 850+ stores throughout Japan, and some of you may be interested in their service. However, as the majority of their website is in Japanese, we decided to write this English guide.

By the end of this article, you should be an expert on; Y!mobile’s plans, costs, what users are saying about the company, and how to apply for a contract.

Let’s get started!

In this article, we’ll cover

1. What is Y!mobile?
2. Pros of Y!mobile
3. Cons of Y!mobile
4. Who we recommend Y!mobile to
5. Comparison with other mobile carriers
6. How to apply
7. If you’re looking for English support with your phone service

1. What is Y!mobile?

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Because Y!mobile is an MVNO (mobile virtual network operator) provided by SoftBank, it uses the same mobile network and has the same coverage. This means that the stability and connectivity of Y!mobile are almost the same as SoftBank’s.

There are 3 main plans that they offer, 3 GB, 15 GB, and 25 GB. If you aren’t looking for a large amount or unlimited data, then signing up for Y!mobile could be a great way to save some money on your monthly plan without sacrificing speed or coverage.

English support is limited, but they do have some stores on U.S. military bases that have English-speaking staff! If you need English support and have access to a U.S. military base, consider making a contract at one of their stores.

If Y!mobile seems interesting, read the pros and cons below before deciding to sign up for a contract.

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2. Pros of Y!mobile

Y!mobile has various advantages compared not only to the larger carriers but also to other MVNOs (mobile virtual network operators). For example….

Lower rates than SoftBank

The plans that are offered by Y!mobile are cheaper than the ones that are offered by their large carrier counterpart, SoftBank. SoftBank’s Mini Fit Plan Plus costs 5,478 JPY for 3GB, but Y!mobile’s Simple S plan is 2,178 JPY for 3GB. If you aren’t looking for unlimited data, Y!mobile will help you save money every month.

ソフトバンクからワイモバイルに変更ー！分割機種代金込みで3000円安くなった上に、家のネットも工事費込みで3000円安くなったヽ(=´▽`=)ﾉ解約代金もキャッシュバックの上に、機種変代も3000円商品券でくれたから300円でできた☺いいことしかない(笑)

— 堀内綾(*´∇｀*) (@aya_476) March 14, 2021

Fast speeds

Y!mobile has a great reputation for its speeds. There are many good comments on Y!mobile’s communication speed, including many that compare it to other companies. It’s a service that is faster than other low-cost smartphones.

ワイモバイル速っ。4Gで100Mbps超えたの初めてかも。 pic.twitter.com/jGzloaDiMX

— どらこい/h+JP (@dracoin) April 1, 2021

You can save money while Yahoo! Shopping

Many Y!mobile users have talked about something that is kind of surprising but super convenient and beneficial. The fact that Y!mobile users have the privilege of becoming Yahoo! Premium members for free, which costs 508 JPY per month (tax included). There are also various cash-back rewards and coupons that you can get! Users who shop online a lot seem to appreciate it.

ワイモバイルにくっついてきたYahooプレミアム会員とYahooショッピングの還元率アップが思った以上に便利で、私がワイモバイルにこだわる理由はそれが大半と言っても良いんだよな。肝心の通信品質に関しても特に問題無いし。

— 紗野誠隆 (@SanoSeiryu) February 1, 2021

Many store locations

One of the unique features of Y!mobile is that you can also sign up for a smartphone or a low-cost SIM and consult with the support staff at a physical store and not just online. If you have any questions or any problems with your data, just pop into one of their many store locations. Note, however, that most stores do not have English-speaking staff.

ワイモバイルならお店もあって安心できると思いますよ！！
ネットとセット、もしくは家族割で2回線目から安くなるので、そこはUQと違うところですね！！

— ちゃまたく☆@iPadボカロ作曲家🎶 (@takutaku_2525) February 13, 2021

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3. Cons of Y!mobile

Some readers may be thinking that Y!mobile seems like a good fit for them and that’s okay! But there are also a few cons that come along when signing up for a service like Y!mobile.

Limited English support

Y!mobile has limited English-language support. They have an English website, but it only explains the plans, and the online application process is only in Japanese.

In addition, after signing a contract, checking the contents of your plan, changing your contract, contacting the company in case of any problems (e-mail, phone, etc.), and any other customer support service will be in Japanese.

Unfortunately, the number of stores that have English-speaking staff is very small.

If Japanese is not your strong suit, we can’t recommend Y!mobile!

There are cheaper SIM plans

Y!mobile has one of the cheapest plans in Japan, but it’s not the cheapest. For example, Rakuten Mobile is cheaper than Y!mobile. There are plenty of cheaper service providers out there, so if cost is your number one concern be sure to check out other carriers. One thing to note is that other cheaper carriers cut costs on their end, so English support is rare and connection speeds may be slow and unstable.

ワイモバイルって他の格安より高いのよね
楽天の０円持ちかUQノ1番ちゃっちいやつにするか

— しん兄 (@shinji_daaaa) February 18, 2022

Bad customer support

Even though there are a lot of store locations, Y!mobile has a reputation for having poor customer service. Many reviews have said that they have had to wait for long periods of time to be helped, and some have even had to wait several hours during busy times. Their customer service support desk may also be difficult to reach during peak hours and during different times of the year. They tend to get busy when new smartphone models become available.

個人の見解だけどワイモバイルは店員は私が店員やった方が売れるんじゃねってくらい無能で無愛想だったので、ドコモに行ったらとても良かったしポインコがめちゃくちゃ可愛いのでドコモに乗り換えて3月になったらそのままアホモだかアハモだかにしますポインコまじかわいい
グッバイソフトバンク❗️❗️

— のろこ (@NOROCHAAAAA) December 19, 2020

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4. Who do we recommend Y!mobile to?

After reading all of those reviews and hearing what users think about Y!mobile, you’re probably wondering who we recommend them to!

If all of these points describe you, then you might be a great fit for Y!mobile.

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5. Comparison with other mobile carriers

Here is a quick comparison with the prices of plans from other mobile carriers.

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*Tax inc.

Y!mobile is much cheaper than the other major carriers.

If you’re looking for English customer support, then you should check out Sakura Mobile. Sakura Mobile is another MVNO (mobile virtual network operator) that runs on the docomo network instead of the SoftBank network like Y!mobile.

Special features of Sakura Mobile’s long-term SIM cards:

Check out Sakura Mobile plans here

• Sakura Mobile

The large carriers (SoftBank, au, docomo) are pretty similar and don’t offer real advantages or disadvantages from each other.

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6. How to apply

Next up is how to apply for a SIM card from Y!mobile online, as the website is all in Japanese, some may struggle on figuring out what to do at what step. We are here to help!

First, open the website below to get started on your application!

• Y!mobile online application

Step 1. Choose the plan that you want

On page 1, you’ll be filling out information about your current smartphone and what type of plan you want. They’ll want to know if you’re switching from another carrier or SoftBank. They’ll also want to know what kind of plan you want, and if you plan on getting a new phone when you sign up.

Step 2. Fill out your personal information

Next, they’ll want you to input your email address and a phone number. If you are switching from SoftBank to Y!mobile, they’ll want you to log in with your My SoftBank login too. If you don’t have an address yet in Japan, you won’t be able to do this step!

Step 3. Confirm

On the 3rd page, they’ll have you confirm the details of your plan and what services you will be paying for. They will also have you upload documents so that you can prove that you are who you say you are. A picture of your passport or residence card should work.

You’ll need to do various things, such as setting a network security code and choosing the method of payment.

Step 4. Agree

Agree to the terms and conditions. If you can’t read Japanese, it will be difficult to understand all of the conditions. They have an English translation of the important points of the contract and we linked it below.

• Y!mobile data service notes

Step 5. Finish

If you reach this step, wait until you get a confirmation email and you’ll be finished!

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7. If you’re looking for English support

If you are looking for phone service with complete English support in Japan, check out Sakura Mobile!

Special features of Sakura Mobile’s long-term SIM cards:

To learn more, click here.

• Sakura Mobile: https://www.sakuramobile.jp/

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