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頭金 atamakin

An extra upfront amount some shops add on top of the device price. It is set by the shop, not the carrier, and is not a deposit toward anything.

Despite the name, a 頭金 (atamakin) in Japanese mobile sales is usually not a deposit that reduces what you owe later. At some agency shops and electronics retailers it is an added sales charge on the handset — often anywhere from a few thousand yen to more than ¥20,000, depending on the shop and the model.

Because the carrier does not set it, the same phone can have a different 頭金 — or none — at another shop, at a directly-operated store, or online.

Ask before you agree: "Is there a 頭金 on this phone, and how much is it?" Sometimes it is reduced or removed if you add certain paid options — weigh whether those options are worth it.

Carrier online stores and online-only plans generally have no 頭金.