How do foreigners sign up for a cell phone contract in Japan?

If you are going to sign up for a cell phone contract or change your cell phone model in Japan, you have four choices.
Those four choices are as follows.

• Contract at an agency that specializes in handling foreign nationals.
• Sign a contract at an electronics retail store.
• Contract at a cell phone carrier’s store.
• Contract at a cell phone carrier’s Internet site.

This page describes the features of the above four cell phone contracts and model changes.
And please read the advantages and disadvantages of each.

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Agencies specializing in foreigners　“GTN MOBILE”

Gtn mobile is an internet and cell phone agency for foreigners.
There are many non-Japanese staff members, and because of this, GTN MOBILE offers excellent language support.
It is quite difficult for foreigners to get a cell phone contract in Japan.
Some cell phone carriers have many requirements for length of stay.
If you are not familiar with Japanese language or Japanese rules. I recommend you to sign up with gtn mobile.

The language support provided by gtn mobile is available in Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Nepali. (Some Tagalog is also available.)
Language support is provided by gtn mobile’s foreign staff.
When you sign up for gtn mobile, gtn mobile will support you until the contract is completed.
Once your contract with gtn mobile is completed, you will be provided with a sim card.
If your cell phone is one that can be used in Japan, you can use your phone and internet with gnt mobile’s sim card.
Gtn mobile uses the phone lines of Softbank, a major phone carrier.
This phone line is called an MNO line and is a high-quality line.
We describe MNO on other pages.
Please take a look if you are considering it.

The advantages and disadvantages of gnt mobile are as follows

Advantages

• Foreign language support is excellent.
• It is easy for foreigners to pass the contract screening at gnt mobile.
• Fast service from signing a contract to receiving the phone.
• No penalty for cancellation.
• High quality and stable phone line.

Disadvantages

• Some cell phone carriers are cheaper than GTN Mobile.

Electronics retail store

Electronics retail store are stores that sell home appliances (TVs, washing machines, refrigerators, etc.).
There are several electronics retail store in Japan.
Some of the most famous are Yodobashi Camera, Yamada Denki, Bic Camera, K’s Denki, Joshin, EDION, and Kojima.
Large electronics retail store may have staff who can speak foreign languages.
Especially in urban areas, English support can be expected.
A feature of electronics retail stores is that they allow customers to sign contracts with multiple cell phone carriers.
Electronics retail store can smoothly sign new contracts and change contracts from other carriers.
Sim free cell phones are sold at electronics retail store.
If you want a sim free phone, you should ask at an electronics retail store.
Cell phone carrier stores do not sell simfree cell phones.
And electronics retail store give discounts when you buy electronics.
This service may give you a cheaper phone or appliance.
However, electronics retail store receives a profit by selling you the product.
Therefore, they may recommend something you do not need.
And in many cases, electronics retail store are not cell phone professionals.
Many stores cannot handle cell phone repairs.

The advantages and disadvantages of purchasing a cell phone at electronics retail storeare as follows.

Advantage

• Large stores in urban areas can be expected to offer foreign language services.
• When you sign up for a cell phone contract, you can sign up faster than at a carrier store.
• Electronics retail store have many items that come with the cell phone.
• Electronics retail store have their own sales.
• Electronics retail store have their own sales, which make your cell phone and electronics cheaper.
• You can compare and decide between different cell phone carriers.
• Electronics retail store has its own discount.
• Electronics retail store sell SIM-free phones.

Disadvantages

• They recommend services and appliances that you do not need.
• They cannot repair cell phones.
• They are not specialists of each cell phone carrier, so they may not be familiar with data transfer and details.
• Data transfer is charged.
• It takes time to sign up for a contract compared to an Internet contract.
• Sometimes they don’t have the phone you want.

Contract at a cell phone carrier’s store

There are two types of cell phone carrier stores: stores directly operated by each carrier and stores commissioned by the carriers.
Cell phone carrier stores include the major mno carriers docomo.au.Softbank.rakuten, and the major sub-carriers UQ Mobile and Y!mobile.
Some cell phone carrier stores employ foreign staff to provide foreign language support.
If you have lived in Japan for a long time and have a cell phone contract, we recommend that you find a store in your area with staff that speaks your language.
Cell phone carrier stores are highly specialized.
If your phone malfunctions, a cell phone carrier store will be able to help you most appropriately.
If you are not fluent in Japanese, carrier stores may employ foreign language specialists.
On the bad side, carrier stores with consignment contracts may add additional optional services.
This is because the commission is the consignment store’s income.
If you have a friend or family member who is knowledgeable or speaks good Japanese, sign a contract together. Or, we recommend that you sign up via the Internet.
Cell phone carrier stores repair cell phones.
And you can discuss usage and pricing plans with the staff.

The advantages and disadvantages of purchasing a cell phone at cell phone carrier’s store as follows.

Advantage

• Some cell phone carrier stores employ foreign staff to provide foreign language support.
• Cell phone carrier stores have expertise.
• Our staff will deal with you face to face. Can solve your unspoken questions,.
• Cell phone carrier stores make repairs.
• You can discuss the usage and price plans for each cell phone.
• You can touch the actual model.
• There is a possibility that a slightly older model is still on sale.

Disadvantages

• Cell phone carrier stores have long wait times. I recommend making an appointment to visit the store.
• Cell phone carrier stores require an initial fee and commission. It is not necessary if you sign a contract on the Internet.
• You may receive unnecessary sales and solicitation sales.
• Business hours are fixed.
• There is often a charge for initial setup of the cell phone, etc.

cell phone carrier’s Internet site

Recently, the most common method of cell phone contract in Japan is internet contract.
Major carriers docomo, au, Softbank, rakuten and sub-carriers UQ mobile, y mobile, have in-person stores and internet applications.
And major internet-only brands ahamo, povo, linemo and mvno carriers that use cheap sim cards are internet-only procedures.

Contracts made over the Internet require that all procedures, troubleshooting such as breakdowns, etc., be performed by the customer.
There are translation pages on the Internet. However, it is not all perfect.
If you are not good at Japanese, I would not recommend you to sign a contract on the Internet.
I would recommend Internet subscriptions to those who are perfectly capable of using machine translation or have someone close to them who is fluent in Japanese.

Consumer electronics stores and cell phone stores include commissions and other fees in the contract fee.
This is the profit of each store.
However, there is no commission for contracts signed over the Internet.
This is a big advantage for you.

Advantage

• No handling fees, no shipping charges
• No waiting time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• No sales or solicitation
• You can choose your favorite pick-up location, either at home or at a store

Disadvantage

• It is difficult for people who are not good at Japanese because it is necessary to do everything on the Internet in Japanese.
• Cannot consult or ask questions in person
• You have to wait about 2 days from contract to arrival
• All data transfer, etc. is done by yourself.
• It is necessary to understand the contents of the contract by yourself.

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