On the topic of cell phones in Japan...
Sep 14th, 2013, 03:35 PM
#1
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On the topic of cell phones in Japan...
I see a few options in front of me:
(Least desirable): Use current iPhone; activate international dialing and data plan; pay through the roof for data
(Most practical): Rent a phone and rent a MiFi for that phone; but lose the option of having all my Japan travel apps (on my iPhone) that I really want to have on the ground
(Most desirable, but unsure of): Use current iPhone, rent a MiFi with LTE to optimize maximum download speeds; use wireless to utilize apps/maps needed on-the-ground; use Skype via wifi to place any and all calls.
Obviously that last option really seems best to me but not sure why I don't read about more people doing it. Always seems folks are doing one of the first two.
Thoughts?
(Least desirable): Use current iPhone; activate international dialing and data plan; pay through the roof for data
(Most practical): Rent a phone and rent a MiFi for that phone; but lose the option of having all my Japan travel apps (on my iPhone) that I really want to have on the ground
(Most desirable, but unsure of): Use current iPhone, rent a MiFi with LTE to optimize maximum download speeds; use wireless to utilize apps/maps needed on-the-ground; use Skype via wifi to place any and all calls.
Obviously that last option really seems best to me but not sure why I don't read about more people doing it. Always seems folks are doing one of the first two.
Thoughts?
Sep 14th, 2013, 04:05 PM
#3
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Do you have Verizon? I always get the Verizon data plan for $25/100mb and use my iPhone for texting, email and data. Then I rent a phone or buy a local SIM for an old unlocked Blackberry for local and intl. calls. The last time we were in Japan we couldn't buy a SIM, but I think we rented a phone at the airport.
Gaming on a smart phone is a national pass time - check out the teen girls in the metro!
Gaming on a smart phone is a national pass time - check out the teen girls in the metro!
Sep 14th, 2013, 04:39 PM
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We never use cell phones overseas. Like Bob says, it's vacation. But this year Cheryl's mother's health has not been good (Cheryl is in CT trying to get her mother settled with enough help to live in her home after rehab) so we are thinking about how to be available to family members.
Crosscheck, your idea of using our iphones for texting seems like a good one. And $25 for 100mb of data seems like a reasonable price. I'll look into that.
Crosscheck, your idea of using our iphones for texting seems like a good one. And $25 for 100mb of data seems like a reasonable price. I'll look into that.
Sep 14th, 2013, 08:42 PM
#6
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Trust me, my phone isn't coming for work. I found a bunch of great apps for reference mostly for train schedules, language shortcuts, etc. That, and I'd like to be able to communicate with the hotels we're going to, if need be, for any reason.
Crosscheck, it's a great idea, but I'd eat that data up overnight. I've used Verizon's int'l plan in Europe this summer on two different trips and ended up going way over both times.
But I'm still curious to get a take on whether or not Option 3 would work: using a MiFi with my iPhone and using Skype to make voice calls. Not sure how consistent or good the coverage of those pocket wireless routers are throughout the country.
Sorry to hear about Cheryl's mom, Kathie. Please send her our best.
Crosscheck, it's a great idea, but I'd eat that data up overnight. I've used Verizon's int'l plan in Europe this summer on two different trips and ended up going way over both times.
But I'm still curious to get a take on whether or not Option 3 would work: using a MiFi with my iPhone and using Skype to make voice calls. Not sure how consistent or good the coverage of those pocket wireless routers are throughout the country.
Sorry to hear about Cheryl's mom, Kathie. Please send her our best.
Sep 14th, 2013, 09:33 PM
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filmwill, I would post your question on flyertalk. Lots of phone experts there. I am surprised you went through your intl. plan data though - I'm wondering if you had some hungry apps open without realizing it. I was in Europe recently with many of Mr. C's colleagues (who were there for almost a month) and we all marveled how nobody had come close to using up the data. And my son, a texting machine, got the plan for Israel and also stayed within the 100mg.
Your Mifi idea sounds cumbersome to me, but it could work, depending on rental cost and the quality of the device. I have a Mifi here, which I use with my laptop on trains, hotels with bad connections, etc. and I find that the unit has a short battery life and not always decent reception. I have never used it with my phone.
Another idea: We found in India that there was free wifi EVERYWHERE, even in the most remote locations...maybe Japan will be similar. You could turn off your data and wait and see if you even need the Mifi.
Kathie, so sorry about Cheryl's mom. We were unreachable in Central America during a medical emergency with my mom and since then we always make sure we have working phones when we travel.
Your Mifi idea sounds cumbersome to me, but it could work, depending on rental cost and the quality of the device. I have a Mifi here, which I use with my laptop on trains, hotels with bad connections, etc. and I find that the unit has a short battery life and not always decent reception. I have never used it with my phone.
Another idea: We found in India that there was free wifi EVERYWHERE, even in the most remote locations...maybe Japan will be similar. You could turn off your data and wait and see if you even need the Mifi.
Kathie, so sorry about Cheryl's mom. We were unreachable in Central America during a medical emergency with my mom and since then we always make sure we have working phones when we travel.
Sep 15th, 2013, 05:00 PM
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Thanks for the info, crosscheck!
I've read that Japan actually is one place that has very little to almost no free wifi, so I'm trying to anticipate that as well. I think if I added up the cost of wifi in all our hotels combined for the 2 weeks we're there, your eyes might pop out of your head at the potential cost.
I know that Verizon's plan *should've* covered me, in theory. 100MB of data is a lot when you're dealing with text-based data like emails and text messages...but when you get into music and videos (like I did in Europe, but not necessarily something I would do in Japan) that'll only get you 1 or 2 hi-quality songs before you hit your limit (most of my music is on streaming-based sites.)
I think the MiFi is about $75 for the entire trip. I just figured if I'm renting a device anyway, why not ditch the rental phone (which doesn't have my apps), keep mine and just rent a Mifi. Not sure about their battery life, but don't most trains in Japan have chargers, etc? Would seem that if the coverage is even enough in the places we're going that it's at least a break-even, if not cheaper, option in comparison.
On a side note, I have to say that planning for Japan has definitely been the biggest travel challenge of my life -- not because of cell phones -- but because of just about everything else. Feels like a full-time job planning for this trip. Can't wait to go, though!
I've read that Japan actually is one place that has very little to almost no free wifi, so I'm trying to anticipate that as well. I think if I added up the cost of wifi in all our hotels combined for the 2 weeks we're there, your eyes might pop out of your head at the potential cost.
I know that Verizon's plan *should've* covered me, in theory. 100MB of data is a lot when you're dealing with text-based data like emails and text messages...but when you get into music and videos (like I did in Europe, but not necessarily something I would do in Japan) that'll only get you 1 or 2 hi-quality songs before you hit your limit (most of my music is on streaming-based sites.)
I think the MiFi is about $75 for the entire trip. I just figured if I'm renting a device anyway, why not ditch the rental phone (which doesn't have my apps), keep mine and just rent a Mifi. Not sure about their battery life, but don't most trains in Japan have chargers, etc? Would seem that if the coverage is even enough in the places we're going that it's at least a break-even, if not cheaper, option in comparison.
On a side note, I have to say that planning for Japan has definitely been the biggest travel challenge of my life -- not because of cell phones -- but because of just about everything else. Feels like a full-time job planning for this trip. Can't wait to go, though!
Sep 16th, 2013, 01:30 AM
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We didn't find much free wifi in Japan actually, so we were glad we had the MiFi which we used to access Google maps (and email/ social media). We didn't make any voice calls, that I can recall but I think it would have been OK.
But getting the MiFi was easy enough, we used Rentafone Japan, the email confirmation was a bit haphazard (and I wrote back to request more specific confirmation of what we'd booked) but actually everything was fine. They were recommended to me by a friend who has used them regularly. I specified that we wanted the MiFi device to be delivered to our first hotel and they provided an envelope for posting it back to them at the end. All very straightforward.
But getting the MiFi was easy enough, we used Rentafone Japan, the email confirmation was a bit haphazard (and I wrote back to request more specific confirmation of what we'd booked) but actually everything was fine. They were recommended to me by a friend who has used them regularly. I specified that we wanted the MiFi device to be delivered to our first hotel and they provided an envelope for posting it back to them at the end. All very straightforward.
Sep 16th, 2013, 05:07 AM
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Kathie...sorry to hear about Cheryl's mom. We try to call my mom (age 91) at least once or twice a week. I Can tell by the tone or strength of her voice if things are really going well as she says they are. I hope we can but a SIM card for a phone of Bob's . We do use the phone part of Skype to call also and it is very cheap. This does not help filmwill and his apps .
Sep 16th, 2013, 09:09 AM
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I rent a phone for Linda from Justin at rentaphone Japan. Real easy and handy. We once got separated on a subway route in Tokyo....well lucky we had phones. I take my iphone for<i> work</i> purposes lol.
http://www.rentafonejapan.com/
They will deliver the phone to your hotel front desk or mail to you in the US before you leave if you like. Rates are reasonable and the best thing is that the phones work on trains, planes, countrysides just about everywhere. They even give you a pre stamped/addressed bag to drop the phone into a mail box when you leave. They have very reasonable overseas rates as well as local through their service.
Last trip I used the portable mifi which worked great on trains and places we didn't have free wifi. Its small and very lightweight enough to put in you pocket and carry around with you all day no problem making you a walking wifi. My two cents.....
Aloha!
http://www.rentafonejapan.com/
They will deliver the phone to your hotel front desk or mail to you in the US before you leave if you like. Rates are reasonable and the best thing is that the phones work on trains, planes, countrysides just about everywhere. They even give you a pre stamped/addressed bag to drop the phone into a mail box when you leave. They have very reasonable overseas rates as well as local through their service.
Last trip I used the portable mifi which worked great on trains and places we didn't have free wifi. Its small and very lightweight enough to put in you pocket and carry around with you all day no problem making you a walking wifi. My two cents.....
Aloha!
