Bottom line: Sakura Mobile for the strongest English support, NINJA's SHOGUN SIM for 3-product flexibility (WiFi + eSIM + SIM). The two main physical-SIM options compared across 14 criteria.
Best English support = Sakura Mobile / NINJA 3-product bundle and airport pickup = SHOGUN SIM / Data-only needs → consider eSIM (Airalo)
Sakura Mobile, founded in 2014, is the established player with **full English, Chinese, and Korean support** and a strong repeat-customer base among expats and tourists. SHOGUN SIM is the physical-SIM version of NINJA WiFi, and its edge is **3-product integration across pocket WiFi + eSIM + SIM** (you can switch between products on a single booking). If you have **situations that require a Japanese phone number** (restaurant reservations, hotel callbacks, ride-share signup, SMS verification), a physical SIM is essential. If not, an eSIM like Airalo ($11 for 1 week) is far cheaper.
The defining feature of both — required if you need a JP number
Both cover major airports — little practical difference
SHOGUN wins for late-night troubleshooting
Mid-trip WiFi → SIM swap flexibility is unique to SHOGUN
Sakura Mobile's track record gives peace of mind. English support handles issues fast, and returning customers can keep their number. ¥3,500/week covers number + data.
SHOGUN SIM + NINJA WiFi integration shines. One contract switches between products: family of 4 (WiFi share) plus you (SIM) fits inside ¥10,000.
Sakura Mobile's 7-day plan at ¥3,500 is the safe bet. Thorough English support for setup and contract questions — well suited to business.
**Both are overkill.** Airalo eSIM at ¥1,500/week is plenty. If you don't need a number, a physical SIM is wasted spend. See **[Airalo vs Holafly](/compare/airalo-vs-holafly)**.
Sakura Mobile's monthly plan at ¥9,000 covers number + 30GB+ of 5G data. Stable for Zoom, tethering OK. SHOGUN SIM is comparable, but Sakura's repeat-signup ease helps for long stays.
The NINJA ecosystem wins here. 1 SHOGUN SIM + 1 NINJA WiFi unit covers everyone for ¥8,000-12,000 / week.
**Both are overkill.** Airalo 1GB at ¥670 is enough. A JP number is effectively unnecessary; lean on free Wi-Fi. Any SIM at ¥3,000+ blows the budget.
Roughly the same price. Sakura's English support is worth the ¥500 premium for peace of mind. Number + 5GB of data is plenty.
NINJA ecosystem is ¥3,000 cheaper. One person on SIM, family on shared WiFi is the lowest-cost setup.
Only ¥500 apart; over a long stay, Sakura's continuity and number retention quietly add up.
**Neither is needed.** Airalo eSIM at ¥1,500 covers it. If there's no reason for a physical SIM, pick eSIM instead.
Nearly identical cost; Sakura's English phone support is a useful safety net on a business trip.
If you don't need a phone number, cheaper options exist: - **Airalo eSIM**: data only, 1GB $4.50 / 5GB $11 / 1 week (details: [/compare/airalo-vs-holafly](/compare/airalo-vs-holafly)) - **Holafly eSIM**: unlimited data $19-69 / period (good for video and heavy tethering) - **NINJA WiFi (pocket)**: with 3+ people sharing, ¥800-1,200/day (details: [/compare/airalo-vs-ninja-wifi](/compare/airalo-vs-ninja-wifi)) - **SIM via Amazon Japan**: MVNO SIM like IIJmio, order pre-departure, hotel pickup in Japan, ¥1,500-3,000/week - **Airport SIM vending machines**: same-day purchase, but pricier than physical-SIM brands, ¥4,500-6,500/week Combination strategies: - **Sakura Mobile + Airalo backup**: primary physical SIM (¥3,500) + emergency eSIM (¥670) = ¥4,170 - **SHOGUN SIM + NINJA WiFi combo**: 1 person on SIM + family on shared WiFi (¥11,000 / 1 week / 4 people) - **eSIM only**: for the no-phone-number crowd, Airalo 5GB at $11 stands alone
Both let you book online before departure and pick up at an airport counter or your hotel after arrival. Sakura Mobile offers booking sites in English, Chinese, and Korean with returning-customer discounts. SHOGUN SIM is booked via NINJA WiFi's official site, and one contract can be combined with other NINJA products (pocket WiFi, eSIM). **Booking at least 48 hours before arrival** secures stock and gives time for support questions.
**Restaurant reservations (some high-end venues)**, **ride-share signup (Uber, GO)**, **SMS verification (PayPay, LINE, etc.)**, **Suica top-up notifications**, **hotel emergency contact**, **direct contact with vacation-rental hosts**. If these come up often, a physical SIM is worth it; if not or only a few times, eSIM is enough.
**Speeds are essentially equal.** Sakura uses Docomo; SHOGUN uses SoftBank or Docomo. Real-world speeds for both are around 4G LTE 30-60 Mbps / 5G 100-500 Mbps. In rural areas Sakura (Docomo) has slightly broader coverage.
**YES — a carrier phone bought overseas must be SIM-unlocked.** Japanese carrier phones (au/Docomo/SoftBank) also need unlocking. SIM-free phones (e.g. bought direct from Apple Store) work as-is. Ask your carrier to unlock before departure.
Both have counters at **Haneda, Narita, Kansai, and Fukuoka**; SHOGUN also covers **New Chitose**. Hotel delivery is available (+¥500-1,000) — handy for late-night arrivals when airport counters are closed.
**Sakura Mobile's monthly plan at ¥9,000** is the sweet spot, with number continuity for returning customers. SHOGUN SIM offers similar monthly plans but issues a new number by default. **For stays 6+ months, also consider MVNOs (IIJmio, Rakuten Mobile, etc.)** — ¥2,000-3,000/month is significantly cheaper.
**Domestic SMS works fine** (PayPay, LINE, banking apps, etc.), and **international SMS generally works**, though messages from some countries (China, Russia, etc.) may not arrive. Both support SMS verification, and tethering is OK.
**Both refund in full if unactivated**; once activated, you return the SIM card and get a prorated refund for the unused period. Cancellation more than 24 hours before departure is typically free; after that, a ¥1,000-3,000 fee may apply.
**YES** — Sakura Mobile offers both physical SIM and eSIM. The eSIM version skips airport pickup (QR download) and is often ¥500 cheaper than the physical SIM. **However, eSIM with a phone number still supports a limited device list** — recent iPhones are fine, older models should be checked.
A single contract gives you free switching and bundling across **NINJA WiFi (pocket), NINJA eSIM, and SHOGUN SIM**. Example: pocket WiFi at start, switch to SIM mid-trip, extend with eSIM at the end. **One family member on SIM with the rest on shared WiFi** is a setup unique to SHOGUN's strength.
**Both accept Visa/Mastercard/Amex/JCB.** Sakura also accepts PayPal (overseas address only). SHOGUN shares NINJA WiFi's payment stack and supports Apple Pay, WeChat Pay, etc. **Wise/Revolut virtual cards work too**, with FX fees of 0.4-0.65% to minimize total payment cost.
This page reflects Sakura Mobile and NINJA WiFi official information as of May 2026. Confirm exact SHOGUN SIM pricing on NINJA WiFi's official page before purchase (figures here include estimates). Prices change with campaigns, so a final check just before booking is recommended.
Last verified: 2026-05-22
Wise and Revolut give you mid-market rates with transparent ~0.5% fees. Roughly ¥6,000 saved on a $1,500 trip. Order before you fly and you'll skip the counter queues entirely.
Also: get online the moment you land
Japan eSIMs from ~$10/week. Install before departure, connect 1 minute after landing.
Get an Airalo eSIM ↗