Two things I learned in Japan today
Jun 25, 2023, 6:43 am
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Two things I learned in Japan today
Today was my first time buying a ticket at a JR station. In the past, I've always used a JR Rail pass. The JR station at KIX doesn't accept mobile payment like Apple Pay. They do accept credit cards, but I had to use a physical card.
I can't remember what my experience using my cellphone in the Shinkansen was like in the past, but wow, the connection isn't very good. It's a bit slow and spotty. I'm taking the Nozomi Shinkansen to Tokyo at the moment and the guy next to see is watching YouTube on his 16" MacBook Pro. It's constantly buffering and stuttering. I expected better from a country like Japan.
I can't remember what my experience using my cellphone in the Shinkansen was like in the past, but wow, the connection isn't very good. It's a bit slow and spotty. I'm taking the Nozomi Shinkansen to Tokyo at the moment and the guy next to see is watching YouTube on his 16" MacBook Pro. It's constantly buffering and stuttering. I expected better from a country like Japan.
Last edited by lsquare; Jun 25, 2023 at 7:01 am
Jun 25, 2023, 7:00 am
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Today was my first time buying a ticket at a JR station. In the past, I've always used a JR Rail pass. The JR station at KIX doesn't accept mobile payment like Apple Pay. They do accept credit cards, but I had to use a physical card.
I can't remember what my experience using my cellphone in the Shinkansen was like, but wow, the connection isn't very good. It's a bit slow and spotty. I'm taking the Nozomi Shinkansen to Tokyo at the moment and the guy next to see is watching YouTube on his 16" MacBook Pro. It's constantly buffering and stuttering. I expected better from a country like Japan.
I can't remember what my experience using my cellphone in the Shinkansen was like, but wow, the connection isn't very good. It's a bit slow and spotty. I'm taking the Nozomi Shinkansen to Tokyo at the moment and the guy next to see is watching YouTube on his 16" MacBook Pro. It's constantly buffering and stuttering. I expected better from a country like Japan.
Jun 25, 2023, 7:04 am
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Jun 25, 2023, 8:35 am
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I've found the free WiFi on the Shinkansen to be pretty lame. Drops often, slow, balky. I guess you get what you pay for.
Jun 25, 2023, 8:41 am
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Jun 25, 2023, 8:46 am
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Jun 25, 2023, 8:56 am
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Jun 25, 2023, 9:16 am
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I think even JR taking credit card is only a recent phenomenon (last 5-10 year). It was only cash before that. Not sure about Apple Pay, but you cannot use your usual visa or Mastercard paywave (or any other ‘foreign’ contactless payment methods) in Japan also. They use a different frequency which only works with Japan issued credit cards.
Last edited by williamluk; Jun 25, 2023 at 9:26 am
Jun 25, 2023, 9:25 am
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I think even JR taking credit card is only a recent phenomenon (last 5-10 year). It was only cash before that. Not sure about Apple Pay, but you cannot use your usual visa paywave (or any other contactless credit cards) in Japan also. They use a different frequency which only works with Japan-issued credit cards.
Jun 25, 2023, 9:34 am
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Japan CC contactless payment sign
Jun 25, 2023, 9:35 am
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Jun 25, 2023, 9:49 am
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Jun 25, 2023, 9:54 am
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