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Cheaper monthly rates and lower call charges
One of the key selling points of the alternative mobile phone providers in Japan is that they tend to offer cheaper monthly rates and lower calling charges.
Prepaid-phones cost anywhere from 4,000 – 7,000 yen (about $40 – $70), though prices vary depending on models and service options. It is free to receive calls and unlimited text messaging can be added on for a small fee, though making calls to non-Softbank phones can be expensive.
iPhone fans in Japan don't have to dig as deep into their pockets, with a new survey showing that they sell for about 20 percent cheaper in their country than the rest of the world.
Japan-iPhone 13 Price in Different Countries
86,800 yen (Rs 57,979) for the iPhone 13 mini, 98,800 yen (Rs 65,994) is the starting price for the iPhone 13, 122,800 yen (Rs 82,026) for the iPhone 13 Pro, 134,800 yen (Rs 90,041) for the iPhone 13 Pro Max.
iPhone 14 the cheapest in Japan among 37 countries: survey | The Japan Times.
NIKON, CANON, FUJIFILM, SONY, PENTAX, OLYMPUS, PANASONIC…
numbers of greatest brands offer their the newest camera products and accessories, and usually they are much cheaper in Japan than other countries.
Apple Japan has stopped tax-free sales and is believed to be creating a system to prevent such purchases for resale purposes.
The US is one of the cheapest countries to buy the iPhone 14, but there are a few countries in which it is a bit cheaper. The cheapest countries are Australia, China, and South Korea.
For example, Sony is especially popular in Japan due to the fact that they are a Japanese company, which naturally increases their phones' circulation and popularity. There is also an abundance of Huawei phones, due to their relatively cheap price and high quality.
Foreigners can sign up for mobile phones as well as Japanese
With Japanese mobile phone contracts, you will not be denied a contract because you are a foreigner. Please be assured that you can make a contract like a Japanese user. However, some major mobile carrier companies carry out rigorous screening.
Network compatibility
These days, thanks to the advancements in technology, most modern mobile phone models from other countries are compatible, so there is a very high likelihood that your iPhone or Android phone will work in Japan without any hassle.
But before you start browsing the internet on your smartphone in Japan you better check your telephone provider's roaming tariffs. A few MB's of data will often cost you a whopping 100 dollars, which means you're almost always better off with a prepaid Japanese travel SIM card.
USA, Hong Kong, Japan and UAE (Dubai) are the cheapest places to buy the iPhone 12 series, while India is one of the most expensive places. In Hong Kong, for example, iPhone 12 Mini (64GB) costs HK$5999 (or approx Rs 56,804) but in India, the same model will set you back by Rs 69,900.
Re: Should I buy an iPhone in Japan
It's free of carrier restrictions and back then with the tax free it was cheaper than in Europe. Yes, it has the shutter noise though. Getting a phone card in Japan as a non resident isn't possible. You can only get a data card.
Consumption tax and tax-free shopping
Tax-free shopping is available to foreign tourists at licensed stores when making purchases of over 5000 yen at a given store or mall on one calendar day. A passport is required when shopping tax-free.
In Japan, permanent resident taxpayers are taxed on their worldwide income. Non-resident taxpayers are taxed only on their Japan-sourced income.
Unsurprisingly, the productivity of factories in Japan has stagnated. Real wages have thus slightly declined in the last 20 years, as the real wage index (2015=100) increased from around 60 in 1970 to 113 in 1997 and then declined to 100 in 2021, resulting in a loss of purchasing power.
Kyoto and Kawasaki are among the cheapest places to rent in Japan, and Tsushima city and Fukuoka boast some of the lowest living costs for utilities, groceries, and eating out.