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Japan's seeing record numbers of tourists these days, and in the lead-up to the 2020 Olympics, even greater numbers are expected - and wanted.
Free, publicly accessible Wi-Fi, something tourists with the means to tour Japan would both expect and appreciate, is actually rather rare. Sometimes you get lucky and find a Wi-Fi cafe, but that's a very uncommon sometimes. Or, if Wi-Fi exists, it rarely works and/or requires some kind of special song and dance or membership to access (airports, however, are an exception).
Assuredly aware of this, Nippon Telephone and Telegraph (NTT) has established a free Wi-Fi program for tourists arriving to the company's eastern territory - which is technically northeastern, but Japan's mapping prowess is comparable to Japan's Wi-Fi prowess. Anyway, there's no reason given for giving no love to Osaka, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, etc.
Major tourist destinations, currency exchanges, and a booth at the Narita International Airport provide cards with all the necessary log-in info. Tourists need only flash their passport to get the card, and then they're off and running.
Source: AkihabaraNews
© Japan Today
10 Comments
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mito
We are not tourists. If we show our passports, we probably cannot get the card...
nath
Thank you NTT... the internet should be free and not just at Starbucks and McDonalds.
Elbuda Mexicano
So how can NTT make ¥¥¥?? This is what makes Japan tick, right??
Feridun Findik
B-Mobile has a prepaid SIM card for visitors. It is Data only but it would adequate enough for the purpose.
MissingCylonModel
You are not discriminated against, @tonttu2012. Their business is selling internet access. They give their service for free to tourists as hospitality and to get media exposure before the Olympic, but if they give it away for free to the majority of their customers, they'd be out of business soon.
Daniel Neagari
There are prepaid phones, pocket Wi-Fi and even SIM card rental services.
All you need is to look for it, and have the money to pay.
lucabrasi
JR West have been doing this for a year at least. Even Hakata station has free wi-fi, though it's technically a JR Kyushu station.
Elbuda Mexicano
Well, well, well! Its about time!! Free Wi Fi for all of us!!
techall
How about pre-paid SIM cards for mobiles, or will 2 week visitors have to sign a 2 year contract, with minimum monthly charges, just to keep in contact family members at other venues within the Olympic area?
tonttu2012
I was born in Japan and am a permanentti resident in Tokyo. I have been a client of NTT all my life. I just don't understand way I am discriminated against vis-à-vis temporary visitors.