Japan trip - SIM card (Mobal) or US Cellular ?

[DanHawkPella]

About $35/month ($70 total for me and my daughter) for an 8 day trip to Tokyo and Osaka next month, if I go the US Cellular route. 150 MB plan for each line, which doesn't seem like a lot depending on what my daughter is doing lol.

For almost the exact same amount I can get an 8 day unlimited Mobal (company) data plan (piggybacks on existing carriers in Japan) and change out SIM cards once we land. They have another 30 day plan that includes Voice and Text for about twice that.

The Mobal plan is a known cost - not sure what to expect from US Cellular if there are additional fees or if I hit the 150 MB limit. I just browse the internet, but daughter may be streaming a small amount and doing a lot of social media.

Any thoughts from International travelers?

 

[QChawks]

when we went to Europe last spring we just used wifi for calling. Since there were hot spots all over and the place we stayed had free internet.

but we aren't teenagers and didn't need to text and snapchat all day long

 

[ThorneStockton]

One thing to look into and confirm is whether your phones are "unlocked" and can just simply swap out the SIM card. No idea if that is a thing anymore.

 

[joelbc1]

Phuque'em Dan Hawk.....tell'em your 'Merican and tell'em what you expect them to do for you. Wear the red MAGA cap, that should suffice.

BTW...I have seen some tape of the HS BB team....damn....those guys can light it up when they get it going! Not a lot of strong defense, but damn, they got some shooters...with some real range!

 

[DanHawkPella]

Phuque'em Dan Hawk.....tell'em your 'Merican and tell'em what you expect them to do for you. Wear the red MAGA cap, that should suffice.

BTW...I have seen some tape of the HS BB team....damn....those guys can light it up when they get it going! Not a lot of strong defense, but damn, they got some shooters...with some real range!

Yeah, no enforcer down low and not much containment on the drive, but they have as much offensive talent as a team could hope for. Sounds like a Fran team lol.

 

[WisestIowan]

Quit being poor and switch to Verizon.

 

[BelemNole]

GoogleFi

 

[GES4]

About $35/month ($70 total for me and my daughter) for an 8 day trip to Tokyo and Osaka next month, if I go the US Cellular route. 150 MB plan for each line, which doesn't seem like a lot depending on what my daughter is doing lol.

For almost the exact same amount I can get an 8 day unlimited Mobal (company) data plan (piggybacks on existing carriers in Japan) and change out SIM cards once we land. They have another 30 day plan that includes Voice and Text for about twice that.

The Mobal plan is a known cost - not sure what to expect from US Cellular if there are additional fees or if I hit the 150 MB limit. I just browse the internet, but daughter may be streaming a small amount and doing a lot of social media.

Any thoughts from International travelers?

That seems sort of stingy on US Cellular's part. AT&T and other carriers have $10/day unlimited everything for international travel and the signal is flawless. Is there a daily rate that would accomplish the same thing?

 

[archmage2002]

About $35/month ($70 total for me and my daughter) for an 8 day trip to Tokyo and Osaka next month, if I go the US Cellular route. 150 MB plan for each line, which doesn't seem like a lot depending on what my daughter is doing lol.

For almost the exact same amount I can get an 8 day unlimited Mobal (company) data plan (piggybacks on existing carriers in Japan) and change out SIM cards once we land. They have another 30 day plan that includes Voice and Text for about twice that.

The Mobal plan is a known cost - not sure what to expect from US Cellular if there are additional fees or if I hit the 150 MB limit. I just browse the internet, but daughter may be streaming a small amount and doing a lot of social media.

Any thoughts from International travelers?

I have traveled to Japan twice. One time I tried the pocket wifi rental(meh, the group couldn't split up so wasn't great) and last year I went with this: https://www.japan-rail-pass.com/services/simcard. The sim card route worked wonders and I will tell you that you will easily and I mean easily go over that data limit for US Cellular so DO NOT USE THAT OPTION!! As long as your phones are unlocked you will have no issues using the sim card. Make sure that you have an app that uses data(VOIP) instead of voice if you want to call someone, I personally used Line but Skype/Whatsapp/Viber/Facebook Messenger will work just as well.

Are you planning on traveling to Osaka by Shinkansen? Will you be going back to Tokyo after Osaka for the flight out or are you going to leave from Osaka's airport? If you are returning to Tokyo it would be more cost-efficient to by a JR Rail Pass, that site I gave you for the sim card will offer you that opportunity to buy it or you could just pay more at the JR Office for one.

Here is some advice:

Get an IC card, SUICA or Pasmo for traveling the subway systems because it's a real PITA to buy tickets every time. If you have iPhone 8 or later(also an Apple Watch Series 3 or later) you can actually scan the card into those devices as an ExpressPass and it works great. The subway stations are crazy and let me tell you as an Iowan seeing his first subway station it was one heck of an adjustment to figure them out but once you do it's simple. They have the train lines color-coded, follow the arrows leading to your train line or exit and you will be fine. This photo for example:

The bottom, white-signed train lines are those train lines that are close by and those numbers next to them are the platforms for the train line(ie: whether you wanna go up or down the train line) The yellow-signed train lines on the upper right with only the colored logo's are far away and you just continue to head straight until you see them change into a white-signed lines and/or an arrow pointing the way.

 

[joelbc1]

Yeah, no enforcer down low and not much containment on the drive, but they have as much offensive talent as a team could hope for. Sounds like a Fran team lol.

They are not shy! I played with the Shetterly kid's grandpa (I suppose)....looks like the apple didn't fall far from the tree..,...,I really liked Vic in HS, tho. Good friend.

 

[DanHawkPella]

Thanks for the feedback so far!

US Cellular just seems to have the monthly option, so based on feedback will likely punt on that.

SIM Card - will likely look at the Modal one or the JR Pass, thanks for the second option there.

Was planning to do a one-way Nozomi Shinkansan trip from Tokyo to Osaka (Shin-Osaka) for the experience. Since we fly from Osaka there is no round trip or 2nd trip that justifies the JR Pass, but looked at that closely. Maybe getting from Shinjuku to Tokyo train station would be another use for it, but since the Nozomi isn't covered under the JR Pass and is the fastest train, I figured I'd just do the one way ticket using the Green car ($172 or so).

Hadn't thought much about the Subway - I'll look into that as well. Had seen references to the SUICO / Pasmo cards you mention in some reference videos but may research that a bit more. None of us speak Japanese a lick and it's me and two 18 year olds so navigating logistics may get interesting, haha. Did schedule a "free" student guide for 1-2 days in Tokyo so that may help.

 

[archmage2002]

Thanks for the feedback so far!

US Cellular just seems to have the monthly option, so based on feedback will likely punt on that.

SIM Card - will likely look at the Modal one or the JR Pass, thanks for the second option there.

Was planning to do a one-way Nozomi Shinkansan trip from Tokyo to Osaka (Shin-Osaka) for the experience. Since we fly from Osaka there is no round trip or 2nd trip that justifies the JR Pass, but looked at that closely. Maybe getting from Shinjuku to Tokyo train station would be another use for it, but since the Nozomi isn't covered under the JR Pass and is the fastest train, I figured I'd just do the one way ticket using the Green car ($172 or so).

Hadn't thought much about the Subway - I'll look into that as well. Had seen references to the SUICO / Pasmo cards you mention in some reference videos but may research that a bit more. None of us speak Japanese a lick and it's me and two 18 year olds so navigating logistics may get interesting, haha. Did schedule a "free" student guide for 1-2 days in Tokyo so that may help.

In my group(both times) I was the only one that had understood even a smidgen of Japanese so you don't worry about not knowing it, in Osaka and Tokyo most signs are in multiple languages so you shouldn't have an issue with that. You can also use the Google Translate app if you are struggling, it can machine translate pictures for you. Get a IC card Suica or Pasmo because logistics will be a nightmare without them, here is a useful link: https://matcha-jp.com/en/30. You don't need to worry about losing money if they still have some on them when you leave because you can return them and get the money back.

Speaking of money, on that issue hopefully you have a good plan so you don't get hit with foreign transaction fee's. I used a Capital One 360 card for my ATM withdrawals because it has no foreign transaction fee's and no ATM fee's.(besides having a few credit cards with no foreign transaction fee's for the big stores) Japan is more of a cash based society so smaller stores won't allow credit cards, I was regularly carrying around ¥50,000 a day aka $500 in US terms. Only a few places will have International ATM's that allow you to withdraw money from them, 7-11's(delicious food btw), Japanese Post Office's, Lawsons. Airport will have a few designated International ATM's for withdrawals.

Enjoy yourself , it is going to be a completely different world. Realize that while the US we spread out, in Japan they didn't spread and instead went up and down. You can have 5-10 different shops each only the size of what we consider a bedroom stacked on top of each other like lego's. When in Osaka for instance, while walking from the train station to Dotonbori Street(a street made famous for it's food) you may not realize that underneath that road you are walking lies Nanba Station which has 3 levels of shops and roads with hundreds of people if not thousands of people walking the same path as you are but doing it underground.

On my last note: I highly recommend you try out CoCo Curry, its my favorite chain in Japan. Its great:

 

[dgordo]

Does your phone take an eSIM for dual sim use? If so you won’t even need to buy a physical SIM card if you do and you can continue to receive call, texts etc on your us phone number but use the data from the other SIM card.

 

[DogBoyRy]

About $35/month ($70 total for me and my daughter) for an 8 day trip to Tokyo and Osaka next month, if I go the US Cellular route. 150 MB plan for each line, which doesn't seem like a lot depending on what my daughter is doing lol.

For almost the exact same amount I can get an 8 day unlimited Mobal (company) data plan (piggybacks on existing carriers in Japan) and change out SIM cards once we land. They have another 30 day plan that includes Voice and Text for about twice that.

The Mobal plan is a known cost - not sure what to expect from US Cellular if there are additional fees or if I hit the 150 MB limit. I just browse the internet, but daughter may be streaming a small amount and doing a lot of social media.

Any thoughts from International travelers?

I can’t speak for USCell but i go to japan 1-2 times a year with verizon and have zero problems-data,phone,etc.
Think i pay a extra $8 /day.

 

[Wahawk56]

Corona

 

[DanHawkPella]

In my group(both times) I was the only one that had understood even a smidgen of Japanese so you don't worry about not knowing it, in Osaka and Tokyo most signs are in multiple languages so you shouldn't have an issue with that. You can also use the Google Translate app if you are struggling, it can machine translate pictures for you. Get a IC card Suica or Pasmo because logistics will be a nightmare without them, here is a useful link: https://matcha-jp.com/en/30. You don't need to worry about losing money if they still have some on them when you leave because you can return them and get the money back.

Speaking of money, on that issue hopefully you have a good plan so you don't get hit with foreign transaction fee's. I used a Capital One 360 card for my ATM withdrawals because it has no foreign transaction fee's and no ATM fee's.(besides having a few credit cards with no foreign transaction fee's for the big stores) Japan is more of a cash based society so smaller stores won't allow credit cards, I was regularly carrying around ¥50,000 a day aka $500 in US terms. Only a few places will have International ATM's that allow you to withdraw money from them, 7-11's(delicious food btw), Japanese Post Office's, Lawsons. Airport will have a few designated International ATM's for withdrawals.

Enjoy yourself , it is going to be a completely different world. Realize that while the US we spread out, in Japan they didn't spread and instead went up and down. You can have 5-10 different shops each only the size of what we consider a bedroom stacked on top of each other like lego's. When in Osaka for instance, while walking from the train station to Dotonbori Street(a street made famous for it's food) you may not realize that underneath that road you are walking lies Nanba Station which has 3 levels of shops and roads with hundreds of people if not thousands of people walking the same path as you are but doing it underground.

On my last note: I highly recommend you try out CoCo Curry, its my favorite chain in Japan. Its great:

@archmage2002 - thanks a ton for the information and good read. Will definitely be getting a Suico card and looking out for Coco Curry - looks great. The warning about ATM fees is a good one so will check into that also. Much appreciated!

 

[UNIowaHawk]

Japan is covered with WiFi. Turn off cellular and use WiFi Calling. It’s free.

 

[Hawkeyenuts66]

I am definitely in the minority, if this is an 8 day vacation overseas my phone is staying at home.

 

[GES4]

I am definitely in the minority, if this is an 8 day vacation overseas my phone is staying at home.

You must enjoy getting lost.

 

[Hawkeyenuts66]

You must enjoy getting lost.

It's called pre-planning genius. I don't need GPS to get me around, I learned to read a map a long time ago.

 

[GES4]

It's called pre-planning genius. I don't need GPS to get me around, I learned to read a map a long time ago.

Awesome for you Eagle Scout. It is so far beyond maps though. Train, tram and subway time tables; restaurants and sites in strange locations; knowing tipping customs; and even things like buying museum tickets are all basically impossible without access. But you keep on pre-planning your drive around the Amana Colonies.

 

[NipponPoke]

It's called pre-planning genius. I don't need GPS to get me around, I learned to read a map a long time ago.

ROR!

When I think back of all the time I wasted in Tokyo back in the day before smartphones looking for an address. This isn’t Des Moines. The only two cities built on a grid are Kyoto and Sapporo. All the other cities are geographical cluster f’s. Kind of ironic not to use technology....in Japan, of all places

 

[soybean]

I am definitely in the minority, if this is an 8 day vacation overseas my phone is staying at home.

Me too. I have been to Ireland and Germany in the past 3 months and my phone was in a drawer in our kitchen the whole time. And guess what? We made it around and home again without getting lost...but, of course, I don't need to post pics of my travels on FaceBook etc. for everyone to see.

 

[Hawkeyenuts66]

Awesome for you Eagle Scout. It is so far beyond maps though. Train, tram and subway time tables; restaurants and sites in strange locations; knowing tipping customs; and even things like buying museum tickets are all basically impossible without access. But you keep on pre-planning your drive around the Amana Colonies.

You are a funny little man, not everyone is plugged in 24/7. Some of us are old enough and raised in a time where we actually had to know WTF we were doing. We didn't rely on some electronic device to tell us how to wipe our asses.Just because you're incapable of figuring out travel plans doesn't mean the rest of us are just as inept as you. I've been from L.A. to NYC with nothing more than a Rand McNally.

 

[Hawkeyenuts66]

Me too. I have been to Ireland and Germany in the past 3 months and my phone was in a drawer in our kitchen the whole time. And guess what? We made it around and home again without getting lost...but, of course, I don't need to post pics of my travels on FaceBook etc. for everyone to see.

Holy hell, how did you ever survive without your phone all that time?? <Insert sarcasm here>

 

[GES4]

You are a funny little man, not everyone is plugged in 24/7. Some of us are old enough and raised in a time where we actually had to know WTF we were doing. We didn't rely on some electronic device to tell us how to wipe our asses.Just because you're incapable of figuring out travel plans doesn't mean the rest of us are just as inept as you. I've been from L.A. to NYC with nothing more than a Rand McNally.

Congratulations Gramps. You can scale a mountain without any ropes too. I'm also not talking about LA to NYC. I can do that too. Try Japan or Beijing or Moscow or Kiev or any other major city that doesn't use the Greek alphabet and then see how you fare. I'm not sure why this is even controversial.

 

[GES4]

Me too. I have been to Ireland and Germany in the past 3 months and my phone was in a drawer in our kitchen the whole time. And guess what? We made it around and home again without getting lost...but, of course, I don't need to post pics of my travels on FaceBook etc. for everyone to see.

Why though? Bragging rights? It makes zero sense in this day and age to leave your phone at home in drawer *ever*. I'm not on any social media so that has no relevance. I would just prefer to have an efficient well-run experience.

 

[Hawkeyenuts66]

Congratulations Gramps. You can scale a mountain without any ropes too. I'm also not talking about LA to NYC. I can do that too. Try Japan or Beijing or Moscow or Kiev or any other major city that doesn't use the Greek alphabet and then see how you fare. I'm not sure why this is even controversial.

The only thing controversial is you inability to understand that some of us don't need gadgets to get through life. Do you think people didn't travel to all those places before the advent of smart phones? BTW, Tokyo and Sydney were awesome in the mid 80's, would love to go back.

 

[GES4]

The only thing controversial is you inability to understand that some of us don't need gadgets to get through life. Do you think people didn't travel to all those places before the advent of smart phones? BTW, Tokyo and Sydney were awesome in the mid 80's, would love to go back.

Congratulations on your mid-80's excursions out of the country. Stick with Rand McNally and the roadside Motel 6 because you'll just get yourself hurt if you try anything new now.

 

[NipponPoke]

Informative topic highjacked by ridiculous travel humble bragging.

lol. Effin Yanks.

 

[NoleATL]

It's called paper maps blowing all over the place. I don't need GPS to get me around, I learned to read a map a long time ago.

FIFY

 

[GES4]

Informative topic highjacked by ridiculous travel humble bragging.

lol. Effin Yanks.

And Abe Simpson yelling at balloons.

 

[Pepperman]

Many reasons to travel with your phone (especially in a country like Japan) and some have been mentioned, but:

it is my camera

it allows me to check in to my flight and monitor my flight status, gate connections, etc

can use “type to audio” translation

Uber / Lyft / Didi / Ola type ride sharing

Payment apps

 

[archmage2002]

You could use a real map and be successful but it would be so much harder to do that in a place like Japan.

This is the official english map of the Tokyo Subway system. Enjoy trying to figure this out as a first time visitor, enjoy looking up the time tables in the train station and enjoy trying to figure out if you should take the local, rapid or limited express or express trains. Local is every stop, Rapid is every other stop and limited express is every 3 stops and express is every 4 stops.

To be fair, once you get used to it the train system is really well designed and easy to use just I wouldn't want to waste my vacation time trying to use a paper map in a place like this.

 

[quesadilia]

The Mobal plan sounds like the better deal for your situation, especially since it's unlimited and avoids surprises with overages. 150 MB per line seems tight for 8 days, especially with your daughter streaming and using social media. If you stick with US Cellular, you might want to double-check what happens if you go over the 150 MB—overage charges can really add up.

 

[JasmineHart]

For a Japan trip, I’d say Mobal is a solid choice for your SIM card. They’re super convenient, especially if you want to stay connected without worrying about hunting for Wi-Fi.

 

[TJ8869]

The bots are conversing with each other now.

 

[millah_22]

I am definitely in the minority, if this is an 8 day vacation overseas my phone is staying at home.

lol wtf

 

[millah_22]

like @dgordo said, check if your phone can add an eSIM.

Super easy.

 

[millah_22]

Why though? Bragging rights? It makes zero sense in this day and age to leave your phone at home in drawer *ever*. I'm not on any social media so that has no relevance. I would just prefer to have an efficient well-run experience.

Packing on a cell phone - 3"x6". Has all maps and atlases, optimizes way to where you want to go, helps translate japanese to english, has endless apps and mobile websites. Fits in your pocket. Looks normal.

Packing only a Rand McNally - 8"x11" only shows some maps and atlas. Doesn't fit in pocket. Mysterious. Often makes people in awe of your navigation skills.