I must admit that I am a bit frustrated by the lack of available Wifi in Tokyo. Well, free wifi, that is.
While I picked up a Japanese rental mobile phone while I’m here, it’s not my iPhone. It does not have all of my apps set up, my email, my photos, my music, etc. If I take pictures on it, I cannot even figure out how to send them because most of the functions are in Japanese.
So, basically, I am back to where I was a few months ago, where I have one phone for calls (used to be my blackberry) and one phone for photos, music, etc. The only problem is that the second phone (my iPhone) cannot find the Internet often enough.
In the States it seems I am always able to find a free wifi connection to tap into from my iPhone to get faster Internet than 3G offers. I know that Japan actually has an even faster network that 3G now (I think they are passed 3.5G and are maybe on 4G or 5G now). This is great except for the fact that normal US cell phones don’t work here.
Now, this is not to say that there is not wifi around. I am constantly able to find 5-10 networks to connect to. In fact, there are a lot more wifi access points. It’s just that they are all private. All password protected.
While I completely understand the point behind protecting your personal wifi router, it is also frustrating. If everyone is going to be protective, than I wish there should be more of an effort by the city to offer a citywide wifi or something like that. Not that this is done well in the States, but it is in progress. In the meantime, people aren’t desperate for it because there are quite a few free hotspots to find an use.
Interestingly enough, while putting together this rant, I found an iPhone app called “Free Wifi Tokyo”. Apparently, I am not the only one to have this problem. I am installing it now. Let’s just hope it helps direct me to those hotspots.
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Hey there,
I was just referred to this website.
I also live in Japan and it looks like you’re having some difficulties.
Of course, this post is super old, but in the case that these difficulties still persist, I hope this helps.
Every phone in Japan can switch to English.
If you don’t read Japanese, just stop by a cell phone store (preferably of the same brand you are renting) and you can get it changed pretty easy.
Wifi is way to sparse out here.
It’s just the culture unfortunately.
The only way around that is to have a laptop with one of the satellite internet usb connections or you can subscribe to one of the companies which has several wifi emitters around Tokyo.
I hope that your problems are already solved.
If not, I hope I was able to help.
If not, feel free to contact me, my email is required anyways right?
Take care.
-Hunter Parker