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Japan Phone Guide
Mobile phones in Japan, made simple.
A personal information site about getting a mobile phone in Japan — written and kept up by one individual, not a company. How to buy a phone, sign a contract, read plans and fees, prepare documents, and know where you can actually get help if something goes wrong.
आप
एक मोबाइल कंपनी चुनें
Choose a plan
Prepare documents
Sign the contract
Activate the SIM
Start using your phone
What do you want to know?
Try:
Guides
Browse by topic
Ten areas cover almost every question people bring to a phone shop.
Tools
Which procedure do you need?
New contract, MNP, device upgrade, SIM change or plan change — answer a few yes / no questions.
Guides
How to get a mobile phone in Japan
- 1एक मोबाइल कंपनी चुनेंDOCOMO, au, SoftBank, Rakuten Mobile, a sub-brand, an online-focused plan, or a low-cost SIM.
- 2Choose how you want to applyIn a shop, or online. This choice affects the help you can get later.
- 3Choose a phone or SIMBuy a device, or bring your own and take a SIM / eSIM only.
- 4Choose a planData allowance, calling, and any options.
- 5Prepare documentsResidence card and a payment method are the core. The exact list depends on the carrier.
- 6पहचान सत्यापनAt a counter, or by eKYC (photographing your ID and face) if you apply online.
- 7Payment setupCredit / debit card or bank direct debit. Installments need a check.
- 8Sign / confirm the contractRead the plan name, the options added, and the monthly total before you agree.
- 9Activate the SIMInsert the SIM or download the eSIM, then complete activation.
- 10Start using your phoneTest calls and data. Save your account details and support contacts.
Store Support
In-store or online? They are not the same
In Japan the way you apply changes what help you can get later. This is the single most important thing to understand.
स्टोर अनुबंध
- कर्मचारी व्यक्तिगत रूप से योजना समझा सकते हैं
- स्टाफ से दस्तावेजों की जांच कराई जा सकती है
- आप जाते समय प्रश्न पूछ सकते हैं
- कुछ सेवाओं पर स्टोर शुल्क लग सकता है
- प्रत्येक योजना को स्टोर में पूरी तरह से प्रबंधित नहीं किया जा सकता है
ऑनलाइन अनुबंध
- किसी वेबसाइट या ऐप का उपयोग करके आवेदन करें
- आप अपने स्वयं के दस्तावेज़ अपलोड/स्कैन करें
- आप स्वयं पहचान सत्यापन पूरा करें (eKYC)
- SIM भेज दिया गया है, या eSIM डिजिटल रूप से सक्रिय है
- सहायता केवल ऑनलाइन हो सकती है
- कुछ कम लागत वाली योजनाएँ केवल ऑनलाइन प्रक्रियाओं के लिए डिज़ाइन की गई हैं
Price is not the whole story
A cheaper plan can cost you more time and stress if you cannot get help in a language you understand. Every plan page shows a Support Level — not just a price.
Guides
Popular guides
01Current carrier plans and call options02Bills, payment dates and overdue charges03Japanese phone numbers and short codes04How to buy a smartphone in Japan05What do I need for a mobile contract?06What is MNP?07What is an online-only mobile plan?08Can I get support at a phone shop?09How does ahamo support work?10How does povo support work?11SIM vs eSIM12Can foreigners buy phones in installments?13How Japanese mobile plans work14How phone discounts work15What happens at a Japanese phone shop?