Japan has among the best internet or telephony services in the world - unfortunately they regulate it as if they were in a police state....which in a sense you are. The good news is that - if you don't hurt them, they don't hurt you. The flipside of that is that there is a great deal of caution or apprehension about 'all things foreigner'. You will miraculously 'smell like roses' if you are accompanied or can call upon a Japanese person to account for your 'fitness for being in Japan'. It makes all the difference.
Alone = Stranger
With Japanese = Street credibility
This looks like racism; but I'm inclined to think of it as just old-fashion ignorance wrapped up in a very tragic sense of life deriving from their ignorance and risk avoidance. So when it comes to securing wifi access its harder, because you are required to overcome a hurdle - and that is being recognised as a resident. The only way to overcome that is being 'sponsored' by a Japanese citizen/resident. Now, I don't mean a formal 'sponsorship', but for Japanese it carries that stigma. If you have a Japanese girlfriend who trusts you, its easy. If you don't, then there is stigmatism for someone to trust you, because Japanese are kind of paranoid about attracting the wrong type of attention. Maybe the same as Westerners feel about the tax office. ...ok, Americans and Australian tax offices....if they aren't all bad enough.
If you don't have residency, or someone to act as a proxy for your 'residency', then there are fewer options for internet, but they are pretty good anyway.
1. Gaijin house - If you can afford a hotel room for a long time, you can pretty well afford any communications option, however most won't'. A low-cost accommodation option that comes with wifi usually is a Gaijin House. They generally offer accomodation by the week - though possibly for month minimum. Rents are Y50,000 - 130,000 per month usually, but there list of locations in the major cities is impressive.
2. Softbank is one of the largest telephony companies in Japan. They offer internet for Y490 ($US6) per 24 hours day, through a regional wifi/cellphone network. Its effectively unliimited, but having used this service, I often found it a struggle to access. I think the reason is that data users get low priority, so in busy times, you simply don't get access. It might depend on your location, so give it a go. Its discretionary, so its not a huge commitment. You can access the service through your wifi link (they are all over Japan, but typically around train station hubs), or you can purchase using a credit card at https://exsupport.sbwifi.
3. Food/Coffee franchisees: The international fast-food companies like Starbucks and McDonalds offer wifi in-store, usually with online browser sign-in. In the case of Starbucks, you need to pre-register. i.e. You need to be able to pre-access your email to get the code that you send yourself. See http://starbucks.wi2.co.jp/sp/sma_index_en.html. These services are free, however of course you need to buy food or a beverage.
4. Modem rental: There are several companies which allow you to rent wifi modems at the airport for use around Japan. These services take advantage of the extensive network coverage of telephony companies to offer Wifi. See http://japan-wireless.com or http://www.globaladvancedcomm.com/pocketwifi.html and http://www.globaldata.jp/
Now, if you do have friends in Japan who can act as a sponsor for you, then you can get a SIM card. This means that you can get a pre-paid service, or even a contract if you are sure of staying a long time. This would entail you and a friend going to the local telephony company and buying a SIM card and 'flash modem' to plug into your USB slot. If you need English language support, try Bic Camera in Ikebukuro, Akihabara or Shibuya (precincts of Tokyo). Most telephony offices don't offer English support. If your airport has a suitable telco office (Docomo or Softbank), and your friend is at hand, then maybe the place to get you connected.
Asian property markets outperforming Japan Foreclosed Guide Philippines Property Guide
Profit from mining with Global Mining Investing eBook
Alone = Stranger
With Japanese = Street credibility
This looks like racism; but I'm inclined to think of it as just old-fashion ignorance wrapped up in a very tragic sense of life deriving from their ignorance and risk avoidance. So when it comes to securing wifi access its harder, because you are required to overcome a hurdle - and that is being recognised as a resident. The only way to overcome that is being 'sponsored' by a Japanese citizen/resident. Now, I don't mean a formal 'sponsorship', but for Japanese it carries that stigma. If you have a Japanese girlfriend who trusts you, its easy. If you don't, then there is stigmatism for someone to trust you, because Japanese are kind of paranoid about attracting the wrong type of attention. Maybe the same as Westerners feel about the tax office. ...ok, Americans and Australian tax offices....if they aren't all bad enough.
If you don't have residency, or someone to act as a proxy for your 'residency', then there are fewer options for internet, but they are pretty good anyway.
1. Gaijin house - If you can afford a hotel room for a long time, you can pretty well afford any communications option, however most won't'. A low-cost accommodation option that comes with wifi usually is a Gaijin House. They generally offer accomodation by the week - though possibly for month minimum. Rents are Y50,000 - 130,000 per month usually, but there list of locations in the major cities is impressive.
2. Softbank is one of the largest telephony companies in Japan. They offer internet for Y490 ($US6) per 24 hours day, through a regional wifi/cellphone network. Its effectively unliimited, but having used this service, I often found it a struggle to access. I think the reason is that data users get low priority, so in busy times, you simply don't get access. It might depend on your location, so give it a go. Its discretionary, so its not a huge commitment. You can access the service through your wifi link (they are all over Japan, but typically around train station hubs), or you can purchase using a credit card at https://exsupport.sbwifi.
3. Food/Coffee franchisees: The international fast-food companies like Starbucks and McDonalds offer wifi in-store, usually with online browser sign-in. In the case of Starbucks, you need to pre-register. i.e. You need to be able to pre-access your email to get the code that you send yourself. See http://starbucks.wi2.co.jp/sp/sma_index_en.html. These services are free, however of course you need to buy food or a beverage.
4. Modem rental: There are several companies which allow you to rent wifi modems at the airport for use around Japan. These services take advantage of the extensive network coverage of telephony companies to offer Wifi. See http://japan-wireless.com or http://www.globaladvancedcomm.com/pocketwifi.html and http://www.globaldata.jp/
Now, if you do have friends in Japan who can act as a sponsor for you, then you can get a SIM card. This means that you can get a pre-paid service, or even a contract if you are sure of staying a long time. This would entail you and a friend going to the local telephony company and buying a SIM card and 'flash modem' to plug into your USB slot. If you need English language support, try Bic Camera in Ikebukuro, Akihabara or Shibuya (precincts of Tokyo). Most telephony offices don't offer English support. If your airport has a suitable telco office (Docomo or Softbank), and your friend is at hand, then maybe the place to get you connected.
Asian property markets outperforming Japan Foreclosed Guide Philippines Property Guide
Profit from mining with Global Mining Investing eBook
