Job Discussion Forums

[timmyjames1976]

I have searched the orum, and have yet to find the answer. I assume you need a "gaijin card" for a mobile. I need a phone number to aid in my job search, but because I do not have a job, I can't get the right documentation. Does Japan have pre-paid mobiles?

Also, does anyone know where to buy a router with English setup features?


Tim

[Eva Pilot]

I know that at least Vodafone offers pre-paid mobile deals, but the mobiles aren't as cool as the ones you get on a plan.

[timmyjames1976]

Great! Thank you. I can always pawn the pre-paid o on my g/ in a few months.

[Gordon]

I have a pre-paid phone from Vodaphone, now Softbank. They have a few different kinds, mine is the cheapest (3,000 yen) and then you pay 3,000 yen for a card (at 40 yen/minute). The card must be used within 2 months. I rarely use the phone so it is perfect for me. I think you need a gaijin card though to get one, perhaps a passport would suffice.

[kinshachi]

I got a prepaid Vodafone mobile on my 2nd day in the country while living out of a suitcase - long before I had a gaijin card - it is definitely not necessary. A passport will do. After all, it's prepaid, so what do they need that information for?

I got the next level up because I wanted one with a camera, but it's not a very good one. It's served me pretty well, overall. Now I'm looking to move onto a plan and get a better phone with a better camera. Anyone have any suggestions?

[Gordon]

Last year, pre-paid phone regulations tightened up and everyone had to register again. Something about clamping down on crime. I'm sure a passport would be enough though, more secure than a gaijin card anyways.

[ironopolis]

Not 100% certain on this as it didn't apply to me, but I'm sure I've seen in both Vodafone (presumably Softbank will be the same) and a u brochures, that if you're paying your bills by credit card, you won't need a gaijin card.
A couple of years ago I was getting a new phone contract at a time when my visa only had 2 months left on it before it needed renewing. The ID you use to get a phone must have at least 3 months of remaining validity. The staff advised me that signing up to have my bills paid by my credit card would get round this. I actually didn't take their advice as I was able to use my Japanese driving licence, which had sufficient remaining validity.

So, OP, if you've got a credit card, that may be the way to do it.

[markle]

Has anyone got a Vodaphone/Softbank prepaid phone recently? I tried this time last month and none were available due to the changeover. We were told that there would be some at the end of the month but haven' got around to trying to find one yet.

[tom.s]

Two related questions:

1) Anyone seen any particularly good deals out there on mobiles recently? Anyone able to link to any web sites with examples of handsets, plans and prices? (the network websites don't seem to give prices, so its hard to get an idea of which plans and handsets will be options).

2) My girlfrind has been in the UK for 18 months and has a japanese vodaphone handset. With the vodafoe buyout is this likely to still be working in japan.. on the same plan? Or will it be cut off, or moved to a different plan?

Many thanks in advance.

[kinshachi]

I had a look around recently, and went with Softbank, mainly because they had the most English support - all their phones are bilingual. I was looking particularly for one with a good camera, and went with the 904sh. It cost me about 17000 for the phone and about 3500/month with 2100 of "free" calls/texts, etc. I'm not sure if it's a particularly good deal, but it seemed good enough for me. If I had been more certain about my time here, I could have got the discount plan, which would have knocked 10000 off the phone price and about 1200 off the monthly bill, but if I broke the 2 year contract, I end up paying through the nose...

I checked au and docomo, and their plans all seemed much the same - I just liked the phone itself better.

As for 1), you can check out the big three here:

http://mb.softbank.jp/mb/en/

http://www.au.kddi.com/english/

http://www.nttdocomo.co.jp/english/

As for 2), I have no idea really, but I suspect the name on the bill might change, but the rest should stay the same...

[milesdenman]

Hi

I've read in other posts that they've definitely stopped pre-paid mobiles. How can you get a mobile without a Gaijin card?

Can you get a Gaijin card living on a tourist visa staying in a guest house?

Thanks

[eslteacherlooking]

good question?
any answers out there? please? phoneless bodies want to know!

[milesdenman]

Hi

I did get a phone in the end from Rentaphone Japan. They deliver pretty quickly, and it's convenient, however you pay for it. But if you want a phone and don't have a Gaijin card I'm not sure if there are other options.

[wayne432]

I believe you can still get prepaid phones, just don't expect them at any kiosk you see... you might have to check out the center of cities or go to big locations.

You usually need your gaijin card, but if you're lucky you can sometimes get away without it.

As for contract cell phones:
Softbank - usually best looking cell phones, but most expensive
Docomo - 2nd in looks, price is much cheaper than softbank
Au - cheapest, but also maybe the uglier bunch
*keep in mind that the looks of the phone are all subjective

Just be on the lookout for shops offering deals, etc if you're buying a contract...
For example, my friends went with Au and bought a cell phone for 0 and 1 yen (only works when you sign up)
I went with docomo and bought a 40000 cell phone which got marked down to 10000 as part of a campaign.

They pay around 3000/month, where I pay around 7000/month (I have unlimited internet/mailing, etc which costs about 5000/month)

Hope this helps