This page has moved to http://coolstuffjapan.sblorgh.org/mobile_phones/edy/ - as part of the new "Cool Stuff in Japan Guide".

Quick Info

Name of Service: Edy
Name in Japanese: 電子マネー「Edy」
Type of Service: Prepaid E-Money
Website: http://www.edy.jp/
Cost: Free (No registration fee, no usage fees)
Compatible providers/models: All providers, all models 

Introduction

Edy ("Euro, Dollar, Yen") is a prepaid e-money service, which lets you charge money onto your phone, to be used at convenience stores, shops and vending machines. All Osaifu-Keitais come pre-loaded with it, so it's great to play around with. A full list of merchants who accept Edy is available on the website, but the most prolific shops it can be used in are Family Mart, AM:PM, Circle K, Sunkus, Poplar, Pronto, Yodobashi Camera, Iwataya and Geo. Look for the Edy logo in the shop's window as you go in. If the retailer takes Edy, and you would like to use it, just say "Edy de onegaishimasu" to the cashier, then place your phone on the sensor.

Recharging Credit

Recharging your credit is done in three ways: over the counter at a participating retailer, using an Edy charger, or on your phone/computer.

1) Over The Counter

This is how you will probably charge your credit for the first time. Thankfully, it's very simple. Go to a participating retailer (not all shops which take Edy allow you to charge, make sure you check on the website first), and tell the cashier that you'd like to charge Edy: "Edy ni CHAAJI shite kudasai". Hand over your cash, telling the cashier how much you want to charge. The cashier will take your money, push some buttons on the register, then ask you to confirm the amount. In some convenience stores, this means you have to push "OK" on the touch-sensitive screen on the cash register. Once you've confirmed, the Edy sensor will light up. Place your phone on the sensor. At this point, lights will flash, the till will tingle, and angels will appear from heaven. Well, perhaps not. In any case, that tingle means that it worked! You may be handed a receipt, and you might want to check your credit from your phone's applet.

2) Using an Edy Charger

Some retailers don't let you charge your credit over the counter, but have a stand-alone machine which looks a bit like a dispenser of some kind. Using these machines is even simpler. Simply place your phone onto the sensor, and your current balance will show up on the display. Now put your money into the machine. When you're happy with the amount, press the green button to charge. You'll then be asked if you want a receipt. In any case, once the machine tingles, it's finished!

3) On Your Phone/Computer

Yes, you can actually charge your credit from the very phone you use it on! However, this option requires a Japanese credit card, and even then only one present on the website's list. To be able to charge using your credit card, you first need to give Edy some more personal details about yourself. This is done from the service menu, and will most likely require a little help from a Japanese-speaking friend. Once you've set it up, just select "Edy Charge" from the main menu and you're away! Due to the amount of Japanese text you have to input to register for this, you might want to use your computer instead. However, this requires you to own a PaSoRi - check its page for more information.

Activating the Service

Activating Edy is very simple - it requires no personal information.

1) First of all, find the Edy applet - it should come pre-installed with your phone. For NTT DoCoMo phones, hold down the i-mode/i-appli button to access the i-appli menu. For other providers, find your phone's applet menu. Once you've found it, run it and follow the instructions.

2) This screen will appear. It just quickly explains what Edy is, inviting you to click on the link (or press 1) to continue. Do so now.

3) If there's a promotion underway (and there frequently is), it will appear in red on this page. For instance, right now Edy are giving 100 yen free to people who register using their Osaifu-Keitais! To continue, click on the first link (or press 1).

4) This page is the last hurdle between you and activating Edy. As luck would have it, you're looking for exactly the same link as the last page! Click on the register link one final time (or press 1), to connect to the Internet and initialise the data on your FeliCa chip (this will take about a minute).

5) Once this page comes up, you're done! The number displayed is your Edy number. It's a good idea to write this down in case something happens to your phone, but otherwise you don't have to remember it. In any case, your phone is now ready to be charged up with money. Congratulations!

 Claiming Free Gifts

Sometimes Edy will send you a free gift. This usually happens as soon as you register, or if you're on a reward system with a retailer (such as AM:PM or Pronto). In order to claim the gift, you need to access the "Edy Gift" (Edyギフト) item on your applet's main menu, or on your computer's Edy Viewer. If you have a gift, select it from this menu and press confirm a couple of times to add the gift to your account.