When Relocating to Malaysia for Education,Should You Keep Your Japanese Phone Number?
A Complete Comparison of ahamo, Rakuten Mobile, and povo
"Is it okay to cancel my Japanese mobile number?" "What about SMS verification?" "Is a local SIM enough on its own?" "Which is better — ahamo, Rakuten Mobile, or povo?" — These are the kinds of questions that come up when preparing for an educational relocation or mother-child study abroad in Malaysia. A local SIM will handle your everyday communication just fine, but if you plan to use Japanese bank accounts, credit cards, or brokerage accounts, there will still be situations where you need a Japanese phone number. We compare three services popular among educational-relocation families and explain which one suits each type of user.
- Want to keep a Japanese number at low cost
- Want to keep a number for SMS verification
- Are fine using a local SIM for everyday communication
- Want to maintain a Japanese phone number
- May need to make calls to Japan
- Want a little data connectivity overseas as well
- Are making their first scouting trip to Malaysia
- Want connectivity from the moment they arrive
- Need to visit schools and properties in a short period
ahamo / Rakuten Mobile / povoComparison Table
| Category | ahamo | Rakuten Mobile | povo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese Number Retention | ◎ | ◎ | ◎ |
| SMS Verification | ◎ | ◎ | ◎ |
| Calls to Japan | ○ | ◎ | △ |
| Overseas Data Usage | ◎ | ○ | △ |
| Ease of use immediately after arrival | ◎ | ○ | △ |
| Scouting trips / short-term stays | ◎ | ○ | △ |
| Suited for long-term overseas living | △ | ◎ | ○ |
| Monthly maintenance cost | △ | ○ | ◎ |
| Ease of management | ◎ | ○ | △ |
※ Rates and conditions are subject to change. Please check each official website for the latest information.
For long-term educational relocation,Rakuten Mobile or povo
Once you actually start living in Malaysia, most households use a local SIM for everyday communication. As a result, there are three key things expected of a Japanese phone line:
- Keeping your Japanese number
- SMS verification
- Being able to use it only when needed
If keeping costs low is a priority: povo
povo is well suited for those who want to keep their Japanese number at as low a cost as possible. Many households use it for SMS verification, making it a strong option for cases where you think, "I don't normally use it, but I just want to keep the number."
If you also need to make calls: Rakuten Mobile
A major feature of Rakuten Mobile is access to the free calling app Rakuten Link. When living abroad, you may be surprised by how often you need to call banks, credit card companies, and various customer service numbers in Japan. For that reason, if making calls to Japan is also a priority, Rakuten Mobile is a convenient choice.
For scouting trips or short-term stays,ahamo
On your first scouting trip to Malaysia, having the peace of mind of being able to connect immediately upon arrival is a huge advantage. Because ahamo supports international roaming, you can do the following right after landing:
- Calling a Grab at the airport
- Heading to school visits
- Contacting people via WhatsApp
- Using Google Maps
Especially for scouting trips of around one to two weeks, it is an extremely easy-to-use option.
So,Which one should you choose?
Which offers the best overall balance?
From the perspective of educational relocation or mother-and-child study abroad,Rakuten Mobile feels like the most well-balanced option. This is because it covers not just keeping a Japanese number, but also SMS verification, calls to Japan, and overseas use.
On the other hand, choosing povo if cost is your top priority, or ahamo if scouting trips are your focus, are both perfectly reasonable approaches.
Best choice by type
✓Top priority: keeping costs low → povo
✓Also need to call Japan → Rakuten Mobile(Best overall balance ◎)
✓Scouting trips / short-term stays → ahamo
✓For everyday communication, whichever you choose, a local SIM is the standard
Editor's Comment
Our own household also keeps a Japanese number. Once life abroad begins, how often you use it drops significantly, but there are moments when you need it — for SMS verification from banks or credit cards, or for making inquiries. For that reason, if you are planning an educational relocation, we recommend thinking about how to keep your Japanese number before you leave the country.
Frequently AskedQuestions
Is a Japanese number essential when relocating to Malaysia?
Which plan is best suited for SMS verification?
Which plan is recommended for scouting trips?
Which plan is recommended for long-term educational relocation?
Detailed explanations of each service
For those who want to learn more about each service, please also take a look at the individual articles.
