Question about buying an unlocked phone?

So I'm moving to Japan and don't want to purchase a phone over there (because they're usually more expensive). I do, however, need a Japanese phone number, which I can easily get by buying a SIM card. I was thinking of buying the iphone XR. How can I purchase an unlocked phone without paying for the actual phone service? Can I pay for the model in installments? I just want the phone itself.

If you want an unlocked phone, you have to pay full price for the phone upfront. As far as I'm aware, the only way you can get in on payments is through a financing agreement with a carrier. Of course, doing that will mean that the phone is locked to that carrier until you pay it off.

I would call the phone cornpany and ask thern about it, they would know

You could buy the phone direct from Apple. I think they do offer financing options.

One problem may be ensuring the phone supports the bands used in japan, iPhone's now I think support all bands so should be OK but other phones may only support bands for the region its sold in and may have issues in other countries.

All you have to do is buy the unlocked phone. I got mine at my local Apple store. They should have them in stock. As for installments, that's up to the seller. Some may offer installment plans for unlocked phones. Apple has info on their installment plans at https://www.apple.com/...lments_us/

You can buy an unlocked XR directly from Apple for full price.

That said, having lived in Japan, I can say that most carriers don't particularly like the idea of people bringing their own phones onto their networks. If they don't outright tell you know, getting them to go off-script for something like that is basically like pulling teeth.

Honestly it may be less hassle to just get your phone in Japan. I think with the installment payments my phone bill on Softbank was something like 6500 yen a month with unlimited data for an iPhone 4S back when it was the newest phone.