How to Get a Mobile Phone in Japan
The whole process, in ten steps — from choosing a carrier to making your first call.
The process is the same ten steps whether you walk into a shop or do everything online. What changes is who performs each step — staff, or you.
- 1选择运营商DOCOMO, 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.
- 6身份验证At 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.
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.
店内签约
- 工作人员可当面说明套餐
- 可与工作人员一起确认所需文件
- 办理过程中可以随时提问
- 部分手续或支持服务可能收费
- 并非所有套餐都能在门店完成办理
在线签约
- 通过网站或应用申请
- 自行上传或扫描身份证明文件
- 自行完成身份验证（eKYC）
- SIM卡会配送，eSIM则在线开通
- 支持服务可能仅限在线
- 部分低价套餐仅支持在线办理
Book the visit first
A reservation (来店予約) is strongly recommended. Walk-ins may be accepted, but busy shops can have a long wait or may limit same-day procedures. Book on the carrier's site or app, choose the shop, time and procedure, and bring every required document.
How long does it take?
Rough guidance — busy shops, eKYC review and number transfers all add time.
| Step | In store | Online | 笔记 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-store contract (with reservation) | About 1–2 hours at the counter | — | Longer without a reservation, or at month-end and on weekends. Number transfer and data migration add time. |
| Online application form | — | About 15–30 minutes to fill in and submit | Have your residence card, payment card and current-number details ready before you start. |
| eKYC identity check | Done at the counter in minutes | Minutes to submit; review can take from ~1 hour up to a day | A rejected photo means resubmitting and waiting again. |
| Physical SIM delivery | Handed over immediately | Roughly 2–4 days by post after approval | Varies by area and by how you paid. |
| eSIM issue | Set up at the counter | Often within minutes to a few hours of approval | Needs a compatible phone and a Wi-Fi connection to download the profile. |
| MNP switch-over (line goes live) | Usually completed before you leave | From minutes up to a few hours after you start activation | Your old line stops when the new one activates. Do it when you can be without service briefly. |
Carrier email
Carrier email availability depends on the plan and mail option. Online-focused plans such as ahamo, povo2.0 and LINEMO do not issue a new carrier address. The major carriers offer paid address-carrying services after you leave, but the price, eligible addresses and deadline differ—check your old carrier before switching.
Common questions
How do I get a mobile phone in Japan?
The process is the same ten steps whether you go to a shop or do it online: choose a carrier and plan, check your documents, verify your identity, set up payment, pick a device or bring your own, choose or decline options, review the terms, sign, and activate the SIM. What changes is who performs each step — staff, or you.
Can I set up a Japanese phone entirely online?
Yes, for many plans. An online application replaces the counter ID check with eKYC — you photograph your residence card and your face. The practical requirements are a readable residence card, a reachable contact detail in Japan for some carriers, and being able to follow the steps in a language you understand.
Do I need to book a shop visit?
A reservation (来店予約) is strongly recommended. Walk-ins may be accepted, but busy shops can have a long wait, and some procedures cannot be started same-day without a booking. Book on the carrier's site or app, choose the shop, time and procedure, and bring every required document.
How long does getting a phone take?
In a shop, plan on 1 to 2 hours from being called to leaving, and longer for a carrier switch (MNP) or a device on installments. The wait before you are called is separate. For an online application, the eKYC review can take from minutes to about a day.
What is the one step most people miss?
Before you choose a plan in a shop, ask whether that shop can actually complete the procedure for that plan, and whether any assistance costs a fee. Some plans are online-only, or need paid help even inside a carrier shop.
Will I keep my carrier email address?
Online-focused plans such as ahamo, povo2.0 and LINEMO do not issue a carrier address. The major carriers offer a paid address-carrying service after you leave, but the price, the eligible addresses and the deadline differ — check with your old carrier before switching.
Which procedure do you need?
New contract, MNP, device upgrade, SIM change or plan change — answer a few yes / no questions.
Related guides
Sources
- Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (総務省)
- Individual carrier official websites