Arriving in Osaka in the not so distant future will not only be our competitors but quite a large group of family friends and well wishers. One of the questions that’s asked frequently of the Race Organizing Committee, is about mobile phones and internet access in Japan.
Things have changed a lot since the last event in 2013 where by all accounts staying online was often difficult and quite expensive. Here’s a few notes and tips that we thought might be useful.
Depending on who you have your phone with, one of the easiest ways to stay phone active in Japan is to activate your International Roaming plan. Three of the larger companies offer varying phone call times and data use and here’s their costs and a link to their website.
If your local phone company doesn’t offer International Roaming, then SIM cards can easily be purchased online for either pickup on arrival at the airport, or they can be sent to an address in Japan if you know it.
Also be aware that if your local phone company is not one of the above but they use the network of one of these larger carriers in Australia, the International Roaming plan of that company may vary greatly. It’s best to check carefully.
All of the above focus on providing phone calls, sms and a certain amount of data but the data allowance is usually not all that generous. For those of you who are happy to make calls on Skype, Line or other messenger apps, a data only device may suit you best. These devices are also handy for anyone who will be creating online content for their social media pages. There are several companies to be found online offering this type of service and here’s an example of one of them.
Summing up, it’s best to take a look at how you’ll be staying in touch before you head off for Osaka as once you arrive, it’s often quite hard to organize things on the spot. We know you’ll all want to share the excitement of being in Osaka for the race finish with all those back at home and so make sure you find the best and most efficient way to do that soon.