Plans & Fees
How a Japanese mobile bill is put together, and why device cost and service cost are two different things.
See every currently available plan and standard call option for the nine brands covered by this guide, with undiscounted prices and important conditions.
Your monthly mobile bill
Device cost vs service cost
Custo do aparelho
- Preço do dispositivo
- Pago à vista ou parcelado
- Continua devido mesmo após cancelar o serviço
Custo do serviço móvel
- Data
- Chamadas e SMS
- Opções
- Termina ao cancelar
Installments
What you pay at signing
One-time charges are separate from both the device price and your monthly bill.
Set by the carrier and the procedure channel. Major-brand shop fees are often ¥4,950, while online fees range from free to ¥3,850 or more. Check the exact new-contract, MNP, SIM/eSIM or plan-change procedure.
Full explanationAn extra amount some agency shops and retailers add on top of the device price. Set by the shop, not the carrier — it can differ, or be zero, at another shop or online. Ask "is there a 頭金?" before you agree.
Full explanationIssuing or using MNP is generally free, but the new carrier may charge its ordinary contract handling fee. Check both carriers and the application channel.
Full explanationSeveral current plans charge a small fee when a newly opened line is cancelled within 12 months. The amount and start-date rule differ by plan. Device installments, options and same-month cancellation charges are separate.
Full explanationContent & subscription options
You can attach video, music and other subscriptions to your mobile contract so they land on one bill.
- Examples
- Pacote de vídeo ilimitado da operadora ou serviço de terceiros incluído ou com desconto, como Netflix, Disney+, DAZN, Amazon Prime Video, Lemino ou Hulu.
- Como é cobrado
- Adicionado como item na fatura mensal do celular. Alguns serviços estão incluídos em um plano superior, sem cobrança separada.
- Preste atenção
- Muitos são grátis ou pela metade do preço nos primeiros 1–6 meses e depois renovam automaticamente pelo preço integral. Defina um lembrete.
- Examples
- Pacote de música ilimitada da operadora ou serviço incluído ou com desconto, como Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music ou serviço da própria operadora.
- Como é cobrado
- Cobrado na fatura do celular ou incluído no plano. Às vezes, os dados usados pelo aplicativo incluído não descontam da franquia.
- Preste atenção
- Verifique se o desconto exige um plano específico e o que acontece com as playlists salvas se você cancelar.
- Examples
- Integração com programas de pontos (d POINT, Ponta, pontos PayPay e Rakuten) e benefícios de compras do grupo da operadora.
- Como é cobrado
- Normalmente não há taxa separada; o benefício são pontos extras ou descontos nas lojas e aplicativos do grupo.
- Preste atenção
- Os pontos costumam expirar e podem ser usados apenas no ecossistema da empresa.
- Examples
- Garantia ou suporte de reparo do aparelho, armazenamento de fotos na nuvem, aplicativos de segurança e serviços de ID vinculados ao número.
- Como é cobrado
- Taxa mensal na fatura do celular. Os planos de proteção geralmente devem ser contratados na compra do aparelho.
- Preste atenção
- Algumas campanhas exigem uma dessas opções no primeiro mês. Cancele depois se não precisar.
NTT DOCOMO, au, KDDI, SoftBank, Rakuten Mobile, ahamo, povo, LINEMO, UQ mobile, Y!mobile, and other carrier, brand and plan names are trademarks of their respective owners. Netflix, Disney+, DAZN, Amazon, Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Music, Hulu, Lemino, Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube and other service names are trademarks of their respective owners. This is a personal site, not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by any of them, and uses these names only to describe the services factually.
Common questions
How much does a mobile plan cost in Japan?
Your monthly bill is the plan (data and calls), any device installment, and any paid options — the plan and the device are separate costs. Undiscounted plan prices and standard call options for the nine brands this guide covers are listed in the current plan catalog.
What one-time fees are charged when I sign?
A contract handling fee — often around ¥4,950 at major-brand shops, and free to ¥3,850 or more online — and, at some agency shops, a shop "down payment" (頭金) added on top of the device price. Device installments, options and any same-month cancellation charge are separate from these.
What is a 頭金 (shop down payment)?
An extra amount some sales channels add on top of the phone price. It is decided by the individual shop or agency, not the carrier, so the same phone can cost more — or nothing extra — at another shop, a directly-run store or online. You can ask what it is and whether it can be removed.
Is there a cancellation fee?
Several current plans charge a small fee — commonly up to ¥1,100 — when a newly opened line is cancelled within about 12 months. The amount and the start-date rule differ by plan, and 8-day initial cancellation is excluded. Device installments and same-month charges are separate.
Is a shop or an online plan cheaper?
An online-focused plan often has no handling fee and no shop down payment, which can outweigh a small monthly price difference — but only if you are able to do the application, plan changes and support yourself, in a language you understand.
What is the difference between the device price and the service price?
The device is the hardware, often paid in monthly installments; the service is the plan you pay every month. They are separate agreements. Cancelling the service does not clear a device installment, and a "¥1" device offer changes only the device side of the bill.