Using phone in Japan

[alisoncevans]

Hello,

We’re travelling to Japan at the weekend and will be there for a couple of weeks. We are collecting a Japan Wi-Fi portable device when we arrive at Narita Airport so we can all access wifi when needed. We have a Pokémon Go player and use a number of social media apps - we will definitely need access to the internet out and about.

We have a few questions:

1. Two of us are on an EE pay monthly contract. Will we be able to switch data roaming off and access the portable wifi?

2. Will we be able to use text and make phone calls back to the uk?

3. Do we need to text 150 to access roaming abroad? I don’t want to accidentally run up roaming charges when we’re supposed to be using the Japan WiFi device.

Have I missed anything?

Can anyone help answer these questions and is there anything else we need to know before we go?
Many thanks, Alison 

[Alex_M]

Hi Alison,

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@alisoncevans wrote:

1. Two of us are on an EE pay monthly contract. Will we be able to switch data roaming off and access the portable wifi?

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Yes, you can disable mobile data in your phone's settings and connect to your portable wifi device only.

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@alisoncevans wrote:

2. Will we be able to use text and make phone calls back to the uk?

3. Do we need to text 150 to access roaming abroad? I don’t want to accidentally run up roaming charges when we’re supposed to be using the Japan WiFi device.

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It depends on whether you are on Pay Monthly or PAYG. There is a handy tool that EE created to calculate the costs involved and what you need to do befor eleaving the UK.

Ignore the sections about mobile data, as you won't be using it. Scroll down and there are the call costs.

Thanks,
Alex

[XRaySpeX]

3.: If you are on contract, remember to text ROAMING to 150 before you leave UK to ensure roaming is enabled on your account.

[Gouldygirl]

Hi Alison,

My daughter is travelling to Japan next week & is also renting a portable wifi and is on a monthly contract. My understanding is that unless you buy an add-on for using your ee SIM in Japan (which is very limited & not free use of your usual UK plan) any calls or texts you make OR RECEIVE are extremely expensive. I am thinking, therefore, that one should not use anything via the SIM & ee contract and that all calls & messages should be done via the portable wifi using Whatsapp or Facetime or similar.

Did you find this to be the case?

Can anyone else confirm my thinking?

Thanks Julie

[alisoncevans]

Hi Julie,

Yes, that’s what we did. It worked really well. We didn’t make any calls and I didn’t pick up the one I received - the carpet fitters hadn’t had the memo we were in Japan and I didn’t think they’d appreciate the charges!

WhatsApp was great for messaging and we found the portable Wi-Fi was excellent - no issues for all four of us using one device and the decent battery meant we had a full day’s usage, apart from a couple of times where we had to charge it around 6pm because of heavy use. Time difference meant we didn’t really bother with voice/video calls but we could have used WhatsApp/FaceTime for that, like you say.

I don’t think it’s worth doing it any other way. You really do need to be able to keep in touch and to use navigation and internet searches for info/directions/train times and routes. Hopefully phone companies will eventually make this easier and cheaper on our devices and through contracts but until they do it’s portable Wi-Fi all the way.

Hope she has a great time. We can’t wait to go back.

Best wishes, Alison

[Gouldygirl]

Thank you so much for replying so quickly, Alison.

My daughter & her boyfriend started planning this trip three years ago except that blasted pestilence got in the way. It's now turned into a graduation treat & she's very much looking forward to it!

Thanks again

Best wishes, Julie