# Can I buy a prepaid SIM card for my phone while in Japan? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 9, 2004, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-buy-a-prepaid-sim-card-for-my-phone-while-in-japan/233331 "2004-03-09T19:25:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jayrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Jayrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jayrot)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2004, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-buy-a-prepaid-sim-card-for-my-phone-while-in-japan/233331/1 "2004-03-09T19:25:06Z")
I’m traveling to Japan later this month. I’ll be there for about 2 weeks. I have a [Nokia 6610](http://nokia.com/nokia/0,,734,00.html) which currently has a T-mobile SIM card in it. Is it possible for me to buy a pre-paid SIM card in Japan that I can put into my phone in order to make/receive a limited number of calls? I know they sell full-on pre-paid phones, but I don’t think I have quite enough need for one to justify the expense. My friend claims to have done something similar (buy a local SIM card) for his phone in Thailand. Any info is appreciated, thanks. p.s. I lived in Tokyo a couple years ago, so I am rather familiar. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2004, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-buy-a-prepaid-sim-card-for-my-phone-while-in-japan/233331/2 "2004-03-09T19:54:37Z")
Shouldn’t be a problem, just make sure that the phone you have supports the frequency of their network. If it’s a tri-band phone you should be ok. Let’s just doublecheck that with a few Dopers though. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2004, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-buy-a-prepaid-sim-card-for-my-phone-while-in-japan/233331/3 "2004-03-09T21:43:30Z")
Alas, you may be out of luck. Japan uses cellphone standards and frequencies that are close to being unique in the world, “PHS” and “PDC”. You will have to rent a phone while you are there. A Nokia 6610 will definitely NOT work in Japan. If you are lucky, your provider may have a roaming agreement with the Japanese 3G provider, and you may be able to roam there with your SIM. You’ll still have to rent a phone though. [My provider’s blurb](http://www.fido.ca/portal/packages/international.jsp?lang=en#japan) on roaming in Japan. ---
**Author:** ![Jayrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Jayrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jayrot)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2004, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-buy-a-prepaid-sim-card-for-my-phone-while-in-japan/233331/4 "2004-03-09T22:18:21Z")
Hmm, well, any suggestions on a good cheap pre-paid deal? Seems like [Pupuru](http://www.pupuru.com/en/pupuru-rate-plans_en.html) (provided by Docomo) might be a decent deal. Since incoming calls are free, I don’t expect to be using much airtime. Basically, having a keitai would allow my friends to get in touch with me (like when they get off work). Should I just get whatever is available at Narita or should I go into one of the shops in town? Suggestions? (sorry, IMHO territory) ---
**Author:** ![Jayrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Jayrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jayrot)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2004, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-buy-a-prepaid-sim-card-for-my-phone-while-in-japan/233331/5 "2004-03-10T16:23:18Z")
Quick bump for any Nihon-dopers?