strangerer in a strange land wrote:
> On Jul 24, 2:58 pm, "Sigi Rindler" <srind...@da2.so-net.ne.jp> wrote:
>>> You need an Alien Registration Card to get a prepaid phone, so renting is
>>> usually the best option for short stays. The airport is the best place to
>>> do this.

[major snippage]

> The prepaid would only be worth is if a person is regularly coming to
> Japan and thus you would like to have a regular phone number in
> Japan.  When you add minutes with card, the minutes are good for only
> up to 60 days.  The phone number is reserved for that phone for 360
> days from the end of the 60 days.  I guess you could reactivate the
> phone after a year, assuming Softbank is still supporting the
> program.  Plus the phone is very basic, no camera or other extras.

And, to be specific about the out-going rates, they changed from
¥60/minute to ¥2/second last September; doesn't take long to go through
a ¥3000 card at that rate. A simple combination of email and incoming
calls, however, makes the prepaid phones quite useable.

Dan

--
A diplomatic husband said to his wife, "How do you expect me to remember
your birthday when you never look any older?"