This post moves on from Claudia’s How To’s #3: Get a Cellphone and the later How To’s #20: Get a Prepaid Cellphone. Cellphones are the life blood of Tokyo, and in the world’s earliest and most complete adopter of the 3G network you shouldn’t be surprised to find many adults, ... read more »]]> This post moves on from Claudia’s How To’s #3: Get a Cellphone and the later How To’s #20: Get a Prepaid Cellphone. Cellphones are the life blood of Tokyo, and in the world’s earliest and most complete adopter of the 3G network you shouldn’t be surprised to find many adults, even grandmas, who have cellphones and only email on their phone – wiping out the need for a computer in everyday life…. interesting huh!

Apple may not have anticipated, however, how reluctant Japanese customers, many who have been loyal to rival carriers for more than a decade would stubbornly stick to their hard won cheap contracts rather than go over to a vastly more expensive plan even if it means missing out on the most innovative technology of the decade.
Like many (all?) other countries, Japan was bestowed the iphone under conditions of exclusivity to a single carrier. In the UK and Canada, rumors abound that this deal is coming to an end, but currently, in Japan you must have a contract with Softbank – They’re the only gig in town baby. So anyway, because foreigners in Japan don’t have these uber cheap 10 year loyalty call-plans, the foreign population of Tokyo are percentage-wise significantly more endowed with iPhones, than the indigenous population.

The best thing about this, is you never get lost again owing to a pretty good bilingual GPS and you can astound your Japanese friends with their retrograde technology by actually giving them directions! ha! I never tire of that.

There are a few things you will need

iPhone has contract / visa difficulties which mean you need to prioritize this at the very beginning of your stay in Japan!!
• You need to have 2 years left on your visa. They let me off with one month less, but they are otherwise pretty strict. Even though breaking contract in Japan is not as expensive and thoroughly unfair as countries like the UK, you just cannot get the contract without proof of being in Japan for the length of the contract. Sorry!
• Like all cellphones on contract, you need your passport and or gaijin card to prove the above and provide ID. By the way, delaying getting your gaijin card is not worth the hassle, get on that right now if you have been putting it off!
• The iPhone looks like it needs a guaranteed payment each month. Unlike other phones where you can sometimes pay when you are invoiced through your local convenience store – (i.e. you will need a bank account & direct debit, or credit card, but they usually accept foreign credit cards as well).

Things you should know

The iPhone is more expensive than other options, most people think it is worth it though.

• Specify the unlimited internet option. If you’ve had an iPhone before, you know how it’s usefulness is drawn almost entirely from it’s on-the-go internet functionality. Owing to the aforementioned 3G take up and computer-bypassing effect, WiFi is super rare in Japan, and conversely 3G coverage works up to the 6th station of Mt. Fuji (I know, I’ve tested it.. boy was I popular telling the stats of wikipedia to my otherwise spiritually engaged climbing partners..). So, getting anything other than the unlimited internet option is going to cost you lots of money in the long run.
• Make friends with only other Softbank people. Well, do so if you want to save money – there are incredible free minute periods and I think free mail to anyone on the Softbank network. This will be easier to achieve, as, as I said, foreigners are far more likely to be Softbank and iPhone activated.
• Pay about ¥8000 ~ ¥9000 per month. Sorry… that’s how much it costs.

My top 3 Japan related apps

These are all paid apps… I guess quite a bit of specialist knowledge goes into them so I haven’t found equivalent free versions… Have you?

1.

Shin Kanji Like you are going to lug around a 1108 page Nelson dictionary in this day in age. Guessing kanji used to give me such a headache, but ShinKanji has that little handwriting recognition software in it so you are instantly literate (after doing a little iPhone doodle)

2.

Gengou Just found this, it’s only a few cents. No more worrying about which godamn Heisei / Showa year you were born in ~ instant reference!

3.

Anki for iPhone I am a paid up member of the anki cult. If you are learning Japanese this is indispensable. Read my full review here. Have a heart for the hard working developer who got no money the whole time he developed the desktop version and online server – pay up the exorbitant fee he wants for it and consider it a donation / investment in further improved Japanese learning technology for the future!
Well, that’s my slightly practical slash boring recommendations, maybe Claudia has some cool ninja games she could share??

Conclusion: Don’t resist the iPhone! It makes Tokyo living so much easier – if you are eligible go get one!!

For more info see this pdf by Softbank.

Tokyo is THE most populated city on the Planet. With a population over 12 million people, they have designed one of the world’s most efficient train systems. Thus, creating a society where commuting via train is better than by car. So what happens when everybody travels at ... read more »]]> Tokyo is THE most populated city on the Planet. With a population over 12 million people, they have designed one of the world’s most efficient train systems. Thus, creating a society where commuting via train is better than by car. So what happens when everybody travels at the same time to school and work?

ABSOLUTE HELL!

After experiencing it first hand, you feel a closer understanding as to why the suicide rate is three times higher in Japan than in America. You truly want to kill yourself.
Some would describe it as sardines in a can. However, I believe it’s much closer to trying to close your luggage, after you’ve over packed. You have to sit on it and have a friend hold the edges together as you move the zipper inch by inch…and you are the travel size tooth paste.

Yes, I think that would be a much more accurate description. Especially since there are platform workers who’s only job is to push you into the train, so that the doors can shut.

Being inside of a rush hour Tokyo train can truly be dangerous. It is not unheard of to dislocate something, or break a rib(or two).

If you are traveling at the hours of 7:00-9:00, both AM and PM, it is unavoidable. The last train is as bad as rush hour, if not worse. People are pissed drunk and reek of various foul odors.

Thus I provide you with tips on how to survive…

SCENARIO 1: You are first in the train

Highlighted are the desired positions. You want the corner between the door and seats, and the center isle. You are less likely to get squished…these are prime locations. Avoid walls, if the train makes and abrupt stop or turn, you will be in a serious amount of pain.

Note: If you are not getting of at a big station or transfer platform, be ready to push for you life. If you are commuting, try to memorize, which side the doors open on to help you strategically move to these locations.

SCENARIO 2:You are the last to get in.

If you are last in, getting a strategic position is not possible(you are screwed). The train will be packed…and I mean…scary packed. But remember… “IF THERE IS NO ROOM, MAKE ROOM”. Only on occasion will you encounter a situation where it is physically impossible to get in.

Since there are no strategic points, I will provide tips.

Go in Backwards——–Watch your Foot———-Use you arm as leverage

NECESSARY NOTES:

Diagram 1———————–Diagram 2

Diagram 1:
You will encounter people resisting your efforts to get into the train. SCREW THEM! They are being assholes and they should know better. Tuck in our elbows and Push HARDER!

Diagram 2:
For those individual with a low tolerance for pain, AVOID OPEN TOE SHOES! Opt for steel toe combat boots.

*be wary of the enormous gaps between the train and the platform*
(people fall in between all the time!)

Saikyou, Chuo and Yamanote line are notoriously the worst.