9. Telephone and Telegram

Application for a New Telephone Line

If you want to install a telephone in your home, you have to apply to NTT WEST and pay an installation and telephone line fee. To do so, you need personal identification that shows your name and address such as your Certificate of Alien Registration. If you do not have a telephone, you can buy it at an electronics store. The expenses for installing a new line are listed below.

• Contract fee・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・800 yen
• Installation and telephone line fee・・・・・・・・・・・72,000yen
• Taxes・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・3,640 yen
  ※In addition, if construction work is required to install your telephone, the construction fee is added separately.
  
  (Where to apply・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・Dial 116 / Operating Hours : 9:00-17:00, except holidays and the year-end and new-year)

　

When You do not Want to Pay the Installation and Telephone Line Fee Outright

If you do not want to pay the installation and telephone line fee outright, but still want to have a telephone installed, call NTT WEST and apply for a "New Telephone Line Light Plan". With this plan, you can receive the telephone service without paying an installation and telephone line fee if you pay a regular amount added to the basic monthly fee. When you apply for this plan, you need personal identification which identifies your name and address such as your Certificate of Alien Registration. If you do not have a telephone, you can buy it at an electronics store. The expenses to apply for the New Telephone Line Light Plan are as follows.

• Contract fee・・・・・・・・・・・・・・800 yen
• Construction fee・・・・・・・・・・・2,000yen (If the construction work inside the house is required, an extra construction fee is charged.)
  
  (Where to apply・・・・・・・・・・・Dial 116 / Operating Hours : 9:00-17:00, except holidays and the year-end and new-year)

　

Telephone Bill and Payment

Monthly telephone bills consist of the following.

• The basic fee (pay monthly regardless of charges for calls made.)
• The charges for calls made (pay only the amount which you made calls in that month.)
  
  ※If you are receiving the New Telephone Line Light Plan, a regular amount (640 yen) is added to the basic monthly fee.

There are two payment methods for your telephone bills.

1. Funds Transfer・・・・・・・・NTT WEST will send you a telephone bill and a funds transfer form every month. Take this funds transfer form to a bank, post office, or certain convenience stores and make payment.
2. Direct Debit・・・・・・・・・・At the bank or post office you can get an application form for direct debit. Fill in the form and apply. (You need the personal seal that was needed to open an account.) You will have to pay by funds transfer for one or two months until the direct debit process has been established.

　

If You No Longer Wish to Use Your Telephone

NTT WEST does not buy back your telephone line which is not used any more. If you do not need the telephone any more, contact the private telephone trader which is listed on the page of the telephone trader list in Townpage and sell your telephone line. On the internet, there are various home pages of telephone traders which may help you. The required documents differ between telephone traders. The buying and selling rate changes every day.

　

When Moving

When moving, a telephone line should be removed. To receive a construction work of telephone removal, you need to apply for an appointment with NTT WEST in advance. (Appointments are sometimes hard to be gotten because the service is well utilized.)
Appointments are not available on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. Have your telephone installed to your new house within one month of removing your old telephone. You will be asked for the following information when having an appointment.

• ¨ Your current telephone number
• ¨ The name of person who is contracting the telephone line
• ¨ Your new address
• ¨ The day when you want the telephone removed and installed
  
  You will be charged for the construction work of telephone removal.
  
  ※Construction fee・・・・・・2,000 yen
  (If the construction work inside the house is required, an extra construction fee is charged.)
  
  (Where to apply・・・・・・・Dial 116 / Operating Hours : 9:00-17:00, except holidays and the year-end and new-year)

　

Inquiry about Telephoning in Foreign Languages

NTT WEST opens the "foreign language consulting center". In the center, they receive opinions or demands from foreigners and also have translation service. If NTT WEST offices or 116 service need an interpreter for foreigners, the center provides an interpreter. English, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, and French are available. The telephone number and operating hours are listed below.

※Foreign language consulting center 0120-364-463 (no charge)
Dates & Hours : Mon.-Fri. 9:00-17:00 (Except holidays and the year-end and new-year)

　

Telephone Directories Written in a Language Other Than Japanese

If you want a telephone directory written in a language other than Japanese, call the following number.

1. If you want an English directory
   English Townpage Center・・・・・・0120-460-815 (no charge)
   Dates & Hours : Mon.-Fri. 9:30-18:00 (Except holidays and the year-end and new-year)
   ※One book is free for each household
   
2. JAPAN YELLOW PAGES (Telephone directory of businesses listed by category in English)
   Since it is an English telephone directory, the companies and shops listed are those which are familiar with serving foreigners. You can get the telephone directory at book stores which sell foreign books. (Price: 2,000 yen)

　

How to Use Public Telephones

There are two types of public telephones. Basically, their usage is the same.

◆Green or Gray Public Telephones

1. Pick up the receiver.
2. Insert coins (10-yen or 100-yen coins) or a telephone card.
3. Commence dialing when you hear a dial tone.
4. (In case of a gray telephone) Push "start" button.
   ※If you use a gray public telephone, you can adjust the volume by pressing the "▲"and "▼" buttons. If you insert a 100-yen coin, the change will not be returned. You can buy telephone cards at stations, department stores, book stores, convenience stores, or from telephone card vending machines beside telephone boxes.

◆IC Card Public Telephones (These pubic telephones have "IC" written on the right upper side of the telephone)

1.  Cut off the lower left section of the IC card.
2.  Pick up the receiver.
3.  Insert the IC card into the IC card slot.
4.  Commence dialing when you hear a dial tone.
   ※If you use an IC public telephone, you can adjust the volume by pressing the "▲"and "▼" buttons. Regular telephone cards are not accepted by IC public telephones. You can buy IC cards at stations, department stores, book stores, convenience stores, or from IC card vending machines beside IC telephone boxes.

　

Cellular Phones and PHS (Personal Handyphone System)

In Japan, there are two types of portable telephones. These are regular cellular phones and PHS. Recently, the number of people who have only cellular phones or PHS and do not have telephones in their homes is increasing. The features of both portable telephones are mentioned below:

Cellular Phones	Usage area is wide. Since radio waves are powerful, the signal is relatively unbroken even while you are moving or when there are potential barriers around.
PHS	The sound is clear. Usually the charge for calls is cheaper than a cellular phone. The speed of data correspondence is fast, but slower than cellular.

Consider these features when you are choosing a suitable telephone.

　

Where to Purchase and Set up a Contract

Cellular phones and PHS can be purchased in each company's shop, agencies, or the electronics stores. The following items are required when purchasing.

• Passport
• Certificate of Alien Registration
• Bank/Postal book and your personal seal (If you wish to pay your phone bill by direct debit from your bank account.)
  ※You can choose your payment method: Either automatic direct debit from your bank account or by funds transfer at a bank or convenience stores after receiving each monthly bill. (However, even if you apply for direct debit, you may have to pay the bill by funds transfer because it can take one or two months for the direct debit process to be implemented.)

　

Making Telephone Calls

When you make a telephone call between cellular phones or PHS, you may start dialing from "090" to the cellular phone and "070" to PHS. When you make a telephone call to general telephones, dial an area code even though you are in the same city. When you buy a cellular phone or PHS, you will receive instructions written in Japanese. Ask your friends who can read Japanese or your Japanese friends to read the instruction for you, or ask a clerk at shops. Some phones come with an English instruction supplement. Ask at the shop where you make your purchase whether English instructions are available.

　

International Calls

You can make international calls from your home telephone, public telephone, cellular phone, or PHS. Telephone bills, accessible areas and access numbers for international calls differ between telephone companies. The common international phone companies are listed below.

International Phone Company	Information
NTT Communications	0120-54-0033 (24 hours, No holidays) http://www.ntt.com/
KDDI	0057 (24 hours, No holidays) http://www.kddi.com/
Japan Telecom	0088-41 (24 hours, No holidays) http://www.japan-telecom.co.jp/
Fusion Communications	0037-100 (Hours : 9:00-21:00, No holidays) http://www.0038.net/
Cable & Wireless IDC	0066-11/0120-03-0061 (Hours: 9:00-20:00) http://www.cw.com/th_51.asp?ID=jp_home

※Each company has economy plans and prepaid cards. For further information, enquire at each company.

【Making International Calls】

【Payment】

You can choose your payment method: Either automatic direct debit from your bank account or by funds transfer at a bank or convenience store after receiving each monthly bill. (However, even if you apply for direct debit, you may have to pay the bill by funds transfer because it can take one or two months for the direct debit process to be implemented.)

　

Telegram

You can send a telegram in the following way.

1. Domestic Telegrams
   NTT WEST・・・・・・・Dial 115 (Hours : 8:00-22:00)
   
   ※You can apply for a telegram from a NTT DoCoMo cellular phone as well as from a general home or company telephone.
   
   
2. International Telegrams
   KDDI・・・・・・・・・・・・0053-519 or 0120-44-5124 (Hours : 9:00-19:00)
   
   ※You cannot apply for an international telegram from cellular phones, PHS, or from public phones.