Travel Technology - Japanese Cell Phone Suggestions

I'm going to be in Japan for a while, and will need a cell phone. Nothing fancy -- just voice calls within Japan and back to the United States. I've looked at a number of web sites, and they're all confusing. About the only thing I've managed to find is a firm, hard, fact is that Japan uses a different cell phone system than the rest of the world.

I wouldn't mind shelling out $30 for a pay-as-you-go phone and then just keeping it as a souvenir once I leave the island. I've read that these can sometimes be had at 7-Elevens over there, but they won't dial internationally.

Any suggestions?

They will in fact dial internationally as I do it all the time. My suggestion is to run a search of this forum and you'll find lots of good information on Japanese mobile phones: rental and purchase of PAYG services. You might be able to get a good deal at the Vodaphone booth right in the airport.

Welcome to Flyertalk. As suggested there have been a number of threads on this. I have recently been renting from Telecom Square which you can set up by fax or internet and pick up in the terminal at Narita. Been quite pleased with them.