Page 376 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide: Japan

374  SUR VIV AL GUIDE

Communications and Media or phone cards in a public
phone; unused coins will be
As befits a country that has long been on the cutting edge returned to you. In this guide,
of technology, the range of communication tools is area codes are given in brackets;
extensive and state-of-the-art. Just about everyone has omit the code if calling from
a mobile phone, but although Internet cafés are widely within the area.
available, free Wi-Fi hotspots are rare. Due to the prevalence
of cell phones, public phones are not as common as they Cell Phones
used to be; they can usually be found in shopping areas, Foreign cell phones may not
outside convenience stores, and around stations, though work in Japan; GSM, for
not all are suitable for making international calls. example, is not deployed.
However, some may work if the
Newspapers and magazines are printed in abundance, operator is an inbound roaming
and English-language versions are readily available in partner of such Japanese
major cities. The postal system is fast and efficient. operators as Soft Bank and
Docomo. Check with your cell
operator before traveling.
Making International A good option for the visitor
and Local Calls is renting a cell phone from
Some public phones take companies such as Rentafone
international credit cards as Japan. Payment is typically
well as phone cards. As with made by credit card. Prepaid
domestic calls, the call will be phones (though not prepaid
routed via NTT Communications SIM cards) are also a possibility
unless you purchase a calling from operators including KDDI
card issued by one of the other and SoftBank. The operator’s
major telecom companies conditions may differ, but a
offering international calls, passport as ID and a hotel
such as KDDI and SoftBank. address should be sufficient.
The following phone cards Even though cell phones are
are available from the three cheap, buying one is not really
main operators: Comica Card, an option unless you are
KDDI Super World Card, and Gray public phone, suitable for planning a long stay, since
World Prepaid Card. Phone international calls operators ordinarily demand
cards may be purchased from a one- or two-year contract
a wide variety of outlets, place a collect call. The cheapest and require a Resident Card.
including station kiosks, times for international calls are Some public places, have
vending machines, and between 11pm and 8am daily; areas set aside for cell phone
convenience stores. Various the second-cheapest is from use. For example, on bullet
foreign companies, for 7pm to 11pm. trains it is encouraged that
example callingcards.com The charge for a local call is talking on cell phones should
and speedypin.com, offer ¥10 per minute. Use small coins take place in the deck areas
useful information on the between cars.
best calling cards to purchase
for international calls. International Dialing Public Telephones
Use the gray public phones to Codes
make international calls. Dial the Use these codes after the Although their numbers
appropriate company’s access international access codes to have declined, the most
code (see p376), then the dial the following countries: common public phones
country code, area code (minus Australia 61, Brazil 55, Canada are green and are situated
any initial zero), followed by the 1, China 86, France 33, everywhere from stations
desired number. The major Germany 49, Hong Kong 852, to inside trains, outside
companies are in competition, India 91, Indonesia 62, Ireland convenience stores, and
so charges and services are 353, Israel 972, Italy 39, on the street in busier areas.
constantly changing; each has a Republic of Korea 82, Malaysia Older versions of the green
toll-free number for information. 60, Netherlands 31, New phones accept ¥10 and
All major hotels offer Zealand 64, Peru 51, ¥100 coins only; newer
international direct-dialing. You Philippines 63, Russia 7, models take a wider range
may be surcharged for calls Singapore 65, Spain 34, of coins as well as telephone
from your room. KDDI and NTT Sweden 46, Switzerland 41, cards. These phones are
offer international collect calls; Taiwan 886, Thailand 66, for local calls only. Gray
dial the appro priate access code United Kingdom 44, and US 1. public phones have an
and then ask the operator to LCD display, a button for

374-375_EW_Japan.indd 374 08/08/16 3:10 pm
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Practical template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.7)
Date 5th March 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm