What's the best option for keeping in touch with work while on holiday in Japan?

Riczter on 11/12/2013 - 00:11

Unfortunately I'm going to need to keep in contact with work while I'm away. I don't want to have to worry about costs and data usage while away so I'm thinking I need to get a Japanese SIM Card.

Is this the best option? Or do most of the places in Japan have free WiFi? I could probably get away with iMsg and email… but if I needed voice as well, how do I go about getting a sim card?

Should I get one now while I'm in australia and activate it so it is ready? Or do I get one when I get there and if so, where from? It needs to be a nano sim coz I got an iphone 5..

I appreciate any advice :)

Travel

Comments

  • OutOfComplaintForms on 11/12/2013 - 00:16

    Internet cafes are an option.

    • Riczter on 11/12/2013 - 11:09

      might end up being the easiest option…

      • OutOfComplaintForms on 11/12/2013 - 13:42

        It depends on the frequency you need to contact work - will be regularly contacting work throughout the day, or simply one call or email per day? There are a lot of internet cafes in Japan, and you'll generally find Skype or VOIP options available.

  • neil on 11/12/2013 - 00:35
    +1

    Wifi is not too common there and when it is there, it's paid wi-fi.

    Try signing up for a free Regus membership to get access to business lounges over there. I believe the link has changed slightly. Try this one or this or Google around to find a way to get free membership.

    I went to the Melbourne location last week. It's great.

    If you really need to have mobile data access (sim card), then check out the prepaid data wiki for Japan. Should be able to get a sim from the airport.

    • hashtagbargain on 13/12/2013 - 03:14

      Great write up, Neil!

    • BlitzR on 13/12/2013 - 08:28

      Not too common? Every Maccas there has free WiFi and the speed is good

  • [Deactivated] on 11/12/2013 - 01:22

    Don't lyca have a deal that suits this kind of thing?
    I'd just get a SIM while over there, although every call you'll be making will still be long distance. Maybe you could set up a local VOIP number for them to call and answer it from your JAP SIM data while you're over there?

    On the other hand you'd probably be better off doing what most students here do (get a calling card for phone boxes).

  • anna10 on 11/12/2013 - 07:46

    I recently used free wifi at all the hotels, freely available, fast and reliable.

  • artificialsweetener on 11/12/2013 - 08:23

    I rented from JCR Corp a SIM card with data, which can be delivered to your accommodation or picked up at the airport. It ended up being worthwhile as my hotel's wi-fi was down the entire stay (other guests weren't too happy)!

  • Aceboy884 on 11/12/2013 - 08:45

    Wifi more common in hotel, even cheaply ones

    Last time I went to Japan, it was all LAN connection. Not anymore

  • battler on 11/12/2013 - 09:56

    Can't speak specifically of Japan, but when I head elsewhere in Asia I grab a local SIM card at the airport, then use Pennytel voip app.
    People can call you from Oz for local call cost using shared access number.
    Outgoing calls are Pennytel's rates… (cheap)
    You'd also be able to dial Jap number for a couple of cents a minute.

    • eutama on 12/12/2013 - 21:37

      Let's hope the Pennytel feature still available post Mynetfone purchase.. I wouldnt count on it

  • xmod on 11/12/2013 - 10:12
    +6

    I just got back from Japan last week - I ended up getting a pocket wifi hotspot from www.globaladvancedcomm.com
    It cost like $100 for 2 weeks.

    Unlimited Data and was getting like 40mbs up and down

    If I needed to make a phone call I just used skype of something like that.

    • mparf on 11/12/2013 - 12:36

      I used this company just a few weeks ago at the suggestion of some OzB's and it was really good.
      If you go this route, I'd recommend a spare battery or buy a portable Charger though, if you plan on being on your feet!!!

      I used facetime/skype if i needed to call someone, otherwise it was google maps, whatsapp, facebook and imessage!

      • xmod on 11/12/2013 - 14:12
        +1

        The internal battery lasts about 9 hours on its own but I also got a external battery back

        http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Genuine-Yoobao-13000mAh-Power-Ban…

        YooBao lol as cheap as it looks it worked quite well.

        • Djent on 11/12/2013 - 14:30

          +1, friend bought me a 10400 mAh (if I recall correctly) YooBao battery and has worked wonders for commuting around town/uni. Quality is good, ended up buying 2 more of them for friends who went on exchange and they've found it super handy too.

    • donga100 on 11/12/2013 - 19:53

      These are a really superb option. So handy to have google maps/navigation, etc. on your phone at all times. Navigation works quite well for walking directions too.

  • BargainLuver on 11/12/2013 - 10:28
    +2

    Free Wifi is not very common in Japan unfortunately.
    Be awareits not as easy to just "grab a local SIM" in japan like it is in many other Asian countries. Its quite restricted and regulated and there are no dirt cheap options. If you don't pick one up at the airport on arrival you have to use a special service and get it delivered to your accomodation. You can't just go to a shop in town and get it because they won't be able to sell you one. About 2 years ago I got a sim at the airport with data and used it to skype or viber back home on my iphone. It worked reasonably well but it wasn't cheap. I don't know how much anymore, but wasn't cheap. I was using maps too etc and another tip I would add if you're going to be on the move without access to power is to have at least 1 or 2 portable recharge devices to power up your phone on the go. If you're using data a lot you'll drain the battery a lot faster than you would at home.

    • ozhunter on 11/12/2013 - 15:12

      You can't just go to a shop in town and get it because they won't be able to sell you one

      I got that response from 2 stores, but the 3rd store(Yodobashi) sold me one. I got the bmobile 1GB micro sim for 3450 yen. You do have to activate the sim by calling from a Japanese phone (or pay 2500 yen for getting the helpdesk to do it manually) that is on contract.

  • Riczter on 11/12/2013 - 10:37

    So how exactly do I go about picking up a sim at the airport? Will there be a telecom shop, like should I look for a docomo sign or B-Mobile or where do I go? Or do I need to organise it before I leave so it is there ready for me when I arrive?

    • neil on 11/12/2013 - 10:45

      Instructions for bmobile

      Your device must support W-CDMA Band 1 (2100MHz) or Band 6 (800MHz)

      Yeah, you might have difficult finding a phone that works in Japan.

      Probably better renting a portable MiFi/Wiki

      • Riczter on 11/12/2013 - 10:54

        Thanks for the links. It says it works on iphone 5 so I should be right.

        • neil on 11/12/2013 - 10:59

          Probably not. Looks like there are 2 versions of the iPhone 5.

          From GSMArena

          A1428 - Australian, Europe, and most of the world
          A1429 - US (Sprint), Japan, Canada etc.

          Bmobile states they only support A1429.

        • Riczter on 11/12/2013 - 11:04

          ooooh, well that's annoying. How about that cheap one from kmart that popped up last night?

        • neil on 11/12/2013 - 11:10

          You won't find any phones in Australia that support CDMA…simply because our mobile networks don't support CDMA.

          I'd just go with renting a Mifi, signing up to a Regus lounge pass (20 in Tokyo alone), or checking before hand whether your accomidation has free Internet.

          I was there a couple of years ago. From what I recall, my hotel in Hiroshima had a free wired connection in the room, hotel in Tokyo only had free wi-fi in lobby, I think other 2 didn't have wi-fi. Most retail areas I went to either had no wi-fi or you needed to be part of a paid wi-fi network.

        • takezo on 11/12/2013 - 15:00

          I used my nexus 4 with b-mobile earlier in the year. Had it delivered to my hotel and waiting for me when we arrived, and worked flawlessly for the entire time we were there. Was very easy to renew for a further 2 weeks once the initial period had elapsed.

        • neil on 11/12/2013 - 15:06

          That's weird.

          Bmobile's sim page says CDMA only however updated it's supported device page the supported devices say HSDPA

          Sim page:

          Your device must support W-CDMA Band 1 (2100MHz) or Band 6 (800MHz)

          Device page:

          Your device must support W-CDMA/HSDPA/HSUPA Band 1 (2100MHz) or Band 19 (800MHz)

          That should mean you can use your iPhone as well as other phones that access the 2100MHz range. Might want to contact to confirm, seems different pages are saying different things.

  • nubzy on 11/12/2013 - 12:00

    Not sure about Japan, but I have just come back from Bali and there is free wifi everywhere. Skype and email worked very well, had no need to get a local sim.

  • SaberX on 11/12/2013 - 12:14
    +2

    Yeah I struggled finding free wifi in japan also. And when I did goto starbucks etc with the language barriers and other things I found it hard to actually connect to the network. kept trying to register for starbucks to gain access and just gave up. accomodation had wifi.. but yeah how often do you want to spend in the lobby etc (mine wasn't room based, just lobby and areas of the building) vs in your room, with your gf or i guess doing other stuff?

    Be keen to see where you can get portable wifi rentals or even dongles /other portable wifi streaming devices for japan as I think I'll be back one day (if i can convince myself/others over the nuclear/radiation fears)

  • danield on 11/12/2013 - 15:06

    As a fairly regular traveller to Japan, usually every other year, my advice would be to think really carefully about what you need vs. want. The options available are expensive but are great if you get a lot of online use out of them, but at $20 per day (as some will charge) they are not geared for a casual user who needs to check emails occasionally, you really need to ask yourself are you going to utilize it enough to justify. As you will pay a premium for the convenience, unlike other Asian countries where you spend $10 for a SIM and usually get more data then you require for a weeks stay.

    Im now at the stage where I obsess a lot less about being connected while in Japan and just enjoy being there. However on my last trip just past in October I noticed that the public Wifi has come a long way from my previous trip 2 years ago. I found myself being able to easily connect to Wifi in so many more places then before in central areas of Osaka, Kobe and Kyoto. Also wifi in Room at the hotels. So for the casual user checking emails, maps etc.. it is now getting better and more accessible.

  • Koolbargain on 11/12/2013 - 15:39

    Hi Riczter,

    From previous experience, Japan doesn't have many free wifi places around, even in Tokyo. However, if you only need to check it casually, I suggest just staying at a hotel with free wifi. The internet is much faster than in Australia.

    When I went to Japan last time I bought one of these data sims:
    http://www.econnectjapan.com/

    -Pay in advance while in Australia
    -Get it delivered to your hotel waiting for you as you arrive
    -Easy setup
    -No need to return it anywhere just throw it out when you return.

    PS. its 1GB for 30 Days.

  • ProjectZero on 11/12/2013 - 15:52

    I always thought Maccas (at the very least) has free wifi worldwide… or even starbucks/ gloria jeans etc… basically any coffee shop.

    Anyone can confirm that?

  • nismo on 11/12/2013 - 16:07

    ​Seven Eleven Every store I've been to across Kansai, Shikoku & Kyushu etc has worked.
    It's called 7 Spot - from memory.

    I've only ever spent 1 night in a hotel but that also had free wifi.
    Osaka Airport, free WiFi.

    Actually, here's a good reference for you:
    Internet Access in Japan - Japan Guide
    This also mentions Starbucks, Major Airports and then goes on to specify more in different regions.

    • danield on 11/12/2013 - 16:12

      Oh yeah I forgot about the free WiFi at Kansai Airport, that was definitly an addition on the latest trip.

  • Riczter on 11/12/2013 - 16:15

    I'm thinking I should just try my luck with wifi hotspots. I'll only need to contact a few times a week so if i set up skype on the work computer it should be fine. Cheers for all the input guys, much appreciated. Feel free to continue discussing for the benefit of others :)

    The consensus seems to be that free wifi coverage has steadily been improving over the past couple of years which is very good to hear :)

  • nismo on 11/12/2013 - 16:19

    If you want to buy a SIM for Data Only a friend used this one and was happy with it, It's around $40-45 for 1GB Data you may need to purchase before you go - you collect it at the Airport &/or Post Office in Japan.

    http://www.bmobile.ne.jp/english/index.html

    There's also a 14 Day Sim option, same price.

    Both options have Regular, Micro and Nano sims.

    • Riczter on 11/12/2013 - 16:24

      Yeah BMobile seems to be one of the better value options as listed above, but if i got a sim i would want it with voice calls as well.

      • nismo on 11/12/2013 - 18:02

        Fair enough. On one of my trips I just used roaming with Telstra and sent sms' back home, was about 50 cents per text. That was on post paid though.

  • anna10 on 11/12/2013 - 17:05

    If as you say you only need to contact a few times a week, wifi will be freely available. I went all through this as well and as you have found out, it is complicated and i was relieved that the free wifi at hotels and airports etc worked just fine.

  • [Deactivated] on 11/12/2013 - 21:21

    Almost all hotels have free LAN, not many have wifi. if you've got an iphone / ipad I've found an airport express ($119) to be an excellent investment. Just plug it into the LAN port and hook up your I-devices via wireless, useful for keeping in touch via Skype, email and iMessage/FaceTime.

  • mikeymike on 12/12/2013 - 09:12

    My hotel in Japan had a cat 6 cable coming out of the wall for internet, i had a laptop but invested in one of these which worked really well - on return you could always use it as a repeater.
    http://www.dlink.com.au/products/?pid=954

    It remembers your connection if unplugged so if you leave the hotel room you can always unplug and plug back in when you return. I had a iphone 4 and used facetime a bit but it got annoying so used skype (voice call)and suscribed to call landlines and mobiles

    While out and about i used bmobile - http://www.bmobile.ne.jp/english/ - the 1gb plan lasted me my full trip for 2 weeks also because of the hotel wifi it worked out very well and i still had heaps of credit when i was leaving at the airport - hello youtube vids for a while LOL.

    Hope this helps

  • perkof on 12/12/2013 - 09:58

    My advice:
    * Buy a skype number
    * Buy a skype subscription from Australia to Japan (however many minutes you think you will need)
    * Buy some skype credit (or PAYG or a skype subscription from Japan to Australia)
    * Buy a simcard in japan

    • Divert your australian mobile to your skype number (Australian local call)
    • Divert your skype number to your Japanese mobile number
    • Use skype to call back into work
    • Get a dataplan in japan or rely on wifi for email / outbound skype is your call

    This means that people in australia can call your mobile as normal, and you will receive the call in japan with minimal cost to you, and no additional cost to the caller.
    If you need to make serious usage of your phone overseas and are expecting many calls, this is a great option. This is what I use when travelling for business. To the people back in Aus, there is no noticeable difference to indicate I left the country, in many cases I just don't mention it.

    Drawbacks:
    - SMS will not work - you will need to be called or emailed

    • danield on 12/12/2013 - 11:15

      Drawbacks No2: Getting a SIM in Japan

      • INFIDEL on 13/12/2013 - 11:32

        Voice call SIMs are not available to travellers. So no local number.

  • [Deactivated] on 12/12/2013 - 16:03

    I was in Japan last month and I ordered a b mobile data only SIM before I left and had it picked up at the airport post office. When I was out I linked my WiFi tablet with my phone and I bought a $15 Lan to Wifi adaptor on eBay with my ebay/PayPal $10 off promo code to use in my hotel (LAN only). It worked fine with my phone, tablet and MacBook.

  • eutama on 12/12/2013 - 21:33
    -1

    For those who doesnt know yet, Telstra (and Optus) have reduced their data roaming quite significantly and quite affordable (IMO).
    For example, It will now cost you $30 for 100mb of data, $85 for 300mb of data, and $160 for 600mb

    http://www.telstra.com.au/mobile-phones/international-roamin…

    This is only available in selected countries, and Japan is definitely one of them, and your iphone will definitely works

    So…
    1. Divert your mobile number to a voip number
    2. Switch the data roaming on.

    Of course, this is not intended for doing streaming / listening music / youtubing while you are roaming overseas.

    If you are not with Telstra, well.. I am sure there are plenty of those $30 Telstra sim card for the cost of $15 that you can utilise

    Hope this help

    • mooboy on 13/12/2013 - 10:24

      I just did this in Japan… worked well if you don't want to carry an extra rented mifi device. Found most hotels in Japan had free wifi, so could just use this when out and about - and find some wifi if want to do data intensive things.

      Combined with CSipSimple (or your choice of VOIP mobile app) can make calls back to Aus easily and cheaply too.

  • INFIDEL on 13/12/2013 - 11:44

    Just back from another cheap holiday in Japan. ($420 return, $300/wk average spend :-) )

    SIM for voice calls only available for those Foreigners with Residency papers - so no local number. (Said to be a control on organised crime.)

    Otherwise expensive data SIMs are available, but many shops say they will not sell them to travellers.

    Free WiFi available at many additional spots now (in the street, stations etc) if you register using an Australian email address (not Gmail etc) before you leave Oz. Details bound to be in links above.

    Used offline map/navigation app OsmAnd on a $25 Huawei Y201 phone (no data costs), which worked great. Walking down unknown city streets back to my hotel (previously set as Destination) was so easy with voice navigation.

    Downloaded data like the offline map of Japan (700MB) at Regus business lounges (free membership, thanks OB!).

    Had my Australian prepaid SIM (phone on flight mode and WiFi on), message said not to leave a message but email me (friends were told earlier to ignore that message & leave messages if urgent) and phone set to receive short important calls in prearranged times. Worked well & cost little.

    Returned calls on Pennytel App with good free WiFi from cheap hotel rooms for 8c untimed calls to Australian landlines. (Expensive hotels often only have LAN in rooms. Paradoxically, most cheap hotels servicing the backpacker market have free WiFi, usually with good reception in the room. e.g. basic clean single room in Osaka $17/n!)

  • onlyletters on 13/12/2013 - 12:20

    If your work needs to stay in contact with you, then they should pay, in this case, you can just enable global roaming on your phone, turn off voicemail and only pickup your work calls and whatever you get charged for global roaming, then charge it back to your work.

    If you need to be able to contact them, then you can get a global roaming data pack for something like $40 with 5gb of data and stay in touch this way..

  • Tnetennba on 13/12/2013 - 14:03

    Every single hotel I stayed in had wifi, except one in tokyo (had LAN) and a ryokan in Kyoto (didn't worry as there is plenty of wifi around everywhere now).

    If you take one of these, or similar, you can plug in LAN and create your own wifi hotspot if your tablet/etc doesn't have a LAN port. I took one and it worked in Tokyo (luckily, because we were there for a week!). [note it is a US plug socket, the same as japan, but you may want to find a similar device which has AU if you want to adapt it in future travels]

    I honestly wouldn't worry about spending hundreds on renting sims and such. You're never far from wifi, and in that case skype/voip. Add about $10 of skype credit and you'll be set!

    • INFIDEL on 13/12/2013 - 17:50

      WiFi (like people speaking English) may be common in the major tourist or business hubs, but that is only a small part of Japan! Most of Japan has very limited access to free WiFi.

      A common complaint from first time travellers there weeks ago was lack of access to ATMs for Foreigners and WiFi.

      The only free WiFi I found in smaller centres required preregistration in your home country. I went for up to a week in rural areas without access to WiFi. (But Japanese are so helpful & offered computer access.)

      So the advice depends on where & how long you are travelling in Japan.

      • ozhunter on 14/12/2013 - 16:37

        I'm in Shinjuku, Japan now and found it quite hard to find free wifi, there was some near the KFC and McDonalds. Only seen one Citibank atm so far and that is at the Citibank branch next to Shinjuku station.

        • INFIDEL on 14/12/2013 - 22:40

          Lucky you ;-)
          I'm only back & missing Japan. Planning holiday when the Sakura (cherry blossom) blooms at the start of April - always a great time.

          ATMs for Foreigners at 7/11 (only in larger cities) and Post Offices (even in small towns, but check opening hours which are usually restricted to business hours). There was an issue with MasterCard not being accepted earlier.
          Except for Foreign banks like CitiBank which are only found at airports & major business areas, other ATMs won't accept our cards.

          Always best to travel with more than 1 card (e.g. 28degrees MC, Citibank Plus Visa debit - both fee free withdrawals etc).

          If travelling beyond the tourist trails, carry extra cash in case you can't find an ATM, as credit cards are often not accepted.

          I've travelled the length of Japan over many journeys (including some more remote places from Okinawa to islands off the top of Hokkaido) & had no real issues getting funds from ATMs, but if the card is not accepted - it will be swallowed by the machine. If this happens (at Post Offices in small places in my experience) pick up the phone (don't worry if you only speak English) & help will arrive :-)

          Happy travels!

      • Tnetennba on 20/12/2013 - 00:24

        Yeah, I didn't go very rural. The most rural I went was the city of Fukui in the west, I suppose, however I was staying with friends there and I didn't really need to use a computer (I'm sure I could have if I asked).

        Pretty much every other city I went to had decent wifi at the hotel, I honestly didn't have many issues. If you can't find wifi, you can always find an internet cafe (they are around) or something like that (for cities).

        I hardly used the internet unless the hotel had wifi and I was doing nothing at night. Otherwise, there is heaps of stuff to do anyway!

        Now, finding wifi in NZ was a nightmare. Burger king or nothing, basically.

        • INFIDEL on 20/12/2013 - 23:24

          (Fukui - passed through there a few times on the way to Kanazawa & the sparsely populated Noto Peninsula, so that region is getting more off the tourist trail.)

          Internet Cafes are around in probably all cities, but the charging system usually confuses me & seems expensive, includes drinks, reading material, … I have paid the often necessary membership cards for a few - which I will never need again.

          What a lot of people are used to is Internet access anywhere, anytime. Limiting it to certain times in certain locations (your Hotel, etc) takes discipline. I usually need to book accommodation (easily done at hotel), check messages (preferably throughout the day - especially when meeting people as Japanese assume you have Internet on to get an email from their phone, as there is no SMS like here), search for eating/ shopping/ translating - which can be a pain to wait until I get home or pay an hourly rate for 1 message.

          So access to WiFi when out is great, but rare in Japan - as locals have had Internet on their phone for so long, so no need to provide it for others like us. WiFi is also provided in public, cafes, shopping centers, etc by the Telcos to those using their phone services - again, we can't use it unless we are Residents.

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