{"id":2092,"date":"2016-02-08T08:30:32","date_gmt":"2016-02-07T23:30:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hrcjapan.com\/iphone-carrier-japan\/"},"modified":"2025-08-28T11:35:27","modified_gmt":"2025-08-28T02:35:27","slug":"iphone-carrier-japan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hrcjapan.com\/en\/iphone-carrier-japan\/","title":{"rendered":"iPhone Carrier Options in Japan"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-3583\" src=\"http:\/\/japaninfoswap.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/Iphone-150x150.png\" alt=\"iPhone 4 Photo\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/>Living in Japan can be difficult, but the internet has many resources to make things a bit easier\u00a0and an iPhone or other smart phone can put those resources at your fingertips wherever you find yourself in Japan through a wide variety of standard or easily downloadable applications. The H&amp;R Group recommends to its clients\u00a0getting an iPhone or iPad to put those resources at your\u00a0disposal!<\/p>\n<p>To start \u00a0we will out line some basics. \u00a0The handset and monthly subscription (service) plans are both provided by the carrier. This means that when a mobile phone is purchased, a service plan is also provided. In order to proceed with an application, you must provide:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Valid Residence Card<\/li>\n<li>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Passport<\/li>\n<li>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Credit card<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>iPhone monthly subscription plans normally consist of :<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Flat-rate data plan<\/li>\n<li>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Basic calling plan<\/li>\n<li>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0SMS plan<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In most cases, the cost of the handset is paid in installments over the course of the standard 24-month subscriber contract.<\/p>\n<h1>iPhone Carrier Options<\/h1>\n<p>With their multilingual support, app selection, and usability, most foreigners in Japan have iPhones and pay a hefty sum every month to use them. Around\u00a02014 there was more than a bit of consternation caused by Softbank\u2019s retirement of their long popular &#8220;White Plan.&#8221; Other carriers followed suit, removing their unlimited data plans and unveiling newer plans with data limits and unlimited calling.<\/p>\n<p>The good news is that for many people, these new plans are comparable in price to the old ones and, for many may actually save them money. Here is a breakdown of the new data plans among the major carriers.<\/p>\n<h2>Softbank<\/h2>\n<p>Softbank is the most popular carrier among foreign residents of Japan because of its English support line, for reliably providing English-speaking staff in areas popular with foreigner residents. \u00a0\u00a0As the original iPhone carrier in Japan, Softbank also has the most experience with the handset and the shop staff tends to be the most knowledgeable about the handset.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><b>Pros:<\/b><br \/>\n<b>+ <\/b>Best English customer support<br \/>\n<b>+<\/b> More efficient coverage under platinum band network<br \/>\n<b>+ <\/b>Free Calls between subscribers from 1:00 to 21:00<br \/>\n<b>Cons:<\/b><br \/>\n<b>&#8211;<\/b> Platinum band not available in all areas<br \/>\n<b>&#8211; <\/b>All handsets tied to 24-month contract<\/p>\n<p><b>Softbank iPhone Plans<\/b><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Softbank<\/td>\n<td>2GB Limit<\/td>\n<td>5GB Limit<\/td>\n<td>8GB Limit<\/td>\n<td>10GB Limit<\/td>\n<td>15GB Limit<\/td>\n<td>20GB Limit<\/td>\n<td>30GB Limit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Calling (unlimited)<\/td>\n<td>2,700<\/td>\n<td>2,700<\/td>\n<td>2,700<\/td>\n<td>2,700<\/td>\n<td>2,700<\/td>\n<td>2,700<\/td>\n<td>2,700<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Data<\/td>\n<td>3,500<\/td>\n<td>5,000<\/td>\n<td>6,700<\/td>\n<td>9,500<\/td>\n<td>12,500<\/td>\n<td>16,000<\/td>\n<td>22,500<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Network access<\/td>\n<td>300<\/td>\n<td>300<\/td>\n<td>300<\/td>\n<td>300<\/td>\n<td>300<\/td>\n<td>300<\/td>\n<td>300<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Monthly Total<\/td>\n<td>6,500\u5186<\/td>\n<td>8,000\u5186<\/td>\n<td>9,700\u5186<\/td>\n<td>12,500\u5186<\/td>\n<td>15,500\u5186<\/td>\n<td>19,000\u5186<\/td>\n<td>25,500\u5186<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.softbank.jp\/mobile\/price_plan\/iphone\/sumahodai\/details\/%20%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Softbank\u00a0Website for more information<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Au<\/h2>\n<p>Au offers the most competitive pricing on iPhone service using seasonal pricing schemes . They tend to be the cheaper option for service, but disadvantages include far less experience with the handset, and the biggest disadvantage is that the reception with au is somewhat marginal.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><b>Pros:<\/b><br \/>\n<b>+ <\/b>Competitive iPhone pricing schemes<br \/>\n<b>+ <\/b>Free Domestic Calls between subscribers from 1:00 and 21:00<br \/>\n<b>Cons:<\/b><br \/>\n<b>&#8211; <\/b>Limited English support<br \/>\n<b>&#8211; <\/b>Marginal network coverage<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left; padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>&#8211; <\/strong>All handsets tied to 24-month contract<\/p>\n<p><b>AU iPhone Plans<\/b><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>AU<\/td>\n<td>2GB Limit<\/td>\n<td>3GB Limit<\/td>\n<td>5GB Limit<\/td>\n<td>8GB Limit<\/td>\n<td>10GB Limit<\/td>\n<td>13GB Limit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Calling (unlimited)<\/td>\n<td>2,700<\/td>\n<td>2,700<\/td>\n<td>2,700<\/td>\n<td>2,700<\/td>\n<td>2,700<\/td>\n<td>2,700<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Data<\/td>\n<td>3,500<\/td>\n<td>4,200<\/td>\n<td>5,000<\/td>\n<td>6,700<\/td>\n<td>8,000<\/td>\n<td>9,800<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Network access<\/td>\n<td>300<\/td>\n<td>300<\/td>\n<td>300<\/td>\n<td>300<\/td>\n<td>300<\/td>\n<td>300<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Monthly Total<\/td>\n<td>6,500\u5186<\/td>\n<td>7,200\u5186<\/td>\n<td>8,000\u5186<\/td>\n<td>9,700\u5186<\/td>\n<td>11,000\u5186<\/td>\n<td>12,800\u5186<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.au.kddi.com\/english\/iphone\/ryokin\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">AU\u00a0Website for more information<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>NTT Docomo<\/h2>\n<p>NTT Docomo is the original mobile carrier in Japan . \u00a0This long term brand recognition combined with an extremely reliability network make the company popular among the Japanese market. \u00a0iPhone service, however, began only in the fall of 2013, and doccomo is still behind compared to other carriers in terms of the iPhone specifically. \u00a0They are doing their best to make up for their lack of experience with competitive pricing plans, however. \u00a0Besides competitive pricing and best overall network, another big advantage for some users is an affordable, standalone SIM card plan for \u201cunlocked\u201d iPhone handsets purchased overseas, a service not offered by other providers (please be aware that not all overseas iPhones are compatible with the docomo network and there may be other restrictions).<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Pros:<\/b><br \/>\n<b>+ <\/b>Best overall network coverage<br \/>\n<b>+ <\/b>Calls between subscribers free all the time<br \/>\n<b>+ <\/b>SIM card plan for iPhones purchased overseas<br \/>\n<b>Cons:<\/b><br \/>\n<b>&#8211; <\/b>English support limited to online assistance<br \/>\n<b>&#8211; <\/b>Little experience with the iPhone<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 &#8211; <\/strong>All handsets tied to 24-month contract<\/p>\n<p><b>NTT Docomo iPhone Plans<\/b><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Docomo<\/td>\n<td>2GB Limit<\/td>\n<td>5GB Limit<\/td>\n<td>8GB Limit<\/td>\n<td>10GB Limit(Shared)<\/td>\n<td>15GB Limit(Shared)<\/td>\n<td>20GB Limit(Shared)<\/td>\n<td>30GB Limit(Shared)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Calling (unlimited)<\/td>\n<td>2,700<\/td>\n<td>2,700<\/td>\n<td>2,700<\/td>\n<td>2,700<\/td>\n<td>2,700<\/td>\n<td>2,700<\/td>\n<td>2,700<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Data<\/td>\n<td>3,500<\/td>\n<td>5,000<\/td>\n<td>6,700<\/td>\n<td>9,500<\/td>\n<td>12,500<\/td>\n<td>16,000<\/td>\n<td>22,500<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Network access<\/td>\n<td>300<\/td>\n<td>300<\/td>\n<td>300<\/td>\n<td>300<\/td>\n<td>300<\/td>\n<td>300<\/td>\n<td>300<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Share plan fee<\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>500<\/td>\n<td>500<\/td>\n<td>500<\/td>\n<td>500<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Monthly Total<\/td>\n<td>6,500\u5186<\/td>\n<td>8,000\u5186<\/td>\n<td>9,700\u5186<\/td>\n<td>13,000\u5186<\/td>\n<td>16,000\u5186<\/td>\n<td>19,500\u5186<\/td>\n<td>26,000\u5186<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Additional<br \/>\nContract (Shared data)<\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>3,500\u5186<\/td>\n<td>3,500\u5186<\/td>\n<td>3,500\u5186<\/td>\n<td>3,500\u5186<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nttdocomo.co.jp\/english\/iphone\/charge\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Docomo\u00a0Website for more information<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Living in Japan can be difficult, but the internet has many resources to make things a bit easier\u00a0and an iPhone or other smart phone can put those resources at your fingertips wherever you find yourself in Japan through a wide variety of standard or easily downloadable applications. The H&amp;R Group recommends to its clients\u00a0getting an [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":2040,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[60,59,61,166],"tags":[62,175],"class_list":["post-2092","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hr-group","category-life-in-japan","category-relo-japan","category-the-internet","tag-login","tag-mobile-phones"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hrcjapan.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2092","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hrcjapan.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hrcjapan.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hrcjapan.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hrcjapan.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2092"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/hrcjapan.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2092\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":51098,"href":"https:\/\/hrcjapan.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2092\/revisions\/51098"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hrcjapan.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2040"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hrcjapan.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2092"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hrcjapan.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2092"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hrcjapan.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2092"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}