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.
Menu, label, dan penjelasan panduan tersedia dalam bahasa yang dipilih. Nama operator, paket, dan nama khusus lainnya dapat tetap ditampilkan dalam bentuk resminya.
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
Biaya ponsel
- Harga perangkat
- Dibayar sekaligus atau dicicil
- Tetap harus dibayar meski layanan dibatalkan
Biaya layanan seluler
- Data
- Panggilan & SMS
- Pilihan
- Berhenti saat dibatalkan
Paying in installments
Contoh harga perangkat¥120,000
Dibagi menjadi cicilan24 months
Ditambahkan ke tagihan bulanan¥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)