Mobile Data Access In Hokkaido

[Blitzy]

Hi all,

Just asking on behalf of my sis.

Is there any mobile wifi devices for loan at the New Chitose Airport?

And is the mobile data coverage in Hokkaido good?

Thanks for any advice

 

[hendrytan]

They do rent out iphones at the major airports. The last time i went i rented an IP3gs for 200SGD with full data coverage ,and believe me they do not compromise with their internet speed.

 

[fuzzybear]

Hi all,

Just asking on behalf of my sis.

Is there any mobile wifi devices for loan at the New Chitose Airport?

And is the mobile data coverage in Hokkaido good?

Thanks for any advice

best get b-mobile
coverage in sapporo is good

 

[anyhowsaysay]

Outside the cities will there be any issue?

Like lake Toya etc

 

[cheefarn]

Hi all,

Just asking on behalf of my sis.

Is there any mobile wifi devices for loan at the New Chitose Airport?

And is the mobile data coverage in Hokkaido good?

Thanks for any advice

Another option is to rent a Huawei WIFI router from

http://www.jalabc.com/english/index4.html

You can also register your smartphone with FREESPOT It's Japan's version of Wireless@SG.

You will need to enter your phone's MAC address to register... the service is free but do be advised that coverage is not available in many commerical buildings even in downtown Sapporo...

You can almost always get free WIFI in the hotel you'd be staying. However, many hotels WIFI coverage is simple and coverage is restricted to the LOBBY or the hotel restaurants at most. Most hotel provided LAN connections in the rooms for your laptop.

In regards to your qns on mobile coverage in Hokkaido... well you think Japan is Singapore ah? Our ISPs give out alot of hot air while delivering very little. I've no problems with 3G coverage be it in the most remote regions of Mombetsu and Sounkyo or downtown Sapporo. There's no problems with coverage indoors too... unlike sillypore. and if you have a 4G phone eg Samsung SIII or S4, you can log in to their LTE networks too.

There are 2 major GSM operators in Jap, Softbank and NTT Doccomo. Singtel have tie ups with Softbank and you can enjoy slightly cheaper roaming rates if you log in to Softbank as your prefered roaming service provider.

 

[fuzzybear]

Another option is to rent a Huawei WIFI router from

http://www.jalabc.com/english/index4.html

You can also register your smartphone with FREESPOT It's Japan's version of Wireless@SG.

You will need to enter your phone's MAC address to register... the service is free but do be advised that coverage is not available in many commerical buildings even in downtown Sapporo...

You can almost always get free WIFI in the hotel you'd be staying. However, many hotels WIFI coverage is simple and coverage is restricted to the LOBBY or the hotel restaurants at most. Most hotel provided LAN connections in the rooms for your laptop.

In regards to your qns on mobile coverage in Hokkaido... well you think Japan is Singapore ah? Our ISPs give out alot of hot air while delivering very little. I've no problems with 3G coverage be it in the most remote regions of Mombetsu and Sounkyo or downtown Sapporo. There's no problems with coverage indoors too... unlike sillypore. and if you have a 4G phone eg Samsung SIII or S4, you can log in to their LTE networks too.

There are 2 major GSM operators in Jap, Softbank and NTT Doccomo. Singtel have tie ups with Softbank and you can enjoy slightly cheaper roaming rates if you log in to Softbank as your prefered roaming service provider.

interesting info
ya s4 support world band 4g haha

 

[cheefarn]

interesting info
ya s4 support world band 4g haha

Yup. One thing I've realized during my latest trip to Hokkaido is that in terms of tele communications, Japan has indeed opened up its market ALOT and by and large they're in line with the international community liao.

They used to swear by their excellent but restrictive CDMA 2000 network, and visitors to Japan were forced to rent their CDMA phones upon arrival at their airports if they want to use mobile phones over there.

One interesting info I've learnt over there. Japanese are still quite adverse to Koreans products. I only saw ONE and I mean ONE old early 2000s Hyundai XG30 sedan in Sapporo. And although Samsung phones are sold over there (S3 and S4), all reference to the brand 'Samsung' has bee removed from the phones!Yes it is still called Galaxy S4 LTE, but in Japan, its called Softbank/Au/Doccomo Galaxy S4 There're special packaging for all Samsung phones...

HTC, Sony, Motorola phones were sold in their original packaging as per normal.

 

[limweeli]

Outside the cities will there be any issue?

Like lake Toya etc

I've not used Bmobile in Hokkaido but based on the coverage map, it looks ok.

b-mobile VISITOR SIM 1GB Prepaid | b-mobile wireless internet -> Coverage -> follow link and navigate till NTTƒhƒRƒ‚ -ƒGƒŠƒAƒ}ƒbƒv-

 

[kanashii23]

bmobile no issue even in lake shikotsu, monbetsu , asahikawa, etc

 

[anyhowsaysay]

There are 2 major GSM operators in Jap, Softbank and NTT Doccomo. Singtel have tie ups with Softbank and you can enjoy slightly cheaper roaming rates if you log in to Softbank as your prefered roaming service provider.

Similarly for Starhub, Can use Docomo unlimited data i think per day is around $15-17

 

[feryl]

Yup. One thing I've realized during my latest trip to Hokkaido is that in terms of tele communications, Japan has indeed opened up its market ALOT and by and large they're in line with the international community liao.

They used to swear by their excellent but restrictive CDMA 2000 network, and visitors to Japan were forced to rent their CDMA phones upon arrival at their airports if they want to use mobile phones over there.

One interesting info I've learnt over there. Japanese are still quite adverse to Koreans products. I only saw ONE and I mean ONE old early 2000s Hyundai XG30 sedan in Sapporo. And although Samsung phones are sold over there (S3 and S4), all reference to the brand 'Samsung' has bee removed from the phones!Yes it is still called Galaxy S4 LTE, but in Japan, its called Softbank/Au/Doccomo Galaxy S4 There're special packaging for all Samsung phones...

HTC, Sony, Motorola phones were sold in their original packaging as per normal.

not just samsung, there are quite a few phones, even japanese brands, that are 'de-branded' into Softbank etc. Altho it appears random to us, there must be some weird reason/pattern why this happens.

 

[dl]

For NTT Docomo (for Starhub Conexus) It's S$15 a day (before GST) unlimited.

But I've decided to get the eConnect P-420 (WiFi-To-Go) High Speed Unlimited Data Model
At $100 for 9 days, including delivery to my hotel, I think it's pretty damn worth it.

Will probably keep my phone plan going as well for navigation and communication (with home) purposes, and while the rest of the family (wife + 3 older kids) use the econnect for Internet, News, Youtube, Skype and online gaming

 

[fuzzybear]

not just samsung, there are quite a few phones, even japanese brands, that are 'de-branded' into Softbank etc. Altho it appears random to us, there must be some weird reason/pattern why this happens.

its normal

 

[Blitzy]

Thanks for all the replies! They are very useful thanks!

But I'm very surprise, so our Samsung LTE phones are able to use their 4G??

I thought we're of different banding, thats why we can't use their Keitai 4G here?

 

[cheefarn]

Thanks for all the replies! They are very useful thanks!

But I'm very surprise, so our Samsung LTE phones are able to use their 4G??

I thought we're of different banding, thats why we can't use their Keitai 4G here?

Well Samsung took the extra mile to include all possible LTE bands in the S4 so that their 4G LTE phones can be as mobile as the vernerable 3G.

It's extra cost for Samsung.. but its a cost well invested for everyone will go for the S4 when they think of roaming in a LTE network.

 

[fuzzybear]

Thanks for all the replies! They are very useful thanks!

But I'm very surprise, so our Samsung LTE phones are able to use their 4G??

I thought we're of different banding, thats why we can't use their Keitai 4G here?

not really
like cheefarm say
its quite good on samsung side to include a world band 4g

 

[solarwings]

Hi, I would like to ask if the buy/rent a mobile/sim card can be done in SG or only in Japan airports?
I'll be in Hokkaido for 4 weeks in July and I would be staying at a student dorm.
Thanks.

 

[cheefarn]

Hi, I would like to ask if the buy/rent a mobile/sim card can be done in SG or only in Japan airports?
I'll be in Hokkaido for 4 weeks in July and I would be staying at a student dorm.
Thanks.

You can either buy your SIM card at Narita/Haneda or Chitose. I'm not sure if other smaller regional airports around Hokkaido sells them but my guess is not.

Whoa staying in Hokkaido for 4 weeks? I also want... if only my company allow me to take so many days of leave, if I have that many days of leave to begin with LOL

Can sian Japs SYT and sch girls there liao haha...opps... Hum sup mode at work again

 

[strikex87]

If anybody has JCB card, you could get free mobile rental i think

 

[Mermories]

wow mobile data seems to really cost a bomb in Japan D: