littleJ 0 Posted October 15, 2014 Share Posted October 15, 2014 hi guys we are coming over from Australia to ski at xmas time and not sure what us tourists do regarding using our phone to call home etc. when reading up on it they say international roaming on your phone is very expensive and getting a sim card in japan is not the way to go cause you have to be a citizen I think?? can anyone offer some advice on what they have done as I am now very confused! thanks Link to post Share on other sites
snowdude 44 Posted October 15, 2014 Share Posted October 15, 2014 Use your phone on wifi and then use skype or line to speak with its free That is what I do. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted October 15, 2014 Share Posted October 15, 2014 You can also buy a sim card or a rental phone at Narita. If you can get wifi and you have Line/Viber/WhatsApp or similar you can call other users back home for free.....same with FaceTime....Skype is free to other Skype or incredibly cheap (2¥ a minute or something ridiculous) to landlines....but you need WiFi Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted October 15, 2014 Share Posted October 15, 2014 Getting a regular phone number off a sim for a short time is tricky for non-residents. Prepaid sims for data aren't though. The government also says its going to provide lots of free wifi for tourists (presumably paid for by mugs who live here) so maybe someone who knows about can comment. I think you have to show your passport and collect a card at various tourist info places. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted October 15, 2014 Share Posted October 15, 2014 Its because foreigners don't live here, Mr W……..only tourists are foreigners Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted October 16, 2014 Share Posted October 16, 2014 Anyone who can afford a foreign holiday to come to Japan can pay for their own bloody wifi! I sometimes think Japan is more keen on lots of tourists coming and saying "Japan! Sugoi!" so it can sit back in some complacent "utsukushii kuni, Nihon" glow than actually trying to make some money off them to pay for stuff. Like health care for the 25% of the population over 65. Or the Olympics even. Link to post Share on other sites
7-11 2 Posted October 16, 2014 Share Posted October 16, 2014 The mountains are pretty but the towns are BLOODY UGLY!!! Put that on the telly will ya!! Link to post Share on other sites
mina2 6 Posted October 16, 2014 Share Posted October 16, 2014 There was actually something on the tv last night on that subject. Some obasan running a small eating place in Kyoto, being asked to remove their big sign outside. Replacing it would cost 100man (really?!?) and the town won't help. But it's a new rule to take down signs and make the city pretty rather than full of advertising noise. Some dude commented on it would be a shame if Japan was changed due to the pressure of foreigners. It's like the default bullshit isn't it. Don't suppose Japanese people themselves want nice looking towns, oh no. Link to post Share on other sites
634-maru 4 Posted October 17, 2014 Share Posted October 17, 2014 Saw that. Felt like slapping that dude. Japanese people don't appreciate their towns looking nicer? I always cringe at some of the run-down awful buildings here. With such beautiful natural surroundings, it's such a shame. Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted October 17, 2014 Share Posted October 17, 2014 Domestic tourism is also way down over the past twenty or so years. With the population shrinking and aging and having less money, there are winners and losers, and will be more in the future. Any tourist town would be wise to clean its act up if it wants Japanese people to keep going there, to say nothing of overseas tourists. Calling yourself "yumei" for some reason, however spurious, and dishing up the same soba and soft creams as everywhere else won't cut it. People aren't that stupid. Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted October 17, 2014 Share Posted October 17, 2014 You sure? Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted October 17, 2014 Share Posted October 17, 2014 They probably are stupid to be honest. Its just that having less money wisens them up a bit. You can take loads of things older Japanese people used to be into and stick "banare" on the end of them. kuruma, ski, beach, onsen, tabi, terebi, kekkon. With domestic tourism, things maybe aren't as bad as they could be with the cashed up baby boomers all hitting retirement about now. Give it 10-15 years though and most of them won't be genki enough for bus trips to Kyoto, Kamakura etc. and the new generation of retirees will be fewer, have less cash, and will be more likely to have living parents to look after. There's going to be a lot of people sucking air through their teeth and saying "kibishii". As an optimist, I'd like to think that people who made some effort to make their area more attractive will have fared better than those who didn't. Link to post Share on other sites
Biggen 3 Posted October 18, 2014 Share Posted October 18, 2014 You can also buy a sim card or a rental phone at Narita. If you can get wifi and you have Line/Viber/WhatsApp or similar you can call other users back home for free.....same with FaceTime....Skype is free to other Skype or incredibly cheap (2¥ a minute or something ridiculous) to landlines....but you need WiFi Hi Little J try this link http://japan-wireles...TYcUaAizd8P8HAQ You get a pocket WiFi with unlimited Data use for $3 a day. The reception is not has good as Softbank or Docomo but reasonable. You can used your FaceTime, Facebook Messager or Skype to call home. You can call any Japan phone number with your credited Skype account even if they are have not downloaded the Skype software. If your Japanese it cost Y 5000 a month with unlimited data use. Also can use up to ten devices so if your in a group you can all use it and share the cost. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted October 18, 2014 Share Posted October 18, 2014 Good idea John-San Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted October 18, 2014 Share Posted October 18, 2014 For a group or family in particular, wireless routers are cool. That $3 a day is for a month, divided on a per day basis. For cheapskates, there is also the free one for tourists, on top of whatever you get at your accom. http://flets.com/freewifi/index.html Link to post Share on other sites
Biggen 3 Posted October 18, 2014 Share Posted October 18, 2014 Thank for the feedback Pie,s Link to post Share on other sites
pie-eater 207 Posted October 18, 2014 Share Posted October 18, 2014 Didn't give any, John-San, you silly plonker! Link to post Share on other sites
pie-eater 207 Posted October 18, 2014 Share Posted October 18, 2014 But my advice would have been the same. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted October 18, 2014 Share Posted October 18, 2014 Link to post Share on other sites
littleJ 0 Posted October 18, 2014 Author Share Posted October 18, 2014 thanks for the info guys! great options I would never have found otherwise cheers Link to post Share on other sites
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