If you’re trying to buy concert tickets in Japan, you’ve probably already hit a wall: Japanese ticketing platforms require a Japanese phone number for SMS or voice verification. Not a foreign number. A real Japanese mobile number — the kind that starts with 070, 080, or 090.
For years, this meant you had to be physically in Japan to get the SIM card, activate it, and only then start registering on these platforms. If a fan club lottery closed before your trip? Tough luck.
That’s no longer the case. Mobal now offers an optional international roaming add-on. If you enable it you can receive Japanese SMS verification codes from anywhere in the world — without ever setting foot in Japan (we’re currently in the process of testing it and will update this post as we successfully create accounts) . You can register on Ticket Pia, e+, or your favorite artist’s fan club from your couch at home, and have everything set up before you land.
It’s a real game-changer for fans abroad!
This is, to our knowledge, the first time any provider has offered this to non-residents. It changes the game for anyone trying to buy Japanese concert tickets from abroad.
I’ll walk you through who actually needs this, who doesn’t, and how it all works.
Table of Contents
Why You Might Need a Japanese Phone Number
Not everyone does. But if you’re trying to do any of the following, you almost certainly will:
1. Register on Japanese ticketing platforms
Japanese ticketing sites often require you to link your account to a Japanese mobile number. During registration, you’ll receive an SMS code or an automated voice call with a verification number. No Japanese number = no account = no tickets.
2. Apply for ticket lotteries and fan club pre-sales
Many artists in Japan sell tickets through lottery systems (先行抽選, senkou chusen) or fan club ballots. These are often managed through platforms that require — you guessed it — Japanese phone verification. If you want to apply for tickets to popular acts before they sell out on the general sale, a Japanese number is often the only way in.
3. Receive digital tickets on your phone
Some ticket delivery apps like MOALA Ticket and tixeebox are region-restricted. They may require a Japanese phone number to activate, or they may flat out refuse to install if your app store is set to a non-Japanese region. Keep in mind that app requirements change frequently — what worked last year might not work the same way today.
4. Maintain your accounts long-term
Password resets, app updates, and periodic re-verification can all trigger new SMS codes. If your Japanese number has expired by then, you may lose access to accounts you’ve already set up.
When You DON’T Need a Japanese Phone Number
If you’re buying tickets through English-language platforms — international pages of Ticket Pia, or resale sites like Viagogo or StubHub — you won’t need a Japanese number. These platforms accept international phone numbers and credit cards.
The catch: only a very small fraction of events are available through English-language ticket sales. For most Japanese concerts, especially fan club lotteries and popular acts, you’ll need to use the Japanese-language platforms. Having a Japanese phone number opens up a direct path to buying tickets — one that doesn’t rely on the secondary market..
Which eSIM / SIM Card to Get for Concert Ticket Purchases
To our best knowledge, Mobal is the only provider that offers a voice-and-SMS-enabled SIM/eSIM to non-residents of Japan — and the only one that offers international roaming for SMS verification. None of the alternative providers listed at the bottom of this page offer anything comparable.
Mobal offers two voice-enabled eSIM plans. Both give you a real Japanese phone number (070/080/090) with voice calls and SMS. The key difference is data and whether you can use your number overseas.
Voice+Data eSIM — Recommended for Ticket Buyers Abroad
This is the plan I’d recommend if you want to register on Japanese ticketing platforms before your trip.
What you get:
- Japanese phone number with voice calls, SMS, and data (1GB–200GB plans, 5G, on the Docomo network)
- Optional international roaming add-on — enable it and you can receive SMS verification codes and calls from anywhere, without being in Japan
- Data rollover — unused data from the previous month carries over (previous month only, it doesn’t accumulate further)
- Suspension option? — it used to be possible to pause your plan for JPY 900/month, when you’re not using it and reactivate when needed (not sure if currently still an option and how much it costs
Pricing:
- Initial cost: ¥3,960
- Monthly: from ¥1,650/month (depending on data plan)
- Roaming add-on: ¥990 one-off fee each time you enable it (optional — only needed if you want to use the number outside Japan)
- Incoming SMS while roaming: free
- Outgoing SMS while roaming: ¥180 per message
- Outgoing calls while roaming: additional charges apply
How roaming works: Roaming is not on by default — it’s an optional add-on you activate in your Mobal MyAccount portal. Each activation costs ¥990. Once enabled, you can receive the SMS verification codes that Japanese ticketing platforms send during registration. Roaming covers voice and SMS only — data roaming is not supported, so you’ll still use your regular phone data or WiFi for internet.
Who this is for: Anyone who wants to register on Japanese ticketing platforms, apply for fan club lotteries, or set up their accounts before arriving in Japan. Also the right choice if you’re staying in Japan for a while and need a data plan alongside your phone number.
> Note: We are currently testing the roaming feature with various Japanese ticketing platforms to confirm it works for SMS verification across the board. We’ll update this page with our findings. If you’ve tried it, let us know how it went!
Voice Lite eSIM — Budget Option (Japan Only, No Roaming)
If you don’t need to use your Japanese number overseas — for example, if you’re already in Japan or will set up your accounts after you arrive — the Voice Lite plan is a cheaper alternative.
What you get:
- Japanese phone number with voice calls and SMS
- 500MB data included (this is a voice/SMS product, not a data plan — Mobal recommends keeping mobile data turned off for this eSIM to avoid overage charges)
- No roaming, no suspension option
Pricing:
- Initial cost: ¥3,300
- Monthly: ¥990/month
- No contract, cancel anytime
Important: This plan only works inside Japan. You cannot receive SMS verification codes while overseas. If you need to set things up before your trip, go with the Voice+Data plan above.
Physical SIM Card (No Roaming)
If your phone doesn’t support eSIM, Mobal also ships physical SIM cards with voice and SMS capabilities. These run on the Softbank network.
- Free international shipping — if you order before your trip and it arrives by mail (8–30 business days depending on region)
- Same-day pickup in Japan — available at locations across 13 areas including Haneda Airport, Narita Terminal 1 & 2, and pickup points in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Fukuoka, Sapporo, and more. Bring your passport and order confirmation.
Important: I appears that the roaming add-on is only available for the eSIM plans. Physical SIM cards do not support roaming — they only work inside Japan.
→ Get Mobal’s Voice physical SIM
Important requirements (all options)
- Your phone must be SIM-unlocked
- For eSIMs: your phone must support eSIM and work on Band 1 (2100MHz) — most modern phones do. Check by dialing `*#06#`.
- ID verification is required (Japanese regulations for voice-enabled SIMs). Accepted: passport, driver’s license, or national ID card.
- eSIM delivery requires a physical access code sent by mail (not email) — plan ahead for shipping time, or pick up in Japan.
- Keep the number active at least until you have your tickets in hand.
What about other SIM card providers?
We get asked about alternatives a lot. Here’s the honest picture — and notably, none of these offer international roaming for SMS verification:
Sakura Mobile — Offers data SIMs with SMS, but no voice calls. Some ticketing platforms (notably e+ and Ticket Pia) use automated voice calls for verification, not SMS. If the platform calls you and your SIM can’t receive calls, you’re stuck. No roaming option.
Hanacell — is said to offer voice+data SIMs, and they are actually part of the same company as Mobal. It’s another brand of theirs, which offers SIM cards to Japanese nationals who live abroad rather than foreign tourists and short-time visitors.
IIJmio, b-mobile — Require Japanese residency (residence card) to sign up. Not available to tourists.
Major carriers (Softbank, NTT DoCoMo, au) — Their tourist/visitor SIMs are data-only. No voice, no SMS, no Japanese phone number.
Cheap travel eSIMs (Airalo, Ubigi, etc.) — Data-only. Great for Google Maps and Instagram, useless for ticket verification.
This is why we keep coming back to Mobal — not because we’re trying to push one product, but because the alternatives genuinely don’t solve the problem. If you find another provider that offers voice + SMS to non-residents with international roaming, let us know and we’ll update this page.
How It Connects to Buying Tickets
If you’re new to the Japanese ticketing system, here’s the short version: getting a Japanese phone number is usually step one. After that, you’ll need to navigate platform-specific registration processes, lottery systems, and payment methods.
We’ve covered all of this in detail:
- The 5 Basics of the Japanese Ticketing System — Start here if you’re new
- How to Buy Concert Tickets in Japan — The full guide
- How to Buy Japanese Tickets from Abroad — If you’re not in Japan yet
- Upcoming Events in Japan — Browse the calendar
By the way, if you need data without a SIM, see our post on pocket WiFi options.
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The information on this page is accurate to our best knowledge at the time of writing. Mobal’s products and pricing may change — if you notice anything outdated, please let us know!
Image credit: MIKI Yoshihito, under CC license
