Loading...

Jan 12, 2015

Sim card with a Japan phone number

I have a Samsung Galaxy Note 3 smartphone that I bought in Australia. Does anyone know of a service that sells a sim-card with a Japanese phone number that will work for an unlocked phone? I've taken the phone into the major phone companies here... DoCoMo, Au, Softbank. All refuse to touch the phone, because it was not bought through their company. Thank you in advance.

LivingShoppingRecommendations
2 5
Report as spam
FrenchieFrogZ

FrenchieFrogZ

Follow

5 Answers

Best Answer

  • KevinC

    KevinC

    on Jan 13

    Well, Since your phone is unlocked you have a lot of options. You can buy a prepaid sim card at electronic store like Bigcamera and Yodamashi or directly from the carrier's website. BIG SIM: (BigCamera/Amazon/online) 2GB 1,728 yen ~ 4GB 2,397 yen ~ 7GB 3,520 yen ~ http://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/switch-language/product/B00J8B7WWG/ref=dp_change_lang?ie=UTF8&language=en_JP http://www.biccamera.com/bicbic/jsp/w/service/bicsim/onsei.jsp https://www.iijmio.jp/hdd/miofone/ Most of the carrier don't deal with prepaid sim card directly. U-mobile 1GB 1,580 yen ~ 2GB 1,980 yen ~ Unlimited 2,980 yen ~ http://umobile.jp/service/sim/vc/ OCN 2GB 1,944 yen ~ 4GB 2,322 yen ~ 7GB 2,700 yen ~ http://service.ocn.ne.jp/mobile/one/voice/ There are many places to order prepaid SIM card online but require a good understanding of Japanese, my advice will be go to the electronic store and ask the staff to help. A list of Prepaid sim card service: (Japanese) http://matome.naver.jp/odai/2139013271214522101?&page=1

    1
  • Yuju

    Yuju

    on Jan 13

    Hi Frenchie In my case, I'm using unlocked android from Docomo called so-02g ( Xperia Z3 compact ) and using softbank sim card but you have to set access point and password. it was little bit complicated to find information of SIM card that you want to use. Anyway your situation seems different. I recommend buy some prepaid SIM and make contract with IP Phone. (sorry pages not support english ) - Data only http://service.ocn.ne.jp/mobile/one/data/ - Tel number + data http://service.ocn.ne.jp/mobile/one/voice/ - Other SIM service http://www.wirelessgate.co.jp/service/sim.html - IP Phone service http://ip-phone-smart.jp/smart_en/ these service require credit card, but there is some prepaid sim they provide. but also process is complecate. if you don't use credit card then I'll advice different way to use.

    0
  • FrenchieFrogZ

    FrenchieFrogZ

    on Jan 13

    I resolved this today. I went to BIC Camera at Yurakcho. They have English speaking staff. Everyone kept telling me all the Japanese sim cards would not work in a phone purchased outside of Japan. Of course, I knew this was not true. The staff had a sim card for testing purchases. The BIC card is through Iijimo... which itself is a DoCoMo card. The other big hurdle is supplying a photo ID that shows your presence in Japan. Luckily, my Japanese driver's license is still valid. An hour later... all is good. Yes... I could have done this with a data only sim and VOIP. But, VOIP is not always reliable.

    0
  • KevinC

    KevinC

    on Jan 13

    Good to hear you got it solved, VOIP may not be able to call some number, so it is better to have a Japanese phone number. Japan do have a very strict policy on phone number registration, if you buy the data SIM, they will not ask for any document. Since you are buy the data sim along with the phone line, they must check your ID.

    0
  • Yue

    Yue

    on Aug 23

    Also, there are simcards by iijmio (hosted by docomo). No contract! All you need is a credit card so they can take your money, but you can cancel this for free every month. One tume you pay 3000 for the SIMcard, there are different options. For example: - 3GB Data only for 900¥ / month - Data and Call-flat for 1200¥ / month - ... Just check any bigger electronics store, you should find it right besides the travel-sims.

    0

Awaiting More Answers

1 Answer

Favorite Japanese artists, past or present

With Yayoi Kusama's passing being covered in the media today, I wanted to know about your favorite Japanese artists, past or present. Obviously Kusama is one of mine, but I always like hearing about other artists that I haven't been introduced to before.

genkidesu

genkidesu

22 hours ago

8 Answers

What do you most associate with Shizuoka?

Today, is also Shizuoka Citizen's Day, so - the same as Fukushima - what first comes to mind / do you most associate with Shizuoka Prefecture?

BigfamJapan

BigfamJapan

on Aug 21

10 Answers

Car Essentials for a Road Trip?

I feel like this may have been asked before, but I can't find it through a search. Or maybe I thought of asking it and never did! Either way, tell us what things you like to have in your car when you are going on a road trip?

BigfamJapan

BigfamJapan

on Aug 21

4 Answers

What do you MOST associate with Fukushima Prefecture?

Given that today is Fukushima Prefecture Citizen's Day; what is the FIRST thing that comes to mind when you hear Fukushima? And / or what do you most associate with the prefecture?

BigfamJapan

BigfamJapan

on Aug 21

3 Answers

Throwback Thursday - Sustainability blogs

@Genkidesu posted about the desire for simpler packaging this week. This reminded me of our blog theme about sustainability back in 2022. A little sleuthing turned up the main link: https://www.city-cost.com/blogs/search/tag/SustainableLife Have you kept up your good habits? In the last few years, what have you observed about how you use resources or reduced waste? Me? The photo is a takeout bento box I will reuse for lunch!

TonetoEdo

TonetoEdo

on Aug 20

5 Answers

Summer Festival Changes - Yay or Nay?

Earlier I wrote about how my neighborhood's "summer" festival has been moved to autumn. I also wrote a separate post about a summer festival in Kasukabe that has been moved indoors. I know there is a bittersweetness about these changes, but some would argue that something needs to change in the face of rising temperatures. So, I am curious, what would you vote for: 1) Leaving Summer Festivals exactly as they are - same date, same set up etc. 2) Shifting the time of day the festival is on, say for example, from afternoon until after dark 3) Moving the festival from summer to another season or at least to earlier in summer, such as June 4) Moving summer festivals indoors - not really possible for the larger festivals especially those with large floats etc. but maybe they could shift some elements indoors

BigfamJapan

BigfamJapan

on Aug 3

10 Answers

Favorite Noodles

Chilled noodles because it's summer, hot noodles are also accepted. Is it somen or chukasoba or zarusoba? Reimyun or pasta salad? Chanpon or udon or ramen? Pad Thai or Pho?! This year I made somen for the first time! I'm a soba fan. I used to love ramen and tsukemen but for some reason I'm not as into the rich and oily noodles anymore.

helloalissa

helloalissa

on Jul 30

11 Answers

What are the pros and cons of Japanese Citizenship for you?

Most of the people I know here are foreign residents, have foreign family members, or have foreign coworkers, friends or employees. A handful of those have become Japanese citizens. We've been chatting about things like ethnic identity and Japanese citizenship. I don't plan to become a citizen, but it made me wonder, what are the pros and cons for changing your citizenship? Is it something you've given any thought to? (What might make you consider it?)

helloalissa

helloalissa

on Jul 30

5 Answers

Which movie will you see this summer?

I am not a movie-goer at all, but every year I bring the kids to see a film (and they often go with their friends too) during the summer holidays. There seems to be a good choice this year, including Toy Story 5, the Chiikawa movie, the real live action adaption of Moana and the usual annual Crayon Shinchan movie among others. Which movie are you planning to see this summer? Or have you already been to see one (or more)? If so, which one?

BigfamJapan

BigfamJapan

on Jul 30

6 Answers

What's your favorite 'kushiyaki'?

Just for fun; what type of skewered food do you like best in Japan? Or, if you feel like sharing, what are your top 3?

BigfamJapan

BigfamJapan

on Apr 11

2 Answers

Movie locations near you worth visiting?

The live action version of テルマエ・ロマエ Thermae Romae (2012) was shot at Nokogiriyama, Kyonan Town, Chiba Prefecture. It's one of my favourite getaways for hiking, the temple complex, and catching sea breezes. The movie is hilarious and heartwarming. Which Japanese live-action movies do you recommend, and are the filming locations worth a visit? Tell us the original title, English title, the year, and the location.

TonetoEdo

TonetoEdo

on Mar 23

5 Answers

What are our consumer rights in Japan?

Do you know your consumer rights in Japan? And if so, would you be willing to share anything about them? For example, what is the policy on returns? I am very familiar with my consumer rights in my home country, and they are very widely publicized back home, but information doesn't seem to be as transparent or readily available here. Or is that just me?

BigfamJapan

BigfamJapan

on Mar 15