SIM Cards For Short-Term Stay

For some tourists in Japan, staying connected to the internet while exploring the country is a necessity.

Fortunately, there is a wide selection of prepaid SIM cards available in Japan that can provide different types of data-only plans and data-and-voice plans to ensure that you have access to the internet anytime and anywhere. These can easily be inserted into any smart phone or tablet that is unlocked or compatible with Japan’s mobile phone networks, and be ready for use right away.

Japan prepaid SIM cards vary in data transfer limits, connection speeds, and network used. Here is a table with a list of prepaid SIM card providers in Japan and basic information about their offers:

These are highly recommended to short-term visitors of Japan, as well as those who do not have a Residence Visa, Japanese credit card, and other requirements needed to get a Japanese SIM card.

Important Notes:

Purchasing

Among all the providers on the list, only Mobal and SIM Card Geek offers worldwide shipping. This means, you can buy from either of these websites, and have a Japan SIM Card shipped to wherever you are in the world. Click here to learn more about the Mobal Japan Unlimited SIM card. Click here to learn more about SIM Card Geeks range of SIM Cards.

Mobal have now introduced a free collection service for their SIM Cards in Japan. More information can be viewed here.

Sakura Mobile offers online purchase, and ships within Japan. They also have pickup points at airports and post offices in the country. More information is available here. Please be aware that Sakura Mobile charge an additional 50 yen fee per day on all plans aside from the basic cost.

Ninja SIM offers online purchase, but you need to pick up your SIM card at a designated airport, hotel, or post office in Japan. You can order your Ninja SIM card here.

OCN’s Prepaid SIM for Japan SIM cards are available at airports, train stations, electronic retail stores, convenience, stores, tourist information offices, travel agencies, and hotels in Japan. More information is available here.

Customer Support

If you encounter any issues with your Japan SIM card, visit your SIM card provider’s website and read their resource pages and guides. You can also contact their customer service department to help you figure out and fix the problem. Mobal, Sakura Mobile, Ninja SIM, and OCN all have English-speaking customer support staff.

Data

The SIM cards offer 4G LTE data. However, speed is throttled when data use exceeds the cap.

Voice calling

Unlike the other providers on the list, Mobal Japan Unlimited SIM card provides voice calling services in all of their plans. All incoming calls are free, and calling another Mobal Japan SIM is also free of charge. Domestic calls cost 29 yen per minute, and international call rates start at 65 yen per minute.

Texting

In addition to voice calling, Mobal Japan Unlimited SIM also allows texting. You can receive as many text messages as possible, free of charge. Outgoing text messages to Japanese numbers cost 12 yen per message, and texting to international numbers cost 140 yen per message.

SIM Cards For Long-Term Stay

Most data-and-voice SIM card providers impose a minimum contract period, charge cancellation fees, and require various documentation, such as a Residence Visa and a Japanese credit card. For these reasons, they are better suited for people staying in Japan for at least 12 months.

However, there are a couple that do not have minimum contract periods nor charge cancellation fees.

Purchasing and other information

Here are links to the official websites of the SIM card providers with data + voice plans listed above to find out more about their plans and services:

(English)

• Mobal
• Sakura Mobile
• SIM Card Geek

(Japanese)

• Nuro
• DMM Mobile
• Rakuten Mobile
• U-Mobile
• UQ Mobile
• IIJmio

Customer Support

Among them, only Mobal and Sakura Mobile offer English-speaking customer support.

Discounted Rates

Mobal offers discounts to students, teachers, and interns of as much as 1,500 yen per month. Find out if you are eligible for this offer here.

The post Japan SIM Cards; How Major Brands Compare appeared first on Japaniverse Travel Guide.

I am pretty sure that if you went to almost any other country you would be just fine with even broken English. But in Japan the knowledge of English language is quite on the low levels. This is mostly caused by the Japanese educational system. The Japanese start studying English only in middle school (junior high school), and the extent of their studies is reading some text while learning grammatical rules by heart. Not a very productive way of learning a language, if you ask me. Alas, you cannot just change the educational system of a whole country overnight and hope that the people will start speaking better English. The real problems might be lying deep down, invisible to bystanders like me.

Here’s an interesting thing though. Even if you ask a question to a random Japanese person in JAPANESE, they might end up replying to you in English, just because they can’t register the fact that a foreigner can learn their language. But let’s be honest, Japanese is indeed a hard language to learn if you compare it to any Romance and Germanic language. Thus this is not a very abnormal situation.

It is true, however, that most of the Japanese people can at least speak a little bit of English. Nonetheless, it might be better to get ready by learning a couple of phrases, instead of leaving everything to goddess of luck. In this article I will try to teach you some of the phrases that you will need during your trip. So buckle up and let’s get started!

Keep in mind, I am using romaji, the Japanese romanised version of spelling. This should be read just as they are written, with every single letter being pronounced.

Konnnichiwa – A phrase you might have heard before, and yes this does mean hello.

Sayonara – Yes, you guessed it! This one is good bye.

Arigatou (gozaimasu) – This one stands for thank you. You can use the gozaimasu if you want to seem polite, since that is the formal version of the phrase.

Doumo – Also stands for thank you, is less formal. It is also an especially good fit for using while doing your shopping or going to a restaurant.

Douitashimashit – What follows a thank you? Yes, you’ve got it, you’re welcome!

Onegai shimasu – The phrase means please, and you can use it in situations when you are asking the person to do something for you.

Hajimemashite – This is a phrase to use when introducing yourself. You could say it means I’m pleased to meet you.

Watashi wa X desu – My name is X.

X kara kimashita/Shusshin wa X desu – Both phrases have the same meaning: I am from X country.

Yoroshiku onegai shimasu – The phrase can mean Nice to meet you, but if we translate it to English literally, we will get something along the lines of Please take care of me.

Sumimasen/gomennasai – I’m sorry/Excuse me. These two do have a distinction, but you should be fine using either. What’s interesting though, you can use sumimasen to call the staff in your hotel, in a restaurant, a shop or anywhere else really, as well as as a phrase to kick-start a conversation.

Itadakimasu – You could say this is the Japanese equivalent for Bon Appetite, but not exactly. The phrase does mean Thank you for the food, but is used exclusively before eating.

Gochisousama deshita – Just like itadakimasu, this one also means Thank you for the food. However unlike the former this phrase is used only when you are finished with your food.

Oishii desu! – The food is very tasty!

Takushi noriba wa doko desu ka? – Even though I am strongly against you taking a taxi (these cost a fortune in Japan even for very short distances!), sometimes some things can’t be helped, so here’s a phrase for Where is the taxi stop?

Basutei wa doko desu ka? – Where is the bus station?

Chikaku no eki wa doko desu ka? – Where is the closest train station?

Tsugi no basu wa itsu desu ka? – When is the next bus?

Tsugi no densha wa itsu desu ka? – When is the next train?

X made douyatte ikimasu ka? – How can I go to X place?

Toire wa doko desu ka? – Where is the toilet?

Ikura desu ka? – How much does this cost?

Kore ga kaitai desu – I want to buy this.

X wa doko de kaemasu ka? – Where can I buy the X thing?

Nihongo ga wakarimasen – I don’t understand Japanese.

Eigo hanasemasu ka? – Can you speak English?

WiFi tsukaemasu ka? – Can I use the WiFi?

Hai – Yes.

Iie – No.

These ones are some of the basic phrases you might need as a tourist. But let’s not stop here and dig in a bit deeper. What happens if you suddenly and unexpectedly start feeling sick, and have no choice but to talk to somebody to ask for some immediate help? I know, speaking a foreign language you don’t really know is not going to be your priority, but it would be for the best to calm down and try to explain the situation to your guides and nurses. Here are a few simple phrases that will help you with the task.

Guai wa warui desu – I am feeling bad.

Atama/Onaka ga itai desu – My head/stomach hurts.

Heya ni modoritai desu – I want to go back to my room.

Yoko ni naritai desu – I want to lie down.

Netsu ga arimasu – I have fever.

Hakisou desu – I feel nauseous.

Mou daijoubu desu – I’m alright now.

The phrases listed above are not quite enough to hold up a conversation with a Japanese person, but of course nobody’s going to learn a whole new language for just a couple weeks long trip to the country. Mind you, a lot of foreigners in Japan cannot speak coherent Japanese even though they have lived here for many years. And then again they manage to get by with their lives just fine. Unless you end up in some very rural areas of Japan you will most likely be able to get help and guidance in English, even if not with perfect grammar or pronunciation. This list is just a precaution in case of an emergency!

In any case, I hope you enjoy your trip to Japan with or without this list!

The post Useful Japanese Words/Phrases to Learn for Your Trip appeared first on Japaniverse Travel Guide.

On your next visit to Japan, try to find some of the following products and see for yourself what all the fuss is about:

1. Washlets

The Japanese have made going to the bathroom a lot more interesting with the invention of the Washlets. Created by Toto, a Japanese toilet company, Washlets are electronic toilet seats that feature water spray functions for the cleansing of the private parts. The product was first released in 1980, and has already sold tens of million units in the last 25 years.

Washlets have buttons to activate water spray for the genital and anal areas, to stop the water spray, to adjust the water spray pressure, and others. They are made up of two water spray nozzles, one for the genitals and one for the anus, and these are attached to the toilets in such a way that no water is splashed back. After each use, these nozzles are automatically washed and rinsed with warm water to prevent bacterial growth and foul odors, and then stowed away until next use.

Today, Washlets are widely used in newer Japanese homes, especially in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and other urban areas, and a significant number of hotels, hostels, restaurants, malls, train stations, and other establishments across the country have them.

If you want one for your home, visit Toto’s official global website, or check out any online shopping websites, as many of them have it and other electric toilet brands for sale.

2. Unusual Kit Kat flavours

A lot of people are probably aware of only one Kit Kat flavour — the regular chocolate one. However, in Japan, Kit Kat comes in many other flavours that you might not have imagined to be possible.

Introduced to Japan in the early 1970s, Kit Kat has launched more than 200 flavours since. In addition to the original standard variety, some of the most commonly found in supermarkets, convenience stores, and airport and train station shops around the country are green tea, dark chocolate, and strawberry.

Seasonal flavours are also available, like passion fruit ginger, chili, and plum, as well as regional flavours, like azuki sandwich (Nagoya), momiji manju (Hiroshima), and Shinshu apple (Shinshu).

Other popular Kit Kat flavours that are must-try are baked potato, blueberry cheesecake, sweet pudding, café au lait, beni imo, watermelon, pumpkin, miso soup, cantaloupe, brown sugar syrup, chestnut, cherry, double cookie, and cappuccino.

For those with a more adventurous palate, check out wasabi, soy sauce, hot Japanese chili, and sake flavoured Kit Kats.

3. Vending machines for eggs, underwear, and others

Vending machines are not unique to Japan. In many places around the world, these machines can also be found, and they sell food, snacks, beverages, cigarettes, and lottery tickets.

But, the Japanese have taken vending machines to another level. There are around 6 million of these automated machines scattered across the country, in almost every street corner, and they not only sell the typical food and beverage items, but also other sorts of stuff that foreigners may think as bizarre.

In Japan, there are vending machines that dispense eggs, live crabs, rice, fresh vegetables, bananas, oranges, lettuce, potatoes, and other produce. There are also some that offer some hot warm ramen or fish soup, t-shirt and underwear, surgical masks for your daily commute, condoms, and various other items.

4. Outrageous ice cream

Ice cream is one of the most popular desserts in the world. It is most especially enjoyed during the hot and humid months of the summer season.

In Japan, ice cream comes in a wide array of forms and flavours that are not found in other countries.

While it is common to see ice cream in containers, cups, or cones, or in the form of soft serve or popsicles, Japanese ice cream is also available as yukimi-daifuku, which is a sweet dumpling made from mocha rice and stuffed with ice cream. It has a soft and chewy texture, and the mochi and ice cream make an excellent fusion of flavours.

Another notable ice cream type popular in Japan is parfait, which is also common in the West. However, Japanese parfait uses more traditional ingredients that give it an authentic local essence. In addition to corn flakes, puffed rice cereal, whipped cream, and ice cream, Japanese parfait also features different fruits, jelly cubes, anko red bean paste, warabi mochi, shiratama dango (or mocha rice dumplings), and other homegrown ingredients.

Japan also has its own version of shaved ice, which is known as kakigori. Enjoyed by the Japanese for many centuries now, it consists of finely shaved ice topped with condensed milk, fresh fruits, whipped cream, shiratama dango, and anko red bean paste.

When it comes to flavours, some of the most unusual that can only be found in Japan are squid ink, soy sauce, miso, seaweed, bitter melon, wasabi, red beans, purple sweet potato, horse meat, deep fried oyster, ramen, curry, eel, octopus, crab, and beer.

5. Body pillows

Body pillows, or dakimakura, are large-size pillows that are sold everywhere in Japan. They are sometimes also called hug pillows or love pillows.

In the otaku world, dakimakura that have life-size images of popular manga and anime characters printed on them are referred to as waifu pillows or husbando pillows.

The link between dakimakura and the otaku culture started in the 1990s, when the first pillows with anime bishoujo (a Japanese word that literally means beautiful girl) and bishonen (a Japanese word that literally translates to beautiful boy) characters came out.

These body pillows come in 150 cm x 50 cm or 160 cm x 50 cm sizes and weigh less than two kilograms. They are usually sold at anime specialty shops and online shopping websites.

The post 5 Bizarre Japanese Products appeared first on Japaniverse Travel Guide.

I shall be honest with you, depending on what program you apply to it can be really easy or extremely hard to get enrolled in a Japanese university (there are dozens of programs which provide you with a monthly scholarship: MEXT, JASSO, Deep-Bridge, to name just a few of the most common ones). Of course I had to apply to the hardest one, MEXT, Japanese Government Scholarship program. It is hard to land this particular scholarship, because you have to compete with people all over the world, not just your home country. The first time I applied I failed to get the scholarship and was devastated in a way no words can convey. But my second try brought me to Tohoku University about two years ago.

Tohoku University is one of the former seven Imperial Universities, and currently the second top university of the country. According to many foreign and Japanese students, Tohoku is viewed as one of the hardest universities to get accepted to and due to this fact, many have avoided this wonderful establishment entirely. Another reason to why both students and tourists have avoided Tohoku prefecture in general, is the Great East Japan Earthquake which occurred in 2011. I find this to be a very sad fact, since Tohoku is an amazing place, with a lot of amazing sights, the kindest people I have ever had the chance to meet in whole of Japan and of course delicious food which is specific to the region. But that is an entirely different story, so let’s stick to the main topic.

What is it like to be a foreign student in Japan? You would think the experience would not be much different from being a student in any other country. A mistake. Japan is one of the perfect destinations for tourists, but maybe not so much for students, especially if you do not speak the language.

Depending on your sphere of studies, Japan might or might not be a good place for you to pursue your future degrees. If you are in the humanities, you might want to reconsider. Japan is trying to boost engineering, technologies and medicine studies, in short, sciences, hence such subjects as literature, history and languages are not very popular around here. What makes it even harder is the fact that finding a job in Japan if you are specialising in any of the above mentioned, might be quite the challenge.

If you have chosen sciences, you will most probably get to do your degree in English. Nonetheless, living in Japan is going to require from you at least basic knowledge of the language the people speak, since you cannot really get by with only English. The people here barely speak or understand it (unless you are in Tokyo, and even in this case it’s not a given they will). So buckle up, and try to learn at least the very basics beforehand. The rest can be sorted out when you get to Japan, since most of the universities offer Japanese language courses for foreign students.

Luckily, I had been studying Japanese for over four years before the winds blew me in the direction of the Easternmost country. This was a massive advantage I had over the group of 30 others, who arrived to Tohoku University together with me. But then again, I was going to do my degree in humanitarian studies, which meant I would need to write all of my papers, presentations and reports in Japanese. This requires a certain level of knowledge of written Japanese, which is not something I had studied before. It is worth mentioning, that you might be required to make your presentations in Japanese, even if you are planning to major in sciences, so I think it would be a good idea to take this fact into consideration before your arrival.

My top favourite thing about student life in Japan are clubs/circles. You get to meet a lot of new people, have fun activities, take part in competitions and tournaments and become a part of a big family. There are so many different types of clubs, including sports clubs, music clubs, international exchange circles, and so on. If you do decide to join one, keep in mind that depending on your choice you might end up in one that is extremely strict and demands a very huge amount of commitment. A mistake I made by joining kyuudo, Japanese traditional archery club. For a whole year my days and nights were being spent in the club dojo. Obviously this was affecting my studies, so no matter how reluctant I was, I had to quit.

One last thing you need to remember about Japan before coming here, is the strict relationship between senpai and kohai (senior junior). This is existent both in the clubs and all of the departments of a university. As a junior you have to use keigo – formal Japanese, when addressing your seniors. You have to be extremely respectful and keep in mind that your relationship can never change to friendship, no matter how close you get to each other. Then again, your senpais will take you out, treat you to dinner and drinks, and in general help you out with anything you do not understand or have problems with!

But do not let all of the things I talked about put you off from enjoying your student life in Japan! It is by all means amazing and unique. You will get to experience things which you would never get an opportunity to if you were in any Western country. In the recent years Japan is very welcoming towards foreign students and I am sure you too, just like me, will feel at home here in just a matter of weeks!

The post The Life of a Foreign Student in a Former Imperial University of Japan appeared first on Japaniverse Travel Guide.