Discussion
Markytop said:
Apologies if this seems like a thick question, but why the need for a wi-fi hotspot rental?
Is there such a lack of wi-fi, my hotel will have it, so only if I am out and about I guess I might need something, but is there an obvious reason that I am missing why a normal phone-data signal doesnt work?
I appreciate the cost of data on a european phone package might be expensive, but by the time you have hired a hotspot, the break-even point would seem quite high?
Google maps is massively useful for planning public transport routes!Is there such a lack of wi-fi, my hotel will have it, so only if I am out and about I guess I might need something, but is there an obvious reason that I am missing why a normal phone-data signal doesnt work?
I appreciate the cost of data on a european phone package might be expensive, but by the time you have hired a hotspot, the break-even point would seem quite high?
Also for finding restaurants, places of interest, etc.
Roaming charges would work out to be way more expensive I would think.
Shaoxter said:
Markytop said:
Apologies if this seems like a thick question, but why the need for a wi-fi hotspot rental?
Is there such a lack of wi-fi, my hotel will have it, so only if I am out and about I guess I might need something, but is there an obvious reason that I am missing why a normal phone-data signal doesnt work?
I appreciate the cost of data on a european phone package might be expensive, but by the time you have hired a hotspot, the break-even point would seem quite high?
Google maps is massively useful for planning public transport routes!Is there such a lack of wi-fi, my hotel will have it, so only if I am out and about I guess I might need something, but is there an obvious reason that I am missing why a normal phone-data signal doesnt work?
I appreciate the cost of data on a european phone package might be expensive, but by the time you have hired a hotspot, the break-even point would seem quite high?
Also for finding restaurants, places of interest, etc.
Roaming charges would work out to be way more expensive I would think.
It cost me (my employer
) about £180 for 80 odd days when I was out there earlier in the year so not too expensive.hamish88 said:
Like I said just buy a data sim at the airport . 15 quid for 1 gb or 27 quid for 3.3 gb of data.
Why rent a portable wifi and worry about charging and lugging the bloody thing around never mind worrying about losing it.
It was really no problem, about the size of a small wallet and came with a spare battery if you really needed one.Why rent a portable wifi and worry about charging and lugging the bloody thing around never mind worrying about losing it.
For me there on business it was perfect as in the evenings I could watch films, talk to family on Skype and use the Internet as God intended
for a short trip a sim could be the way to go.hamish88 said:
Why rent a portable wifi and worry about charging and lugging the bloody thing around never mind worrying about losing it.
Because it meant that I could keep my current SIM & number (iMessage and my work email are picky about that) and we could connect 4 devices to it. The wifi unit was approximately the size of a pack of cards and it was just kept in a coat pocket.
So prompted by the other thread that has appeared about Japan, a few comments about my trip to Tokyo in mid-September to finalise this thread.
First thing to say is I absolutely loved it - such a great buzz to the city, and the mix of new, vibrant modernity with the old cultural and serene parks work really well together, much better than I thought the two would co-exist together.
Travel around was easy, I took a taxi from the airport to my hotel upon arrival which was probably expensive, but given it was midnight upon arrival and was from Haneda it was probably 50 euro well spent for a first time visitor. However the following morning I bought a Pasmo card from one of the machines and never looked back. The metro is easy to use, and English is everywhere. The only problem I found was knowing which exit to leave the stations from, which meant I sometimes ended up going completely the wrong direction. But then that is no different to anywhere else.
Robot Restaurant - great experience and can confirm the food is not good - certainly eatable, but not a patch on what can had elsewhere in surrounding area. The area it is in, while amazing place did seem to be a few unsavoury guys around hassling you to buy a girl for the night. Maybe just because I was on my own at the time, but in fairness when you said no, they left you alone.
People in general are amazing, very friendly and helpful, and appreciative if you try to speak a word or two of Japanese. Do like to keep themselves to themselves though initially, but once in conversation very friendly and seem to have a genuine interest in your visit.
Food - All kinds of everything is perhaps the best way to describe. I wasn't a big fan of sushi, but after sampling it in a proper environment I have certainly changed my mind. Some amazing combinations of textures and flavours.
Didn't take the advice on the thread about getting a mi-fi device - didn't really find it a problem as most places had free wifi, including the metro in the main stations. Did have to turn on data-roaming once to load a map on my phone as did get completely lost (see coming out of metro station by wrong exit above) and from my bill on the return home, this did cost more than the hire of a mi-fi device.
Many tourist places were busy, in fact the whole city is busy, but in the most part there is little queuing and everything is very ordered and controlled, so things just work as they should.
Many shops have tax free counters, but not on all floors or locations, so you might have to hunt them out, and one thing to be aware of is that to get the refund in the shop the purchase has to be over 10,000 yen.
I can't wait to go back - already planning another trip for the Cherry Blossom season in the spring
A few of my pics below:
![](http://thumbsnap.com/sc/09OdnRSB.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="http://thumbsnap.com/iswJASB9" Target="_blank">[img]http://thumbsnap.com/sc/iswJASB9.jpg)
First thing to say is I absolutely loved it - such a great buzz to the city, and the mix of new, vibrant modernity with the old cultural and serene parks work really well together, much better than I thought the two would co-exist together.
Travel around was easy, I took a taxi from the airport to my hotel upon arrival which was probably expensive, but given it was midnight upon arrival and was from Haneda it was probably 50 euro well spent for a first time visitor. However the following morning I bought a Pasmo card from one of the machines and never looked back. The metro is easy to use, and English is everywhere. The only problem I found was knowing which exit to leave the stations from, which meant I sometimes ended up going completely the wrong direction. But then that is no different to anywhere else.
Robot Restaurant - great experience and can confirm the food is not good - certainly eatable, but not a patch on what can had elsewhere in surrounding area. The area it is in, while amazing place did seem to be a few unsavoury guys around hassling you to buy a girl for the night. Maybe just because I was on my own at the time, but in fairness when you said no, they left you alone.
People in general are amazing, very friendly and helpful, and appreciative if you try to speak a word or two of Japanese. Do like to keep themselves to themselves though initially, but once in conversation very friendly and seem to have a genuine interest in your visit.
Food - All kinds of everything is perhaps the best way to describe. I wasn't a big fan of sushi, but after sampling it in a proper environment I have certainly changed my mind. Some amazing combinations of textures and flavours.
Didn't take the advice on the thread about getting a mi-fi device - didn't really find it a problem as most places had free wifi, including the metro in the main stations. Did have to turn on data-roaming once to load a map on my phone as did get completely lost (see coming out of metro station by wrong exit above) and from my bill on the return home, this did cost more than the hire of a mi-fi device.
Many tourist places were busy, in fact the whole city is busy, but in the most part there is little queuing and everything is very ordered and controlled, so things just work as they should.
Many shops have tax free counters, but not on all floors or locations, so you might have to hunt them out, and one thing to be aware of is that to get the refund in the shop the purchase has to be over 10,000 yen.
I can't wait to go back - already planning another trip for the Cherry Blossom season in the spring
A few of my pics below:
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