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Last updated: July 1, 2026
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Most foreigners in Japan pay ¥7,000 to ¥10,000 per month for their phone and home internet (Total: ¥120,000/year). If you are paying this much, you are losing money every single month.
In this guide, we reveal a specific "combination strategy" to lower your mobile cost to just ¥650 (approx. $4.50) per month.
This is not a scam. It is a legitimate bundle discount system offered by the GTN group, available to any foreign resident with a valid visa.
Mobile + Credit Card + Internet = ¥650/mo. Check the Eazy Plan now.
To get this price, you need to combine three services. It is an "Ecosystem" strategy.
The Base Plan:
The Discounts:
The Final Calculation: $$¥1,200 - ¥330 - ¥220 = \mathbf{¥650}$$
For the price of one Starbucks latte, you get a working Japanese phone number with 3GB of high-speed data.
Why should you care about a few hundred yen? Because it adds up. Here is a comparison between a standard "Major Carrier" setup and the "GTN Ecosystem."
| Cost Type | Major Carrier (Docomo/SoftBank) | GTN Ecosystem | You Save |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile (3GB) | ~¥4,500 | ¥650 | -¥3,850/mo |
| Internet | ~¥5,000 | ~¥4,180 | -¥820/mo |
| Admin Fees | ¥3,850 | ¥0 (Campaign) | -¥3,850 |
| Total (1 Year) | ¥114,000 | ¥57,960 | ¥56,040 |
By switching, you save enough money to buy a round-trip flight to Korea or Taiwan every year.
Apply for the GTN Mobile Eazy Plan (Voice + Data).
Once you have your SIM, apply for the GTN EPOS Card.
Apply for GTN Hikari (Fiber Optic) or GTN Home Wi-Fi.
You might see ads for "LINEMO" or "povo" which are also cheap. However, for foreigners, the GTN Ecosystem offers 3 unique advantages:
Q: Can I get the discount if I use GTN Home Wi-Fi (No construction)? A: Yes! The -¥330 discount applies to both "GTN Hikari" (Fiber) and "GTN Home Wi-Fi" (Air Terminal).
Q: What if I cancel the internet later? A: Your mobile plan will simply return to the standard price (¥1,200 or ¥980 with Card). No penalty fees.
Q: Is the Eazy Plan 5G? A: The Eazy Plan uses the Docomo LTE (4G) network. It is fast enough for YouTube and Maps. If you absolutely need 5G, check the Unlimited Plan (Rakuten network), though the base price is higher.
If you are a student, an intern, or just saving money for travel: Don't pay ¥3,000 for a phone plan. Use the GTN Ecosystem to get premium infrastructure for ¥650/month.
I use the money I saved to travel to Osaka every month. The internet is fast, and paying just 650 yen for my phone feels like a cheat code.
Apply for the Eazy Plan and ask for the 'Hikari Bundle' to get the ¥650 rate.
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A practical 14-day checklist for city hall, utilities, SIM, internet, and moving tasks.
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A: MVNO plans (格安SIM) from providers like IIJmio, mineo, and OCN Mobile One offer 3–15GB data plans for ¥1,000–2,000/month — about 50–70% cheaper than major carriers. For even less data use, povo2.0 (au) allows a ¥0 base plan with data topups.
A: Most MVNO carriers accept international credit cards including Visa and Mastercard. IIJmio and mineo accept foreign cards. You can also pay via convenience store payment or LINE Pay with some providers.
A: Major carriers (docomo, au, SoftBank, Rakuten Mobile) own their own towers. MVNOs rent bandwidth and resell at lower prices. The trade-off: MVNOs may have slightly slower speeds during congestion. For typical data use, the quality difference is minimal and the savings are substantial.
A: Switching from a major carrier (typically ¥6,000–9,000/month) to an MVNO (¥1,200–2,500/month) saves ¥3,500–7,000/month = ¥42,000–84,000/year per person.
A: Rakuten Mobile offers unlimited data for ¥3,278/month with no lock-in. Coverage now covers most major cities and expanding suburbs. English customer support and straightforward signup (Residence Card accepted) make it a solid middle ground between MVNO savings and major carrier convenience.
CEO / Native Japanese Expert
Updated on: July 1, 2026
※ The information in this article is accurate as of the time of writing. Laws and regulations may change, so please always check official sources for the latest information. We assume no liability for any damages resulting from the content of this article.
