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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.
Voi
Scegli un corriere
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
- 1Scegli un corriereDOCOMO, 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.
- 6Verifica dell'identitàAt 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.
Contratto di negozio
- Il personale può spiegare il piano di persona
- I documenti possono essere controllati con il personale
- Puoi porre domande mentre procedi
- Alcuni servizi potrebbero avere una tariffa di negozio
- Non tutti i piani possono essere completamente gestiti in negozio
Contratto on-line
- Candidati utilizzando un sito web o un'app
- Carica/scansiona i tuoi documenti
- Completa tu stesso la verifica dell'identità (eKYC)
- Viene spedito SIM o un eSIM viene attivato digitalmente
- Il supporto potrebbe essere solo online
- Alcuni piani a basso costo sono progettati solo per le procedure online
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?