Comments on: Two in five Japanese ignorant of public wifi networks

By: Edokko Mark

Edokko Mark — Fri, 27 May 2011 13:38:53 +0000

“Free WiFi” is nearly non-existant in the major urban areas of Japan (including Tokyo). And short term visitors shell out ridiculous money for temporary single network wifi access. Some multi-network access services (such as Boingo) charge $59. monthly fore international service. That’s a bit steep when you look at the services providers in Japan who offer great service at dirt-cheap prices. I highly recommend WIRELESS-GATE. (English translated link below). For 780-yen a month, you have no-limit access to NTT hotspot/Flets. Softbank BB. Livedoor, and major train and subway connections (at least in Tokyo). These networks combined must cover 80% + of the public hotspots. I’m very satisfied with the service. Wireless-Gate takes foreign credit cards ….. makes no fuss about your visa status or requires a Japan address. None of that is asked. For Japan that;s TRULY AMAZING, because most times a non-resident is screwed because they lack any kind of official residency papers (other than a tourist visa stamp). Can’t loose. Go for it. If yo don’t read Japanese, I recommend that you have a Japanese-literate person help you with the online application. Cheers.
Edokko-Mark

http://translate.google.com/translate?js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&sl=ja&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wirelessgate.co.jp%2Fservice&act=url

By: BlogD

BlogD — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 14:36:06 +0000

Jordan: I see them all over Tokyo too–but I can never log into one. I don’t know what’s required to get in to them, but they either require a password or they simply don’t work at all when you log in to them. I’ve tried, several times.

I’d love to know about wireless LANs in Tokyo. Someone please post information about what they are and how to access them. And please don’t just post a name and leave it at that–include details on how it is accessed, and where it is available. I can only presume that you have to at least register for them.

But to just say “public WiFi networks” without further elaboration is misleading–unless there really are publicly operated WiFi networks that you can access freely just walking down the street without any registration or other special preparation. The expression used suggests that you can walk into the zone of one of them and, without any fuss, just join the network. I haven’t found any yet. But I’d love to know where they are.

As for coffee shop or restaurant WiFi, that’s not exactly “free,” is it? Not if you have to be a paying customer to use it. Nor is it really a “public” network.

By: David

David — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 06:05:50 +0000

The lack of good WiFi free spots might lead to these numbers. I have an usb e-mobile dongle that I use, but it’s not as fast–and more expensive–than a good free WiFi connection. My room has been so hot and humid, plus this chair I’m sitting on just blows, so I’ve been going to Seattle’s Best Coffee a lot. SBC has good free internet and nice strong coffee–maybe too strong. The one in Sannomiya is nice and small with free power outlets for you to use, also good people watching cause it’s in the APA hotel.

The bar I work at has free WiFi, we haven’t put it on the Freespot map or even put out a sign about it.

By: Jordan

Jordan — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 03:02:19 +0000

I see them all over Tokyo.

By: Janne

Janne — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:24:45 +0000

Could it be simply because open wifi hotspots are really rare in this country? I usually have my laptop with me but have long since stopped looking for wifi when I travel since I pretty much never find any anyway.