When relocating to Malaysia for education,
should you keep your Japanese number?
How to maintain it at low cost with povo
When preparing for an educational move to Malaysia or a mother-child study-abroad arrangement, it is easy to focus on choosing a school, finding a place to live, and applying for a visa. One thing that tends to get pushed to the back burner, however, is the question of what to do with your Japanese mobile number. Even if a local SIM is perfectly sufficient for everyday communication, there are situations where a Japanese number becomes necessary — for example, when using Japanese bank accounts, credit cards, or brokerage accounts. povo is one option worth considering for exactly those situations.
Conclusion first
Who povo is recommended for
- Those who want to keep a Japanese number at the lowest possible cost
- Those who want to retain a number for SMS verification purposes
- Those for whom a local SIM is sufficient for everyday communication
- Those who are fine with managing the line roughly once every six months
Who it is not recommended for
- Those who want to keep their number without doing anything at all
- Those who frequently make calls to Japan
- Those who want to use a Japanese line for data right after arriving
povo is"a sub-line for maintaining a Japanese number at low cost"— thinking of it that way makes the service easy to understand.
- Why you may still need a Japanese number even after moving to Malaysia
- Why povo suits families who have relocated for educational purposes
- Watch out for povo's 180-day rule
- Can you receive SMS verification codes with povo?
- Comparison: povo, Rakuten Mobile, and ahamo
- Who povo suits and who it does not
- Pre-departure checklist
- Conclusion | povo is a strong candidate for maintaining a Japanese number
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why you may still needa Japanese number even after moving to Malaysia
Once you start living in Malaysia, opportunities to use a Japanese phone number decrease significantly. Even so, there are still situations where a Japanese number is needed — for example, in cases such as the following.
- Logging in to a Japanese bank
- Verifying your identity for a credit card
- Using a brokerage account
- Receiving an SMS verification code
SMS verification is where things tend to get particularly tricky. SMS messages that you could receive without a second thought while in Japan may become impossible to receive if you cancel your Japanese number.
For this reason, many families who relocate for educational purposes or arrange mother-child study abroad choose to keep their Japanese number.
Why povo suitsfamilies who have relocated for educational purposes
povo is an online-only plan available from a base fee of 0 yen. Among families who have made an educational move to Malaysia, a common approach is to use a local SIM for everyday communication while keeping povo solely to maintain a Japanese number.
Because it is not a line used every day, it is easy to operate on a limited basis — for SMS verification, keeping a number registered with banks and card companies, and using it during visits back to Japan.
About povo's maintenance costs
povo has a base fee of 0 yen, but that does not mean you can maintain the line indefinitely without doing anything. There is a 180-day rule, described later, which requires you to purchase a paid add-on periodically. The content and pricing of add-ons are subject to change, but many users manage to keep their number at a relatively low cost.
Rather than thinking of it as "paying a monthly fee,""paying a maintenance fee every six months"is a closer description of how the service works.
povo's180-Day Rule— What You Need to Know
If you use povo, the 180-day rule is something you absolutely need to be aware of. With povo, if there is no paid top-up purchase for a certain period after your last one, your service may be suspended or your contract may be cancelled.
That said, managing this is not complicated. As long as you remember to purchase a paid top-up roughly once every six months, you will be fine. Registering a reminder in your calendar or on your smartphone is a good idea for peace of mind.
Can You ReceiveSMS Verification with povo?
The biggest concern for people living abroad is SMS verification. With povo, SMS is available if you are on a call + data plan. However, SMS is not available on a data-only plan. If your purpose is to keep a Japanese phone number or receive SMS verification codes, make sure to confirm your contract type.
Cases where sending an SMS is required
SMS verification usually only requires receiving a message, but some services may also require you to send one. Sending an SMS may incur a fee, so it is a good idea to check the latest information before use.
It is recommended to set up your eSIM while still in Japan
povo also supports eSIM. Setup is possible after arriving in Malaysia, but you may run into trouble with identity verification or connectivity issues. If you are relocating for education or on a mother-and-child study abroad program, it is recommended to complete activation while you are still in Japan.
povo vs. Rakuten Mobile vs. ahamoComparison
| Item | povo | Rakuten Mobile | ahamo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keeping a Japanese phone number | ◎Easy to maintain at low cost | ◎ | ◎ |
| SMS verification | ◎Suited for verification purposes | ◎ | ◎ |
| Calls to Japan | △ | ◎ | ○ |
| Data usage abroad | △ | ○ | ◎ |
| Ease of use immediately upon arrival | △ | ○ | ◎ |
| Scouting trips & short-term stays | △ | ○ | ◎ |
| For long-term overseas residents | ○ | ◎ | △ |
| Monthly maintenance cost | ◎Easy to keep low | ○ | △ |
| Ease of management | △ | ○ | ◎ |
※ Fees and conditions are subject to change. Please check the latest information on each official website.
In a nutshell
- povo: Best for those who want to maintain a Japanese number at the lowest possible cost.
- Rakuten Mobile: Best for those who want a good balance of Japanese number retention, free calls, and overseas use.
- ahamo: Best for those who want reliable connectivity right from arrival during a scouting trip or short stay.
Who povois and isn't a good fit for
Who povo is a good fit for
- Want to maintain a Japanese number cheaply
- Want to keep a number for SMS verification
- Use a local SIM for everyday communication
Who povo is not a good fit for
- Want a completely hands-off setup
- Frequently make calls to Japan
- Not comfortable managing accounts
povo's greatest appeal is that it lets you "maintain your number at a low cost." In return, you need to manage the 180-day rule.
Pre-departureChecklist
Confirming the following before you leave the country will give you peace of mind.
Things to check before departure
- ✓Check which services require SMS verification
- ✓Confirm your eSIM and contract details
- ✓Register the management date for the 180-day rule
povo isa strong candidate for maintaining your Japanese number
When relocating to Malaysia for education, having a local SIM means you won't have trouble with everyday communication. However, if you use Japanese banks or credit cards, there will be situations where a Japanese phone number is required.
povo is well suited for households that prioritize Japanese number retention, SMS verification, and low-cost operation.
A practical way to split usage
✓For everyday communication:local SIM
✓For keeping a Japanese number:povo
This combination is one practical option for families relocating abroad for education.
A Note from Us
We actually keep a Japanese number ourselves. We rarely have occasion to use it, but it can be necessary for SMS authentication with banks and credit cards. So we run two lines: a local SIM for everyday communication, and a separate line just to maintain our Japanese number.
