[Solved with Saily] How to get a US phone number while in Japan! Introducing how to maintain it for $1
More people than you might think are left pale-faced after returning to Japan, realizing they "cannot log into their US bank accounts" or "are not receiving two-factor authentication codes for credit cards or Amazon." The culprit is usually one thing: canceling their US mobile number in the chaos of returning home.
In the past, there were basically only two ways to keep this number: using a free VoIP service like Google Voice or keeping an expensive US line active. However, entering 2026, the eSIM service Saily has released a new feature that allows you to issue a US number (+1) within the app, which is rewriting the map of available options.
For about $1 a month, you can have a "verified real number" that handles SMS and calls, all while staying in Japan.
In this article, the VPN UNIVERSITY editorial department will delve into what specifically happens when you lose your number, where existing methods fall short, and how Saily's new feature breaks through these barriers, all from a practical perspective.
>>> [Official Website]Click here for details on Saily
Recommended for people with these concerns
If any of the following apply to you, it is worth reading on.
You returned to Japan after an assignment or study abroad and can no longer access your US accounts or services
You thought you registered with Google Voice, but suddenly bank authentication SMS messages stopped arriving
You want to use services like Uber, Venmo, or Zelle that require a US number to complete registration
You want to secure a reachable phone number for local use during business trips or travel
If even one of these resonates with you, the solution is not difficult at all. Let's look at them one by one.
A phone number is a "silent asset"—you only realize its value after you lose it
First, it is important to understand the feeling that a US phone number is effectively an asset. It may not be visible like stocks or account balances, but losing it cuts off the chain of identity verification all at once.
Why is the impact so significant? Because it is standard design for US banks, brokerages, credit card companies, PayPal, and even the IRS tax portal to require an SMS one-time code when logging in. If the registered number is dead, the code floats in limbo, identity verification cannot be completed, and the entrance to the account itself is closed.
The troublesome part is that even if you try to seek help from phone support, you often get stuck in a dead-end maze where they ask for your US number during that same identity verification process. It is not uncommon for our editorial department to receive consultations from people who, months after returning home, suddenly try to access their US bank, find that the code does not arrive, and realize they can no longer reach their assets.
Getting back a number you have once let go is much more difficult than you might imagine. That is precisely why it makes sense to decide to "keep it alive," even if you don't use it daily.
Why were conventional maintenance methods neither here nor there?
There have been ways to keep a US number until now. However, each has significant weaknesses that cannot be ignored. We will organize the three approaches by their characteristics.
Free VoIP (like Google Voice) is easily blocked by financial authentication
While Google Voice is popular for its convenience, it is frequently rejected by banking-related authentication systems.
The reason is technical; many financial services query the destination number to see if it is a 'real mobile line or an internet phone.' If the number is recorded as VoIP in the database that determines number types (known as a line type lookup), a mechanism kicks in that prevents it from being accepted as a destination for SMS authentication.
What makes it worse is the pattern where it passes registration, but later login authentication codes fail to arrive. Since the criteria are updated by the service side at any time, it is possible for something that 'worked until yesterday' to stop working. It is safer to assume that this uncertainty comes with the territory as long as it is free.
Keeping a US line active is not cost-effective
If you prioritize certainty above all else, the standard approach is to keep your US mobile line as is. However, paying tens of dollars a month for a communication contract just to maintain a number is difficult in terms of cost-effectiveness. The structure of continuing to pay fixed monthly costs for a service you do not use is not realistic for most people.
ahamo and Rakuten Mobile are strategies for maintaining a 'Japanese number'
This is a point that is easily misunderstood. International roaming with ahamo or Rakuten Mobile is merely a mechanism to keep your Japanese phone number, and it does not mean you get a US +1 number. While a Japanese number is valid for services within Japan, it cannot be used for US bank authentication. You must be careful not to confuse the purpose.
Saily's new feature—a third way to achieve both 'low cost' and a 'real number'
In 2026, Saily launched a new feature that allows you to add a US number within the app in addition to data eSIMs. The biggest highlight is that you can have a real number that can send and receive SMS and make calls for about $1 per month.
Against the tug-of-war between 'free but blocked VoIP' and 'reliable but expensive real lines' that has existed until now, Saily has struck a middle ground. Listing the features makes the outline clear.
Issue a US number (+1) using only in-app operations
Supports both SMS sending/receiving and voice calls
Perform identity verification with a government-issued ID or passport, allowing it to be treated as a real number rather than VoIP
Completed within the same app as the data eSIM, and the number remains even if you switch data plans
What is worth noting is that it is a real number that has undergone identity verification. This single point is directly linked to the ease of passing the authentication SMS mentioned later. Please note that pricing and terms of service may change, so be sure to check the latest official information before signing up.
[US Phone Number] Comparing the three options on the same playing field
What really matters for authentication purposes is 'whether the number is a real number'—this is the only point. Let's compare the three options by their characteristics.
Saily
Number type: Identity-verified real number (+1)
Estimated monthly cost: From about $1
Ease of receiving authentication SMS: Easy to pass
SMS sending/receiving and calls: Both supported (calls are mainly local)
Obtaining while in Japan: Possible
Google Voice
Number type: VoIP number
Estimated monthly cost: Free
Ease of receiving authentication SMS: Sometimes blocked
SMS sending/receiving and calls: Both supported
Obtaining while in Japan: Requires US presence for number acquisition
US mobile line
Number type: Real number
Estimated monthly cost: Several tens of dollars
Ease of receiving authentication SMS: Easy to pass
SMS sending/receiving and calls: Both supported
Obtaining while in Japan: Requires local contract
When laid out like this, it becomes clear that Saily is the only option that balances "affordability" with "being a real number." If you want to reliably receive authentication SMS, Saily's real number, which has undergone identity verification, is a more reliable candidate than free VoIP.
How can it be used specifically? — Use cases by situation
Since it is hard to get an image from abstract theory alone, the editorial department lists usage examples by situation.
Identity authentication and two-factor authentication for US services
It can be used for SMS authentication to protect accounts, such as logging into US banks and credit cards, Amazon, auction sites, and the IRS tax payment portal. Even in situations where VoIP is often blocked, Saily has an advantage in pass rates because it is a real number.
Keeping your number after returning home or transferring
People who have returned from overseas assignments or studies can maintain a US number for a low cost of about $1 per month. This is a practical preparation for the problem of being locked out of accounts after returning home, which was mentioned at the beginning.
App registrations that require a US number
Ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft, and money transfer/payment apps like Venmo and Zelle, often stop you at the registration screen if you don't have a US number. Just being able to get past this significantly increases the freedom to use US services from Japan.
Authentication and sub-accounts for messaging apps
Clear SMS authentication for LINE or WhatsApp, or create a second WhatsApp profile with a US number. It is also suitable for those who want to separate their numbers for work and private use.
Local contact during travel or business trips
A real number is also useful for making reservation calls to restaurants and hotels, and for communicating with local contacts. The peace of mind of being able to properly receive return calls from others is especially great when traveling.
Points to keep in mind before signing up
It is a good idea to clear up any gaps between expectations and reality regarding convenient features beforehand. As an editorial department, we will tell you honestly.
Identity verification is mandatory: You will be required to submit a government-issued ID or passport
Calls are based on a minute package system: Local calls are the main focus, and you need to check the official website to see if international calls are supported
MMS (picture messages) are not supported as stated
Data-only plans do not include a number: A phone number is positioned strictly as an additional option
Prices and conditions are subject to change: Always check the latest official information before signing a contract
For those who only need data communication, the number feature itself is unnecessary. It is wise to judge whether you need it based on your own use case before choosing.
As a supplement for those with high security awareness—if possible, prioritize authentication apps (Authenticator types) over SMS for authentication methods, and keep SMS only for alternatives and recovery to make it more robust. Even so, since many US services still strongly require SMS, the value of having one real number remains significant, which is my honest feeling.
The flow of getting a US number from Japan
The actual procedure is roughly the following four steps. There are no difficult operations.
Install the Saily app and prepare an account
Add the phone number option within the app
Complete identity verification with a government-issued ID or passport
A US number (+1) will be issued, allowing you to use SMS and calls
>>> [Official Website]Click here for details on Saily
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Can I receive SMS on a US number even while in Japan?
Yes. As long as you have an internet connection, you can receive SMS sent to your US number via the app. This system is well-suited for those who need it for authentication purposes after returning to their home country.
Q. Will it really work for bank two-factor authentication?
Since it is a verified real number, it is considered more likely to receive messages than VoIP numbers. However, the final decision depends on the service's logic. For important accounts, it is safer to test it with a trial message before full-scale use.
Q. Should I switch from Google Voice?
If you are having trouble because authentication SMS are not arriving, Saily, which provides a real number, is a strong alternative. We recommend first testing whether codes arrive properly for the services you use daily.
Q. How much does it cost if I only want to maintain the number (without data)?
The phone number option starts at approximately $1 per month. Please check the official website for the latest pricing.
Q. Can I make calls or international calls?
Local calls are supported. International calls are generally not supported, so if you intend to use it for calling, please check the supported scope on the official website.
Summary: A $1/month real number puts an end to post-return anxieties
The era has arrived where you can proactively prevent the risk of losing your US number when returning home or traveling for about $1 per month.
Especially for those who have had bitter experiences with Google Voice failing to deliver authentication SMS, Saily's new feature, which provides a verified real number, should be a great fit.
The important thing is to think about it in relation to your own use case.
Bank logins, Zelle registration, WhatsApp sub-accounts—once you have written down which of these apply to you, please check the latest pricing and procedures on the official website or through detailed reviews.
A single number can become a bulwark that protects your important US accounts even after you return home.
>>> [Official Website]Click here for details on Saily