Buy a Phone in Japan
New or used, from a carrier or unlocked — how buying a smartphone works, and how it connects to your contract.
Menus, labels and guide explanations are available in the selected language. Carrier names, plan names and other proper nouns may remain in their official form.
Where phones are sold
- Carrier & sub-brand shops — sell devices tied to a contract, often with installment plans and campaigns.
- Carrier online stores — same devices, shipped to you or set up as an eSIM.
- Electronics retailers — sell both carrier devices and SIM-free (unlocked) phones.
- Manufacturer & unlocked — buy the phone outright, then choose any compatible plan or SIM.
- Used / refurbished — check the network bands, battery, and that it is not payment-locked (赤ロム).
Phone cost and service cost are separate
Telefonkosten
- Gerätepreis
- Einmal bezahlt oder in Raten aufgeteilt
- Wird weiterhin geschuldet, wenn Sie den Dienst kündigen
Kosten für den Mobilfunkdienst
- Data
- Anrufe & SMS
- Optionen
- Stoppt, wenn Sie abbrechen
Paying in installments
Beispiel-Gerätepreis¥120,000
In Raten aufteilen24 months
Wird Ihrer monatlichen Rechnung hinzugefügt¥5,000 / month
A device bought on installments is a separate agreement from your mobile service. If you cancel the service, the remaining device balance is usually still owed.
Bands & compatibility
A phone works best if it supports the frequency bands of the network you choose. Devices sold by a Japanese carrier are tuned for that carrier. An unlocked phone bought abroad may work but can miss some bands — check before you rely on it.
Related guides
Related guides
Sources
- Device manufacturer specifications
- Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (総務省)