A Leader in Communications Technology
Japan is a leader in mobile phone technology and usage. In addition to calling, email and messaging, mobile phones are packed with features such as internet browsers, games, cameras, televisions, electronic wallets/train passes, gps/navigation and music players. Because of these features, mobile phones have become an important and integral part of everyday life. Coverage is generally excellent, unless you are heading to some remote mountainous areas.
Stay Connected while Abroad
Be sure to communicate with your family soon after you arrive to let them know you are safe and sound! A quick phone call or e-mail can make them feel much better.
While you are abroad it is important to find ways to stay in touch with family and friends. They will all be anxious to hear about your experiences, and you will want to know what is happening at home. Some students have said that it is helpful to set up a communication plan with family and friends so everyone will know when you are available to make a call or receive a call. With time differences, inconsistent internet access, and the many excursions and activities you will be participating in, sometimes it can be difficult for you and your family to connect. Keep in mind that you are only abroad for one term, so you will want to make the most of it and be present for every experience that you have.
One way some students have stayed in touch and shared their experiences with many friends and family is through keeping a blog. This is an excellent way to communicate as it touches many people and can be flexible with time.
Communication Apps
Smart phone apps work very well and allow students to text and call back home with ease. Line, Whatsapp, Facebook Messenger, and Facetime are all recommended. The most common communication tools however, are Line and Whatsapp. Line is used very commonly across Asia, and many Japanese students will have this app, along with your site director! It’s a chat and call app with the ability to create shared photo albums.
Cell Phones
There is no GSM network in Japan, so if you have a GSM-only phone it will not work. However, most modern smartphones will be able to work. We recommend avoiding international roaming on your phones, as that will be way to expensive! If you have an unlocked smartphone, or are able to unlock your smartphone, you can add a Japanese SIM card once you arrive. Phones with WiFi connectivity can use internet-based services like Whatsapp or Line when connected to a WiFi network. There are many WiFi hotspots all over the country – take advantage of these!
SIM cards allow travelers to use their own mobile phones in Japan, provided the phones are unlocked and work on a Japanese network (most modern phones do). Many SIM cards available to foreign tourists are data-only and do not allow for voice calls (except when using internet-based telephone services such as Skype).
Offers by the various companies differ on connection speeds, networks used and eventual data transfer limits. They are typically available for a specified time period (e.g. one week) or for a specified maximum amount of data (e.g. 3 GB to be used within a certain time period). SIM cards can be purchased at airports, selected retailers in Japan or via the internet for delivery to your home or hotel.
Renting is another way for the average traveler to get a phone, and typically requires a picture ID and a credit card. Many companies have kiosks at the airports, while other companies will mail a phone to your hotel or home before you leave. You can return the phones at the airport or through the mail depending on the company.
The fees for rental phones vary and typically are around 200-500 yen per day for regular phones or 1000-2000 yen per day for smartphones. Additional fees may apply for calling, messaging, mobile data, insurance etc. Calling rates are typically 40-100 yen per minute for outgoing domestic calls while incoming calls are free. International rates vary depending on the country you are dialing to. All of the companies at the airports offer same-day rentals if stock is available, while some give discounts for advance reservations.
How to Make Calls
Within Japan
Dial the number as it is shown. If you are calling from a landline to another landline in the same area code you may omit the area code when dialing, but it is not necessary. An exception is that cell phones cannot call toll free numbers (0120 prefix). 0120 numbers are free to call from landlines.
From Japan to Abroad
- Dial the international dialing access code (010).
- Dial the country code of the country you are calling.
- If the number starts with a 0, drop the 0 and dial everything else.
For example, to call the US number (123) 456-7890, dial 010+1+123-456-7890. Note that this method will work from any Japanese phone.
From Abroad to Japan
- Dial the international dialing access code (typically 00, 011 or 0011)
- Dial Japan’s country code (81).
- If the number starts with a 0, drop the 0 and dial everything else.
For example, to call the Japanese number (012)-345-6789 from the US dial 011+81+12-345-6789. To call the Japanese mobile phone number 090-1234-5678 from the United States dial 0011+81+90-1234-5678. Again, direct dialing is the most expensive way to make an international call.