cell phone

[nikolay]

Hello everyone!

Just came around. Don`t know a word of japanese.
Can someone give me an idea how do I get a cell phone here, please. I mean are there any "tricky" places in the contract. Even better- is there any place where they understand English and send phones?

nikolay

[trip_hop]

Try the "For Export" shops in Akihabara Tokyo or Den Den Town In Osaka, they generally have some staff who can speak English, and might be persuaded to go to a different floor to help you. LAOX, Yanagiwa, come to mind. Expect to pay higher prices there.

That's the trade-off.

Better still, get a bilingual friend to help you.

TH

[Anonymous]

You need a Gaijin Card to get a phone in Japan!

[trip_hop]

Really? - see this post on 14th Aug

Re: time to get a keitai
Just need a credit card
Author:�Lokahi�(---.pool4.ipctokyo.att.ne.jp)
Date:���08-14-02 18:59
I bought a j-phone yesterday and I didn`t need anything but my credit card, and they take everything (visa, M/C, JCB, and on and on).

[Anonymous]

You can sign up by credit card or rent a phone and pre pay the minutes. Just show up at some of the big electric stores in Shinjuku - like Bic Camera or Sakuraya - and at least one of the staff usually speaks a little English.

[Anonymous]

I went to a local shop with a Japanese-speaking friend. The staff didn`t speak English, but I think you can get by without a Japanese friend anyways. Docomo, J-Phone, etc. provide English guides to filling out the contract and English brochures on the different plans. Word of caution, make sure to get a fully bilingual phone. I bought one which you can use with English in the "Simple Mode". Problem is, you can`t do very much in the simple mode and the phone comes with minimal English documentation. Fully bilingual phones come with English User Guides.

[J]

Buy a J-Phone online-

www.jp.from-hanna.com

Do need a credit card but can be delivered in Kanto region.

Worth a look.

[Anonymous]

How can you get a phone without a Gaijin Card? I will urgently need one since I am moving back to Japan and will be looking for a job. Really need the phone in the job hunt! But can not get the Gaijin card until I find a job!!!!

[taff]

You really just need a credit card. It is writen on the back of the English J-phone brochure

Taff

[Anonymous]

Thank you Taff, I'm not in Japan yet but feel a lot better now!

[Anonymous]

Under tough new regulations adopted by J-Phone only those holding a gaijin card can have a phone. This from a so called "international" company Vodaphone too!

I am moving back to Tokyo in May and will be looking for a job. Catch 22+22, To get a Job I need a phone. To get a phone I need a gaijin card. To get a gaijin card I need a JOB!

Do I have to job hunt with a pocket of Y10 coins and no contact method on my resume? It seems to be the case. Should work out really great.

I have credit cards and even a active Japanese bank account but seems none of this matters.

Is it indeed hopeless?

[Anonymous]

no phone for the gaijin cardless!