How to keep in contact with each other in Japan?

[aussie shaz]

Hi there, I'm getting down to the nitty gritty of our travel plans to Japan.

Just wondering, for anyone who has been to Japan, what you used to keep in contact with the rest of your travel party, in case you got separated etc.

I was planning on getting a personal wifi for all of us to connect to and to use for google maps, translate, train timetables etc. But we may separate sometimes, either on purpose, or by accident. I'd rather we all (myself, hubby and 2 teens) had a way to contact each other in case any of us get lost.

Any ideas? Thanks

 

[zanzibar138]

We haven't been to Japan, but whenever we go overseas we just rely on the old school meeting place and time. I'll admit that it can be slightly inconvenient (now that we're used to having mobiles), but we haven't had any major problems yet.

 

[Aussie Wendy]

I can't remember properly - lol! but we were there in 2012 - getting out of date. We bought a Travel sim card but can't remember if we bought here or there - I will ask DH tonight (I think here as don't remember having to find one as first task). I do know it only worked on the newer of our phones (Nokia E71) and I was pleased we had two different phones with us. We used free wifi in our hotels/accommodation and found it offered in some cafes. Now we normally download the google maps we want to our phones so can use off-line if need be.

For a recent Hong Kong trip we just bought a prepaid tourist sim card with a quota of download data and mobile calls from the airport and put it in our phone. I believe the same exists in Japan, you just need to research the options to get the best one for you. Website Whirlpool, article Japan Travel - Internet is up to date and has some useful detail I saw in a quick google with several options including much easier to buy at airports or other locations there now rather than having to preorder. I imagine most Japan travel sites also will have info. Normally for our travels anywhere in the world we buy one prepaid sim card for DH and I to share and rely on Viber messaging for DD so she can contact us if we separate.

 

[aussie shaz]

Thanks! I'll keep looking. We may just turn on roaming on our normal plans, and use it only in case of emergency.
The Post Office sims cost $45 each and don't really have much credit. That's $180 for the 4 of us. The ones in Japan seemed quite expensive too, and I'm not sure I want to pay that 'just in case'.
When we go to Bali, we always just buy sims. They are so cheap and have heaps of credit and data, which is great. In the US, we buy 'throw away' phones, which are also cheap. Japan just seems a bit more difficult.
We might just have to rely on the meeting place and time. Let's hope the kids don't get lost!

 

[Aussie Wendy]

Yeh DH confirmed it was a travel sim - probably from the PO we used but we only needed one and they were cheaper 4 yrs ago. DD then took it and used it all through Asia. I would still consider letting your teens take their phones (with global roaming turned off) and find out spots they can connect to free wifi and use Viber or a similar free internet app for messaging you and vica versa - I guess it's just reliant on there being a free internet wifi spot when they need to call. According to a recent post the main convenience stores (7-Eleven and Family Mart are the best-and they are everywhere) all have free wifi access in English in most of their stores. Just open up your browser in the store, click the English button and follow the instructions. Usually just providing your email address is enough to access the internet. So do the majority of Tokyo metro train stations and many regular train stations though apparently few JR rail stations. There was an NTT free wifi that you needed to collect a card for (used to obtain at Narita Airport using your passport but it stopped in March 2015 - not sure if still available from other locations). If they have an app like Viber or WhatsApp (or the iphone equivalent) its a back up option at least if the old fashioned meeting spot and time goes wrong.

 

[Agent 86]

We usually either use free wifi to use Apple instant messaging or just send text messages when overseas.

But, on our most recent trip to Japan, my partner paid an extra $5 which meant that he could use his standard data allowance while we were in Japan. He's with Vodaphone and this is the offer: http://www.vodafone.com.au/personal/international-roaming

It was VERY handy as we went to some less popular tourist destinations outside of Tokyo and having access to google maps was great. We also used google maps for navigating the trains and subways as it provides awesome journey plans.

 

[aussie shaz]

Thanks. I think we will all take our phones and sign up for the $5 Vodafone offer. If we don't need it (which hopefully we won't) then it won't cost. But it's there just in case. I'll also get a pocket wifi for googling. I've looked at a few websites mentioned, Thanks, and found some great info about free wifi spots.

 

[Aussie Wendy]

FYI for any others reading this thread, you need to be on a vodafone plan in the first place (or sign up) though which may or may not be worth doing depending on what plan and commitment you already have in place-their current minimum plan is $30/month and you can go month by month with sim only-only 500 MB data; a 12 month plan is $30/month for 1GB incl an extra 500MB for short time only so normally only 500MB; 24 month plan is $25/month and 1GB but with 500MB ditto) and it's $5/day but only on the days you use it which is yes, not much for a couple of weeks trip, but if you used it every day for a 5 or 6 week trip then it adds up and other options may be better.

 

[zanzibar138]

I *wish* we could do this! No good for us though - we don't get Vodafone reception where we live They have such bad coverage!

 

[aussie shaz]

We're all with Vodafone, but only 2 of us are on plans. So 2 of us can use the $5 deal if need be and the other 2, who are on pre-paid, will just have to use normal roaming and pay the price. I really don't mind paying if it's only used in case of emergency (lost kid etc. LOL)

 

[lorryx3]

I got one of these in 2012.
https://www.econnectjapan.com/

it was delivered to my hotel and was very easy to use.
I just used the internet mainly!