Recommend a mobile solution for a 1 month Japan visit

von Chaps

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So the von Chapsen are travelling from the UK to Japan in mid-Oct for a 4 week tour of some of the highlights. We have most things organised, but I am trying to figure out what to do about comms. I have seen that there are various providers that offer SIMs or WiFi hotspots (containing a SIM). It appears that they only offer data and none seem to include voice or SMS. I believe they can be pre-booked and picked up at the airport (Haneda).

Whilst we will predominantly require data, I do have a problem with SMS based TOTP for banking and I am not sure how to solve this. We are travelling independently mainly by train and are sorting our own accommodation and doing our own planning, etc.

We both have Samsung Galaxy S10e phones which are dual SIM capable, but they dont do eSIM. They can provide a WiFi hotspot themselves.

So, how should I solve this? What's a decent provider? Does this pre-book and pick up thing work? Do you think renting the hotspot is better than a couple of SIMs?

Any ideas about solving the TOTP via SMS problem? This must be a thing for many people.
 

Paladin

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That banking thing will be a pain though. Take plenty of cash to start with (Japan can be a heavily cash friendly place anyway) and talk to your bank first to see if there is an alternative for travel. Perhaps they will let you move to an authenticator app (Google authenticator, etc.) rather than SMS. That would be a security improvement anyway.
 

pasorrijer

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So the von Chapsen are travelling from the UK to Japan in mid-Oct for a 4 week tour of some of the highlights. We have most things organised, but I am trying to figure out what to do about comms. I have seen that there are various providers that offer SIMs or WiFi hotspots (containing a SIM). It appears that they only offer data and none seem to include voice or SMS. I believe they can be pre-booked and picked up at the airport (Haneda).

Whilst we will predominantly require data, I do have a problem with SMS based TOTP for banking and I am not sure how to solve this. We are travelling independently mainly by train and are sorting our own accommodation and doing our own planning, etc.

We both have Samsung Galaxy S10e phones which are dual SIM capable, but they dont do eSIM. They can provide a WiFi hotspot themselves.

So, how should I solve this? What's a decent provider? Does this pre-book and pick up thing work? Do you think renting the hotspot is better than a couple of SIMs?

Any ideas about solving the TOTP via SMS problem? This must be a thing for many people.
So, check your carrier. My carrier does not charge me for inbound texts, and roaming doesn't kick in if data is off.

That means I can leave my phone on, still receive TOTP messages, I just can't send them without being charged. I leave data on the roam SIM, and any messages etc I receive I reply to via other means. Works great, no complaints.
 

von Chaps

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Thanks for all the suggestions.

My home network doesn't support WiFi calling either on the S10e or outside the UK so that's a none starter.

I think receiving texts may be free, so my SMS TOTP may work OK.

I understand cash is a big deal, and we have cards that will work locally for withdrawls.

So, it's all about the data. It seems I could get a second [local] SIM that's data only or one of these WiFi hotspots. Is there any advantage of one over the other in Japan? What's the best network to get a 1 month micro-SIM that I can pre-order or buy on arrival without too much hassle and that will give good coverage?
 

Neill78

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I'm living in Japan. You should still receive SMS no matter what, but you won't be able to send without getting charged.

For data, the easiest way is to book a pocket wifi mobile router or SIM and pick it up when you get to the airport. Assuming you're flying into Narita Haneda,

Advantage to Wifi hotspot is you can connect multiple devices at once without fiddling around with connection sharing. Disadvantage is you have to charge the unit daily and it's one more thing to carry.

You won't be able to get a SIM from a national carrier here. That requires residency. If you have a Japanese friend who is willing to temporarily add a device to their existing mobile account while you're here, that's a great, cheaper way to go. I did that for my mother when she visited this spring. Otherwise you need to rent a SIM or pocket WiFi and pick up at the airport. Once you leave the airport there aren't many options if you are moving around and can't take a delivery.
 
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von Chaps

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I'm living in Japan. You should still receive SMS no matter what, but you won't be able to send without getting charged.
I am sure this is the case, although my carrier is a bit vague about whether there is a charge. Even if there is, I think I'll just have to eat it to get TOTPs. It does meam I have to keep the SIM active though, so we'll have to be sure and not answer any calls!

You won't be able to get a SIM from a national carrier here. That requires residency. If you have a Japanese friend who is willing to temporarily add a device to their existing mobile account while you're here, that's a great, cheaper way to go. I did that for my mother when she visited this spring. Otherwise you need to rent a SIM or pocket WiFi and pick up at the airport. Once you leave the airport there aren't many options if you are moving around and can't take a delivery.
This is good info, thanks. I am leaning towards pocket wifi because a) we will only need to rent one for both of us to use and b) whilst our phones have a second SIM slot, we normally have SD cards in there for photos and I'd like to preserve that.

Whilst I'll be renting from a third party, the pocket wifi will still use a national carrier's network. Is there one I should aim for that has the best coverage?
 

Neill78

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I don't know which provider is going to be best but I suppose Softbank would be the safest choice since they are a national provider.

The link I posted has all the company names and if you visit their websites they will have all the pricing, service details, and possibly the carrier info they use. Honestly though coverage is not gonna be a problem here unless you're going to some tiny island near Okinawa or Hokkaido.
 

von Chaps

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The link I posted has all the company names and if you visit their websites they will have all the pricing, service details, and possibly the carrier info they use.
Thanks. I did check out those links, but they are in Japanese and I couldn't find a way to change to English.

Honestly though coverage is not gonna be a problem here unless you're going to some tiny island near Okinawa or Hokkaido.
Yea, thanks, I figured Softbank or NTTDoComo.

Cheers.
 

Neill78

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Thanks. I did check out those links, but they are in Japanese and I couldn't find a way to change to English.


Yea, thanks, I figured Softbank or NTTDoComo.

Cheers.
Well, shit. You'd think they'd make it easy for foreigners...

Softbank's English page (you probably figured this one out)

Anyfone's English page. Not sure which carrier they use.

Wi-Ho Biz domestic rental page. This company uses NTT.
I can't find English for this one, use Google Translate and if you have any questions just ask me.
https://biz.telecomsquare.co.jp/domestic/data/data02.html

Sakura Mobile uses NTT and has a nice English site. You can pick up at the airport or various hotels, it looks like:

There are plenty others with English pages if you google search for "pocket wifi in Japan".

Let me know if you need any help.
 
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von Chaps

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That's great info, thanks.

Anyphone is Softbank.

Expensive solution though. Best part of GBP100 for a month. Equivalent product in the UK would be GBP20.

It would actually be cheaper for me to buy a 4G hotspot here and then rent just a SIM in Japan, but that seems to be complicating the issue. I'd need to check bands, etc. Still, I might look into it.
 

Neill78

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That's great info, thanks.

Anyphone is Softbank.

Expensive solution though. Best part of GBP100 for a month. Equivalent product in the UK would be GBP20.

It would actually be cheaper for me to buy a 4G hotspot here and then rent just a SIM in Japan, but that seems to be complicating the issue. I'd need to check bands, etc. Still, I might look into it.
Or just see if your current carrier has a travel data plan that you can enable, that is often the cheapest and easiest. it might even include voice/SMS. If you are using a relatively recent iPhone you shouldn't have any issues with bands. Androids from Samsung, LG and other well known makers shouldn't have any trouble either.
 

Neill78

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Yea, thanks. I checked, my network doesn't provide bundles. I could switch providers here, but even those that do provide a roaming bundle, it's more costly than the JP package.
I just found this site: https://tokyocheapo.com/business/internet/rent-wifi-router-japan/
It's from last year but I doubt if much has changed. Also, I have used Ninja Wi-Fi a couple times in the past before I moved here permanently, and it was good. There's an active 20% off affiliate link at the top of the page, too.
 
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von Chaps

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I normally just bring a pile of yen and put it onto a Pasmo card; everything else goes on a credit card. I love the Pasmo card.
Yea, we've been looking at Suika - it seems to depend on which areas one is visiting as to which pre-pay card is best. I guess this is a suggestion to overcome the SMS TOTP issue, so thanks. Ill be starting a more general tips and tricks for Japan thread a bit nearer the time. I'm sure this will come up.
 

yd

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Yea, we've been looking at Suika - it seems to depend on which areas one is visiting as to which pre-pay card is best. I guess this is a suggestion to overcome the SMS TOTP issue, so thanks. Ill be starting a more general tips and tricks for Japan thread a bit nearer the time. I'm sure this will come up.
Yea, I can't speak to which is better overall, but in Tokyo Pasmo is my goto.

As per your TOTP issue, is that not solved by wifi/internet access which is relatively easy? Maybe I am not understanding the issue but I am in Mauritius and get one time passwords no drama as sms from my home service provider and can get email versions via wifi. That said, I don't normally (uh ever) need access to them when out and about, only when on my notebook/tablet occasionally.
 

von Chaps

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As per your TOTP issue, is that not solved by wifi/internet access which is relatively easy? Maybe I am not understanding the issue but I am in Mauritius and get one time passwords no drama as sms from my home service provider and can get email versions via wifi. That said, I don't normally (uh ever) need access to them when out and about, only when on my notebook/tablet occasionally.
No, since it's SMS based TOTP, the code is sent to my registered device - which is a UK number. So, I need to keep my UK SIM active when roaming in Japan, simply to get these codes. There is no option provided to have the code sent by email and I don't have wifi calling/text ability on my device.

Clearly, even though I'll be roaming, I don't want to use roaming data as that's stupid expensive so I also need a local solution for that. I think the wifi hotspot is the way to go so that I don't need to use my phone's second SIM tray as that's for SD card (music & photos).

What I was after is a recommendation for a provider of SIMs or WiFi hotspots that'll work well, is reliable and can pre-book and pick up at the airport. @Neill78 has made some useful suggestions.

I am used to travelling in [ahem] less advanced countries shall we say. Perhaps with Japan, I don't need to be so bothered about availability, reliability, etc.
 

yd

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Well I have been in 'roaming off' and 'airplane mode' now for a few weeks. So my provider isn't hitting me with roaming charges or I would have seen something...but if I go off airplane mode I can get an sms (for instance a OTP) but have only needed to do that like twice.

I brought at spare phone and got a 'tourist sim' at the airport valid for a month with a number that takes/receives calls and gives data of some amount for, wait for it, 15 euro! Yea, I was all over that.
 

Neill78

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Yea, we've been looking at Suika - it seems to depend on which areas one is visiting as to which pre-pay card is best. I guess this is a suggestion to overcome the SMS TOTP issue, so thanks. Ill be starting a more general tips and tricks for Japan thread a bit nearer the time. I'm sure this will come up.
There's not really any functional difference between Suica and Pasmo these days, unless you are waaaayyy off the beaten path. In which case you probably will be forced to buy a paper ticket no matter what. This page summarizes the differences:

Maybe the Hello Kitty Suica for your scrap book?
 
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No, since it's SMS based TOTP, the code is sent to my registered device - which is a UK number. So, I need to keep my UK SIM active when roaming in Japan, simply to get these codes. There is no option provided to have the code sent by email and I don't have wifi calling/text ability on my device.

Clearly, even though I'll be roaming, I don't want to use roaming data as that's stupid expensive so I also need a local solution for that.
This is why I previously mentioned google Fi. It makes it all very easy for use in Japan. (You don't have to do anything. Could it be easier?)

Is Fi available in UK? Temp transfer your # to Fi while in Japan?

edit:
For SO's phone (not using Fi), we just got a temp Fi SIM with different # that she used while in Japan. Original phone # set up to forward calls to temp Fi #. Needed this so that we could text/call each other while in Japan/overseas. IIRC, I texted her using her temp Fi #. She just used my regular (Fi) #.
 
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von Chaps

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This is why I previously mentioned google Fi. It makes it all very easy for use in Japan. (You don't have to do anything. Could it be easier?)

Is Fi available in UK? Temp transfer your # to Fi while in Japan?

edit:
For SO's phone (not using Fi), we just got a temp Fi SIM with different # that she used while in Japan. Original phone # set up to forward calls to temp Fi #. Needed this so that we could text/call each other while in Japan/overseas. IIRC, I texted her using her temp Fi #. She just used my regular (Fi) #.
Yea, Google Fi is not a thing in the UK - to the extent that I don't even know what it is. Not sure if the S10e could even do it!
 

Neill78

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There's also this:


which, interestingly, says that the cards are not for sale due to chip shortages.
Luckily the Hello Kitty one is a Welcome Suica, which is still for sale. 😻
 
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Exordium01

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Thanks for all the suggestions.

My home network doesn't support WiFi calling either on the S10e or outside the UK so that's a none starter.

I think receiving texts may be free, so my SMS TOTP may work OK.

I understand cash is a big deal, and we have cards that will work locally for withdrawls.

So, it's all about the data. It seems I could get a second [local] SIM that's data only or one of these WiFi hotspots. Is there any advantage of one over the other in Japan? What's the best network to get a 1 month micro-SIM that I can pre-order or buy on arrival without too much hassle and that will give good coverage?
Your carrier shouldn't be able to region lock wifi calling. Either it works or it doesn't.

When I was in Japan, I stopped in at a Yodobashi Camera and just got a prepaid data sim. When you used up your data, you could open the service management app and top it off. Now I'm on an eSIM only iPhone and it's almost perfect for travel. You can activate a second esim and turn data off for your primary service so it switches over to "wifi" calling using your local data-only service. The only issue is that if your primary service can't roam, it kills your battery life trying to connect to a network.
 

von Chaps

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Wi-Fi calling not supported on the Galaxy S10e?

Seems to be.

If your carrier has totally disabled this ability, ... time for a new carrier????

Carrier supports it but not on this model of phone. I just assumed the phone couldn't support it, but obviously it can. They also say it's not supported outside the UK.

Coincidentally, I am in the middle of evaluating a different carrier with a view to switching. I have just verified that, on their network, WiFi calling does work as does SMS. So thanks for the info and for forcing me to look a bit deeper. However, this carrier also states it is only available in the UK though. I am not surprised by this as they would not want to lose the opportunity to gouge me when roaming, so it won't actually help me in Japan.

I am actually surprised that you guys get to use WiFi calling when abroad. That seems like it would be very hard to bill and I doubt it would be free.

Thanks for the info though. Good to know.
 
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They also say it's not supported outside the UK.
Sounds like a job for ... VPNs. ;)
I am actually surprised that you guys get to use WiFi calling when abroad. That seems like it would be very hard to bill and I doubt it would be free.
Cheap enough (through Fi, anyway). (*I see from that page Fi is mainly for US use. Didn't realize.)

WiFi calls to/from US are free. Receiving from a Japan # free. Calling a Japan # is 0.03 cents/min vs cellular calls at $0.20/min.

Using wifi should make it easy and cheap.

Given a weak cellular connection vs weak/slow wifi, my experience is that wifi wins for call clarity.
 
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von Chaps

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Sounds like a job for ... VPNs. ;)
I use Wireguard from my phone to home regularly. It's very good. However, this is starting to sound like a house of cards. Bearing in mind I can't check or verify any of this before I go. I'd need to switch carriers and rely on an IP connection to my house. I think I'll just get the local wifi hotspot and rely on roaming with my original carrier for SMS.

Cheap enough (through Fi, anyway). (*I see from that page Fi is mainly for US use. Didn't realize.)

WiFi calls to/from US are free. Receiving from a Japan # free. Calling a Japan # is 0.03 cents/min vs cellular calls at $0.20/min.
That's pretty impressive. Free worldwide calls to/from home for US citizens is a great feature.

If I roam to Japan and then call a local Japanese #, that's $1.91/min right there!

Using wifi should make it easy and cheap.
Not with gouging carriers involved. To be fair though, even for a local call in Japan, it would be an IP call back to my carrier in the UK, then routed over the peering phone networks before egress in Japan.

Google has its own network and then some local peering agreements, so it's 90% IP. Good deal if you can get it (which I can't).

Given a weak cellular connection vs weak/slow wifi, my experience is that wifi wins for call clarity.
(y)
 
Necromancy time!

What did you end up doing, @von Chaps ?

I'm going on a three week trip to Japan this summer and am too thinking about the comms situation. Luckily I only need data as 2FA is handled with an app, and any calls and messeges can be handled with WhatsApp, plus I have dual sim slots in my phone so for proper emergencies I'll be avaliable on my own number. In any case I'm considering just buying a prepaid Anyfone 21 day unlimited card, for 8800 yen. There are cheaper options (sakuramobile for instance) but my flight arrives after "normal" opening hours and Anyfone stores are open for longer... 8800 yen is like €50 so I'm tempted by the conveniance. No eSIM sadly, that would have been great.
 

stevenkan

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Or just see if your current carrier has a travel data plan that you can enable, that is often the cheapest and easiest. it might even include voice/SMS. If you are using a relatively recent iPhone you shouldn't have any issues with bands. Androids from Samsung, LG and other well known makers shouldn't have any trouble either.
Yeah, I switched my whole family over to T-Mobile 10 years ago specifically because they offer free international roaming. They throttle the free roaming plan pretty aggressively in some places, like when I was in Brazil 4 months ago, but my son and his cousins spent 9 days in Japan over the same period, and free roaming was fine for them. No good for video, but good enough for maps, Uber, banking, etc.
 

stevenkan

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Yeah, I switched my whole family over to T-Mobile 10 years ago specifically because they offer free international roaming. They throttle the free roaming plan pretty aggressively in some places, like when I was in Brazil 4 months ago, but my son and his cousins spent 9 days in Japan over the same period, and free roaming was fine for them. No good for video, but good enough for maps, Uber, banking, etc.
My son is going back to Japan for 52 days this summer, and we're re-visiting this topic, as they might venture farther outside the typical urban areas this time. The T-Mobile data pass options are not compelling:

1717025671222.png
but Sakura Mobile looks very interesting:
Sakura Mobile uses NTT and has a nice English site. You can pick up at the airport or various hotels, it looks like:
especially now that he has eSIM-equipped iPhone 15 that can "install eight or more eSIMs on an iPhone and use two phone numbers at the same time."

Sakura offers:

1717025845922.png

Those are $56.79/20 GB, $61.23/30 GB, or $92.95/50 GB at today's exchange rates, or an order of magnitude lower than T-Mobile's on a $/GB basis.

I've never used any kind of multiple SIM solution before. Does one have to actively manage which SIM one is using to do X, Y, or Z? Or is there a priority list, or ????
 

pasorrijer

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I've never used any kind of multiple SIM solution before. Does one have to actively manage which SIM one is using to do X, Y, or Z? Or is there a priority list, or ????
It's very easy. Now, my experience is on Android but this is one of those form follows function things.

Once you have both sims installed, you go in and just select what you want to use each SIM for. You can select a default, or ask it to ask every time in the case of phone calls.

Here's some screenshots: 1000006560.png

And then on each SIM
1000006561.png

And on the other:
1000006562.png
 

Entegy

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If you can enable WiFi calling on your phones you should be able to get SMS and voice to your home number over any data connection (local SIM, WiFi, hotspot, etc.) I would recommend testing before you go though. Put you phone in airplane mode, enable WiFi, and see if you can get a text/call.
I know this is an old topic and I'm quoting an year old post, but my carrier explicitly states that WiFi Calling (and therefore voice and SMS services) does not work outside of my country (Canada). Check the documentation about WiFi Calling with your carrier as well. I looked at a few American ones to compare: AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile all say it will work but normal international rates apply, and Verizon says that WiFi calling must be turned while physically present in the US first.

Always check your documentation for WiFi calling!
 
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stevenkan

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I know this is an old topic and I'm quoting an year old post, but my carrier explicitly states that WiFi Calling (and therefore voice and SMS services) does not work outside of my country (Canada). Check the documentation about WiFi Calling with your carrier as well. I looked at a few American ones to compare: AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile all say it will work but normal international rates apply, and Verizon says that WiFi calling must be turned while physically present in the US first.

Always check your documentation for WiFi calling!
My son and virtually his entire circle are all on iPhones, so any voice calls he'd make would be FaceTime audio or some other free service.
 
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