By Billy, I wish I had a job Tokyo http://tune-in-tokyo.com Mar 8, 2009 08:32:26

Thank you for the informative article. You just saved me a trip to softbank. I think I would have been pissed off if I was put through the ringer like you were...so I'm really lucky that I saw this post...and so is someone at Softbank.

By Kuma, Mar 8, 2009 20:38:47

I live in Sapporo... been here 3 years now... had no problem getting a CC.

When I went for the iPhone they asked to see my gaijin card.. I said No.. as per their rules (at the time) a drivers licence was satisfactory.. so I showed them my Japanese drivers licence... and walked away with my iPhone.

By namaikisaru, Mar 8, 2009 22:28:13

They gave me the phone without a credit card or indeed any fuss at all. I have been with softbank since back when they were j-phone though. That might have helped. However.....
when I asked for, nay pleaded with them for the talking dog they point blank refused.

By FrugalistaJapan, Teacher, IT Support ? http://www.frugalistajapan.com Mar 10, 2009 01:20:29

Yet another article talking about how "hard" it is to get an iPhone eh? Sorry, but this has nothing to do with the iPhone specifically - its about making a new contract with Softbank. You would have the same problem whatever keitai you chose.

I on the other hand, had no such problem - since I've been using Softbank for about 5 years from back when it was JPhone, then Vodafone.... My Visa was never questioned - a good thing too as it only had less than a month left on it at the time.

As for a credit card - you might not even be able to get one with your japanese bank. You just have to live here a while and pay your bills on time. I guess its a reward for being a long-termer!

By Jérôme, blogging Kamaya cho http://jeromesadou.com Mar 10, 2009 07:42:55

I think everyone has a different story about getting a phone here, there is no unique pattern (and it's true for many things : getting a visa, getting married, find an appartment etc etc...)

So if you got it easily : good for you! It was just my own experience nothing more.

@FrugalistaJapan : Actually I first wrote this article just to explain the discount and notice that it has been "smoother"(?) to get married here than to buy the iphone (technically I could not, my wife did) which is in my opinion, weird.
(Plus I also could add that I was already a Softbank client for more than 2 years...)

By KP, Mar 10, 2009 18:02:57

Hmm that's too bad about the problem you had in signing up. Do you speak any Japanese? That usually plays a big factor in how easy things go.

I just got an iPhone, and I got an excellent deal.
I paid the up front fee which was reduced due to me being a long time Softbank customer. Ended up paying 15,000 yen, but after 2 years of 1600 yen discount per month for the 8 GB I'll actually come out ahead.

I pay using a bank account btw, they don't even have a CC of mine on record. And actually I have it set up so that they don't even take the payment directly out of my account, I get the bill and pay it myself. Another benefit of being able to talk to the Softbank people one on one instead of going through a interpreter.

And I never had to show any ID except gaijin card. Never been asked for an insurance card, passport or anything else.

By Jérôme, Working Shibuya http://www.jeromesadou.com Mar 10, 2009 18:28:07

Yes, I can speak Japanese ( I am not fluent though but enough to work in a Japanese company). I wonder if all you guys bought it from a Softbank shop or from a Softbank counter in Yodobashi or Bic? I bought it from yodobashi camera to get some points. Maybe their rules are different. As for the bill, I was actually paying my previous softbank keitai from my own bank account automatically every month without any problem...
KP, I guess you have a long terme visa ?

By mark, office worker Japan http:// Sep 7, 2009 21:13:11

Howz it going? I finally found an article about purchasing an Iphone in Japan. I had ordered a 3GS and yesterday I went to the local Softbank shop with a BIG smile on my face not knowing I would be leaving dissapointed. Unfortunately, my period of stay is not 27 months(who thought of this number??) and I do not have a credit card. So, they would not let me purchase the Iphone. Now, I realize its my fault for not checking this out beforehand but I had gone to this local shop prior to ordering and explained I was a Gaijin and these people had no idea on these special rules made up by Apple. I have a few choices, get a credit card, change my citizenship, or purchase the phone without going through this (Iphone for everybody)campaign but now I am so dissapointed that I might just stick with my DOCOMO phone. Life SUX sometimes huh!!

By Jérôme, Coding the Office http://www.jeromesadou.com Sep 9, 2009 00:13:20

If you are at Docomo I can just advise you to get an Android HTC, it's a very good alternative to the iPhone (and even better fro some stuff imho) and maybe you'll have less trouble...

By Trma, Oct 3, 2009 07:04:59

Hey, could You, please say, what's the idea of buying iPhone from Yodobashi instead of Softbank shop?

By Jérôme, Drinking tea Home http://www.jeromesadou.com Oct 3, 2009 07:59:04

Good evening,
first I want to remind you that this article was written on March 09, so the current campaign certainly differs.
As for yodobashi camera, it was interesting for me as I use their point card. Paying cash the phone I could receive some points... That's all ...

By Trma, http:// Oct 6, 2009 10:40:24

Thank you! Although, it seems that the terms of the campaign haven't changed much. I will have to pay full discounted price to buy an iPhone, as people with 27 month visas can pay in chunks. Anyway, this doesn't matter much. For me the problem is more like if I should buy an iPhone at all or wait for some nice Android phones to appear on the market.