Apple Inc.'s much-awaited iPad debuted in Japan Friday with hundreds of people lining up for the device and celebrating its arrival at retail stores in Tokyo.

"I've been trying various things on iPad, and it really changes your daily lifestyle," said Softbank Corp. President Masayoshi Son during the iPad launch at Softbank Mobile's store in Tokyo's Omotesando district.

Softbank, the exclusive provider of the iPhone in Japan, will offer a wireless subscriber identity module card for the iPad in addition to selling the devices at its stores.