Will My Phone Work In Japan? – A Detailed Answer

Well, planning a trip to Japan has never been easy. You’ve gotta deal with the schedule, accommodation, destination, currency, etc. And when it comes to using cell phone in Japan, there will have a bunch of things that you really need to take into consideration. Will my phone work in Japan? Can I make calls, send and receive texts? How to connect to the Internet? This article will bring you some well-consolidated information about cell phones in Japan then help to figure out will your phone work in Japan and if it doesn’t, how to get it work. Let’s get started!

Will my phone work in Japan?

Using foreign phone in Japan

It is most likely that nowadays, cell phones – whether issued in Japan or abroad, with either iOs or Android system, can work without any hassles in Japan. However, the difference in certain technological features may cause that some old phone models can’t serve its functions very well. 

To make sure whether your phone will be able to call in Japan, please check the following points before taking your trip:

• Network compatibility

For those who have never heard about these things, first, you must understand that there’s a difference in technology among countries. Basically, each tower uses its own sort of technology and each company uses its own network. The only way for phones to process a cellular call or text while in Japan is that they are compatible with at least one of the Japanese mobile phone networks. For example, if you are owning a GSM phone (you can imagine GSM like 2G), just know that it’s not going to work in Japan as the country no longer has GSM networks.

To be sure, you can check on the website Will My Phone Work for more details. Here are the steps on how to use it:

• Select your phone brand, model, and sub-model.
• Select the country where you are heading, in this case – Japan.
• From the list of carriers, select ALL >> Search

That’s basically it!

• Locked and unlocked 

You have to find out whether your device is unlocked or locked. Locked phones are those which only allow you to use the network SIM that you were supplied with. The software code on it will prevent you from using it on another network. For example, T-Mobile phones are locked to the T-mobile network so you can only use their sim cards, not an Verizon one. An unlocked phone, on the other hand, doesn’t have the software lock so that you can pop out the SIM card, put in a different SIM and get service easily, whether in your country or abroad.

This flexibility can also come in handy for people traveling overseas

To check if you have a locked or unlocked phone, try replacing the SIM card in your phone then restart it. See if your phone is still able to make calls, send texts, connect to the Internet and so on, that is an unlocked one. However, if there is no signal, your phone is probably locked.

• Can I use my US cell phone in Japan

The answer is “Yes”, provided your phone is unlocked and works on a Japanese network.

Now, many countries do share the same technology so in most cases, a phone working in America will work in Japan or vice versa anywhere across the world. Verizon will turn off its CDMA network and T-Mobile will turn off its 2G GSM network by the end of 2020. In 2021, AT&T and T-Mobile will keep their 3G networks in very low-bandwidth modes. That means the world is likely to switch over 4G LTE & 5G now, and you no longer have to worry about network compatibility while travelling abroad. 

If you have a 5G phone, it’s the guarantee will work in Japan

• How to get my phone work in Japan

Get a handset unlocked so you can use any sim brand legally in Japan. The network provider can do it and so can most mobile phone repair shops.

For Data

Phones can receive and send data (such as e-mails and web content) via international roaming, SIM card or free Wi-Fi. Note that it may cost you an arm and a leg if you don’t have an appropriate data plan. 

To turn off the roaming setting on your phone:

Touch Settings >> Cellular >> Cellular Data Options >> Data Roaming to change the setting.

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• Buying A House In Japan As A Foreigner? – A Detailed Answer

Cell phones in Japan

• Japanese phone companies

Japan is an absolutely top-notch of the world in high-tech innovations, including cell phone technology and use. Nowadays, Softbank, au by KDDI, and NTT DoCoMo are known as the three biggest mobile phone empires in Japan. They not only offer a variety of mobile phone plans and packages for both local residents and foreign tourists but also are some of the first to widely adopt services like internet browsing, audio and video streaming, GPS navigation, high-resolution cameras, electronic public transportation passes and wallets.

SoftBank is a Japan-based mobile phone company that provides a wide range of IT, mobile products and services

Aside from those dominant companies, there are also several smaller providers that put on sale low-cost cell phone plans and internet products.

• SIM cards 

With SIM cards, travelers will be able to use their own mobile phones in Japan. For foreign tourists who intend to live in Japan in short term, data-only SIM cards would be the best choice. They are typically usable for a short period of time (e.g. 2 weeks) or for a limit amount of data (e.g. 7GB for 7 days ). There are many products differing on connection speeds, networks used and eventual data transfer limits. This type of SIM cards could be easily purchased at airports, vendors or via Japanese websites without contracts. You do not have to submit any kind of documents and you can cancel your service at anytime, without any hidden charges.

Mobal Japan SIM Card offers travelers unlimited data, low call and text rates, and superfast 4G internet anytime and anywhere

For long-term residents in Japan, try subscription plans which enable you to access both voice and data. You will be required to provide your residence card and sign in a two-year agreement. Please note that early cancellations incur an amount of fee. Phone usage will be paid at the end of a billing cycle.

• Internet access

Internet is easy to access everywhere in Japan, through the two most common ways: SIM cards and public Wi-Fi.  If you have an unlocked phone, you can purchase a Japan SIM card for data connection. Nowadays, there are many SIM card companies that offer various options of plans and packages for all types of internet users and travelers. A more economical choice is using free Wifi hotspots which are available in most public areas.  

With the aim of bringing tourists the best experience, Japanese authorities have ran a lot of projects to upgrade the public wifi system. From airports to hotels, on trains or in restaurants, you can easily access the Internet and get assistance for navigation, translation, and others.

• Smartphone rental 

Another option for travelers to get a phone is to either rent a phone in Japan or purchase a prepaid one. 

The cost of renting a smartphone with full-featured falls around $10-$20 USD per day, excluding any additional fees for international calls and texts, insurance, extra data, etc. Calling rates are typically 40-100 yen per minute for outgoing domestic calls while incoming calls are free. International rates vary depending on the country you are dialing to. If you intend to rent a phone, it’s recommended to book in advance because phones can be out of stock and some retailers may offer discounts for reservations. 

The purchase typically requires a picture ID and a credit card. Phones could be taken right away you land at the airport or delivered to your hotel. 

At major Japanese airports, there are booths that offer smartphones for rent that have data, calling, and messaging capabilities

Alternatively, you can purchase a prepaid phone. For example, it will cost you around $25–$70 USD to get an average product from a SoftBank store. What’s more, you don’t need to worry about the language because the stores have English-speaking employees. 

Conclusion 

Hope you’ve got an answer for the tricky question Will my phone work in Japan and ready to go. If you have any questions about travel in Japan, leave them below. We might be able to help you out!