Mobile WiFi
File this under how markedly things have changed since the first time we traveled to Japan, and how technology makes travel so much easier now.
Although we did pretty well last trip using our free data on T-Mobile for communication and navigation, using the mobile Wifi hotspots brought by some of us, and adding the mobile hotspots provided by the AirBnb owners added much flexibility and redundancy.
This most recent time we tried using iVideo mobile Wifi and overall had a good experience with it. (There are other mobile Wifi providers, and please share your experience if you've used them.) We arranged the rental before leaving home, and as advertised the package was waiting for us upon check in at the first hotel.
We used the popular Softbank 4G LTE device and it generally worked well. On long distance Shinkansen routes in more remote areas it had trouble finding and holding signal and consequently had shortened battery life. At those times, my cellular data, while spotty at times, was probably more reliable. If planning to make more remote trips, it may be better to get one of the Au Plus devices for better coverage?
Returning the mobile Wifi is as simple as putting it in the provided mailer and dropping it in the post box. At Narita, postal boxes are located in each terminal and at the central security screening entrance. The cost is quite reasonable.
https://www.t-mobile.com/coverage/roaming
https://www.ivideo.com.tw/english/japanwifirental
Another intriguing possible option is that most of the hotels we stayed in had handy phones in the room that you are free to use when out and about. Having enough connectivity without it, we did not try it, but it may be useful if you are staying in one location and lodging for awhile. They use a proprietary charge connector, which effectively tethers them to your room.
[communication, internet, phone, JT]
File this under how markedly things have changed since the first time we traveled to Japan, and how technology makes travel so much easier now.
Although we did pretty well last trip using our free data on T-Mobile for communication and navigation, using the mobile Wifi hotspots brought by some of us, and adding the mobile hotspots provided by the AirBnb owners added much flexibility and redundancy.
This most recent time we tried using iVideo mobile Wifi and overall had a good experience with it. (There are other mobile Wifi providers, and please share your experience if you've used them.) We arranged the rental before leaving home, and as advertised the package was waiting for us upon check in at the first hotel.
We used the popular Softbank 4G LTE device and it generally worked well. On long distance Shinkansen routes in more remote areas it had trouble finding and holding signal and consequently had shortened battery life. At those times, my cellular data, while spotty at times, was probably more reliable. If planning to make more remote trips, it may be better to get one of the Au Plus devices for better coverage?
Returning the mobile Wifi is as simple as putting it in the provided mailer and dropping it in the post box. At Narita, postal boxes are located in each terminal and at the central security screening entrance. The cost is quite reasonable.
https://www.t-mobile.com/coverage/roaming
https://www.ivideo.com.tw/english/japanwifirental
Another intriguing possible option is that most of the hotels we stayed in had handy phones in the room that you are free to use when out and about. Having enough connectivity without it, we did not try it, but it may be useful if you are staying in one location and lodging for awhile. They use a proprietary charge connector, which effectively tethers them to your room.
[communication, internet, phone, JT]
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