This article is one of the most important tips you should know before coming to Japan. Why? You don’t want to be surprised during your vacation or business trip to Japan. The fact is that the cell phone you brought from your home country probably won’t work in Japan. If you want to be safe, even if you come for 2 or 3 days, you should rent a Japanese phone.
The reasons are technical, and I’ll cover them shortly in a minute. But before I do, I want you to note that this mobile phone problem is not limited to remote, rural places in Japan. The functionality of your cell phone is not guaranteed even in places like Tokyo, Kyoto or Osaka.
Renting a cell phone while in Tokyo is the best way to solve this. Now you are probably wondering… How can I rent a Japanese phone?
Cell phone companies have kiosks at Narita Airport, while other companies will mail a phone to your hotel. Renting is simple and only requires a photo ID and a credit card. Rent is also reasonably priced. You can return the phones at the end of your vacation at the airport or by mail, according to the company. Cell phone rental rates are based on the daily rental rate plus a usage fee.
The reasons The main technical reason is that the Japanese phone system works through PDC, while in North America and Europe mobile phone systems are based on the GSM standard. However, it is best to contact your local service provider before you arrive in Japan, to check if your own mobile is compatible with the Japanese network, just in case.
Another possibility is to rent a SIM card (from a Japanese provider). In that case, you can use your own mobile phone with a Japanese phone number and lower rates.