dukkar

I will be primarily based in Tokyo and Kyoto. Can I use my US 4G iPhone in these cities and nearby cities? What do I need to do to turn on the service?

Thanks,
D

filmwill

Do you mean iPhone 4? (There is no 4G iPhone.)

You can only use it if you enable a international roaming service (and optional international data plan) with your carrier (either AT&T or Verizon)...both of which can be prohibitively expensive.

filmwill

I should clarify: the situation you describe (using your iPhone for calls in Japan) could work only if you plan to use it in emergency or very limited circumstances. If you want unfettered use of a phone for very reasonable prices, you should consider Rentafone (or one of the myriad cell phone rental services based in Japan.) There's loads of threads on here about doing that.

If you want your iPhone cuz you want access to apps, etc...then you're going to have to enable both international calling and data plans (and plan to use it VERY little or get billed out the ears.)

dukkar

my bad! I meant to say iPhone 4; not iPhone 4G. I wanted a smart phone so I could have access to train time tables, restaurants close-by, etc.

Hanuman

If your iphone is unlocked you can just buy a local SIM card for your iphone and you will have both 3G, local calls etc. See the below link.

http://www.softbank-rental.jp/en/phones/sim3g.php

KimJapan

You can use it, but if it isn't unlocked and you will use roaming, absolutely, positively get a roaming data package for international roaming before you go as data is very expensive and adds up faster than you can imagine. My LOCAL data use, before application of my local data package which costs ¥4400/month, is over ¥300,000 per month, and that is no typo. International charges are higher still. WIFI, even free WIFI in McDonald's, Tully's, airports...most require you to sign up, in Japanese, with WIFI provider, just so they can get your info and advertise, basically. No sign up, no access in the vast majority of cases. 3G is what there is for data most places.

There are a variety of roaming WIFI routers and data packages available, but unfortunately most are limited to residents.

filmwill

Another option is renting a pocket WiFi hotspot (WiMax) which Rentafone and others also rent out. This would be much cheaper than paying for WiFi everywhere you go, would allow you to use your iPhone on wireless (airplane) mode only with full access to data and would presumably save you a lot of money.

Keep in mind that service is spotty outside major cities, but if you're only in Tokyo and Kyoto--this sounds like the best option for you.

I, myself, am considering this option for our trip in April.

(Thanks to Kristina for this tip, BTW!)

hawaiiantraveler

You don't need to worry about locking or unlocking your iphone, it is not like your other phones. You need to purchase a data package from your carrier though. If your with ATT like I am you can check your account online and sign up for one of their <i>International Data Packages</i> which would allow you to purchase as many MB's of data that you think you would need. I use my iphone when I need in Japan and download emails only(no videos, updates, etc)using the free wifi spots if available in my hotels/ryokans and I find I need an average of at least 40 MB's a week. It can be expensive. I once got by on less than 100 MB's on a 4 week trip though.....lots of free wifi that trip. I use my phone for business also so that may be a difference.

If you can buy a minimal data plan and use your iphone sparingly for the GPS features and language apps alone, it would be worth your investment imho. The language apps would really help open up your chances of communicating in a restaurant with no English and similar situations while the GPS has found us countless addresses easier than I would have on my own. And don't forget to cancel your International Data Package as soon as you return from your trip

Aloha!

dukkar

Thanks everyone for your replies.

- D