Can I get a Japanese phone number as a tourist?

Learn whether short-stay visitors can get a Japanese phone number, which kinds of SIM or rental phone offer one, and why a number can help with verification codes.

Published October 21, 2026 at 8:57 AM JST | By Tokyo Paul

Quick answer: Sometimes. Some providers sell prepaid SIMs with voice or SMS and a Japanese number to short-stay visitors, but many visitor SIMs are data only and come with no number. Expect an identity check, usually with a passport, and limits on plan length. A rental phone is another route, while a home SIM kept active can receive codes.

What "a Japanese number" means for a visitor

A Japanese mobile number is a phone number on a Japanese network, used for ordinary voice calls and text messages. Most SIMs and eSIMs sold to visitors are data only, meaning that they provide internet access but no number. The Wikipedia article on eSIM notes that many data-only plans have no phone number, so a visitor who wants a number usually has to look for a specific product.

A number is not essential for most trips. Messaging apps, email and internet calling cover everyday contact, and many hotels and restaurants take bookings online. Still, a local number can help in situations such as receiving a call from a delivery driver, being contacted by a tour operator, or entering a code sent by text to a local number during a reservation.

Ways a visitor can get a number

There are three common routes. First, a voice-capable prepaid SIM from a provider that serves short-stay visitors, which gives a Japanese number for a set period. Second, a rental phone, which comes with a number and is returned at the end of the trip. Third, a plan that adds a Japanese SMS-capable number to a data plan, offered by some providers.

The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) notes on its telephone page that some services offer prepaid SIM cards for short-term visitors, and that phone rental is available at Narita, Haneda and Kansai airports. It suggests checking with your home mobile provider as well. Availability of voice and SMS products changes, so check current offers from providers directly.

What is usually required

Identity checks are commonly part of the process for products with a voice number. Providers typically ask a visitor to present a passport, and some may ask for additional details such as the length of stay or a local address. The exact requirements depend on the provider and the product, and they follow Japanese rules that can change.

Because requirements differ, read the product page or ask the provider before buying. Some services complete the check online before shipping, while others do it at a counter. For data-only products the checks may be lighter or different. Bring your passport in any case, and have the booking details of your stay ready if the provider asks for them.

Travelers staying longer than a short visit, such as students or workers, follow different routes, because residents can usually sign regular contracts once they have the needed documents. Those arrangements involve a residence card and a local address, and they are outside the scope of a short tourist stay, so this guide covers only visitor options.

Short-term limits and costs

Plans with a voice number for visitors are usually short term, with a validity period of days or weeks and a limited balance or bundle. Calls and texts are often charged by use or included up to a limit, and the plan may expire if not used or topped up. Details differ, so compare products on length, calling costs, text support and data.

Rental phones typically charge a daily fee plus call charges, with a deposit or card hold in some cases. They can be handy for groups who want one shared contact number, such as a tour leader. If you only need to receive texts, a plan with SMS but no voice may be enough, and may cost less.

Families and groups can simplify things by naming one person to hold the local number, and sharing it with the group in a message. Older travelers who prefer an ordinary phone for calls may find a rental handset easier than a SIM, because staff set it up at the counter. Solo travelers may value a number for reassurance, and should save the hotel's number too.

Verification codes and other uses

Many services send one-time codes by text message. Often these codes can go to your home number, if the home SIM is active and roaming allows incoming texts, or to an email address, depending on the service. A local number is mainly useful when a service demands a Japanese number, which can happen with some local booking systems or deliveries.

If you keep your home SIM active in a second slot, check the carrier's roaming terms, as incoming texts may be free or billed. Switch off data roaming on the home line so that only the local plan uses data. For account sign-ins, consider setting up an authenticator app or email-based codes before you travel, so you do not rely on one phone number.

Mistakes and misunderstandings

A common mistake is buying a data-only eSIM and expecting a number. Another is assuming that any airport SIM includes voice; read the product sheet. A third is leaving it too late to complete an identity check, which can delay delivery of a SIM or rental phone. Finally, some travelers assume that a number can be kept after the trip, but visitor numbers usually expire.

Be cautious about third-party sellers outside of official or well-known providers. Buy from a source that clearly states the terms, the identity requirements and the support contact. If a seller does not ask for any identification for a voice product, check the terms. Keep all receipts and activation details until the plan has ended.

Practical next steps

Decide whether you need a local number or only data. If you need a number, compare voice-capable visitor SIMs and rental phones, check identity requirements and plan length, and reserve early. If you only need verification codes, test whether your home number or email will work while abroad.

This guide shares general information; rules change, so confirm details with the official agency or provider before you act. Offers, identity rules and plan limits are updated often, so use each provider's current page and ask its support team about any detail that is unclear.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do short-stay visitors need a number to use a Japanese SIM?

No. Data-only SIMs and eSIMs work without a number, and messaging and internet calls cover most needs. A number matters only for ordinary calls, local text messages and some services that require one. Choose a data plan first and add a number only if you expect to need it.

Can a tourist rent a phone with a Japanese number?

Often yes. JNTO's telephone page lists phone rental services at Narita, Haneda and Kansai airports. Rentals usually require a passport, a card for payment, and a return by a set date. Check the terms for call charges, deposits and late fees before booking.

Will a Japanese number work after the trip ends?

Usually not. Visitor numbers are commonly tied to a short validity period and may expire or be closed when the plan ends. Do not use a visitor number as the only contact for an important account. Add an email or home number as a backup.

Want to go deeper? Tokyo Paul's book Tokyo Info Guide is available on Amazon.

Keep Exploring

More guides from Tokyo Paul: Can I make phone calls in Japan with a data-only SIM?, Do I need to show my passport to buy a SIM in Japan? and Getting a Mobile Phone Contract in Japan as a Resident.