Cell phones today have become an integral part of the lives of most of us. For the international traveler, it can be difficult to give up one’s cell phone when you leave your home country, having to rely on dirty, inconvenient payphones or paying exorbitant rates by making calls from your hotel.
Cell phone rental in Japan is one smart way to go, but there are other options, as well.
As you can guess, cell phone use in Japan is very prevalent among the Japanese, with over a 75% adoption rate. And, foreign residents and tourists usually carry cell phones while in Japan.
Cell phone rental for Japan can be fairly straightforward, but you need to be sure to understand all of your options.
Using Your Own Phone From Your Home Country
You may be wondering, “Can I use my cell phone in Japan”?
It is true that some types of cell phones from Europe or North America can be used in Japan. For example, some 3G phones can be operated effectively within Japanese cellular networks. However, confirm this with your cell phone provider first. If you are interested in exploring cell phone usage in Japan, you need to confirm that your own phone indeed is compatible there. Note that even if you have a so-called international phone, it may not actually work in all countries.
Note: if your phone is based upon GSM technology, it will not work in Japan since there is no GSM network in Japan.
If you can verify that your phone does work in Japan, you will have two options for how to get charged for calls. Your first option is to use your own provider’s roaming plan, in which case you will pay relatively high international roaming rates. Your other option is to rent an SIM card locally in Japan and then pay lower, local Japan rates. Remember, neither of these options will work for you, though, if your phone is not technically compatible with any Japanese network.
Cell Phone Rental In Japan
If your regular phone is not compatible with the Japanese networks – or if you just want to avoid paying international roaming rates – you may want to just rent a cell phone in Japan. There are a number of cell phone carriers in Japan and many of them offer phone rental services.
To rent a phone, you will need a picture ID and a credit card. You can rent a cell phone from an airport kiosk the day you arrive. Alternatively, some companies will agree to mail your rented phone to your hotel or another address.
In terms of rates, you will often be charged a certain amount for the first week – then a lower daily amount for each day you use the phone after that.
Prepaid Phones
Prepaid phones are also an option for the foreigner in Japan. Note that, due to past criminal abuse of these phones, the sellers must be able to verify the identity and place of residence of the buyers. This can mean that you will need an alien registration card, a Japanese passport, or a Japanese driver’s license. However, some sellers will accept a foreign passport and a hotel address.
