Prepaid phone – Softbank mobile
Posted by: kirin on 
Jan 12th, 2011 | 
Filed under: Useful tipsThe other day, I helped my foreign friend’s purchasing a prepaid cell phone in Japan. I decided to write a post about that, since this information is useful for those who need it while their stay in Japan.
Basically there are 3 major cell phone companies in Japan: Docomo, Softbank and au.
You may remember Docomo from its kawaii collaborated Q-pot phones and etc. Docomo is a cell phone brand created by NTT, the largest telephone network company in Japan.
If you are interested in iphone or ipad, you can only make a contract with Softbank. In other words, in Japan, Softbank is the only and absolute carrier of Apple’s products that require contract. Softbank has been doing pretty well, especially since they started to deal with iphone.
Au is a cell phone brand created by KDDI, the telephone network company, alternative to NTT.
Most of us will use the service that requires monthly basic fee, and post-payment for telephone bills. Prepaid SIM card phone, free from monthly basic fee, is not very popular in Japan. SIM is basically locked by the major cell phone companies as above mentioned. Nowadays it’s only Softbank that has prepaid phone service because it has frequently been used for crime or fraud in Japan. Prepaid phone market has shrunk in Japan.
Disclaimer: the image is from Softbank premobile
Let me share with you how you can get it in Japan.
step 1: Go to a Softbank shop or Donki (Don Quijote) preferably with a Japanese friend who has a cell phone.
*Softbank shop may run out of stock very soon, while Donki often has more stock.
*You cannot buy normal cell phone (post-paid phone with monthly basic fee) at Donki.
Let’s say you go to Donki.
step 2: Go to the prepaid phone floor and tell them you want to get a prepaid phone.
step 3: You will be asked to choose from a few unit options with different price range. The cheapest one is only for email and phone calls. The expensive ones have additional function, for example you can watch TV on your cell phone.
step 4: Prepaid card is 3000yen (or 5000yen) and it expires in 60 days since it’s activated, whether you use it up or not. In other words, you have to recharge it by purchasing another prepaid card within 60 days, if you want to make a call. You can keep your phone number for 360 days without being recharged by a new prepaid card, but you can only receive calls and emails, you can no longer make calls or send emails then.
step 5: By paying 300yen per month, you can send emails with no limit.
step 6: You will be asked to show your passport with your home address printed, and a contact phone number in Japan. (If you have no number, ask your reliable friend who already has an available phone number in Japan.) Also you will be asked to fill out the application form.
*Everything is to be explained in Japanese, you’ll have to fill out the application form in Japanese. This is why I say it’s better you take a Japanese friend with you.
step 7: You pay the money, and will be asked to wait for 30-60 minutes until your application is approved by Softbank. Inform them of the cell phone number of your accompanied friend’s so they can call him/her when they are finished.
step 8: You will be notified by the phone call from Donki to your friend’s cell phone whether your application is approved or not.
step 9: Go back to Donki and receive the phone with a phone number. It’s already activated by them. But you will only be able to confirm your email address after you make a phone call from the cell phone to the number (1400) printed in the manual. At first, your email address is “your cell phone number@softbank.ne.jp” but you can change your phone number part to some words or numbers or mixture that you like.
*Monthly 300yen (limitless email) will be deducted from the prepaid card when you call 1400.
*In case your application is declined, your money will be refunded at Donki.
step 10: The prepaid phone kit doesn’t include recharger. But you can also get it at Donki. The best thing is to ask them which one is suitable for your prepaid phone.
In case you have any questions or problems, you should go to any Softbank shops, not Donki. Cell phones are often used for crime in Japan. In case you receive emails from you don’t know well or strange emails that request you pay money, ignore them and ask for advice at Softbank store. If you set up an easy email address at step 9, you may receive spam mails.
Hope this helps! 
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January 12th, 2011 at 1:33 pm
mails.. are they the same thing as sms in europe?
January 12th, 2011 at 4:48 pm
Love this post! It's very informative!!! ^^ Thank you! ^^
January 13th, 2011 at 8:46 am
Hi Kirin,
As for us, due to we don't have Credit Card, we met quite a few problems with the cell phone company. They Prefer those with credit card.
So We need to buy the handphone in Full cost and wait for 60 mins to get approval.
We cannot not buy 3 handphone in one time as it amount was too much.
So we bought my handphone and a Kodomo handphone.
After a few week, my hubby wanted to get a handphone from them.
After waiting for about more than 1 hour, they told my hubby that he need to wait for 3 months.
So when after 3 months, my hubby went back, Again wait for one hour plus, they told my hubby once again to wait for 3 month because 1 person cannot get new line within a certain period.
Finally, My hubby managed to get his line after waiting for half year.
The above is our experience for getting handphone with line.
January 13th, 2011 at 8:52 am
Sorry.
I forgot to add that Our are monthly subscription. Prepaid card is not suitable for us.
January 13th, 2011 at 11:52 am
No, we don't use sms. Japanese cell phone has its email address such as xxx@docomo.ne.jp, @softbank.ne.jp, @ezweb.ne.jp, and these are just like computer email address. But each phone company has something similar to sms; free short email between the same carrier.
January 13th, 2011 at 11:59 am
Thank you Apple. I forgot to mention the price of the phone. The cheapest one (phone calls and emails) was 1980yen.
January 13th, 2011 at 12:03 pm
Hi Winnie,
I'm sorry to hear your experience.
It must be hard that your husband had to do without it for such a long time.
I didn't know they are so inflexible for those without credit cards.
Thanks for sharing your story.
January 13th, 2011 at 10:53 pm
Hi kirin,
It was lucky that my hubby had a company Handphone,.
So if i have very important matters need to discuss with him, can call him.
But Cannot use freely because it company's handphone.
Very Sorry that I go off the Topic.
January 14th, 2011 at 3:04 am
Thank you Kirin. This post has very important information for anyone that will visit Japan. We must have a cell phone these days or we become social misfits. I can hear the conversation now. "What!, you don't have a cell phone? How do you manage to get through the day?" "Oh it is not easy. I mostly sit at home and spend time with my family." LOL
While I was in Japan I was able to use my Verizon cell phone. There was no charge to set it up and no additional monthly fee. However, when I used it I was charged $2.50 per minute! I did not use it often. If I were to spend more time there I would definitely try one of these prepaid phones. Thanks for the help.
January 14th, 2011 at 4:06 am
It's OK, thank you for sharing your comments with us all the time!!
January 14th, 2011 at 4:09 am
Thank you Steven, for your comment.
I know what you mean when you say you were charged $2.50 per minute. When we bring our Japanese cell phone overseas and try to make a call (or even to receive a call!) I guess we will be charged like that.
The downside of Japanese cell phones is that SIM is totally locked.
January 14th, 2011 at 6:16 am
This is a really useful article! Thank you ^_^
January 14th, 2011 at 1:06 pm
It's my pleasure!
I thought it's mottainai if I didn't share this with other readers. ^ ^;
January 15th, 2011 at 1:01 pm
Hi Kirin!
Thank you so much for this post! It is very useful to me since I'm going to Japan soon and I don't know if my phone works there (I've asked at many stores and some says that it will work and some says that it won't ^^'). I'm going to Japan with my parents but when I'm in Japan I'll be spending time with friends who live there so it would be good if I can contact them, and my friends so that we find eachother among all the people ^^
A japanese woman who now lives in Sweden (where I live) has a prepaid phone that she uses when she's in Japan so she's promised to lend it to us, and then I'm going to buy one for myself when I'm in Japan.
Since we already have one phone do you think it's possible to buy the other one without having a japanese friend with me? I know some Japanese (not much kanji though and I guess that there will be alot of kanjis on the application form). or do you think that the shop staff might help me (by explaining in Japanese)?
And also, our passports in Sweden doesn't have an adress in it, but I read that it is okey if you bring a bill (like an electricity bill) to prove your adress. But it is okey with an adress outside Japan, right?
Thank you again for the helpful information!
/Karolina
January 15th, 2011 at 2:08 pm
I've gotten a prepaid phone whenever I go to Japan. My suggestion is to get the phone as soon as you arrive at the Narita airport. You won't need a Japanese friend there. The softbank attendants speak very good English at the airport and will even set the phone to English for you. It was so easy.
January 15th, 2011 at 6:07 pm
Hello dear! Thank you very much for this post!
I've a question, if you can help me^_^
At donki they asked the visa or alien card of your friends or just passport with contact phone number? I'll be in Tokyo for 2 month to study and I really need a prepaid mobile, I'll be there as temporary visit, so I want to know if it'll ok to buy a prepaid phone^_^
Thank you!!!
January 16th, 2011 at 8:28 am
Hi Karolina,
Look, Nelson under this comment suggests something very helpful.
You'd better do it at a softbank counter in the airport.
January 16th, 2011 at 8:29 am
Thank you Nelson!!
Your advice is very helpful!!
January 16th, 2011 at 8:30 am
Hi CiaLi,
Ah, it was just a passport with a page of her local home address that was required.
January 16th, 2011 at 11:10 pm
Thank you very much for your reply^_^ ♥
January 17th, 2011 at 12:22 pm
Useful info for those staying longer I'm sure! I can add that for short stays (like a week or two, I guess) you can rent a phone from any major cellphone service provider while you're in Japan. You can also rent simcards for that time period. This can be done already at the airport (And then returned there as well) – I did this while visiting Korea a couple of years ago and my brother rented a phone from Softbank this time he visited so we could keep in touch while he was travelling on his own. It was pretty handy! ^^
I forgot to ask him how much it cost, but I think it was quite reasonable – for a short stay.
January 18th, 2011 at 12:03 am
Thank you Lisa, for sharing your information!
We can even rent a phone and sim card at the airport? Cool. (I say "we" because I want to live outside Japan in the near future and stay in Japan as a visitor, just like all of you. lol So, I was wondering, although it's too early, how I will do with my cell phone in Japan… :p )
January 20th, 2011 at 11:43 am
Haha, it's good to think ahead! ^^
) can do it already at the airport. It's really convenient, since you don't have to worry about how/when to return it – presumably you'll be leaving again via an airport! ^^
Yep, you (and everyone else
January 21st, 2011 at 6:29 am
Sounds great! That'll be enough to me.
January 30th, 2011 at 1:08 am
I lived in Japan last year and I had normal "contract" phone than in AU. I broke the contract before going home. Now I will go to Japan for a month and I am wondering if I can use my old phone (Casio CA004) just buy a prepaid card. (if i need alien registration card i can probably ask some friend to buy it on her name). But will it work. In article above it is written that only SB has prepiad phones. But on AU website there is also some prepaid phone info.
I don;t wanna renatle phone because it is possible i will be coming to Japan reguraly every couple of months for a month or 2.
How much is buying just a sim card (SB or AU)?
January 31st, 2011 at 1:14 am
To be exact, yes there is a prepaid phone from au, but I didn't mention it because it's not as easy as Softbank's. They do not promote it as much as Softbank, I don't even know when they're going to finish that service.
But I don't think you can use the contracted type of phone as a prepaid phone because those 2 are completely different. Usually contract phone is sim locked. It does not allow you to switch sim cards.
May 13th, 2011 at 12:24 am
ah, but if you come to the U.S. it's very simple to get a prepaid phone here. no contract, no credit card needed. no waiting to be approved. you just buy the phone at any place that sells prepaid phones (i.e. wal-mart, phone kiosk in a mall etc.) and then purchase minutes to be used and you're done!
May 13th, 2011 at 11:25 am
I know we can buy prepaid phone very easily in some countries. I think Japan used to be so, but since such phones were used for criminals very often, and so the system is being complicated today.
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