Cell Phone Contract and Activation Assistance: Getting a Japanese Phone Number
Service: Cell Phone Contract and Activation Assistance:
Getting a Japanese Phone Number
Overview:
Getting a Japanese phone number can be difficult for foreign nationals, especially students. The major cellular providers require a period of stay of over a year and an existing bank account, and they have expensive contracts. SIM cards are a more affordable option, but many providers have restrictions and don't offer English support.
How we can help:
We can help you get a Japanese phone number that is right for you. We will assess your needs and find the best provider and plan for you, and we will help you with the contract and activation process. We can also help you cancel your service or make changes to your account as needed.
Why you need us:
- We know the Japanese cellular market and the different providers and plans available.
- We can help you avoid the pitfalls of signing a contract with a provider that is not right for you.
- We can help you with the contract and activation process, even if you don't speak Japanese.
- We can help you cancel your service or make changes to your account as needed.
Can't I take care of this myself?
The short answer is "some people do BUT..."
For a more detailed explanation of why having professional support can make all the difference:
Why Shouldn't I Just Do This On My Own?
Cost:
US＄150
Cancellation Policy:
- Cancellations after eight days from the date of application will not be refunded.
- There will be no refund if the service is provided within eight days.
Request for cancellations:
- Please contact us as soon as possible if you need to cancel your application.
- If you cancel your application due to a force majeure event, such as a natural disaster or an infectious disease (such as COVID-19), we may be able to waive the cancellation fee if you contact us early.
Real Students, Real Problems.
"...phone contract was very difficult"
Q. What difficulties did you face when you first got to Japan?
A. Getting a phone contract was very difficult and took me about a month.
SIM Card Issues
Q. What difficulties did you face when you first got to Japan?
A. get(ing) a sim card for my phone
JST Does it for You!
Q. Are there any preparations you regret not doing before moving to Japan that's you'd recommend other people to do?
A. Maybe do more research about daily life things: which doctor's have english support and accept NHI? What is the cheapest SIM card option? How can I find a foreigner friendly apartment? Who can I contact for these questions? etc
JST surveyed real Japanese language students about the issues they faced before and after coming to Japan, and designed our services to make sure immersive language students in Japan never face the hard parts alone.
Why hiring a Pro makes all the difference:
How hard is it really to get a phone number or cell phone in Japan?
Japan has three major cellular service providers: Docomo, au, and SoftBank. They offer nationwide coverage and have stores and locations all over the country to address any issues you might have.
Their fees are generally around ¥7,000 per month. In addition to phones with service contracts, they also sell SIM cards. So, hypothetically, you could use your current hardware and just swap out the SIM card for a less expensive alternative. However, they have restrictions on providing service or SIM cards to non-Japanese residents and require certain provisions like a bank account and a stay term of over a year from the date of sale or service.
One workaround that we don't recommend is to have a Japanese or long-term non-Japanese resident friend sign up in their name and then pay them. We've seen this become an issue, especially since the bill goes to the friend or acquaintance. This can lead to all sorts of trouble, and you also need to find a way to pay them for the monthly fee. (The bill will go to the official address of the person who made the account.)
The other options are the more affordable SIM providers. There are many companies selling these lower-cost SIM cards, but many have restrictions similar to the big three providers, so they can be difficult or impossible to get a service contract with. They often have very few branches, and all issues and troubleshooting need to be done online or on the phone, generally in Japanese.
Additionally, even within Tokyo, there may be areas that don't get coverage using a particular SIM card because of its limitations. Really knowing what's going to be best, safest, and most effective requires deep prior knowledge and experience.
Buying mobile phones and SIM cards is a complicated task and different in some ways from what you're used to in the US. So, signing a contract based on previous experience in your home country is a dangerous thing to do.
Maybe you're thinking of just using an app to make and take calls. This will work for talking to friends and family, but Japan is a country of bureaucracy, and most official transactions require a real Japanese phone number.
You can't apply for a part-time job without a Japanese phone number, and you need one to sign contracts. Japan is also not a Wi-Fi-enabled country. Unlike the US, it's a lot harder to find public access Wi-Fi. Sure, in Tokyo there are cafes with free or paid internet and Wi-Fi, but they're popular and crowded.
Have you tried going without the internet lately, especially overseas? Having the internet/phone issue taken care of as soon as possible when you get here is the best way to start your new life in Japan off confidently and connected.
