Air's is cheaper.

1050yen/day for a WiFi router
200yen/day for a docomo phone, 80yen/minute voice (local, USA, China), and 200yen/day each for unlimited e-mail and I-mode.

>> I mean, I just got back from Hong Kong and it cost me all of US$15.00 TOTAL for a prepaid voice and data card that lasted ALL WEEK! When is Japan going to get the f**k with it on this? I see a $150 expenditure that should be $15.

I purchased B-Mobile data card, 2980yen (38USD) unlimited for 30 days. (or 5280 for HSDPA speed). You just have to look and work harder to get the good deals.

I thought the B-Mobile data SIM had the same issue as buying any other mobile SIM (i.e. not available to visitors) and the added problem of having to activate via a Japanese mobile phone?

Yeah, I checked out B-mobile's website and, at least on the English side, the only product available that I could find was a USB thingie for plugging into your computer in order to access the internet. I didn't really see a voice and data product (like a simcard). I saw simcards on their J-webpage, but since I can't read Japanese, I'm not sure if these would be made available to tourists (like me!).

Just to be clear, I rented a voice and data simcard that I installed in my own Android phone, which then allowed me to maintain all of the features of my phone that I have lovingly and painstakingly installed and configured, while being local in Japan.

Only VOICE service are restricted to residents of Japan. Tourists can buy and activate any DATA-only SIM card.

Activation can be made from any phone. I used Skype to call in. However if you do not activate with a Japanese mobile phone, the call is not toll-free, and takes 15+ minutes. English is spoken. This is explained on the English web pages.

SIM will be activated for 10 days after the call. You'll get an activation code by snail mail. Once you send in the activation code (by e-mail), card is fully activated.

1-month card can only be ordered online (Japanese only). I scheduled the card delivery to my hotel on my day of arrival. Cards with longer validity can be purchased from BIC/Yodobashi, etc.

For B-mobile, if you don't plan to use a lot but want it fast, 1GB with no speed cap is 3480yen.

This is pretty interesting- I'll have to try them the next time I'm in japan. I usually use Softbank - ,y bills have typically been less than 10,000 yen for 3 weeks, and I have a tendency to use the Internet a lot (on the crappy phone that they give you).

Does b-mobile have microSIMs (ie for iPhones / iPads)?

Yes they do offer microSIMs for all the prepaid data products. The 1GB fixed card apparently is available from BIC Camera stores.

Wow - OK. I'll check this out when I'm there next sakura season. This can be awesome.

Hmm. I thought you meant that it was for data only, but they do not appear to offer a data-only package - I read through the Japanese pages and they specifically say that it's for voice+data only, so I guess 3,480 yen for data and another 3,180 on top of that for voice - so 6.5 kiloyen or so.

The data-only one is sold in Laox.

Interesting, hm. Any idea who else sells it (some chain that exists in Kansai)? Laox is Akiba-only... their Osaka shop is a duty-free, I kinda doubt they'd sell these cards there. Got a product link maybe? (JP ok) - I'll look it up.

I'd imagine most major electronics stores.

http://www.biccamera.com/bicbic/jsp/...=4560122191568

http://www.yodobashi.com/%E6%97%A5%E...0001001414115/

Sofmap (specific product not listed online so may not carry)

Complete Shop list: http://www.bmobile.ne.jp/personal/shop/shop.html

Totally awesome. Thank you for the links! I'm so buying this for the iPad when I land :D

[edit] Yahoo Auctions for 3,000 yen if you have a local ship place in JP.

Can you just waltz into Laox in Akiba and ask for the data only card?

I'd like to try this but I don't want to be stranded if I find out it's a no go, especially because in order to rent, from say Softbank, you'd have to go to the airport counters; rather would not have to go to Haneda to get a SIM (not to mention pay for the train tickets and waste time) :rolleyes:

(There's also the option and thought of going without communication for a week, but it's too much to bear :D)