Phone/Sim Card and Debit Card related query

Hi!

I am planning to go to Japan for 2 years. I have two questions which are stressing me out.

1. I heard that phones are contract based in Japan, and separate sim cards are unavailable.
I'll be living in Japan for two years, so is it better to buy a new phone on contract basis, or just buy a sim card and use it with my existing phone ( Does OnePlus One works in Japan?)
Also, which network provider is good?

2. Do International Debit Card (Visa/Mastercard) work in Japanese ATMs? ( Don't have a Credit Card)

Thanks for your help! :)

Both 2 yrs based contract type and a limited contact based(MVNO) are available.

If you want to choose a MVNO, you need to buy or have a sim free smart phone.

The payment of MVNO is about a half or third of contract based telecommunication.

The most of MVNO companies require a Japanese issued credit card(some don't).

VISA debit cards are available at selected banks in JP.

MVNO paymets are not accepted VISA debit cards(some do accept).

"Do International Debit Card (Visa/Mastercard) work in Japanese ATMs? "

Check with your bank. Also Japanese ATMs need 4 digit pin.

Does your card have a Plus sign at the back? (google for Visa plus)

Be sure to check whether the phone company will accept non-Japanese credit or debit cards. This will be your major concern. You may not be eligible for a Japanese credit card (and even if you are there may be a long wait to get one) when you open up your bank account.

(I use GTN mobile, they accept any card, but there are a few options out there)

MVNOs will not tell you for sure whether foreign cards will work, you can only try and find out. If it works, great; if it doesn't, too bad for you, they will not help.

In my experience (French card with three different MVNOs), it works.

'tis also not true that you need a SIM-free phone; a SIM-locked phone to the same carrier your MVNO uses works too.