Stuck in a SIM ↔ Bank account loop in Japan (Rakuten + Japan Post Bank) – what should I do?
Hi everyone,
I’m a foreign student currently living in Japan (Hiroshima area), and I’m stuck in a really frustrating situation trying to get a SIM card and set up everything properly.
Here’s what happened:
*I managed to open a bank account with Japan Post Bank, but I had to use a senior’s (senpai’s) phone number (let’s call him Mr. X) during the process.
*Now I want to get a Rakuten Mobile SIM.
*But Rakuten told me they require SMS verification of my bank account.
*My bank account is also tied to Mr. X’s number for verification.
Now the problems:
* Mr. X is not willing to help anymore (can’t use his phone for OTP, etc. Completed thing but he will not help me any further)
* I don’t have my own Japanese phone number yet
* It feels like a loop:
* To get a SIM → I may need bank sms verification where i cant get the code from my senpai/ payment setup
* To fully use my bank → I may need my own phone number
I’m considering this plan:
Try to apply for Rakuten Mobile using my Bangladeshi Visa card
Get a new SIM (my own number)
Go to Japan Post Bank and change my registered phone number to my new SIM
Then switch Rakuten payment method to my bank account
My questions:
* Has anyone successfully used a foreign Visa card (non-Japanese) to get Rakuten Mobile?
* Does Rakuten always require SMS verification during signup?
* Is there any easier workaround I’m missing (cheap temporary SIM, in-store tricks, etc.)?
I feel completely stuck and honestly pretty frustrated with this system.
Any advice from people who’ve been through this would really help.
Thanks a lot!