Oct 27, 2013, 6:04 pm
Last edit by: Mwenenzi
From Dubai Stu: I saw this article on DSL Reports and am passing it on without recourse. It sounds like a great solution, but I have not done any independent research: https://www.dslreports.com/shownews/R...-75Mbps-126377
From joejones: See this thread -- Prepaid SIM discussion (consolidated) in the Japan forum
From msp3: If you're a Sprint customer, data roaming is completely free on SoftBank (Sprint's parent company), for a $5 add-on you get unlimited voice: http://www.howardforums.com/showthre...a-sms-in-Japan
From joejones: See this thread -- Prepaid SIM discussion (consolidated) in the Japan forum
From msp3: If you're a Sprint customer, data roaming is completely free on SoftBank (Sprint's parent company), for a $5 add-on you get unlimited voice: http://www.howardforums.com/showthre...a-sms-in-Japan
Prepaid SIM - Japan
Sep 25, 2015, 10:29 am
#46
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 1,553
Or buy the cheapest prepaid data sim. I've read Umobile sells a 7day sim for 2000Y at Narita (can only get from a Narita vending machine??) that comes with unlimited data but LTE speeds are throttled after 200MB. I bought a 15day sim from them at a Yodobashi store and it worked great in an older, spare Samsung Galaxy.
Alternatively, you can try for wifi hotspots. Apparently there's a free wifi solution for visitors: SoftBank Free Wi-Fi Passport. Not sure how wide of extensive the hotspot coverage is though.
Sep 25, 2015, 10:35 pm
#47
Join Date: Aug 2008
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Posts: 1,874
Alternatively, you can try for wifi hotspots. Apparently there's a free wifi solution for visitors: SoftBank Free Wi-Fi Passport. Not sure how wide of extensive the hotspot coverage is though.
Jan 4, 2016, 9:03 am
#49
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: City of Angels
Programs: DL Kettle| HH Pot
Posts: 525
Maybe buying a data roaming package from your local carrier if they have that sort of thing?
Or buy the cheapest prepaid data sim. I've read Umobile sells a 7day sim for 2000Y at Narita (can only get from a Narita vending machine??) that comes with unlimited data but LTE speeds are throttled after 200MB
Or buy the cheapest prepaid data sim. I've read Umobile sells a 7day sim for 2000Y at Narita (can only get from a Narita vending machine??) that comes with unlimited data but LTE speeds are throttled after 200MB
Jan 8, 2016, 8:08 am
#50
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 229
I am on TMO and when I was in Tokyo for the TAS in Jan 2014, I had the TMO unltd data but at 3g speeds. I was happy with it....if I opted for 4g LTE, it'd be an upcharge...
Overall, no sufferage of signal, maybe except when in was in the subway....
BTW, if you are on TMO and opt not for 4g lte, bring an external battery pack. I did and it helped me aloooot.
Overall, no sufferage of signal, maybe except when in was in the subway....
BTW, if you are on TMO and opt not for 4g lte, bring an external battery pack. I did and it helped me aloooot.
Oct 19, 2016, 6:16 am
#51
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: HEL
Programs: lots of shiny metal cards
Posts: 14,110
Last week arriving at Nagoya (NGO) the only option was the DoCoMo (NTT) vending machine (no umobile). What a royal PITA to purchase and activate!
- you can only use credit cards. If it's a foreign card, you may enter ANY 4 digits in lieu of a PIN (the machine says "enter your birth year" but how on earth would it know?)
- you need to register it by scanning your passport
- then you need to activate it/download a profile - but you must either use wifi or your foreign SIM card's data to do that!! OMFG!
- costs ¥3726 for a week (100MB/day at 4G, over that unlimited (?) 3G. Kind of expensive for a week.
Once these hurdles are overcame, works well.
- you can only use credit cards. If it's a foreign card, you may enter ANY 4 digits in lieu of a PIN (the machine says "enter your birth year" but how on earth would it know?)
- you need to register it by scanning your passport
- then you need to activate it/download a profile - but you must either use wifi or your foreign SIM card's data to do that!! OMFG!
- costs ¥3726 for a week (100MB/day at 4G, over that unlimited (?) 3G. Kind of expensive for a week.
Once these hurdles are overcame, works well.
Nov 29, 2016, 11:21 am
#53
Join Date: Mar 2016
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 74
I am looking for some advice about using my phone in Japan. There is a lot of information online about the compatibility of various handsets with Japanese sim cards and I am now very confused!
I have an unlocked iPhone 7 model A1778. My understanding is that this model is not compatible with Japanese networks (something about GSM versus CDMA which I don't fully understand...). I want to either buy a sim card in the UK before I go or in Japan. The staff at this agency say that the prepaid sim described will work, but when I asked about using my GSM phone in Japan they had no idea what I was asking... https://www.japantravel-centre.com/j...an-travel-sim/
Do any FTers have any advice?
Thank you
I have an unlocked iPhone 7 model A1778. My understanding is that this model is not compatible with Japanese networks (something about GSM versus CDMA which I don't fully understand...). I want to either buy a sim card in the UK before I go or in Japan. The staff at this agency say that the prepaid sim described will work, but when I asked about using my GSM phone in Japan they had no idea what I was asking... https://www.japantravel-centre.com/j...an-travel-sim/
Do any FTers have any advice?
Thank you
Nov 29, 2016, 12:26 pm
#54
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
Programs: United 1K, JAL Sapphire, SPG Lifetime Platinum, National Executive Elite, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 42,256
I am looking for some advice about using my phone in Japan. There is a lot of information online about the compatibility of various handsets with Japanese sim cards and I am now very confused!
I have an unlocked iPhone 7 model A1778. My understanding is that this model is not compatible with Japanese networks (something about GSM versus CDMA which I don't fully understand...). I want to either buy a sim card in the UK before I go or in Japan. The staff at this agency say that the prepaid sim described will work, but when I asked about using my GSM phone in Japan they had no idea what I was asking... https://www.japantravel-centre.com/j...an-travel-sim/
Do any FTers have any advice?
Thank you
I have an unlocked iPhone 7 model A1778. My understanding is that this model is not compatible with Japanese networks (something about GSM versus CDMA which I don't fully understand...). I want to either buy a sim card in the UK before I go or in Japan. The staff at this agency say that the prepaid sim described will work, but when I asked about using my GSM phone in Japan they had no idea what I was asking... https://www.japantravel-centre.com/j...an-travel-sim/
Do any FTers have any advice?
Thank you
Feb 11, 2017, 7:44 pm
#55
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 474
Just an update as I found this thread useful. The U-mobile 7 day sim card is now Y2,500 from vending machine within NRT.
I used it with an iPhone and you need to insert the sim and then get online via wifi, before you can go to a URL they give you in order to download APN settings. Only then will the SIM work. This was a pain as I had left the airport (and free wifi) before trying the SIM.
I understand if you have an android you can enter the APN settings directly.
I used it with an iPhone and you need to insert the sim and then get online via wifi, before you can go to a URL they give you in order to download APN settings. Only then will the SIM work. This was a pain as I had left the airport (and free wifi) before trying the SIM.
I understand if you have an android you can enter the APN settings directly.
Feb 13, 2017, 12:27 pm
#56
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: HEL
Programs: lots of shiny metal cards
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So umobile went the DoCoMo way? What a PITA, really
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/27365641-post51.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/27365641-post51.html
Feb 13, 2017, 4:38 pm
#57
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 474
So umobile went the DoCoMo way? What a PITA, really
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/27365641-post51.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/27365641-post51.html
Feb 14, 2017, 11:05 am
#58
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: HEL
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Posts: 14,110
Feb 15, 2017, 9:12 am
#59
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 394
Just an update as I found this thread useful. The U-mobile 7 day sim card is now Y2,500 from vending machine within NRT.
I used it with an iPhone and you need to insert the sim and then get online via wifi, before you can go to a URL they give you in order to download APN settings. Only then will the SIM work. This was a pain as I had left the airport (and free wifi) before trying the SIM.
I understand if you have an android you can enter the APN settings directly.
I used it with an iPhone and you need to insert the sim and then get online via wifi, before you can go to a URL they give you in order to download APN settings. Only then will the SIM work. This was a pain as I had left the airport (and free wifi) before trying the SIM.
I understand if you have an android you can enter the APN settings directly.
Feb 15, 2017, 4:45 pm
#60
Join Date: May 2003
Location: CA
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 2,879
We were in Japan last year for a week and a half. Used eConnect. Nice thing about them was that they delivered the SIM card to the hotel so it was there when we arrived. No issue with activation or use in Tokyo or Kyoto.