Where to Sell Used Phones, iPads and Game Consoles in Japan
Electronics hold their value well in Japan, and the second-hand market is huge and well organized. An iPhone that is two or three generations old, or a game console you no longer use, will almost always fetch a fair price β if you prepare it properly.
Check prices first
Look up your model on our estimators before visiting a shop: smartphones, tablets, game consoles and controllers & accessories. Condition matters, so check the price at your realistic condition rank, not "like new".
Where to sell
- Electronics specialists β Iosys, Janpara, Sofmap and GEO focus on phones, tablets and consoles and usually quote the best prices.
- General reuse chains β HARD OFF, 2nd STREET and BOOK OFF are everywhere and take almost anything, at slightly lower prices.
- Flea market apps β Mercari nets the most, but you handle listing, shipping and buyer questions in Japanese, and fees take about 10%.
Prepare your device β this is where money is lost
- iPhone / iPad: turn off Find My (activation lock), sign out of your Apple account, and factory-reset. A locked device is worth almost nothing to a shop.
- Android: remove your Google account before resetting, or factory-reset protection stays active.
- PS5 / Switch: sign out of PSN or your Nintendo Account, remove SD cards, and factory-reset the console.
- Check battery health on iPhone (Settings β Battery) β shops check it, and above ~85% earns a better rank.
- Bring the box and cables. A complete set is consistently worth a few thousand yen more.
SIM lock and payment status
SIM-free devices sell for more. Phones bought from Japanese carriers can be network-checked via their IMEI: if installments are still being paid, the shop will pay less (or refuse), because the device could be blacklisted later. Finish paying off the handset before selling if you can.
ID requirement
As with all second-hand purchases in Japan, shops must verify identity: bring your residence card. Timing tip: prices drop each autumn when new iPhones launch β if you plan to sell, do it in summer.