filmwill

I often see Rentafone (http://www.rentafonejapan.com/rental_details.html) listed here as THE premiere cell phone rental agency for Japan. Lots of fantastic reviews, for sure.

But I don't see much ever mentioned about MyJapanPhone (http://www.myjapanphone.com/rental_details.html)

The reason I ask is I'm looking for firsthand experience with the latter. They're about the same price at the end of the day, but the thing I like about MyJapanPhone is that they send you the phone to the States before you leave (and your #.) This is nice as it'll allow me to give our ryokan and various contacts in Japan our cell # before we leave the country.

Anyone out there used them?

Hanuman

I was doing some research on this the other day and I came across this web site - http://www.softbank-rental.jp/en/phones/sim3g.php

You can just bring your phone(IPhone) from the States and pop in the SIM card.

Mara

I've used Rentafone and they will send the phone to the US as well - I did that once as I was going immediately to Hakone from NRT and didn't want to take a chance of not having a phone if I needed to make a call on the way.....

filmwill

Pook, that's a great idea...would be so much nicer to have my phone there. The problem is that my iPhone is locked and to unlock it would cost a small fortune here.

filmwill

Mara, when you do that do they start charging you from the day you receive it or from the day you make your first call on it?

Mara

I was just reading online that ATT won't unlock the iphone....I don't have one myself so don't know if that's really true or not but the att website says so.....
You could use it where you can get free wifi but in Japan I am under the impression that's sort of limited....plus you would still have your US number.....
I'm going through the same thing - my phone does work in Japan but it's very expensive to roam with Tmobile plus the people I am visiting in Japan can't be expected to call my US number....at least I was able to unlock my phone... ;-)

filmwill

One more thing: am I crazy, but reading Rentafone's site it seems that the outgoing call rate is 3.5 Yen per 6 seconds (who prices thing by 6 seconds??)...that would mean that each minute of calling is 350 yen, which is roughly $4.25/per minute?

Isn't that a bit insane?

At that rate, I should just bring my own iPhone with international coverage on AT&T. I'm positive it's cheaper than that per minute.

Mara

filmwill - I had it delivered back in 2007 so I don't remember offhand - however if you email rentafone, Justin will answer all your questions - he's very patient with me....

Mara

I think you're reading it wrong - isn't it 35¥ a minute or around $0.43 in Japan and 45¥ to call the US or $0.55....

filmwill

Wow. My math was a decimal point off. That makes sense now.

hawaiiantraveler

I take my iphone with me and my company pays for the Int'l phone plan with an Int'l data package which they shut off when I return

With the iphone I have access to work but also my GPS app and a few good translator apps which help us out when we go to the local restaurants that speak no English. There are quite a few free wifi spots all over Japan. There is one in the lobby of the Hyatt in Kyoto! Lots of McDonalds have them. Your iphone will tell you if and where one is available when you try to log on. Just remember to not let it roam when you are traveling the countryside on the trains to avoid additional roaming charges. I usually put it in airplane mode and shut my email push down and only download when in a free zone.

I rent a phone for Mrs HT with Rentaphone Japan and have it waiting at the front desk of the first hotel I check into in Japan. As Mara says Justin will send a phone to the US or at the least email your phone number to you one week before your usage date starts if need be so you can let people know your phone number before you leave. Not mentioned too often is that Justin will also provide a prefix number for his discounted phone account which will save you even more money on Int'l calls. You have to dial a six(or 7) digit prefix before dialing your Int'l number but very easy.

Aloha!

filmwill

Anyone used their MiFis (mobile internet routers)?

Seems like a decent deal (compared to hotel internet charges)--but then again, my experience with those in the US is that they are painfully slow.

shandy

Filmwill, I used Softbank a couple of years ago. I had organised it prior to my trip and they notified me what my phone number would be a few days before I actually left Australia. It literally took me about one-two minutes to collect from the kiosk which was just outside the arrivals door. I don't really remember what the call rate was any more but I certainly don't recall it as being outrageous.

hawaiiantraveler

Interesting Bill, didn't know Justin rented them. I might give it a try when I visit in the fall. Depends on how many places I stay w/o internet.
BTW, got your email on trains and will give a detailed answer when I have more time so I can think clearly

Aloha!

Kristina

Bill, what did you decide to do?
I've been looking at those MiFis too, given the cost of internet at our hotels (and the fact that I'm an internet junkie who cannot give it up). I keep hoping I'll find free wi-fi somewhere...

filmwill

Didn't decide to go with MiFi. Maybe I'll regret that. Who knows? But, generally speaking, I can't stand plug-in wireless hotspots. Even here, they are slower than molasses as a rule of thumb.

I know how much you'll rely on your connection, Kristina. If you can deal with super-slow speeds (think dial-up) and cost is more important to you then I would definitely try it.

Which reminds me: we need to make a plan to put our heads together stat--I'm emailing you now.

emd3

If I recall correctly, when I checked into Rentafone they emailed me that they would send the phone to me in the USA but it would not be activated for use (nor would I pay for use) until the day I told them I was arriving in Japan.

I ended up having the phone delivered to the hotel I was staying in the 1st night in Tokyo. It was very reliable, waiting for me in an envelope at the front desk at check-in.

Smeagol

FW when do you leave for Japan?

offlady

I also used Rentafone and would definitely use them again. They returned my emails quickly and answered any questions I had. I received my phone number via email within a day from placing my order.

I too wanted my phone sent to me in the USA but my timing was too short (less than a week to my departure) so it was sent to my relative's apartment in Tokyo and it arrived a day or two before my arrival. My daughter who received the phone didn't show me the paperwork until it was time to return it so I didn't find out about the cost-saving prefix number until later. However, it was still very reasonable. The phone came with a pre-stamped envelope so all you do is drop it into any mailbox when you leave Japan. According to the envelope, they are based out of Kyoto.

Also, we had clear connections and did not experience any dropped calls.

Jatten

I just got back from a 19-day honeymoon in Japan and I rented a MiFi from Rentaphone. Because we were going to some remote locations, we chose the slower one with the wider network and it was exactly as advertised. The price was fantastic and they went above and beyond the call of duty during the trip went I left the unit behind in a hotel.

There were no hidden charges and they could have easily told us they didn't get the unit back when they did. A fabulous company that I now completely trust. I don't know the other company brought up in the original post, but I strongly encourage people to go with Rentafone.