Tomoko is so cute! Some caveats of which to be aware for tourists. Apologies, if you have already read them. 1) The Bic Camera Store will likely sell you the IIJmio data card which I believe is their product. You need an UNLOCKED phone. 2) I found setting the phone(s) up extremely cumbersome needing an internet connection (Wifi@yourhotel). Then having to login to a website and provide info from the package then my passport # etc. Took me two hours but I was jet lagged. Otherwise maybe one hour. 3) Remember you cannot affordably buy a sim card with voice (at least for a vacation.) 4) With a smart phone you can use apps for voice transmission. My wife was yakking on "We Chat" for hours at a time using WiFi. (Not Recommended for a limited data plan off WiFi.) 5) I found the data card most useful for navigation and occasionally texting (KiK and a million other texting apps if needed) my wife where to meet her. 6) I love Japan and can't wait to return.
If your own countries' roaming prices are expensive, you can use this option to get data on your phone while in Japan. Regan explained it in English. He is leaving Japan and will go back to Van Life. Thank you, Regan! じゃあ、またね！Jaa mata ne! Sorry!! My mistake!! Big Camera → Bic Camera (_ _) ごめんなさい！ ＊ If the phone is locked it can't use the SIM card. Free wifi is available but not everywhere. The reception on the SIM card is better. ＊
Thank you for the video tomoko. I visited Sendai , Japan last October and had to use only wifi. I will look for a bit camera next time! Arigatou gozaimasu !!
To prepare for this, you should check on two things: what size SIM card your phone takes (micro or whatever), and if your phone supports the same network frequencies as used in Japan, as many American phones might not. It might still work, but not be as fast an internet connection as at home (or even close).
oh this is pretty handy as well. i used to order a prepaid data simcard online for 30 days from a website that delivers to airport or place you are staying in japan
Tomoko, this video should be on Regan's channel, he did all the talking, lol. Interesting to see all the cards and options you have in Japan. One thing I have always envied is the new and cool electronics you get in Japan. Anyway thanks for the post and looking forward to another video soon.
in Mexico we use cards that are from the phone company, I still have doubts about how to use a phone in Japan and I want to live there in the future so thank you very much for the information
Wow!! Thank you so much! I live in Nagoya and I walk by there everyday, but I didn't know they sold prepaid SIM cards! This is extremely good to know; thank you both, again!
Thank you so much this was so much help im going on a 6 day tour at the end of march to tokyo and i love using the internet for music youtube and google maps so i dont get lost im definitely going to use a lot of data i was realy worried that i wasnt going to be able to use the internet while i was out there ^ _ ^
I just use t-mobile, unlimited text and internet plus 20cents a min phone calls. You can use it many places, I used it in Japan, russia and korea. If you already have t-mobile that is great. I don't have them but I just a month or two simple choice plan, first month is like 70 dollars, after that like 55. Not a bad price considering what you get with it
Tomoko, thank you very much for this video. I wasted so much time on the web searching for this and that. Getting a sim card is SO much better than renting portable devices that give you wifi. My friend and I will be landing in Osaka but it's in the evening and we'll head for the coastline in Wakayama so I hope we'll be able to find a store there that sells sim cards. Arigato and I love your channel :-)
Yes, I definitely recognized that requirement. Fortunately, I've used SIM cards in my iPhone while in Thailand so I'm sure it's unlocked. I'm not kidding at all. I spent hours on the web reading about this and that option. Thanks to you, I see that buying a SIM card is the best option. Thank you so much! Now a subscriber for sure :-)
I've been in the Wakayama/Kumano area for 2 days now and no one has the sim card!!! How do you ask for it in Japanese? Maybe they don't understand what I'm asking for?
All that yoga must be doing something good for you, because you are looking younger and more beautiful. Thanks for this video on getting a phone set up when visiting Japan
Think there would be any 6 month options by any chance? I'm going on exchange for half a year in a few months time. As I'm sure Regan knows, aussie roaming prices are...pretty expensive.
It s not better to.pre buy a sim card and get it on narita??? Is it difficult to set it up??? Also are the charges same with europe or i have to buy another charger in japan??
''In Japan you can rarely find garbage boxes in public'' Yes! I never understood this, I kept walking around trying to throw away my trash and couldn't find one anywhere.
+Wes Mantooth You can usually find them next to convenience stores, but they are almost always overflowing XP There also seem to be a lot of garbage bins on university campuses from my experience.
I am a little confused. So If I go to Japan with my phone. And I go to this store to buy a sim card. And I put the sim card in my phone. Will I have data? How do I get data on my phone so I can use it everywhere in Japan?
Nice vid! Are instant messaging apps such as Kik usable with the data only sim cards in Japan? My wife and I will visit soon and want to be able to communicate when not together.
Konnichiwa Tomoko. I looked at my cellphone bill one time after a trip and they said I had roman charges. I called the cellphone company right away and i told the lady on the phone. " How could I possibly have roman charges? I did not even travel to Italy!!!! " Hehe Wow Tomoko...you have arms as powerful as Arnold Schwarzeneger.
+tomoko tomoko Konnichiwa Tomoko. So sorry about latest earthquake in Japan. My heart goes out to family who have lost loved ones. I am sure the Japanese people in situations like this all come together to help each other. I lived in Houston, Texas for almost 30 years and survived several hurricanes. Texan people are very self reliant and in a crisis neighbors help neighbors. We do not wait for government to come. I pray you and all you love are safe.
Tomoko, a question I thought of while watching this video: What is it like for you (as a Japanese woman), to go shopping with a handsome foreigner man like Regan? Do Japanese people treat you differently?
What!? I didn't know you could ask store clerks to dispose of your garbage for you. Is that a common thing to do? That would be an excellent life hack. Makes you wonder if there are any pranksters who just dump garbage on the counter after making a purchase and are like はい、どうぞ and then run away XD
"In Japan you can rarely find garbage cans." This statement is completely inaccurate. I have lived in various Tokyo locations, in Osaka and traveled throughout Japan's larger cities for decades. I have never been unable to find a garbage can.
Oh ok but good luck if you going for the first time. It was $40 for verizon and it sucked so i would recommend trying this sim card. I will next time. Also i had trouble with the subway wifi so don't count on that either.
Tomoko is so cute! Some caveats of which to be aware for tourists. Apologies, if you have already read them.
1) The Bic Camera Store will likely sell you the IIJmio data card which I believe is their product. You need an UNLOCKED phone.
2) I found setting the phone(s) up extremely cumbersome needing an internet connection (Wifi@yourhotel). Then having to login to a website and provide info from the package then my passport # etc. Took me two hours but I was jet lagged. Otherwise maybe one hour.
3) Remember you cannot affordably buy a sim card with voice (at least for a vacation.)
4) With a smart phone you can use apps for voice transmission. My wife was yakking on "We Chat" for hours at a time using WiFi. (Not Recommended for a limited data plan off WiFi.)
5) I found the data card most useful for navigation and occasionally texting (KiK and a million other texting apps if needed) my wife where to meet her.
6) I love Japan and can't wait to return.
Thanks for these information from your experience.
What do you mean by '' Unlocked '' phone?
If your own countries' roaming prices are expensive, you can use this option to get data on your phone while in Japan. Regan explained it in English. He is leaving Japan and will go back to Van Life. Thank you, Regan! じゃあ、またね！Jaa mata ne! Sorry!! My mistake!! Big Camera → Bic Camera (_ _) ごめんなさい！ ＊ If the phone is locked it can't use the SIM card. Free wifi is available but not everywhere. The reception on the SIM card is better. ＊
Thank you for the video tomoko. I visited Sendai , Japan last October and had to use only wifi. I will look for a bit camera next time! Arigatou gozaimasu !!
To prepare for this, you should check on two things: what size SIM card your phone takes (micro or whatever), and if your phone supports the same network frequencies as used in Japan, as many American phones might not. It might still work, but not be as fast an internet connection as at home (or even close).
+genjii931 Thanks for the information!! :)
oh this is pretty handy as well.
i used to order a prepaid data simcard online for 30 days from a website that delivers to airport or place you are staying in japan
tomoko seems like a very genuine and nice person!
+S2K The nicest
I was thinking the same thing :-) Subscribing to her channel!
Big camera Still looks the same like z5 years ago when i was there… will be visiting in a few months thanks for the tip
Bic camera is still there, in front of Nagoya station, shinkansen exit side. 😊
Great info guys but also very hard to find bins in Japan that's the big problem I hate!!!! ✌️
Right! It's hard to find bins here... We always take trash to home. ^^;
@@tomokotomoko Australia we are lucky bins and seats to rest are everywhere. But the food in japan is the best tomoko des!!!! 😊
Thank you for the information on buying a visitors sim card for my visit to Japan. Very helpful .
Thanks for watching!
Very insightful Tomoko san ! ありがとうございます！
Thanks for the tip!! Tomoko is so cute!! The cheap phone I have at the moment does not have a sim card, but I am due for a new one.
thank you, it will be helpful for my visit
excellent information tomoko
that was a good idea and well done. You're getting very strong tomoko!!!
+Michael Smith Are they my arms?? ^^; Thanks! Michael!
+tomoko tomoko yes that was funny too excellent
@Santen's Life Please check your phone before you come. If it's locked it can't use the Sim card.
Good video.
Good to learn about the cards.
+Oty3D Thanks always, Oty!! :)
Tomoko, this video should be on Regan's channel, he did all the talking, lol. Interesting to see all the cards and options you have in Japan. One thing I have always envied is the new and cool electronics you get in Japan. Anyway thanks for the post and looking forward to another video soon.
in Mexico we use cards that are from the phone company, I still have doubts about how to use a phone in Japan and I want to live there in the future so thank you very much for the information
+Tomy fernandez Please check your phone before you come to Japan, if it's locked or not. ^^
Wow!! Thank you so much!
I live in Nagoya and I walk by there everyday, but I didn't know they sold prepaid SIM cards!
This is extremely good to know; thank you both, again!
+Bryan Candela Please check your phone if it isn't locked.:)
Yes, I have one of these from Sony.
My visit is several months so It was the best deal.
Good thing I have a Sony "world phone". Really nice!
Very interesting! Good to know, since whenever I visited Japan on holidays in the past, I couldn't use my phone. Thanks for uploading Tomoko!
Thanks you, this was very helpful. I'm leaving to Japan in a few days
Check your phone, please! it's not locked!
It's unlocked, I'm leaving tomorrow so thanks again^^
This was very helpful Tomoko and Regan! thank you
+cobras1x Hi! cobras!!
+tomoko tomoko Hi 😁
Wow thank you, very helpful.
Tomoko has some muscle on her wow!
+TheWishDragon Yay! haha ^^ Victor made that by google photo.
Regan can totally be a tour guide for foreigners in Japan
Thank you so much this was so much help im going on a 6 day tour at the end of march to tokyo and i love using the internet for music youtube and google maps so i dont get lost im definitely going to use a lot of data i was realy worried that i wasnt going to be able to use the internet while i was out there ^ _ ^
Check you phone, please! It's not locked.^^
This was so helpful Tomoko-san! Arigatou!
Great tips! Thanks!!
+Valentine MGee Thanks! MGee!! :)
Great video tomoko! :)
oh my god! Thank you for this video!!
I am visiting for the month of may and this will save my days! :)
Hi Tomoko. I hope you are safe from the earthquakes. I don't know where you live. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
+Greg Harris Thank you for your concern. We are OK in Nagoya.
Tomoko san! You are one fit mother! And genuine as always hehe Nice video Thanks!
+massimo attanasio Hi! Hisashiburi〜♪
Hisashiburi dane~
Thanks for the info!
Will be going to Japan in July for about 3 weeks so debating on doing a pocket wifi or a sim card.
+dena81 He chose sim. But if you the phone is locked, it can't use the sim.
this helps loads thanks very much
THANK YOU SO MUCH, Tomoko! I've been wondering about this, and kept finding conflicting information on the web. It's so simple!
+Silvie Monk Please check your sim card before you come! :) If the phone is locked, it can't use the sim.
***** Thanks, I will!
Thank you for the information
i really needed this video
+Derek Armstrong Please check your phone first, the sim is unlocked.
+tomoko tomoko thank you. I will do this.
りーがんの 髯はいいですね。ともこさん、ビーヂオをくれてありがとうございます。いつも面白い。
またね。
+fuzzybuddy いつもありがとう。
Great video. Very helpful and informative :)
VERY informative video. Thanks Tomoko and Regan :)
Thanks love your videos so much xxxx
+Irish girl In Spain Thanks always! :)
very helpful. thank you for the video!
HAPPY Mother's Day Tomoko
+Greg Harris Thanks!! Greg! :)
Thank you for the travelling tips - What about the pickup of the rental phones at the airports?
Great video!!
+Frederick König Some visitors do that. It takes much time at the airports.
I just use t-mobile, unlimited text and internet plus 20cents a min phone calls. You can use it many places, I used it in Japan, russia and korea. If you already have t-mobile that is great. I don't have them but I just a month or two simple choice plan, first month is like 70 dollars, after that like 55. Not a bad price considering what you get with it
+Tyrell Thomas Thanks for another information!
Tomoko, thank you very much for this video. I wasted so much time on the web searching for this and that. Getting a sim card is SO much better than renting portable devices that give you wifi. My friend and I will be landing in Osaka but it's in the evening and we'll head for the coastline in Wakayama so I hope we'll be able to find a store there that sells sim cards. Arigato and I love your channel :-)
Please check your phone if it's unlocked. The big electronic stores sell sim cards. Hope you will find it!
Yes, I definitely recognized that requirement. Fortunately, I've used SIM cards in my iPhone while in Thailand so I'm sure it's unlocked. I'm not kidding at all. I spent hours on the web reading about this and that option. Thanks to you, I see that buying a SIM card is the best option. Thank you so much! Now a subscriber for sure :-)
I've been in the Wakayama/Kumano area for 2 days now and no one has the sim card!!! How do you ask for it in Japanese? Maybe they don't understand what I'm asking for?
Rand U Oh... 'keitai no sim card wo utteiru tokoro wo oshiete kudasai.' Is there any big electronic shop?
Old people may not know the sim card. Try to ask young people.
This is great for when I study abroad there in june, but now I have to unlock my phone because it currently isnt :/ Thanks for the info though!
+Okumura Rin Yes! if the phone is locked, it can't use the sim.
Thanks for the tip! and you're adorable tomoko san!
Arigatou!
That's great. It is better renting a Pocket WiFi device! ありがとうございます
Thank you so much for this video. When I come to Japan next year I will need to do this. Is there a Big Camera in Tokyo, do you know?
+brielle8383 Yes! And There are some discount stores, Yodobashi camera, Yamada denki, etc.
***** yay!! Thanks for the info :)
konnichiwa tomoko san. わたしはともこさんのわらいがだいすきです.again thanks for the video
+trang himachal ありがとう！さいごも わらいましたか？ :)
Good to know, thanks for posting this vid :D Nice arms by the way! :D
+Lavendelblauen haha The arms are... ^^;
is prepaid sim card cheaper than pocket wifi rental?
+Daniel Is Bored pocket wifi costs about 3000 yen. And when you rent it, sometimes it takes time at the shop. Regan chose a sim card.
Thanks for the vid! Always nice to see Regan! ;)
+MANNY~EmberDim And he went back to Australia... T T
***** He'll come back eventually! ^^
All that yoga must be doing something good for you, because you are looking younger and more beautiful. Thanks for this video on getting a phone set up when visiting Japan
+Flastew Thanks! Flastew! :)
Think there would be any 6 month options by any chance? I'm going on exchange for half a year in a few months time. As I'm sure Regan knows, aussie roaming prices are...pretty expensive.
+XBaneBladeX 6 months... I'll ask him.
Thank you! :)
5:50
+Angirson Lopez lol
+tomoko tomoko hahaha love the guns
It s not better to.pre buy a sim card and get it on narita???
Is it difficult to set it up???
Also are the charges same with europe or i have to buy another charger in japan??
It's cheaper than Narita. But you can buy sim card at the airport. The charges are different from Europe. I brought an adopter to England.
Hey, just checking in. How are you?
+Greg Harris I'm fine, Thanks! Sorry I haven't made a video for 3 weeks,,, I'm making 2 lessons now!
Is it only at big camera? I would be coming into Tokyo so is big camera a popular chain?
+Robert Warren Yes, a popular chain. And there are Yodobashi camera, Yamada denki, many stores.
''In Japan you can rarely find garbage boxes in public'' Yes! I never understood this, I kept walking around trying to throw away my trash and couldn't find one anywhere.
+Wes Mantooth
You can usually find them next to convenience stores, but they are almost always overflowing XP
There also seem to be a lot of garbage bins on university campuses from my experience.
+Wes Mantooth We normally take them home.
Tomokoさん。私も外国に住んでいます。質問がございます。アンロックされた電話ならどのタイプでもSIMカードが使えるのでしょうか？インターネットだけではなく電話もかけられるのでしょうか？またカードはビックカメラ以外でも購入可能ですか？よかったら教えて下さい。（ちなみに私もヴィーガンです。）
私は、iphoneですが、iphoneとAndoroidはOKと書いてありました。あと、音声電話が出来るのは、こちらのサイトに書いてあります。matome.naver.jp/odai/2139013271214522101
あ、ビックカメラ以外でも今はたくさん売っていますよー。👍
ありがとうございます。助かります。
I am a little confused. So If I go to Japan with my phone. And I go to this store to buy a sim card.
And I put the sim card in my phone. Will I have data? How do I get data on my phone so I can use it everywhere in Japan?
Make sure your phone is unlocked.Then you can use a sim card.
Great tips Tomoko! ありがとう(^ ^)
what carrier this sim card use? because I have an old iphone but it is locked to softbank
thanks for the video
+toshift2 Sorry, If it's locked, you can't use the sim.
Nice vid! Are instant messaging apps such as Kik usable with the data only sim cards in Japan? My wife and I will visit soon and want to be able to communicate when not together.
We use 'line' to communicate here. I don't know about 'Kik'. Sorry.
Thank you so much for this video! I thought I was going to have to survive off of free wifi spots while i was there XD
Oh, also bring a charger that will work with Japanese power outlets!
what kind of power outlets do they have?
www.power-plugs-sockets.com/japan/
does my phone need to be unlocked for the Sim card to work?
First need to be unlocked, yes.
What the song intro name
+jason4275 Venice beach from youtube audio library.
Konnichiwa Tomoko. I looked at my cellphone bill one time after a trip and they said
I had roman charges. I called the cellphone company right away and i told the lady on the phone.
" How could I possibly have roman charges? I did not even travel to Italy!!!! "
Hehe
Wow Tomoko...you have arms as powerful as Arnold Schwarzeneger.
+Bill23799 Are they my arms?? haha
+tomoko tomoko Konnichiwa Tomoko. So sorry about latest earthquake in Japan. My heart goes out to family who have lost loved ones. I am sure the Japanese people in situations like this all come together to help each other.
I lived in Houston, Texas for almost 30 years and survived several hurricanes. Texan people are very self reliant and in a crisis neighbors help neighbors. We do not wait for government to come.
I pray you and all you love are safe.
Tomoko, a question I thought of while watching this video: What is it like for you (as a Japanese woman), to go shopping with a handsome foreigner man like Regan? Do Japanese people treat you differently?
+Don Harden I think sometimes differently, they are nicer...
Regan & Tomoko, thank you for this video. It was very informative and helpful. Two weeks unlimited for $20 is a good deal.
I think you pronounced it correctly, but written, it is "Bic Camera" (ビックカメラ).
+Rationalific Oh! Sorry!!! I made a mistake! I'll fix it in the description! Thanks for letting know me.(_ _)
No problem!
Yeah, I wasn't buggin...just saying hi. HI!
+Greg Harris HI!!!
What!? I didn't know you could ask store clerks to dispose of your garbage for you. Is that a common thing to do? That would be an excellent life hack. Makes you wonder if there are any pranksters who just dump garbage on the counter after making a purchase and are like はい、どうぞ and then run away XD
+ciel This isn't usual things. We had smoothies, so if I spill it, it can be a disaster...
Reganwhy are you leaving???
+Irish girl In Spain He visited Japan for 3 weeks this time.
Does the sim card change your phone to Japanese?
+Lily Alcee I saw the Regan's phone, but it shows English.
Okay! :D
Portable wifi router VS Traveler Sim card?!?!
+Anita T He chose Sim.
i watch the whole thing. Thanks Tomoko!! hope to vist your city soon ☺
Ah I didn't know that it was still possible oO
Tomoko nice guns.Funny.
+MrLONEGRANGER Victor made that by googlephoto.^^
"In Japan you can rarely find garbage cans."
This statement is completely inaccurate. I have lived in various Tokyo locations, in Osaka and traveled throughout Japan's larger cities for decades. I have never been unable to find a garbage can.
Tomoko tomogo nasıl bir ismin var gardaş biz türk üz
✨💥🙏🔥🙏💥✨
Thank you for watching! 😊
I wanted to do that but my phone isn't unlocked, so I had to buy a wireless router to take around with me lol
+SamuraiJeff Oh,,, ^^;
"go back to van life" lol
Now thousands of people will go to Japan and dump their rubbish on the counter in the shops. (And blame you!) :)
+Barrenger Oh! No!!! ^^;
*your own country's
Big camera? Bic camera
Yes! Sorry! I made a mistake, and wrote it in the description. Sorry!
大らかな気持ちで流せば良かったでーす、なんかすいませーん。
和佐 いえいえ、しっかり見てくれて、ありがとー！＾＾
my phone company has a international plan, I just have to pay $5 more for unlimited data, talk, and text.
+Theodore Sharpe if its verizon don't bother, i tried that when i was in japan and they just leech off of docomo and u can barely send txts.
+panthro98 it's spirit.
Oh ok but good luck if you going for the first time. It was $40 for verizon and it sucked so i would recommend trying this sim card. I will next time. Also i had trouble with the subway wifi so don't count on that either.
+panthro98 I've been here for 2 months now.
+panthro98 but thanks
Why are you dating a grandmother?
I'm the same age as Regan's mom.👍 We are good friends.😊