Job Discussion Forums

Joannda · Joined: 07 Jun 2004 Posts: 43 Location: Japan!

Hey,
Is it possible to buy a sim-card for cellphones in Japan? I had the impression that most cellphones are on contract, but a friend suggested I might be able to buy a sim-card and take my New Zealand cell phone with me to Japan? (I have a Nokia 3315, fairly new, although probably ancient by japanese standards) Has anyone done this? Are you able to send SMS messages back home? and receive them?
How much does a sim card cost? Is it possible to go on a pre-paid plan? What are the charges like?
How does this compare with getting a cellphone and plan in Japan? Is it worth it if I most likely get a landline?
Look forward to your replies!

Iwantmyrightsnow · Joined: 12 Feb 2004 Posts: 202

None of the models I have seen have a sim card in Japan.

canuck · Joined: 11 May 2003 Posts: 1921 Location: Japan

Don't bother. Buy a phone here. Yes, you can get prepaid phones. Get a land line if you want the internet at home.

G Cthulhu · Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2004 7:21 am Post subject:

Don't do it.

NZ cell phones will not work in Japan for the simple reason that they broadcast on the wrong frequency. And it doesn't matter a bit if Telecom or Vodaphone say otherwise: they're lying.

Trust me..... <muttermutterbloddyvodaphonemutter>

Even if you could get one that included the Japanese broadcast band, you'd have to find someone in NZ or Japan to unlock it from the NZ firmware coding and then get a Japanese company to accept it. AFAIK, no one on the planet has figured out how to do that yet for cellphones.

Eleckid · Joined: 03 Jun 2004 Posts: 102 Location: Aichi, Japan

Japan uses a dif frequency as other countries, so unless you have like a satelite cell phone, any of the other tri-band phones will not work here for the time being. The sim-cards doesn't work with the phones here, dif size too (if the phone has the sim-card function). Just get a cell phone from here. You can get one for free if you sign a 1 yr contract, the phone is pretty new too~

Nismo · Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 520

There are 3 world phones that I have seen, all of them under Vodaphone. You would be limited to that service, and it might be pricier. Basically, it's not worth it - phones are free in Japan. Even breaking contract only costs 3000 yen. You can get prepaid.

Here is the cheapest way to work things: Get a prepaid phone on the cheapest plan. When you want to talk to someone, email them from your phone and ask them to call you. Incoming calls are free. You save money, but your friends will label you stingy. Razz

Or, if you can find a student who is willing to put a plan under their name, AU offers a 50% student discount. That's what I was using last year as a student at jouchi. I had my little cousin fill out the app for me, since I didn't have my foreigner card yet - worked out great.

Eleckid · Joined: 03 Jun 2004 Posts: 102 Location: Aichi, Japan

About discounts, besides the Au 50% off for students, you can also get the family plan from vodafone. You just need to fill in the address from a family who's also on this plan. I forgot how much, but much cheaper than my value pack.