Family Dining · Practical guide

IOSYS

A Traveler’s Guide to Used Smartphones, Condition Grades and Store Warranties

Prices, ordering steps, payment details, and common mistakes — in one place.

Quick Facts

Category Detail
Japanese nameイオシス (Iosys)
Brand NameIOSYS / イオシス (株式会社イオシス / IOSYS Co., Ltd.)
Store TypeJapanese retailer of new, unused and used smartphones, tablets, PCs and related electronics, with trade-in and buyback services.
Target AudienceShoppers looking for specific used phones, iPads, Apple Watches, Android handsets, or a lower-cost backup phone who can compare condition, carrier compatibility and warranty terms.
Ordering StyleBrowse model and condition labels, ask staff for the individual device and its status, inspect its included accessories and receipt/warranty terms, then pay at the selling store. Demonstrations depend on the unit and staff.
Membership Required?No online membership is required for ordinary in-store purchases. Eligible tax-free buyers must supply identification accepted under the current rules; an original passport is normally used by foreign visitors. Selling a used device to the store is a separate identity-verified process.
Verified Online Price Examples (November 12, 2026)Unused Japanese-market iPhone 17 256GB (eSIM) ¥152,800; used A-grade iPad 10th generation Wi-Fi 64GB ¥54,800; used B-grade Apple Watch Ultra 49mm ¥45,800; used B-grade AQUOS wish 64GB ¥10,800 (all tax included; stock/condition-dependent, not guaranteed for a particular shop). Eligible tax-free purchases normally meet the ¥5,000 pre-tax minimum per participating store per day.
Multilingual SupportAvailability of English- or Chinese-speaking staff and translated condition sheets is not guaranteed at every branch. Bring the exact model number and show the official product listing or a translation if needed.
Payment MethodsAt Akiba Chuo-dori, the official page lists cash, Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express, Diners Club, supported transport IC, iD, Rakuten Edy, WAON, nanaco, PayPay, d払い, au PAY, Rakuten Pay, Merpay, Alipay, UnionPay and WeChat Pay. Acceptance may differ at other stores; confirm their displayed logos.
Store Network13 Japanese retail locations listed by IOSYS, including Akihabara, Shinjuku West, Nakano Sun Mall, Nagoya Osu, Osaka Namba/Nipponbashi, Kobe Sannomiya, Hiroshima Hondori and Fukuoka Tenjin. Store hours and buyback desk arrangements vary.
The Iosys shop in Nagoya, Japan
Photo: HQA02330 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons

What it is

IOSYS (株式会社イオシス) sells used and unused smartphones, tablets and other electronics under its familiar slogan けっこう安い。 (“Pretty Cheap”). IOSYS began as a private retail business in 1996 and opened its first Osaka Nipponbashi shop in 1997. Its current official shop finder lists 13 retail locations. Compare the exact model, grade, included accessories and network status rather than assuming every item is pristine or a fixed percentage below a manufacturer's list price.

For visitors, the appeal is the opportunity to compare many used devices and accessories in Japan’s electronics districts. IOSYS officially checks and grades items, but A/B/C are primarily condition grades, not published battery-health percentages. Unused products are opened and may be powered on for checks. Battery wear, carrier-band support, data services and warranty exclusions are separate decisions. The shop offers a standard three-month warranty for used A–C phones/tablets and six months for qualifying unused products, but in-store warranty service requires returning to the same shop where you bought the item. Keep the original receipt and accessories; battery deterioration is ordinarily excluded.

How to order

Step 1: Find a Real IOSYS Retail Location

Step 2: Read the Official Condition Grades

The normal IOSYS warranty for used grades A–C is three months, subject to conditions. The grades are not a promise about battery capacity, display perfection or international network performance.

Step 3: Check Network Status, SIM Type and Shutter Sound

Step 4: Pay and Follow the 2026 Tax Refund Procedure

What to order first

1. Unused Open-Box iPhones — Verify the SIM Format

2. Used iPads — Match Condition and Connectivity

3. Overseas-Market Smartphones — Check More Than the Region Label

4. Used Apple Watch — Confirm the Exact Series and Accessories

5. Budget Japanese Android Backup Phones (AQUOS)

Payment & practical info

Prices and details checked: November 2026.

Good to know / Common mistakes

1. Using a Phone Before Leaving Japan

The 2026 tax refund system no longer classifies phones as “General Goods” for exemption purposes. The older sealed-packaging distinction does not require an eligible phone to stay boxed purely because of its category. You may set it up for use if otherwise permitted, but must export it and obtain customs confirmation within 90 days of buying it. Keep the device accessible for customs inspection. Check the exact model’s eSIM or physical SIM type before buying a travel plan.

2. Understand the Network Restriction Symbols

○ describes an unrestricted device whose Japanese carrier instalments are recorded as settled; it is a status at the time checked, not a lifetime guarantee of IMEI status. ▲ is usable now but has unresolved instalments and risk of becoming × (restricted). IOSYS’s separate network-restriction warranty covers qualifying non-junk phones even after the usual warranty period if the receipt and original accessories are kept. This is distinct from compatibility with your home carrier.

3. Check Band, eSIM and Region Compatibility

Unlocked iPhones and Android devices may still lack particular LTE/5G bands, VoLTE support, physical SIM slots or activation methods. Compare the exact model identifier with your mobile operator’s compatibility page. A Japanese iPhone 17 listing, for example, specifies eSIM, so inserting a physical tourist SIM may not be possible. Network compatibility and battery deterioration are among IOSYS’s normal warranty exclusions.

FAQ

Q1: Can I inspect a used phone before paying?

A: Ask staff to bring out the particular model and explain its grade, signs of wear, accessories, battery information if available, and current network restriction symbol. Whether you may operate or test it personally depends on the item and store; do not assume that every display phone can be unlocked or that battery health is guaranteed. Keep the item receipt and accessory list for warranty coverage.

Q2: Do used iPhones sold in Japan always work overseas?

A: No. A SIMフリー (unlocked) label only means the handset is not locked to a particular carrier. Confirm your home carrier supports the model’s LTE/5G bands, VoLTE, physical SIM or eSIM format and activation. Some current Japanese iPhones are eSIM-only. Wireless functions that fail due to network incompatibility are not necessarily covered by IOSYS’s warranty.

Q3: How does the November 2026 tax refund work?

A: At a participating IOSYS shop, show the required identification and pay the full tax-inclusive price. The retailer records the eligible purchase; meet its ¥5,000 pre-tax threshold and other conditions. Within 90 days of purchase, complete the departure customs export check before packing the item into checked baggage. Have the device available if an officer requests it. The shop or its designated provider processes the refund afterward under that shop’s stated method; a card credit or airport cash payment is not automatic.

Q4: Is the warranty usable if I have already returned home?

A: IOSYS’s posted policy requires in-person return to the original selling shop for a physical-store warranty claim. Used A–C items normally carry three months of warranty and qualifying unused devices six months, but battery deterioration and carrier-network compatibility are usually excluded. Keep your receipt and original accessories; ask to inspect important functions before departing Japan.

Sources