Hi guys,
I'm planning to head to Japan next January, and I'm currently shopping around SIM cards.
It looks like data SIMs are cheap overall, while the SIM card with calls included goes up to $80-90 AUD a fortnight.
Is a SIM card with calls necessary in Japan? Would you use your phone number for restaurant booking/calling Uber&taxi?
I am also looking forward to hearing about some recommendations on SIM cards. Thanks!
Reasonable, I guess.
Then you might get benefit out of having a Sim card but like others have commented most things can be done online.
Taxis are everywhere and restaurants you can just walk into and if they are busy there will be many others close to choose from.
If it was that good you would have said that in Japanese.
Your sentence confused me, in English.
Only really need data… have a viber or skype call out if you really need a voice call
Most businesses in Japan use Line app and can be called or messaged via the app.
Didn't need calls when went there. Everything can pretty much be done online so data more important.
You can get SIM cards at airport vending machines.
ive never needed more than a cheap data sim, you can just order from amazon jp, the ones at the airport are a tad expensive.
have it delivered to your hotel or where ever your staying the first night or or where ever
Dont even stress about this, get a docomo sim at the airport when you land and you’re good to go. From memory it was like $20 and you get a decent amount of GB.
The last thing I want to do when landing in Narita is spend more time lining up for a sim.
they are sold in vending machines from arrivals to the train platforms you might find one along the way :P
What line. They’re available from so many shops and machines.
I got a SIM off ebay before going was enough
Make sure you get enough data. At week 3 I was out of data and had to go "sim kado wa doko desu ka" a few times in BicCamera to get a new one. Initially they kept taking me to microSD cards 😅
Japan is one of the few places where I’ve never gone with a SIM card/data. Why do you think you need it?
A fax machine though… that’s vital.
Google maps, translate, browsing reddit and ozbargain on the train, WhatsApp, instagram to flex, etc. People can’t even leave their smartphone at home let alone travelling lol.
Maybe I just enjoy the switching off part of travel…
Maps and translate are downloadable for offline use and train rides that are long enough to need entertainment will have wifi. If not, just download shows to watch offline.
data sim for whatsapp/calls/msgs thats all
Often, I don't buy a sim card for OS travel.
I just get some wifi, open google maps, and move and expand all the places I will most likely be going.
GPS works fine.
Taxis are oversupplied so you be able to hail one down within a minute of stepping outside. Not sure if Uber has a presence there. If you’re using VOIP/ Skype numbers, there were some TSPs that blocked it back in my day.
The two times I visited Japan I got a mini mobile router which I booked and picked up at the airport.
It had unlimited GB, was small enough to carry in my pocket and allowed my partner to also log on and use data as well. It came with a mini charger and the battery lasted all day. It also came with a prepaid envelope so I could post it back at the airport when flying out. No land line calls, only via WhatsApp or messenger.
How good is your Japanese?