[Unit 7 Tips] – Mobile Phones

Telecommunication in Japan is VERY different from Australia and/or any country I have visited. Don’t assume that your phone will work in Japan as it does in your country.

Check the frequencies your phone supports

If you are planning to use mobile data with your own phone, first check if your phone is not locked with your carrier and it is compatible with the frequency bands used in Japan. It sounds technical but frequency bands used differ from country to country and not all phones cover all frequency bands, so you should check that with the phone’s SKU (the precise model number shown in the property section of the phone) here. Even if the same model is sold in Japan, its Japanese version may have a different SKU from yours, so check it to be sure. If the compatibility is low, there is a high chance your mobile phone doesn’t work when you need it. In that case, forget about buying and/or hiring a local SIM card and skip to the Pocket Wi-Fi section below straight away.

eSIM card

If your phone is compatible with eSIM technology, there are a few companies in Japan that offer this new technology and it sounds like a great alternative to buying a physical SIM card. However, I have never used this one, so I can’t write much about it. Google “eSIM Japan” and see what is available.

Travel SIM card

If your phone is compatible with frequency bands in Japan and it is not locked to a certain carrier but it is NOT compatible with eSIM, then a travel SIM card would be by far the most economical option. Several different types of cards are sold in airports and/or big appliances shops like Yodobashi Camera, Bic Camera, etc. Network providers seem to change their product range very often, so you should try to obtain more information close to your departure (but not at the last minute). If you type “Travel SIM Japan” in Google, you will see a few options displayed in English. Some network providers and/or those big appliances shops will deliver the SIM card(s) to the address you specify including hotels and post offices convenient for you (mind the opening hours, usually 9 am to 5 pm Mon to Fri) if you pre-order one (or more). Each provider will have different terms and conditions, so choose carefully. Most companies won’t accept returns once you open the package even if the card doesn’t work in your particular situation. However, some companies who are leasing SIM cards (i.e. you will be asked to post it back to them when you leave Japan) offer insurance for SIM incompatibility for a small price and they will send you a pocket router at no extra cost if their SIM doesn’t work. One of ex-subscribers to this course was most appreciative of this service.

Most Travel SIM cards are for data communication only. It will not allow you to make phone calls to a phone number*. It has been almost impossible for a visitor to buy a prepaid SIM card that allows you to make phone calls and access internet data, although there seem a few available these days. Hopefully I can include that information here soon.

BTW, SMS text messages are not commonly used in Japan and there are chances that SMSs you send from your phone to a Japanese mobile phone may not arrive. I recommend using a messaging app instead. The most common messaging app in Japan is LINE.

Pocket Wi-Fi

If your phone is not compatible with frequency bands in Japan or it is locked to a certain network, you can hire a pocket router. If you Google for “pocket router Japan,” you’ll get a list of providers in English. Find the one that suits you best. They are generally more expensive than buying/hiring a SIM card, but I have had to resort to this option a few times and I have not come across any problem yet. If you order in advance, you can pick it up at major airports. If you are arriving in a minor airport, many providers will also send it to the most convenient pick up point you specify, including hotels and post offices (mind the opening hours, usually 9 am to 5 pm Mon to Fri) nearby. You must return it before you leave Japan though by either posting or returning it to a counter in person at the airport. If you forget, you will have to pay for the extra days as well as the higher postage from the country you are returning it from!

I strongly suggest you organize this before you leave your country!

*Making Phone Calls

If you are travelling with somebody else and you want to talk with each other, the easiest thing to do is to use an app such as Skype, Messenger, WhatsApp, etc.

If you need to make a phone call to a phone number (landline or mobile), like when you want to order a taxi or book a restaurant, you can do so if you have Skype credit with your Skype account. Skype credit can be purchased easily online or in a supermarket in Australia. If you use MS Office 365, Skype credit should be included in your subscription.

If you buy a Skype number (this is not the same as Skype credit mentioned above), you can also receive a call from a telephone in Japan. If you are travelling with your child(ren) not old enough to carry their own phone / Wi-Fi router, it may be a good idea for parents to have a Skype number and for your children to carry some coins and/or a phone card for a public phone so that they can ring you when they get separated from you (Make sure your children know how to use it!). Most public phones take 10 or 100 yen coins or a telephone card. 10 yen will last a bit over 15 seconds, they say.

Japanese “mobile” email address

Many Japanese use email on their phone as much as we all do, but depending on their settings and email addresses, emails you send may NOT arrive to them and neither party will get any error message that the message did not get delivered. If you are trying to send an email to an address with “docomo,” “softbank,” “vodafone,” “ezweb” etc. after @, chances of this error happening are quite high. If your Japanese friend gives you one of these addresses, ask for another one, or ask him/her for an alternative method to contact him/her. Many Japanese people use “Line” app. It may be easier if you install it yourself.