Travel: Japan - General

[jtoh]

Thanks mommyng and ngl2010. I googled before coming here and found that most of the rates are quite expensive for Japanese sim cards. About S$20 for 2gb? Compared to the sim cards in Europe where it’s the equivalent of S$40 for 12 gbs. I suppose if that’s the market rate then no choice.

[floppy]

ngl2010\" post_id=\"1915352\" time=\"1561136231\" user_id=\"40978:

jtoh\" post_id=\"1915365\" time=\"1561168430\" user_id=\"19505:[quote=jtoh post_id=1915365 time=1561168430 user_id=19505]Thanks mommyng and ngl2010. I googled before coming here and found that most of the rates are quite expensive for Japanese sim cards. About S$20 for 2gb? Compared to the sim cards in Europe where it's the equivalent of S$40 for 12 gbs. I suppose if that's the market rate then no choice.

Data passport (or similar) is useful if you don't intend to connect up various devices (e.g. iPad, laptop, phones) regularly or if you don't intend to make local calls at all. Data passport has the advantage of keeping in touch via your SGP number and not having to change phone. For me, I will use data passport if my trip is not more than a week. Otherwise, I will use a local SIM card in a spare phone (which can also act as a hotspot for my other devices). However, if you are making a number of local calls, you will have no choice but to go with a local SIM card. For those who are using a phone that can take 2 SIM cards at the same time (or dual SIM for the newer iPhones), a local SIM card is a no-brainer.

Be careful of what you book online though. https://www.klook.com/en-SG/activity/3613-sim-card-japan-tokyo/?aid=1018 is ~ $20 for 3GB data for 8 days (and ~ $30 for unlimited data for 8 days). Not expensive (for Japan) but it is DATA ONLY. Please check the fine prints before you book:
1. Once traffic flow exceeds 30GB, the data speed will be reduced to 3G (for unlimited data) - similar (but check the limits) for any SIM cards (or WiFi router) you buy (or rent) for Japan under fair usage principle.
2. No outgoing calls, incoming calls or SMS.
Same goes for the SIM cards sold by JTB and Qoo10 in mommyNg post.

It is important to understand what you need. If you want DATA + VOICE, you will have to go with one of these options:
1. Buy locally in Japan e.g. in BIC camera shops
2. https://www.mobal.com/japan-sim-card/. You can pick it up in Singapore (at Japan Rail Cafe in Tanjong Pagar Centre) or at the major Japanese airports
WARNING: Any SIM card involving voice is going to be EXPENSIVE. e.g. NTT pre-paid SIM card (14 days validity, unlimited voice, unlimited data BUT only 100MB high speed download / day) ~ SGD 45, and Mobal SIM card (30 days validity, unlimited voice, unlimited data, 7GB high speed download / month) ~ SGD 95 :yikes:

[jtoh]

floppy\" post_id=\"1915371\" time=\"1561174692\" user_id=\"97579:

ngl2010\" post_id=\"1915352\" time=\"1561136231\" user_id=\"40978:

We are on M1 so we have been using M1 data passport whenever we go overseas. The price is reasonable ($25 for 1 month for Japan) and it is much more convenient than carrying wifi routers. I am sure SingTel and StarHub has similar product.

jtoh\" post_id=\"1915365\" time=\"1561168430\" user_id=\"19505:

Thanks mommyng and ngl2010. I googled before coming here and found that most of the rates are quite expensive for Japanese sim cards. About S$20 for 2gb? Compared to the sim cards in Europe where it's the equivalent of S$40 for 12 gbs. I suppose if that's the market rate then no choice.

Data passport (or similar) is useful if you don't intend to connect up various devices (e.g. iPad, laptop, phones) regularly or if you don't intend to make local calls at all. Data passport has the advantage of keeping in touch via your SGP number and not having to change phone. For me, I will use data passport if my trip is not more than a week. Otherwise, I will use a local SIM card in a spare phone (which can also act as a hotspot for my other devices). However, if you are making a number of local calls, you will have no choice but to go with a local SIM card. For those who are using a phone that can take 2 SIM cards at the same time (or dual SIM for the newer iPhones), a local SIM card is a no-brainer.

Be careful of what you book online though. https://www.klook.com/en-SG/activity/3613-sim-card-japan-tokyo/?aid=1018 is ~ $20 for 3GB data for 8 days (and ~ $30 for unlimited data for 8 days). Not expensive (for Japan) but it is DATA ONLY. Please check the fine prints before you book:
1. Once traffic flow exceeds 30GB, the data speed will be reduced to 3G (for unlimited data) - similar (but check the limits) for any SIM cards (or WiFi router) you buy (or rent) for Japan under fair usage principle.
2. No outgoing calls, incoming calls or SMS.
Same goes for the SIM cards sold by JTB and Qoo10 in mommyNg post.

It is important to understand what you need. If you want DATA + VOICE, you will have to go with one of these options:
1. Buy locally in Japan e.g. in BIC camera shops
2. https://www.mobal.com/japan-sim-card/. You can pick it up in Singapore (at Japan Rail Cafe in Tanjong Pagar Centre) or at the major Japanese airports
WARNING: Any SIM card involving voice is going to be EXPENSIVE. e.g. NTT pre-paid SIM card (14 days validity, unlimited voice, unlimited data BUT only 100MB high speed download / day) ~ SGD 45, and Mobal SIM card (30 days validity, unlimited voice, unlimited data, 7GB high speed download / month) ~ SGD 95 :yikes:

Thanks floppy

[ngl2010]

We use Skype for any outgoing calls to local numbers when we use data passport. Incoming calls are still to our Singapore number (which is good because my parents-in-law, who can’t use whatsapp, can still contact us by traditional phone).

[sky minecrafter]

Thanks for the assurance, NGL! I intend to buy a voice plan when I arrive at the local airport (will just ask shop assistant for recommendations), cos the voice plans I've researched are not attractive. Otherwise, will stick to the old fashioned public phone (~10-30yen per minute)... Get to collect telephone cards at the end of it. Haha.

[ngl2010]

sky minecrafter\" post_id=\"1915421\" time=\"1561211282\" user_id=\"130531:[quote=\"sky minecrafter\" post_id=1915421 time=1561211282 user_id=130531]
Thanks for the assurance, NGL! I intend to buy a voice plan when I arrive at the local airport (will just ask shop assistant for recommendations), cos the voice plans I've researched are not attractive. Otherwise, will stick to the old fashioned public phone (~10-30yen per minute)... Get to collect telephone cards at the end of it. Haha.[/quote]

I think Skype’s price is lower than 10 yen per minute. You can check it out. It is very convenient because you don’t have to find public phone.


Disclaimer: I am neither working for Skype nor Microsoft.

[.010675zeit]

If your hubby or your hp bills are paid for by company, it’s not nice to have that extra data passport charge (your personal expenditure) reflected on your mthly statement.


Get the Yokoso sim card from Japan Rail@Tg Pagar or JTB@Ngee Ann. It’s UNILIMITED (meaning once u hit the 4GB cap, it’ll auto-downgrade to use 3G - slower but nonetheless still can access your Whatsapp, Facebook, Instagram, Internet and GPS). In any case, in some remote areas, the hp would switch to 3G by itself.

No outgoing or incoming calls are ok because most of my contacts and both pairs of parents have Whatsapp and Facebook accounts. I usually post photos and videos on my social media accounts very regularly, so my parents, in laws and friends get photo-spammed by me several times per day. There’s no need to call each other at all.

If you need to call your travel companions e.g. when they are lost, please use WA to call. You can turn on WA video call and see which shop your hubby has disappeared to. No need SMS at all.

Great Singapore Sale - 15day Yokoso sim could be retailed at $43 so please monitor JTB website. I got mine during the year end promo for $42. I think I didn’t need that many GB as I didn’t drive in Japan. Shinkansen, some buses and hotels have Wifi.

One last thing - it didn’t work on one HUAWEI hp, so we had to configure with our Samsung hp.

If you stay in 5-6 star hotels, there’s a complimentary Handy Smartphone your DC can take along. Sorry cannot catch pokemons but can surf the internet and make local calls.

[.010675zeit]

ryka\" post_id=\"1915348\" time=\"1561132436\" user_id=\"9938:

bebebub\" post_id=\"1915307\" time=\"1561110573\" user_id=\"23820:

.zeit & fellow forumers

Pls review/share your accommodation in Takayama, Shirakawago & Kanazawa (if any).

Besides street food, pls recommend a restaurant to eat Hida beef yakiniku in Takayama, pls. TIA

We stayed at a ryokan in Takayama, Oyado koto no yume, location near JR and Nohi bus bus terminal. Excellent accommodation and hospitality with yummy breakfast.
There is a Hida Beef restaurant within walking distance Maruaki Hida Takayama, it’s so good until we have to come back for the second time on the next day rather than trying out other restaurants.

I second ryka's recommendations! Oyado Koto no yume's location is superb but there are only very few rooms for 2 left in early Dec. You need to work out your itinerary so you can make a tentative booking soon to avoid disappointment. If you have your luggage with you (I guess so, since you're moving on to Shirakawago and Kanazawa), then stay as close to the JR station as possible. If you have your luggage stored in Kyoto, and only gonna pack a night's clothings, then perhaps you can consider another ryokan further east closer to Miyagawa River. The old town and Sanmachi Suji is across the river. It's just 1km away from the rail station.

Ryokan Tanabe, Ryokan Seiryu, Ryokan Asunaro are located mid-point between the rail station and Miyagawa River. If you don't mind staying in a Jap temple, there's one recently renovated ryokan inside Zenkoji Temple. But I read on TA that it could get pretty cold at night during winter. Poor heating facilities and only Shōji + glass panels for some rooms.

Hidagyu Maruaki is very popular. A lot of tourists go to Maruaki opp the rail station for its yakiniku before taking the train back to Nagoya or elsewhere.

I went to Suzuya as I wanted to try Hoba Miso (a specialty of Takayama). Hidagyu cuts of your choice will be grilled above a magnolia leaf with some special miso. There's only 1 restaurant in Singapore (@Centrepoint) that serves Hoba Miso, if I'm not wrong. Hidagyu Maruaki should have this famous item as well. In some ryokans, they might serve Hoba Miso as part of your in-room kaiseki.

There are some must-eats at Sanmachi Suji like I mentioned before: Kihachiro nikuman (beef bao), Mitarashi or Jinya Dango, Sakaguchiya, Hida Kotte ushi nigiri on a senpei, A5 grade kushiyaki, Fukutarou Gohei Mochi, Chuka Soba, Sake, etc. All these can be obtained from tourist brochures; your job is to ensure you've enough JPY CASH to 打卡 at every one of these instagrammable stops.

If you have watched 'Your Name' / 'Kiminonawa' (Anime), you'll want to visit that Goheimochi stall and Takayama Ramen aka Chuka Soba joint like many anime fans. Takayama Ramen is actually a type of Chinese soba in very dark shoyu broth. Tsuzumi Chuka Soba is the famous one I noticed they use 中华 bowl to serve Takayama Ramen. Something unique to me.
https://postimg.cc/68zc6MLY
https://postimg.cc/cKbcw6z3

(Credit: http://mikehattsu.blogspot.com/2018/01/your-name-other-hida-furukawa-locations.html)

[sky minecrafter]

Thanks NGL! Once I arrive, shall skype-call to test out the domestic quality. Otherwise, as zeit describes, 'd use whatever landline, ask for callback..., but still buy a 500yen tele-card if the Pokemon shop sells it. Haha.

[CerlynR]

We got plans to travel to Japan between September to November. I am beyond excited. I am specifically excited for the food!!! I'll eat lots and lots of ramen for sure..