You can easily buy a data-only SIM card at Yodobashi Camera Kyoto, which is just a few steps north of Kyoto Station. Here are all the details.
Yodobashi Camera Kyoto © Chris Rowthorn
The Takeaway
- Yodobashi Camera Kyoto is the best place to buy a physical SIM card in Kyoto.
- You can also buy a SIM card online to pick up at the airport when you arrive.
- If your phone can be used with one, an eSIM is an increasingly popular option. You can buy an eSim online before you arrive in Japan.
- Scroll down for all the details on Yodobashi Camera Kyoto.
Yodobashi Camera Kyoto: The Best Place To Buy A Sim Card
Yodobashi Camera Kyoto is on Karasuma Street, about 250 meters north of Kyoto Station on the left side of street. To get there, leave Kyoto Station via the Karasuma Exit and walk north. The store is huge and you cannot miss it. If it’s raining, you can get there via an underground passage that starts from the subway station under Kyoto Station.
The data-only SIM cards for tourists are sold on the B1 floor of the shop, just down the escalator you will see in front of you when you enter from street level.
Yodobashi Camera SIM cards © Chris Rowthorn
I recommend buying a Yodobashi Camera Original SIM card as they are easy to install yourself and there is no registration procedure. If you want help installing your SIM card, do NOT open the package and take it to the nearby service counter, where they will install and configure the SIM card for you (the fee is ¥5500 for this service).
Yodobashi Kyoto service counter © Chris Rowthorn
More Information
- How To Buy A SIM Card In Tokyo
- Internet In Japan For Tourists: Wifi, Pocket Wifi, SIM Cards, Rental Phones etc
Kyoto Vacation Checklist
- ESSENTIALS – For all the essentials in a brief overview, see my First Time In Kyoto guide
- HOTELS – Check Kyoto accommodation availability on Booking.com and Agoda.com - often you can book with no upfront payment and free cancellation
- BULLET TRAIN – You can buy shinkansen (bullet train) tickets online from Klook - popular routes include Tokyo to Kyoto, Kyoto to Osaka and Kyoto to Tokyo
- WHERE TO STAY – Need tips on where to stay? See my one page guide Where To Stay In Kyoto
- PACKING LIST – See my comprehensive Packing List For Japan
- SIM CARDS – You can buy an eSim to activate in Japan or buy a data-only SIM card online for collection when you arrive at Tokyo's Narita or Haneda Airports or Kansai International Airport. You can also rent an unlimited data pocket wifi router
- FLIGHTS – Compare Japan flight prices and timings to find the best deals
- JAPAN RAIL PASS – If you're making frequent train journeys during your visit, you might save money with Japan Rail Pass – see if it's worth it for you
- TRAVEL INSURANCE – World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world
- WANT HELP? – Do you want help planning your trip? Chris Rowthorn and his team of Japan experts at Japan Travel Consulting can help
Kyoto District Map
Click a Kyoto District for detailed info on attractions, places to eat and accommodation
About InsideKyoto.com and Chris Rowthorn
- Chris Rowthorn is the co-founder of InsideKyoto.com and has an unparalleled travel knowledge of Kyoto spanning three decades. Chris has written or commissioned and edited every page on the Inside Kyoto website.
- A former author of Lonely Planet Kyoto and Lonely Planet Japan guidebooks, Chris is also the director of the Kyoto walking tour company Chris Rowthorn Tours, and Japan Travel Consulting, where you can get bespoke travel advice for your Japan trip.
- InsideKyoto.com has been cited by the New York Times and The Times of London, among many other publications and websites.
