⚖️ Side-by-Side Comparison
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au (KDDI) in Japan — Complete Overview
au (KDDI) is Japan's second-largest carrier and a top choice for foreigners who want reliable nationwide coverage including rural areas. au offers both contract plans and prepaid options, with English support at flagship stores in major cities.
Best for: Long-term residents who want premium coverage and don't mind paying slightly more than MVNOs.
✅ Pros
- Excellent 4G/5G coverage nationwide
- English support at major stores
- eSIM and physical SIM available
- Strong 5G rollout in urban areas
❌ Cons
- Requires residence card for contract plans
- More expensive than MVNOs like IIJmio
- Store visits may need Japanese for some staff
au (KDDI) Plans & Pricing for Foreigners
Plan | Price | Data | Calls | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smartphone Mini | ¥1,078/mo | 3 GB | ¥22/min | Light data users |
| Smartphone Basic | ¥2,178/mo | 10 GB | Included | Most popular |
| Smartphone Unlimited | ¥4,928/mo | Unlimited | Included | Heavy users |
How to Get a au SIM in Japan
1
Visit an au shop with residence card and passport
2
Choose a plan — bring a Japanese bank account or credit card
3
SIM or eSIM activated same day at the store
4
Download my au app for billing (partial English)
au (KDDI) Reviews from Foreigners in Japan
Kenji Watanabe
🇵🇭 Manila → Tokyo · 3 years
★★★★★
Switched from SoftBank to au for better coverage in Hokkaido. Worth the extra ¥500/month — signal is rock solid everywhere I travel for work.
Priya Nair
🇮🇳 Chennai → Osaka · 2 years
★★★★☆
Setup at au Namba was smooth with English support. Plan is pricier than IIJmio but I need reliable calls for my IT job. No regrets.
au (KDDI) FAQ — Japan SIM Guide
Major au stores in Tokyo, Osaka, and Yokohama have English-speaking staff. Smaller suburban stores may require basic Japanese or a friend to help.
Yes — au has one of the best rural networks alongside Docomo. Coverage exceeds most MVNOs in mountainous and remote areas.
Yes — number porting (MNP) from other Japanese carriers takes 2–4 business days. Bring your MNP reservation number.
📶 Other Providers
IIJ
IIJmio
¥850/mo
DoCoMo
NTT Docomo
¥1,320/mo
🌸
Sakura Mobile
¥3,000/mo
UB
Ubigi eSIM
¥1,200/mo
SB
SoftBank
¥1,365/mo