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
手机费用
- 设备价格
- 一次付清或分期付款
- 即使取消通信服务，仍需支付设备余款
通信服务费用
- Data
- 通话和短信
- 选项
- 取消服务后停止收费
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
- 运营商自有的视频畅看服务，或Netflix、Disney+、DAZN、Amazon Prime Video、Lemino、Hulu等第三方服务的组合或折扣。
- 如何计费
- 作为明细合并到每月手机账单。部分服务包含在较高档套餐中，不会单独收费。
- 留意
- 许多服务前1～6个月免费或半价，之后自动恢复原价。请设置提醒复查。
- Examples
- 运营商的音乐畅听服务，或Apple Music、Spotify、Amazon Music等组合或折扣服务。
- 如何计费
- 合并到手机账单或包含在套餐中。指定应用的流量有时不计入数据额度。
- 留意
- 确认折扣是否要求指定套餐，以及之后解约时已保存的播放列表会如何处理。
- Examples
- 与d POINT、Ponta、PayPay积分、乐天积分等积分计划联动，以及运营商集团提供的购物优惠。
- 如何计费
- 通常没有额外费用；优惠是在集团旗下商店和应用购物时获得更多积分或折扣。
- 留意
- 积分通常有有效期，并且可能只能在该公司生态体系内使用。
- Examples
- 手机保障或维修支持、云端照片存储、安全应用以及基于电话号码的ID服务。
- 如何计费
- 按月合并到手机账单。设备保障通常必须在购买设备时加入。
- 留意
- 有些优惠要求首月加入其中一项。不需要时请在允许的时间取消。
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.