FOR THOSE LIVING ABROAD, A SMARTPHONE LINE (SIM CONTRACT) WHEN TEMPORARILY RETURNING HOME IS A VEXING PROBLEM. SMARTPHONES ARE NOW A NECESSITY IN DAILY LIFE. MOST PEOPLE MAY HAVE MOST OF THEIR PERSONAL INFORMATION, INCLUDING PERSONAL PHOTOS AND TRAVEL MEMORIES, IN THE SMARTPHONE THEY OWN.
Below we will explain the ins and outs of the best smartphone lines for residents living abroad when temporarily returning home.
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SOLVING SMARTPHONE PROBLEMS WHEN TEMPORARILY RETURNING TO JAPAN】SIM CARD RECOMMENDED FOR OVERSEAS RESIDENTS WHEN TEMPORARILY RETURNING TO JAPAN.
Bottom line.THERE ARE ALL TYPES OF SIM CARDSTHEREFORE, THE BEST CHOICE WILL DEPEND ON THE LENGTH OF YOUR STAY AND THE AMOUNT OF BANDWIDTH YOU WANT TO USE (HOW MANY GB YOU WANT TO USE IN HOW MANY DAYS).
以前に外国人の友達から「日本には無料Wi-Fiがあまりないね」と言われたんだけど海外在住者目線ではそう見えるものなのかな？
そうだね、Wi-Fiによっては「海外の携帯電話では使用できない」といったような規制がかかっているWi-Fi環境もあったりするよ
以下で詳しく解説させていただきます。
Can I use my smartphone when I go back to Japan temporarily?
まずは大前提として「普段から海外で生活している人」が日本に一時帰国する際は手持ちのスマートフォン本体をそのまま日本国内で使えることが理想ですよね？
もっとも手軽なのは「Wi-Fiのみ利用する方法」で、そもそもSIMカードの追加契約をせず「宿泊先等の滞在先で開放されている無料Wi-Fiを活用すればOK」です。
However, as mentioned earlier, "Wi-Fi access is limited," so this service is not suitable for users who want to be connected to the Internet 24 hours a day, even while traveling.
If you want to use Wi-Fi on the move, you can use "pocket Wi-Fi.
併せて原則として「Wi-Fi通信ではSMS（ショートメール）は利用できない」のでその点だけは注意が必要です。とはいえ実際は契約している回線によって多少ルールも変わってくるため現在契約している携帯電話会社へご確認いただくと確実です。
If "account authentication using the SMS message function is required in Japan," it may be difficult to get through the Internet environment using "Wi-Fi only.
THE BOTTLENECK IN SOME SITUATIONS IS THAT "YOU HAVE TO RECEIVE MESSAGES BY SMS FOR CREATING SOME KIND OF ACCOUNT...
KEEP IN MIND THAT THESE DAYS, WHEN YOU TRY TO CREATE A NEW ACCOUNT ON A SOCIAL NETWORK, YOU MAY RECEIVE AN AUTHENTICATION CODE BY SMS.
THE NEXT SECTION SUMMARIZES "SIM CARDS".
WHAT SIM CARDS CAN BE USED WHEN TEMPORARILY RETURNING TO JAPAN FROM OVERSEAS?
IF YOU WANT TO USE A "SIM CARD" WHEN YOU TEMPORARILY RETURN TO JAPAN, A CONTRACT IS A MUST.
There are actually two main types of SIMs that can be plugged into a smartphone: the first is a SIM card, and the second is an eSIM. To put it simply, some smartphones support both a physical SIM card and an eSIM, which is a digital SIM without a card.
For example, all iPhone models from the XR/XS series onward are eSIM compatible. There are also an increasing number of dual-SIM compatible phones that allow the insertion of two physical SIM cards or that support the use of a SIM card and an eSIM for two lines.
IN OTHER WORDS, "ONE PHONE NUMBER PER SIM IS AVAILABLE" IN THE SMARTPHONE MECHANISM. IF IT SUPPORTS DUAL SIM, IT MEANS THAT IT IS POSSIBLE TO HAVE TWO PHONE NUMBERS.
I would like to add a reminder.
SIM CARD
A PHONE LINE IS AVAILABLE BY INSERTING A PHYSICAL SIM CARD INTO THE SMARTPHONE ITSELF.
eSIM
An eSIM built into a smartphone, allowing a phone line to be used without a physical SIM.
Since eSIM is a SIM integrated into the smartphone, there is no need to wait for the SIM card to arrive or worry about losing or damaging the SIM card, and you can complete the online activation procedure (no need to replace the SIM card).
A SINGLE WORD "SIM CARD" MEANS A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS...
DIFFERENT PHONE DEVICES "SUPPORT DIFFERENT SIMS", SO CHECK IT OUT!
In other words, to put it plainly, if you are using a dual-SIM compatible smartphone device, keep in mind that there are situations where the eSIM side is free, depending on the contract.
If the "eSIM side" is not used, the system allows a new additional phone line to be added without leaving the current SIM card by selecting eSIM when signing up for an additional phone line.
Is "Wi-Fi" or "SIM card" better for temporary return?
Personally, I think that "Do I need a Japanese mobile number?We recommend that you decide on the "what to do".
The other important question is "how much communication capacity do you plan to use? If you want to use unlimited monthly communication capacity without worrying about the amount of capacity, your choices will change.
Wi-Fiを選んだ方がいい人
As mentioned earlier, there are two types of Wi-Fi: "free spots" and "pocket Wi-Fi," right?
The former does not cost money, but "using a Wi-Fi environment provided by a third party" means that Internet access is limited in terms of time and location.
If you were to sign up for the latter "pocket Wi-Fi," you would be able to secure a certain amount of communication capacity, but there is still the "possibility of not being able to use SMS message authentication.
Conversely, if you want a convenient communication environment, Wi-Fi is easy to use and recommended.
WHO SHOULD CHOOSE A SIM CARD?
The "SIM" can be a "SIM card" that is physically inserted and removed from the phone, or an "eSIM" that does not require a SIM card to be replaced.
もし今使っている電話回線がSIMカードで、かつ所有しているスマホがデュアルSIM対応なのであれば使用していない（余っている）方を活用することが可能です。
仮にデュアルSIMの片側が「eSIM」だとして現在も使っていない場合は「eSIM」で電話回線を契約すればSIMカードの到着を待つことなく開通手続きができます。
もちろん、シングルSIMのスマホもあるため実際は手持ちのスマホ端末のSIM対応を確認したうえで検討しなければなりませんのでこの点は注意しておきましょう。
あと「SIMロックが解除されていないスマホ」では他社の通信事業者のネットワークに接続できないので「現在所有しているスマートフォン端末がSIMフリーかどうか」は先に確認しておきましょう。特に最近はSIMフリーのスマホも増えてきていますがSIMロックがかかった状態のスマホもあるので覚えておかなくてはなりません。
ちなみに「eSIM」はSIMフリーのスマホじゃなくても使えるの？
SIMロックが解除されているスマホ端末なら問題なく使えるよ！
PREPAID SIMS THAT CAN BE USED WHEN TEMPORARILY RETURNING HOME
プリペイドSIMは「料金を前払い」することで利用できる通信回線（SIMカード）のことです。 支払いは“プリペイド式”なので通常のSIMとは異なりデータ容量を使い切ったらチャージするか、あらためて購入し直さなければ通信できません。
利用期間はサービスによって異なりますが１週間から30日間使える程度の短期利用プランや半年間（180日）利用できる長期プランなどが用意されています。
もし宿泊している先に無料Wi-Fiが完備されている場合は外出用にプリペイドSIMを買うというのもおすすめですね。とはいえフリーWi-Fiスポットも徐々に増えてきているので「あえて何も契約しないといった選択肢」もアリなのかもしれません。
当然ですが「プリペイド式のeSIM」もあるのでお好みに応じてお選びくださいね。
summary
本日は「一時帰国時に便利なSIMカードについて」を解説させていただきました。
もしあなたが所有しているスマホ端末が「SIMフリーではない場合」は他社のSIMを差し込んでもネットワークを認識できないのでその点だけ注意しておきましょう。
We hope this article will be of help to you.
