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Free Wi-Fi in Japan - Japan Connected Free iOS/Android App

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Free Wi-Fi in Japan - Japan Connected Free iOS/Android App
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donga100 on 29/04/2014 - 13:14 ntt-bp.net (5828 clicks)
Last edited 06/01/2023 - 10:23 by 1 other user

In the past there hasn't been a lot of convenient free wifi access for travellers in Japan. It also isn't that easy getting mobile data sim cards or portable wifi. This makes things a whole lot easier and will hopefully be useful for all those Ozbargainers who have taken advantage of the cheap airfares.

Japan Connected-free Wi-Fi is an application that makes it possible to connect to Wi-Fi networks easily at approximately 16,000 access points located at Narita Airport, Haneda Airport, major JR East railway stations, Seven-Eleven stores and elsewhere. The app is free to download, and it is also completely free to connect to Wi-Fi networks in the service areas.

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closed Comments

  • greenlantern on 29/04/2014 - 13:19
    +20

    Sugoi :D

    • altomic on 29/04/2014 - 21:00

      choi sugoi

  • mysrh on 29/04/2014 - 13:28
    +1

    Duh I just got back from Japan yesterday, if only…

  • King Tightarse on 29/04/2014 - 13:28
    +5

    Domo!

    • Bystander on 29/04/2014 - 20:46
      +3

      Arigatō

      • focused77 on 29/04/2014 - 22:55
        +4

        Mr. Roboto

    • King Tightarse on 29/04/2014 - 13:33
      +28

      Because Australians never travel to Japan…oh wait.

      • Brodenn on 29/04/2014 - 17:29
        +10

        Just bogans like Javs above… Fortunately for us they stick to Bali ;)

  • Roary on 29/04/2014 - 13:31
    +3

    Whats the normal price of this free wifi?

    • donga100 on 29/04/2014 - 13:33

      Good question! Before this app these networks were mostly paid services or required you to be an existing customer of the mobile network. I'm not sure of the exact prices but it definitely wasn't free.

      • Roary on 29/04/2014 - 13:37

        So its the wifi areas that is the bargain and not the app?

        • donga100 on 29/04/2014 - 13:40

          I guess you could look at it that way but without the app you wouldn't get the free wifi.

        • FloatingPoint on 29/04/2014 - 17:06
          +5

          They are ALWAYS FREE. The App just making it easier to connect to the available hotspot.
          You can connect those free wifi manually without this App.

  • orrinxu on 29/04/2014 - 13:34
    +2

    arigato

    • [Deactivated] on 29/04/2014 - 13:38
      +1

      … Mr Roboto, domo…

    • daewoo on 29/04/2014 - 13:39
      +1

      All this time I've been saying "Alligato", like an alligator :X

      • WhyAmICommenting on 29/04/2014 - 14:30
        +10

        considering theres no "r" or "l" sound in Japanese (but somewhere in between) it's not such a bad mistake :)

        • bgbrendan on 29/04/2014 - 18:18

          downvote lol there most definately is a r sound in japanese specifically ra ri ru re ro ら り る れ ろ

        • stiffyman on 29/04/2014 - 18:31
          +7

          When pronounced, it sounds more like a mix of L and R than strictly R.

        • devilbabies on 29/04/2014 - 19:34
          -2

          me ruv you rong time

        • eve on 29/04/2014 - 21:29
          +3

          Romaji/romanization is a method to assist English speakers assimilate a new language (Japanese) into phonetics that they are familiar with.

          With alphabet, when we see the letter "A", we hear internally something along the lines of "ay", and a native Japanese speaker would see ら in their mind as a sound, not see it in romaji (ra)… leading to the point spillmill made.

  • gimme on 29/04/2014 - 13:40

    wish I had this last week. it was a pita getting free wifi in japan

  • INFIDEL on 29/04/2014 - 13:41
    +1

    Think I will wait to read reviews of actual use before I get excited. Requires registration, which is said to expire if WiFi is not used within 90 days. So check reviews & decide to download just before you travel.

    • dazweeja on 29/04/2014 - 14:36

      Registration takes 5 seconds. If it expired, you could always go to a 7-11 and connect to their free WiFi the normal way to re-register.

      • INFIDEL on 29/04/2014 - 14:45
        +3

        Maybe not. Just pointing out no use downloading or registering just yet, unless you are going to use it in Japan soon.

        App is still being improved (current Android version is 5 days old), and seems to be no feedback yet that it is actually working 100%. So best to wait & see, unless you are about to fly out.

        Free WiFi has been available to travellers at JR stations & lots of other areas, but required pre-registration using .au email address before leaving for Japan.

        Tourist visa is 90 days - not sure a tourist could re-register for WiFi after 90 days of no use. Japan can be very strict about these matters. Needs more feedback from users. But safest to register just before travelling.

        Japan is not just Tokyo/Osaka/Kyoto etc. Outside of main cities, there are almost no 7-11 (never seen any) or other free WiFi. You might try tourist info but in small places there is usually no available WiFi, just an old PC. But free WiFi is availble (for those pre-registered) at tourist info & stations even in small places - from my observation 6 months back.

        Regular traveller to Japan.

        • dazweeja on 29/04/2014 - 16:00

          By downloading, you could have answered the questions yourself.

          You can re-register at any time by re-installing the app. You can sign up with a Gmail address that takes a few seconds to create. There's no way that the Japanese government could stop anyone from re-registering.

          I'm not sure I understand your last point - If there's no 7-11 or other free WiFi in a town this app will be useless anyway. As far as I can see, all it does is simplify the authorisation process at places already offering free WiFi. Again, if you'd downloaded the app you could already see all of the organisations offering the free WiFi arranged into categories like Commercial Facility, Airport, Station and Town. Even if the app doesn't work correctly or reliably, it's a handy list to have on your phone. You could also read the FAQ, how to use, etc.

        • INFIDEL on 29/04/2014 - 16:24
          +1

          It's not what an App says it does, but what users find it actually does (in Japan) that counts.

          As posted, I saw that free WiFi is available in places a very long way from a 7-11 or public access free WiFi, but ONLY if you are already registered.

          So your suggestion just to pop into a 7-11 to re-register may not work outside major cities. Many travellers I met found these very Japanese limitations frustrating. So easier to set this up less than 90 days of first use to avoid any problem.

          And I just suggested waiting for feedback (that it works etc) & further refinement, before getting excited.

          If it is great, I would have expected users travelling in Japan to post their positive experiences by now. By the sound of this Apps promises - it should be positively reviewed as a simplifying breakthrough.

          I'd rather listen to user feedback than possible developer hype of a product in early development.

          A handy app if successful.
          But see ninjapanda's comments below that it did not work. https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/142240#comment-1961113

        • NoApostrophePlurals on 29/04/2014 - 16:28
          +1

          cool story, bro

        • dazweeja on 01/05/2014 - 16:29

          Maybe you could tell us the WiFi providers that are used by this app that normally require pre-registration before you can join their networks?

          That would be helpful information so people could pre-register in case this app doesn't work.

  • nismo on 29/04/2014 - 13:42
    +4

    Just came back from my fourth visit to Japan last Friday, All Seven Eleven stores have free wifi, just connect & click sign-in - no account needed. Always been free.

    Kansai International Airport wifi is also free, has been for at least 4 Years. I'd assume other major airports are the same.

    The apps might make it easier but certainly the above were already free.

    しつれい！

    • Marty131 on 29/04/2014 - 13:48
      +1

      Narita Airport had free wifi too when I was last there about 12 months ago.

  • stygian on 29/04/2014 - 13:46
    +2

    I got back from Japan myself about 3 weeks ago.

    I bought one of these SIM cards online ( http://www.econnectjapan.com/ ), about a month before I left. They delivered it to the hotel and I had it in my hands within an hour of landing in Japan.

    Worked flawlessly. I only opted for the 1GB limit, which was more than enough for me to map my way around and send the odd email. I believe credit expires after 30 days, though.

    • mafmouf on 29/04/2014 - 13:49
      +2

      How much did it cost for you?

      • nismo on 29/04/2014 - 13:52

        The 1GB is 4,100 yen

      • stygian on 29/04/2014 - 13:53
        +2

        I bought two, one for my partner and one for myself.

        Just pulled up my PayPal transaction, and it cost 8,990 YEN. Which, if Google is correct, is about $94.60 total (current AUD value).

        So, roughly $47.30 AUD each.

        • mafmouf on 29/04/2014 - 15:55

          AIYA! :O

        • ProjectZero on 29/04/2014 - 16:14
          +5

          I'm pretty sure thats chinese =P

        • Onysius on 29/04/2014 - 16:15
          +1

          Remember that Japan doesn't use "standard" 3G/4G networks (like the rest of the world) so it your phone/tablet doesn't support WCDMA networks, you're going to have a bad time.
          I almost got caught out earlier this year, as my 4G phone doesn't support WCDMA. I'm just lucky I happend to also have my older phone with me, as it did do WCDMA.

    • mafmouf on 29/04/2014 - 15:57
      +6

      I don't know what this means and why he is negged. Haven't jumped on board yet.

  • nismo on 29/04/2014 - 13:49
    +4

    There's also free wifi at Arcade Centres, some restaurants, Starbucks (account sign up required) and at the occasional Tourist Attraction.

    I used a bmobile data sim, very happy with the service, very fast 4G and 4G coverage almost everywhere I went.

    http://www.bmobile.ne.jp/english/product.html

    It's about $40 for either 1gb or 14 days, which may not seem cheap but compared to Telstra International Data packs it blows them away.

    Telstra prepaid data pack - $29 for 100mb, for overseas use.

    • evol on 29/04/2014 - 15:18
      +2

      +1 for bmobile sim. Very fast and good coverage on the docomo network even in the middle of nowhere. 1GB for 14 days more than enough for most tasks.

  • Devil on 29/04/2014 - 13:53

    Damn, just got back from Japan this morning!

  • Phoebus on 29/04/2014 - 14:13

    This should be very handy. It's pretty difficult finding free Wi-Fi in Japan usually.

  • Emsiri on 29/04/2014 - 14:32

    Heading to Japan next week, thank you immensely.

  • [Deactivated] on 29/04/2014 - 14:45
    -4

    Cannot seem to pickup any of their wifi hotspots from here. Tried rebooting a few times, even tried sticking a fork into the side to improve reception. Still nothing. I have tried nothing else and all out of ideas.

    Pleas Halp!

    • INFIDEL on 29/04/2014 - 15:19
      +2

      Lol. Bought a 990¥ "radio wave control" digital clock. It picks up a time transmission in Japan & corrects the time. Brought it back to Brisbane & the time would reset to time in Japan! Would not have believed it picked up Japanese transmission. (Cut the wire to the antenna & keeps local time.)

  • slee123 on 29/04/2014 - 15:19

    We were looking at bmobile option, but would this be enough? We have free wifi where we are staying, so it will only be needed when we are out and about…

    • mrjazzieb on 08/05/2014 - 00:46
      +1

      Make sure your handset supports the correct 3g and 4g bands. I took a gamble and used my Australian stock iPhone5 which was not fully-supported. Reception bars was NIL the whole time but I got data when I was in Gifu Prefecture. Service was choppy but I managed to use messaging apps and email to contact my friends. In Tokyo it was much better. IMO the bmobile SIM was worth it.

  • le3lee on 29/04/2014 - 15:48
    +1

    uhhggghhh just got back from Japan yesterday too.

    Anyway, for those who are still wanting 24/7 access, i was going to go for SoftBank (total rip off, about 1550Y a day), but had a bit of time to shop around for a cheaper deal at the airport. Ended up renting from XCOM Global for 972Y a day @ 1GB every 3 days 4G speed (opted for no insurance)

    I may still have been ripped off, but it was for convenience more than anything compared to other companies located at the airport.

    Oh and download the Hyperdia app, it was so useful for best trains, routes and price informations. save you time looking at the board trying to figure out how much your journey will be, and YES transport is a killer!! when there are no JR lines available!

    • donga100 on 29/04/2014 - 16:06
      +1

      Hyperdia is great but I also found that Google Maps is very good for trains in Japan now too.

  • laruku on 29/04/2014 - 16:02
    +1

    ありがとうございました!

    • scrimshaw on 29/04/2014 - 16:18
      +2

      あんたバカぁ

      • Gina Rinehart on 29/04/2014 - 23:33

        あなたあ馬鹿えす for all those confused

        .. i think :P

  • ninjapanda on 29/04/2014 - 16:18
    +9

    I got back from Japan a week ago and wish to report that this app does SFA! Now they may have fixed it since then but it was broken as hell whenever I tried to utilise it.

    I had it installed on both an IOS and android device and if it wasn't coming up with an error screen to start with it was instead coming up with a registration form which either wouldn't submit or would submit for you to see another error screen!

    Absolute rubbish!

    I would not give this positive votes until we know it works!

    For free wifi
    - Use this app instead https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.navitime.i…
    (you need to register it while you are outside of Japan for it to work in Japan. Gives you two weeks of free wifi)
    - JR stations
    -Tokyo metro stations for 15 minutes per session (which is all you need since you will only be waiting for a train for 5 Min!)
    - 'Toei' Bus stops
    - Tokyo Ginza area
    - Tourist information centres
    - 7 eleven stores
    - Takashimaya retailer (with email code)
    - Osaka free wifi service (http://www.osaka-info.jp/en/wifi/)
    - Hiroshima free wifi service (mostly in tourist areas)
    - Kyoto free wifi service for 3 hour sessions (email code required. Send a blank email to [email protected])

    That's all I can pull from my phone for now.

  • DarthAntz on 29/04/2014 - 16:52
    +2

    I'm heading over in 3 weeks, this is awesome timing. Scored the navitime. You all have made great comments.

  • [Deactivated] on 29/04/2014 - 17:06
    +1

    Jealous of all you people who have been already :P

  • Knightelf on 29/04/2014 - 17:17
    +1

    kiritsu rei chuck a sickie

    • yasui on 29/04/2014 - 22:33

      Funny! Is it an execute for taking leave from a Japanese school?

  • neonlight on 29/04/2014 - 17:40
    -4

    5 years too late. I don't think I will travel to Japan just to use this app.

    Can't think why they didn't have it back then

    I could not find a single free wifi in 2009

  • poxy001 on 29/04/2014 - 17:41

    FYI 4G dongle hire is $15 a day.

  • [Deactivated] on 29/04/2014 - 18:16

    wp app please

  • figarow on 29/04/2014 - 18:56
    -6

    japbargain

  • fruit on 29/04/2014 - 19:53

    Why is this free? I'm worried I'll pay for it with my privacy somehow.
    Either way make sure you use a VPN when you travel! :)

  • [Deactivated] on 29/04/2014 - 21:03
    +2

    Thanks OP this is awesome I'm heading there in a couple weeks on hols courtesy of an earlier Airasia special posted on OzB :-)

    Some of the comments suggest you have to be super rich to travel to Japan - it's definitely no Thailand or Bali, but try getting to the US / UK for the $600-$700 pp return fares you see routinely from Jetstar / Airasia specials. Japanese food in Japan is incredibly reasonable; you can find dinner for under $10-$15 everywhere. Accommodation - just get a business hotel for about $75 per night, even cheaper options available if you don't mind how centrally located you are.

    Transport - this can sting if you want to see multiple cities (have to bite $330 bullet for a JR pass 1 week which gives you unlimited travel on Shinkansen (inter city trains)) but even this you can avoid by basing yourself out of either Tokyo or Osaka and seeing the surrounding areas. I've never seen the AUD so strong against the yen (I've been when 1 Aussie dollar was less than 80 yen, atm it's 95) so it's a great time to check it out if you're interested.

  • cashless on 29/04/2014 - 21:07
    +1

    As someone mentions above, it's also worth pre- registering for free Wi-fi at Starbucks. No time limit once you've set up user ID & p/w
    Go to
    http://starbucks.wi2.co.jp/sp/sma_index_en.html

  • [Deactivated] on 29/04/2014 - 21:18
    +4

    Very connect many speed

  • yasui on 29/04/2014 - 22:30
    +2

    アンパンマン　ありがとう！

    • Bunnyburger on 30/04/2014 - 17:04
      +2

      lol….yasui, such an appropriate name for ozbargain!

  • phillystyle on 29/04/2014 - 23:33
    +1

    Thanks! I'm in japan now :D

    • INFIDEL on 30/04/2014 - 09:04
      +2

      Great - tell us how well it works.
      Enjoy Japan :-)

  • clubhonda on 30/04/2014 - 20:17

    I will gladly buy a pair of glasses off her…. http://en.rocketnews24.com/2013/12/08/we-buy-a-pair-of-glass…

  • INFIDEL on 01/05/2014 - 07:53

    Seems OBers are a little overexcited by this deal. Yes, anyone who has tried to access free WiFi in Japan would love an easier way, BUT…

    The only feedback here from a user was "this app does SFA!" & "Absolute rubbish" https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/142240#comment-1961113

    And Google Play reviews of the App do not give any confidence it actually works and it's high score similarly seems due to people liking the idea of this App probably without actual use of it.

    Have to agree with ninjapanda "I would not give this positive votes until we know it works!"

    It's too early to even know if this is a deal.

  • BlinkyBill on 01/05/2014 - 23:43

    I rented a 42Mbps 4G wifi modem for a week for 7000 yen. Pricey yes but unlimited downloads and stupidly fast. I was watching streaming hd content on the bullet train ;).

    Company was global advanced communications.

  • shopaholic32 on 02/05/2014 - 20:56

    Great timing, thanks OP going to Tokyo soon.

  • AMLagonda on 03/05/2014 - 17:02
    +1

    the heck, all these ozbargainers going or have been to Japan :o

    lucky buggers.

    • IsometricBacon on 04/05/2014 - 08:59

      Every once a year or so Jetstar does stupidly cheap tickets to Japan (only a few hundred dollars) which usually pops up on here. You can get a relatively cheap (in comparison) tourist rail pass that covers the majority of transportation. When I went, we stayed in youth hostels that were relatively cheap. Food is pretty cheap (and great).

      Back in 2010 my sister and I went there for 9 days for about $2000 (both of us) all up, and we weren't being particularly frugal.

      That said, on this deal I'd suggest 'renting' a sim card instead. Japanese wireless internet is stupidly fast, and having it with you wherever you go is extremely valuable. I think it's worth the cost when your holiday time is limited and you don't want to waste it trying to find hotspots.

      • INFIDEL on 04/05/2014 - 10:23
        +1

        Jetstar cheap deals to & within Japan on now! Cheapest to Japan are from Cairns, Gold Coast, then Melbourne.

        On accommodation, Japan Youth Hostel dorm beds are quite expensive - around $45 to share a room, and may have some rules Foreigners may not like. But you meet Japanese & also found in small places. Backpackers hostels for foreigners are mainly in the tourist cities & are cheaper. Also try www.airbnb.com etc.

        Even in small cities, your own room in a clean business hotel will usually be about $20-35. Rooms in Japan are charged per person. Cheaper in poorer neighborhoods - which are friendly & safe. Tourist Information Centres (TIC or !) are good for advice.

        I have posted in a Jetstar deal about an Osaka one for $17 a night, with English speaking staff & close to major rail lines & walk to Den Den Town (check www.hostelworld.com etc). Close by is a Super with a whole crab for less than $5 or prepared salad for just over $2. Stayed there 6 months ago, preparing meals in the communal kitchen - $200/wk with 2 meals a day. Have stayed in similar hotel in Tokyo for around $20/n. Stayed in a small Japanese Inn in smaller Tottori with traditional screens onto lovely garden for 3500¥. Most business hotels have free WiFi.

  • IsTops on 04/05/2014 - 02:08
    +1

    I'm going to Japan because of this deal

  • seijai on 04/05/2014 - 09:36

    Get on the vodafone red plan…$5 a day for data use in japan

    • nismo on 04/05/2014 - 09:49

      $5 per day isn't that great, the above mentioned bmobile & econnect options work out to be around $3 per day.

      When you say Vodafone are you talking about roaming from Aus? Or do you mean SoftBank (which used to be Vodafone Japan about 8 years ago)?

  • uniqualz on 05/05/2014 - 08:57

    This is brilliant..!

  • limafoxtrot on 07/05/2014 - 23:46
    +1

    Hi just adding my own two cents to the Japan/Internet access topic…
    Am in Japan at the moment, as it turns out.
    First tip - google "whirlpool japan internet" and check out the whirlpool page on the subject - excellent info.
    More excellent info about cheaper options at http://www.japanmobiletech.com/2014/01/updated-comparison-of…
    I have personally tried:
    1. global advanced communications - excellent SIM for unlimited fast data plus voice - but no tethering for the cheaper "iPhone sim" option (android sim which allows tethering is quite a bit more expensive). I've used their pocket wifi in the past and have been very happy with it - good speed, unlimited data and reasonable cost esp compared to alternatives.
    2. b-mobile - have a short-stay visitor sim that is great if your trip is <14 days and you're happy that 1gb will be plenty. Ordered one for a friend this trip and she was very happy with it
    3. tocoo! - a new listing on the whirlpool page. Went with their pocket wifi this visit as global advanced were all booked out. Very cheap unlimited access, esp if you are staying for close to 30 days, but they do throttle very severely - they are extremely vague about at what point, documentation says something like "if you steam video for over 30 minutes per day". Other cheap "unlimited" plans throttle you if you go over something like 300mb in 3 days. Seems like that might apply. Until you're throttled, speed seems pretty good though. Their website is pretty awful for English speakers, took me ages to find out where I could actually make a booking.
    Overall - if you're a heavy user, and can throw a bit more money at it, I'd go with global advanced comms. Make sure you book well in advance unlike me.
    If you're a pretty light user, b-mobile or tocoo! are pretty decent options.
    If you're a very very light user - OP free wifi is probably the way to go!

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