Cell Phones In Japan

Now when traveling to Japan, one of the most important things that I find necessary is a cell phone. Japan is number one in the world in mobile phone technology, leading the world at 75% in usage and ownership.

Now a traveler might think it's ok to bring his or her own cell phone when they travel, and it is, to an extent. If the service company provides an international roaming plan one may be able to use their own phone with roaming charges applied. travelers can also rent a sim card in Japan which allows the traveler to use his cell phone, but with a Japanese phone number.


However that is only half that is necessary to be able to use your phone when traveling in Japan. The phone itself must be compatible with japan's mobile phone network. In Japan, there is no GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) So far, only a few G3 (3rd Generation) models are compatible, however the number of compatible phone are increasing. Contact your service provider for more information about if your phone is compatible.


rechargable sim card vending machine

The other option for mobile phones is to rent a mobile phone from one of the services in Japan. Services usually charge for outgoing calls, internet, etc. All in coming calls are free. There are three major phone companies in Japan. NTT Docomo, au by KDDI, and Softbank (originally called Vodafone). NTT Docomo is the most popular out of the three companies. Travelers can pick up a rental phone at Kiosk stands at the airport o have them delivered to their hotel or home. Costs range from 250-1000 yen per day for rental and a usage fee; about 70-200 yen per minute for domestic calls.You may get a discount for advance reservations but at airports, all stands carry the same day rental fees. You will need a photo identification and credit card in order to purchase a rental phone. I recommend this if you plan on staying in Japan for a short to medium range of time.


A cell phone from SoftBank

A third option is to buy a prepaid phone. These can be purchased at cell phone stores and convenience stores located throughout Japan. However you will need some form of photo identification and a place of residence identification. For the traveler, a passport id and the hotel address the traveler is staying at should be sufficient verification, however not all stores will accept this. The most common photo id's are a Japanese Drivers license, a Japaneses passport, or an alien registration card. A basic prepaid phone starts at around 5000 yen. The services provided depends on features on the phone. Credit must be purchased in advance in order to use a prepaid phone. As long as a person still has credit, the phone remains active, however the phone will expire with all credits, if any, if the phone is not used for 4 months to a year.

A fourth option is a paid subscription plan. This is usually paid at the end of each monthly bill cycle. Like most mobile phone companies, the phone itself may be free, however it requires a 1-year or 2-year contract. This service is only available to residents and requires an alien registration card and a Japanese bank account.