Heading back for a visit, need phone advice...

Hey Guys

Long time, no see.

I'm heading back to Japan next week. I'll be there until the end of November. Any tips on the best way to get/use a mobile phone?

I still have my Japanese mobile phone from Docomo, and I also still have my Japanese iPad. It looks like there are options for SIM card rentals or just regular phone rentals with companies like Rentaphone. I plan on using it for texting 99% of the time and maybe a call here or there.

Thanks!

 

I went ahead and bought this, only 1300 yen for unlimited wifi use for foreigners and it looks like the coverage is pretty good:

http://visitor.docomowifi.com/en/index.html

 

Hmmm... I'm pretty sure my US iPhone will work as well but I'd have to pay for Wifi usage in each spot. Chances of actually being in any of those spots ever? Very, very low. So yeah, IMHO that's a horrible deal. Go for a pocket wifi, and have data anywhere.
http://japan-wireless.com/products.html

Nobody uses the phone anymore, btw.

 

SoftBank has a rentable SIM card that includes data at an ok price. You could get that and use LINE for data calls.

 

What if his phone isn't unlocked?

 

Oh right, I forgot that not everyone's phone is unlocked... In that case, probably not

 

Knowing many that have travelled to Japan in the same boat (and being one of them), pocket pussy wifi is the way to go.