I'm going to Japan in a few weeks and have a few questions, I hope it's ok to ask here.

I'll be there for almost 2 months (July 6th - August 30th) and was wondering about how to use my phone. I know there's the b-mobile visitor sim but both are for 14 days only, which means I'd need 4 of them.

Then I found THIS which is for a whole month. I'm not sure though, whether it can be bought by foreigners or it's Japanese only.

The last one I found is eConnectJapan. I actually prefer the page over the b-mobile one, looks "foreigner friendlier^^". However, for the duration of my trip it is more expensive.

I have friends in Japan, so maybe there's a 4th option wich is only available for Japanese?

Anyone any recommendations? As I've read that many ppl had trouble with b-mobile, I tend to go with eConnect.

My second question is about how to get from Tokyo to Aomori. In specific about the "Akebono" train. Anyone ever used it?

Sorry for the long post, but I really appreciate any help.

Thank you

So I'm guessing that you just want internet access? According to the products you listed, they are data only.

If you want voice and messaging, consider the Softbank prepaid option. The phone, sim card and 3000 yen pre-paid credit is sold for around 5000 yen. You could have a friend buy it for you at any Softbank retailer. Then, with a little help, you can activate the unlimited messaging option, which only takes 300 yen per month from your 3000 yen credit, leaving you with ~2400 for voice after 2 months.

If your experience is similar to my first visit to Japan, you'll find that messaging may be more useful anyway. BTW, you setup a Softbank email address when you elect to use messaging. This is how you send and receive messages on your phone, which means that anyone, anywhere can email you and you can reply via your phone. You can also forward your other email accounts to your Softbank phone. This is all included in the 300 yen per month.

Cons: no other data services (maps, gps, web, voip etc.); CLUMSY ENGLISH INTERFACE (it's much easier to send messages in Japanese!); if you choose to use the sim in an unlocked iphone, you'll lose messaging ability...

Pros: cheap option for short-term voice, unlimited messaging/email, a nice? Japanese souvenir (very dated, narrow-bodied flip-phone in your choice of black or white)

Thank you very much for your reply. Yeah, your guess was right. I'd say I need data only. Voice, as well as messaging, can be covered with different apps on the Smartphone and they require data only. So for me, there is no need for a voice/messaging sim.

Oniichan Wrote:So I'm guessing that you just want internet access? According to the products you listed, they are data only.

If you want voice and messaging, consider the Softbank prepaid option. The phone, sim card and 3000 yen pre-paid credit is sold for around 5000 yen. You could have a friend buy it for you at any Softbank retailer. Then, with a little help, you can activate the unlimited messaging option, which only takes 300 yen per month from your 3000 yen credit, leaving you with ~2400 for voice after 2 months.

If your experience is similar to my first visit to Japan, you'll find that messaging may be more useful anyway. BTW, you setup a Softbank email address when you elect to use messaging. This is how you send and receive messages on your phone, which means that anyone, anywhere can email you and you can reply via your phone. You can also forward your other email accounts to your Softbank phone. This is all included in the 300 yen per month.

Cons: no other data services (maps, gps, web, voip etc.); CLUMSY ENGLISH INTERFACE (it's much easier to send messages in Japanese!); if you choose to use the sim in an unlocked iphone, you'll lose messaging ability...

Pros: cheap option for short-term voice, unlimited messaging/email, a nice? Japanese souvenir (very dated, narrow-bodied flip-phone in your choice of black or white)

Looks like exactly what I bought last summer. That piece of pre-war technology is still lying next to me and I fear I'll have no choice but to use it again next August...

I have an unlocked iPhone too. So there's no way I can use it in Japan? Because the screen size, the interface and virtual (romaji) keyboard make it so much more pleasant to use... You say "lose the messaging ability" but then there's nothing left (of interest) you can do by putting the Japanese sim in the iPhone, right?

You're brave coming in the peak of summer.

Warp2243 Wrote:...I have an unlocked iPhone too. So there's no way I can use it in Japan? Because the screen size, the interface and virtual (romaji) keyboard make it so much more pleasant to use... You say "lose the messaging ability" but then there's nothing left (of interest) you can do by putting the Japanese sim in the iPhone, right?

Right. Your unlocked iPhone will only allow you to make and receive phone calls if you use it with a pre-paid card from Softbank, mentioned above.

Oniichan Wrote:

Warp2243 Wrote:...I have an unlocked iPhone too. So there's no way I can use it in Japan? Because the screen size, the interface and virtual (romaji) keyboard make it so much more pleasant to use... You say "lose the messaging ability" but then there's nothing left (of interest) you can do by putting the Japanese sim in the iPhone, right?

Right. Your unlocked iPhone will only allow you to make and receive phone calls if you use it with a pre-paid card from Softbank, mentioned above.

I see, thanks. If it's just calls, any phone is fine... And like you said it's mainly the unlimited messaging option that is useful.