I need to communicate with someone that lives in Okayama to say when my bus will be arriving until I buy a ticket at Osaka airport but I don't think my phone will work when I arrive unless I get a new SIM card at Osaka airport. Im old and don't know that much about mobiles . I read that Japan has 3 major phone companies but they are real expensive but read there are now 3rd party companies that offer much better rates I need a phone for about 3 months. It's important I meet this person as he has told me his place cannot be found on Google maps and I will never find it. If I miss him there's nowhere to stay in Okayama,Kobe, Osaka that I can find unless it's for a big price in not sure why all these places are so booked out.I know it's a weekend and I arrive on Friday but seems like Japan is lacking in cheaper accomodation at weekends ..I know I should have planned my accomodation earlier but I booked my flight at the last minute and have never come across this before. Sorry if I've left anything out Alistair
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I don't know much about SIM cards, but it's more difficult (and expensive) to get a SIM card that allows you to make calls than it is to get one that only allows for data. Also, many foreign phones don't work in Japan at all.
If you have a smartphone, there's Wifi at the airport, and you could perhaps call your friend in Okayama using Skype, or an app like that?
If you're planning on taking a direct bus from Kansai Airport to Okayama, there are only 7 buses a day, so you won't have a great deal of choice. You'll probably catch the first one after you land.
OP, you have two separate issues, really:
-- The immediate problem of calling the person on arrival is easily soluble if you have a phone that will work in Japan. (As Giora says, most 3G or 4G smartphones work.) Then, you should be able to just turn the phone on, and call your friend, using international roaming. This is not cheap, and so it is not a long-term solution, but for one call on arrival, it really simplifies matters. (Using airport wifi to call via Skype, as Giora suggests, is also workable, and potentially cheap, if you are familiar with that service.) Call your home carrier to see if you need to do anything before departing home, in order to turn on international roaming.
-- With respect to having a phone for 3 months, assuming you really need to make voice calls there are very few options for a local SIM card with a local number. (Most Japan SIM cards sold to foreigners are for data-only -- no voice.) Softbank is one company that does offer a voice product: https://www.softbank.jp/en/mobile/special/prepaid-sim-for-travel/en/ But to activate the voice service you have to go to a Softbank store with your passport and register, between 9 am and 9 pm on workdays. Info on Softbank locations here: https://www.softbank-rental.jp/en/how_rent/store.php
Thanks if I can make a call I have a Lenovo Moto e it's 6 months old and switch on roaming then I should be able to to call him or message him through workaway I tried to set up LINE but it didn't work. I don't mind if the roming charges for just one call and im not bothered about calls. I will just get a package that gives me SMS and data
Thanks again I wouldn't mind normally but these cities are all booked out for accomodation on weekends
I'm sure the cities aren't booked out. You need to look harder. Osaka has an enormous amount of accommodation, in all budgets. Weekends are busier than weekdays, but I'm sure there's lots still available.
You'll get a package with data only. Not SMS. You can use email as an SMS alternative.
Yeah your right but no hostels are available to book in Osaka,Kobe or yokahma my destination... im sure im just panicking thanks for your help it's appreciated
One more tip: your phone while it is on roaming can consume data in the background that can cost quite a bit. So either
a) figure out how to turn off the cellular data, or
b) Just turn on the phone for that one call, and then turn it off and leave it off.
Line is very similar to Skype. I use both but only have credit on my Skype account to make calls that aren't free. I use the app on my android device.
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