unlocked iphone 6 in japan

i agree..I read that note a millions times even before the launch and that's how i understood it, but yet i still read on forums the "no such thing as a sim-free iphone in japan". now that several people have confirmed that it is unlocked (plus the huge number of Chinese people that went all the way to Japan for a sim-free iPhone, i am confident one buying on in Japan...my worry is now is should i order online now and get it sent to a japanese address or risk going in store to buy one. I might ask my bro in law or his wife to help me out and call one of the Apple stores.

200 pounds? so Apple stores in Tokyo do duty free? passport is all that's needed?

Yes if you take your passport you can avoid the 8% sale tax in store

what ? he can buy iPhone 6 plus from apple online , Just make an address in Japan then u i'll be able to buy 🙂

Hi. I bought the iPhone 6 and 6 plus in Tokyo for my friends in PH the other week. Factory Unlocked. And they have confirmed that LTE works for both Smart and Globe network.

The others are right, "Sim-Free" is just Apple Japan's way of saying the units are factory unlocked. It's clearly stated in their online store, so I don't why some people are asking for official announcement from Apple. 😀

Here is the "same-day pickup" reservation site. You pay on the store and it's tax free if you are a temporary visa holder.

https://reserve.cdn-apple.com/JP/ja_JP/reserve/iPhone/availability

This runs from 12:00 - 7:00AM (11PM - 6AM PH time).

Although, I noticed there's no availability for all Tokyo stores(Shibuya, Ginza and Omotesando) the past week.

So the best option would be to buy from their online store. takes one week for the 6, 3-4 weeks for the 6 plus.

Apple has been selling unlocked version of iPhone and iPad in Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore since the first generation and iPhone 6 is the only version Apple has offered unlocked in Japan. For those who are in Tokyo, then yes, it's well worth to buy it here. But for those whom not, then buying online certainly is not a wise idea. Whatever you paid here, with value added tax when they arrive, will be equally the same price as what you can get from your home country.

thanks for the info! my flight is in 2 weeks and i'll be there for about 10 days so i might just keep going to the link you gave and book as soon one is available..if i don't get one, i'll just wait till they officially available in PH..though it is quicker to just order online, why do that when i could use the tax as spending money

It's also important to be aware that any unlocked/sim-free iPhone 6 purchased in Japan will have the camera shutter sound permanently turned on. This is a legal requirement for all mobile phones sold in Japan and unlocked/sim-free iPhones sold at JP Apple stores are not an exception, unfortunately. There is no way to turn off the camera shutter sound unless the iPhone is jailbroken.

That's make sense. If your iPhone's shutter make a noise, then you obviously paid $200 lesser than others.

That $200 could get me a brand new Dr Dre, and definitely covered all the noises. It will be waste of money to covered that noise with $200.

Beside, which camera doesn't make noises?

visited apple stores at Ginza and shibuya yesterday(8/10/14). Both stores don't have stock of either 6 or plus models, and have no idea when new stocks arrive. I will be staying in japan for the next 9 days and have a relative who lives here, should i risk it and order online, keeping in mind the 7-10 days estimate!!?

Also can i avail the deduction in sales tax if i order it online??

Try calling their toll free # 0120-993-993 (then press 5 for online store purchase)

But they probably don't offer the tax-free price for their online store. 🙂

Thanks will try! its impossible to get an iphone 6 in store now in tokyo!! If anyone has any updates on the stock , please post!

Any news today?
The site were you can check availability is down. (https://reserve.cdn-apple.com/JP/ja_JP/reserve/iPhone/availability)

please post!

(https://reserve.cdn-apple.com/JP/ja_JP/reserve/iPhone/availability)

The above link is working again. Is this link even useful? Firstly, the iphone cant be reserved in any store! Secondly, no variant of the iphone is available in any store in Japan! Is that even possible?

Don't bother to try the link cause you won't find any available stock to reserve, not even the one with contract.

The only unit you could possibly get is by placing your order online, but again even that you will have to wait for at least 3-4 weeks.