Will My Phone Work In Japan? – A Detailed answer guide

Planning for a trip to Japan? Communication is vital when traveling to this magnificent country, whether on business or leisure.

Planning for a trip has never been that easy, especially if it’s your first time. And this isn’t different when it comes to Japan. You still have to schedule your flight, book accommodation in Japan in advance, exchange currency, among others. Then there’s the communication aspect. When it comes to mobile phones, you’re probably asking yourself several questions, will my phone still work in Japan? Will I still be able to make calls and text? It’s good to be asking yourself these questions since there are several things that you need to know before flying out to Japan.

Your phone will work in Japan if it’s unlocked and compatible with a Japanese mobile network.

Nowadays, most smartphones run on either Android or iOS despite where in the world you are. These phones can work in Japan without hassles. Despite this, some technological differences in features in some older phone models may cause the phone not to function properly. To determine if your phone will work in Japan, check the following:

1. Network compatibility

If you’ve never heard about this, then it’s important to understand the technology differences between countries. Across the world, each country has its own network companies that use cell towers running on different technology. For your phone to work in Japan, it needs to be compatible with at least one of Japan’s cellular phone networks. For example, if your phone is a GSM phone i.e. a 2G network phone, then it won’t work in japan because the country no longer supports 2G.

To make sure that your phone is compatible with mobile networks in Japan, go to willmyphonework.net and choose your phone’s brand, model & sub-model. Under Country, select Japan and set the list of carriers to ALL, then search.

1. Locked vs unlocked

It’s important to find out if your phone is locked or unlocked/jailbroken. The difference between a locked phone and an unlocked one is that a locked phone is a phone that only allows the use of the network SIM card it came with while an unlocked phone is a phone that was locked and then unlocked to accept any SIM card. For example, A T-Mobile locked phone only allows you to use their SIM card and not another network like Verizon Wireless. The unlocked phone on the other hand lacks the software lock that a locked phone has. This allows you to insert in any SIM card regardless of the network. So, for your phone to work with a Japanese mobile network, it needs to be unlocked.

If you don’t know whether your phone is locked or unlocked, simply try replacing the SIM card with any other network’s SIM card in your country and restart the phone. If you are still able to make calls, send/receive texts, and access the internet on your cellular data, then the phone is unlocked. If you notice that the phone doesn’t have a signal, then it’s locked.

To unlock your phone, visit your network provider’s store or any mobile repair phone and have them unlock it for you.

In Japan

If your phone is not compatible with a Japanese mobile network, then you can rent or purchase a prepaid one in Japan. Its recommended that you book before traveling and have it delivered either to you at the airport or hotel room. TO purchase a phone in Japan, you need a credit card and a picture ID.

While in Japan, there are several mobile providers that you can choose from. Japan is the home of some of the best technological innovations. The major mobile service providers in the country include au by KDDI, Softbank, and NTT DoCoMo. These networks offer various mobile phone plans and packages for both locals and foreigners.

When it comes to SIM cards, if you plan on staying in Japan for a short while, the most ideal SIM card would be a data-only SIM. These SIMs are usable for a short period of time like 14 days or offer time-bound data, for example, 7 GB valid for 7 days. You can buy these SIMs from the airport, online stores, or a vendor without contracts. This allows you to cancel anytime at no extra cost.

If you plan to stay in the country for longer, then look for a subscription plan that will allow you access both data and voice. This will require the presentation of your resident card and you will need to sign a 2-year agreement. You will be billed monthly and if you cancel, then you will incur some fee.

Conclusion

Many countries across the world share the same network technology most of the time. A phone working in the Us will work in Japan and vice versa. As of 2020, most mobile networks around the world were switching to 4G, LTE, and 5G networks and ditching the older networks. This is true considering that the likes of Verizon and T-Mobile have already switched off their CDMA and 2G networks respectively. T-Mobile and AT&T announced that they will keep their 3G networks in low-bandwidth modes to keep up with the industry’s trends. This means that with at least a 3G phone, you should be able to not only travel to Japan and use it but also in most parts of the world.

A Summary table

FAQs

How do I know if my phone is compatible with a Japanese mobile network?

Go to this site and select your phone brand, model, and sub-mobile. Choose Japan as the country and click on search. You should now be able to tell whether it’s compatible or not.

Do iPhones work in Japan?

Yes, iPhones work in Japan as long as they’re unlocked and compatible with a Japanese network.