How to Keep Your Home-Country Phone Number Cheaply While Living Abroad | SMS Verification & Bank Login Tips

Last updated: October 15, 2026 (the prices and conditions in the comparison table are what each carrier's official pages said on October 15, 2026; every row shows the date checked and the source)

When you live abroad, the Japanese phone plan you barely use turns into a fixed monthly cost. But if you cancel the number, you can get stuck when your bank, brokerage or credit card sends an SMS verification code. The practical approach for most people living overseas is this: keep the phone number on a low-cost plan, and add data separately with an eSIM only as much as you need. This guide compares povo, the voice SIMs from the 200-yen range (Nihon Tsushin and HIS Mobile), Rakuten Mobile, IIJmio, mineo, LINEMO and ahamo in a table based on what their official pages say, looking not only at the monthly price but at whether you can keep receiving SMS verification codes abroad. It also covers the suspension and cancellation rules that are easy to miss, and what to do on a trip back to Japan.

The short answer: choose based on SMS access abroad, not just price

Low-cost ways to keep a Japanese number fall into three directions. For the lowest upkeep, povo 2.0; for steady, low-cost upkeep, the voice SIMs from the 200-yen range (Nihon Tsushin and HIS Mobile); and if you want to use the number as usual abroad, Rakuten Mobile. Which one is right depends on what you keep the number for.

But even if the monthly fee differs by a few hundred yen, the loss is far greater if an SMS code does not arrive when you log in to your bank or brokerage. Rather than the price list, check three things: whether SMS reception abroad is confirmed in the official information, whether the line is suspended or cancelled if you do not use it for a long time, and whether you can complete everything with an eSIM without having a physical SIM mailed abroad. Compare monthly fees after those three, which looks like a detour but is the shortest route.

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Key terms

• A number-keeping plan is a low-cost mobile plan used mainly to hold a phone number for SMS verification or calls. The data allowance is usually small; you sign up to keep the number, not to use it heavily.
• A data-only eSIM is an eSIM for internet access only, with no phone number or SMS. You cannot make or receive calls or SMS on a phone number, but app calls through LINE, WhatsApp, Messenger or FaceTime work as usual.
• Number-keeping plan plus data eSIM means keeping the phone number on a low-cost plan and adding only the data you need on a separate eSIM. Many recent phones can stand by on two lines at once (dual SIM), so one phone can run this setup.

Why people living abroad need a Japanese number

In short, most people keep a Japanese number as a key for identity verification rather than for contact. Even when you live abroad, a Japanese number is requested in situations such as these.

• SMS verification (one-time passwords) when logging in to or sending money from banks, brokerages and credit cards
• Identity checks when logging back in to payment apps and other services, or when changing phones
• Being contacted on your Japanese number by hospitals, hotels or delivery services during a trip home
• Family or your employer continuing to contact your old number

The difficulty is that once you cancel a number, the same number generally cannot be recovered, and changing the number registered with each service can be hard from overseas. To avoid trouble after cancelling, start by listing the financial and payment services that verify you with your current number. The same problem exists in the opposite direction: if you want to keep a Canadian bank account after returning to Japan, keeping SMS verification working on the local number is the same issue.

Why choosing on price alone causes trouble

The monthly difference between number-keeping plans is easy to see, so it is tempting to choose on price. For people living abroad, other points matter too.

• Can you receive SMS abroad? SMS arrives through the phone line itself, so it can often be received even with data roaming off, but the line may need an overseas-use setting and the phone may need settings too. Low-cost number-keeping plans treat incoming SMS abroad differently, so it is safer to check the official wording.
• Will the line be stopped if you don't use it for a long time? Some plans are suspended or terminated after a period with no charges or use. Losing the number can be hard to undo, so know the conditions and the period.
• Can you finish everything with an eSIM? Receiving a physical SIM abroad is a hassle. With eSIM support, reissuing or changing phones can be done online, depending on the procedure (which differs by carrier).

Monthly cost and SMS conditions abroad, compared (checked October 15, 2026)

The table contains only what each carrier's official pages say. Items we could not confirm on the official pages are shown as "Could not be obtained" rather than left blank.

• The "lowest" monthly figure has different conditions at each carrier. povo 2.0's 0 yen needs a paid topping every six months, HIS Mobile's 280 yen applies only in months with under 100 MB of data, and mineo's 250 yen is for new sign-ups only and capped at 32 kbps, so they cannot be compared on equal terms.
• "Can receive SMS abroad" is not a guarantee of delivery. It depends on your contract, the carrier in the country you are visiting and the sender. HIS Mobile's own page also says international SMS goes through the local carrier and is not guaranteed.
• Some carriers need an application or settings. povo 2.0 and Nihon Tsushin need a roaming application, Rakuten Mobile needs settings (international SMS and Rakuten Link), and ahamo needs no application. These are things to finish before you leave.

For the lowest upkeep: povo 2.0

povo 2.0 has a base fee of 0 yen and you buy "toppings" only when you need them. It suits keeping a number, but you cannot keep it at 0 yen indefinitely. The official page says that once 180 days have passed since the SIM was activated, the line is suspended if no paid topping was bought in the previous 180 days, and the contract ends if nothing is bought within 30 days after suspension (there are exceptions, for example when domestic call and SMS charges total more than 660 yen including tax). You need to buy a minimum topping about every six months. Abroad, receiving SMS is shown as free for the example destinations, but a separate roaming application is required, and because data comes as toppings it is not suited to long-term use. For povo SMS verification see Do povo SMS codes arrive abroad?; for managing the 180-day rule see How to keep your number from lapsing.

For steady, low-cost upkeep: voice SIMs from the 200-yen range (Nihon Tsushin and HIS Mobile)

Nihon Tsushin's "Rational Simple 290" starts at 290 yen for 1 GB, and HIS Mobile's "Jiyu Jizai 3.0" starts at 280 yen if you use under 100 MB (both including tax); these are low-priced voice SIMs. Both support voice, SMS and eSIM and suit number keeping. Nihon Tsushin is handy up to 1 GB, and HIS Mobile can suit you better if you use a little more data. In exchange for not having to remember a purchase every six months as with povo, you pay a small fixed fee every month. Data is small, so you plan on handling data separately.

To use the number abroad as well: Rakuten Mobile

Rakuten Mobile lets you use up to 2 GB a month of roaming data at no extra charge (check the official page for countries and conditions), and with Rakuten Link, calls to Japanese numbers are free through the app. It makes it easy to keep using the number abroad, but depending on how you use it, it can cost more than Nihon Tsushin or HIS Mobile. Speed is limited after 2 GB, so for periods of heavy data use it is realistic to add an eSIM. Receiving SMS abroad is shown as free on the official page, but it works only in the listed countries and regions, and receiving in the phone's default messaging app needs a setting. For how to use it while living abroad and cautions on SMS verification, see Can Rakuten Mobile keep a Japanese number for people living abroad?.

Other candidates: IIJmio, mineo, LINEMO and ahamo

As the table shows, LINEMO and ahamo state that receiving SMS abroad is free. ahamo is 2,970 yen for 30 GB, and its official page announces a change from December 1, 2026, so the amount depends on when you sign up. mineo's A and D plans receive SMS abroad for free, but the S plan cannot. IIJmio voice SIMs and voice eSIMs can make calls and use SMS abroad, but the official Q&A does not state a reception fee, so we could not confirm it.

Comparison points other than price (for people living abroad)

Looking at what actually keeps you out of trouble, rather than a cheapest-first ranking, makes the decision easier.

Keep the number and data separate (the dual-SIM approach)

Number-keeping plans may have small data allowances or restrictions on use abroad and on trips home. Dividing the roles makes your fixed costs easier to predict.

On a dual-SIM phone, one phone can run this combination. The basic setup is to use the number-keeping line only to receive SMS and calls with its mobile data turned off, and to set the data-only eSIM as the line for mobile data. You can check whether your phone supports eSIM on the eSIM compatible devices page.

The key point is that a data-only eSIM cannot make or receive calls or SMS on a phone number. App calls through LINE, WhatsApp, Messenger or FaceTime work as usual, so "data-only" does not mean "no calls at all". Contact with family in Japan can go through app calls and financial verification through the number-keeping SIM, so the roles divide naturally. A data-only eSIM does not replace the SMS you receive on the number-keeping line, however. If you use a line such as Rakuten Mobile with up to 2 GB a month of roaming data at no extra charge, you may not need an extra data eSIM on a short stay. For a long stay, or if you use a lot of data for video, maps or work, it is easier to read your costs if data goes on an eSIM for your destination. Bloomy eSIM covers only this "data side"; keeping the number and receiving SMS remain the job of the Japanese SIM. For how to protect your number, SMS and bank account together, including communication costs, see How to keep a Japanese phone number, SMS verification and bank account while living abroad.

For the data-side eSIM, you can search by country, data amount and days on the Bloomy eSIM comparison page to match your destination and length of stay. You tap the setup link you receive, add the eSIM by following the on-screen steps, and turn the line on when you arrive; the steps are in the setup guide. Please note that speeds depend on local network conditions, coverage and congestion.

What to do on a trip back to Japan

In short, on a trip home the simplest approach is to leave the number-keeping SIM as it is and add data only for the period. Number-keeping SIMs from Nihon Tsushin, HIS Mobile and povo work as usual in Japan, so you can receive calls and SMS verification as usual during your stay. On the other hand, the small data allowance of a number-keeping plan tends to run short for maps, translation and social media, so adding a data-only eSIM sized to your stay helps avoid a communication bill that jumps just for the trip home. Check the latest comparison page for supported areas and data options.

Common mistakes (avoidable if you check beforehand)

• Choosing only on the monthly price and missing the conditions for SMS abroad: confirm on the official site that you can receive verification codes.
• Leaving povo without a topping for a long time and missing the suspension and cancellation conditions: put a minimum topping on your calendar every six months.
• Being unable to receive a physical SIM abroad and so unable to activate: choosing an eSIM-compatible plan makes this easier.
• Keeping a large data plan as well, so fixed costs do not fall: keep the number and data separate.
• Relying on SMS verification only: set up an authenticator app, backup codes or another method before you leave, as insurance for when SMS does not arrive.
• Trying to sign up after leaving Japan: many plans assume an address in Japan and identity documents, so finish signing up and overseas-use settings before you leave.

Who this approach suits and who it doesn't

Who it suits

• People who want to keep a Japanese number for SMS verification and identity checks
• People who want to log in to Japanese banks, brokerages and cards while abroad
• People who want to use the same number as is during trips home
• People who do not need a large monthly plan

Who it doesn't suit

• People who want to use plenty of data every month, reliably, on a single SIM
• People who want phone number, SMS, calls and data from a single company
• People who are uneasy about six-monthly upkeep or about checking SMS reception abroad themselves
• People who hardly use Japanese financial or government services and do not need a Japanese number

For the steps to actually receive SMS, see another article

This page compares which line to keep your number on. Pre-departure settings, what to do when SMS does not arrive, and switching to an authenticator app are covered separately in How to receive Japanese SMS abroad. For setting your main line to receive SMS only, see Keeping your main line for SMS only while abroad, and if you want to review your verification methods, the guide to switching to an authenticator app may help.

What to do next

1. List the authentication method of every bank, brokerage, card and payment app that uses your Japanese number
2. Check each candidate plan's "SMS abroad", "conditions when unused for a long time" and "eSIM support" on the official site
3. Decide whether to keep it at the lowest upkeep (povo), steady and low-cost (Nihon Tsushin or HIS Mobile), or usable abroad too (Rakuten)
4. Before leaving, finish signing up, overseas-use settings and authentication methods other than your number
5. Keep the number and data separate, and if you plan trips home or another departure, estimate the data you will need

Summary

The key to keeping a Japanese number cheaply is to choose not only on the monthly fee but on whether you can keep receiving verification codes abroad. For the lowest upkeep it is povo; for steady and low-cost it is Nihon Tsushin or HIS Mobile; to use the number abroad too it is Rakuten. Keep the number on one of these plans and add data only as needed; this division keeps fixed costs down and reduces the worry of not being able to verify when it matters.

This article provides general information only and is not financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. Plan prices, SMS reception abroad, rules for inactive lines, and supported countries vary over time and by usage (information confirmed on each carrier's official pages on October 15, 2026). Check each carrier's official website before signing up. We cannot guarantee that you will receive SMS messages from your Japanese number while abroad.

Frequently asked questions