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Initial D World - Discussion Board / Forums > Off - Topic Stuff > Traveling to Hokkaido, Japan Help!!


Posted by: ChennyZ May 23 2017, 07:21 AM
Hello guys im back again for more questions.

I will be traveling to Hokkaido by the end of next week and there are a few things i am worried about.

1. Getting around (I will be renting a car) I will be getting my IDP later today. I will be relying on my T-Mobile One international coverage for gps and data signals. Will i need to get a portable WIFI or a Japan SIM card just in case? Because i will most likely be around the urban areas and countrysides. I dont know how well t mobile data coverage is around there.

2. Renting a car, sometimes its cheaper to rent at the airport and sometimes its cheaper to rent outside of the airport. Which is the best places to rent a car? Maybe someone has a website? Should i book ahead of time? or should i book when i arrive?

Thanks in advance!!

Posted by: Nomake Wan May 23 2017, 08:13 AM
QUOTE (ChennyZ @ 52 minutes, 1 seconds ago)
Hello guys im back again for more questions.

I will be traveling to Hokkaido by the end of next week and there are a few things i am worried about.

1. Getting around (I will be renting a car) I will be getting my IDP later today. I will be relying on my T-Mobile One international coverage for gps and data signals. Will i need to get a portable WIFI or a Japan SIM card just in case? Because i will most likely be around the urban areas and countrysides. I dont know how well t mobile data coverage is around there.

2. Renting a car, sometimes its cheaper to rent at the airport and sometimes its cheaper to rent outside of the airport. Which is the best places to rent a car? Maybe someone has a website? Should i book ahead of time? or should i book when i arrive?

Thanks in advance!!

1. Is your phone unlocked? Does your phone support Japan's cellular network frequencies? If the answer to both of those questions is 'yes', then you're good to go. T-Mobile should work just fine in Japan (in case you're not unlocked but the phone supports Japanese frequencies), but if you're concerned then buy a cheapass SIM at the airport when you arrive and slap it in.

You won't need portable wifi.

I can't answer #2 since I've never been and wouldn't have rented a car even if I had. If you can, hit up Takumi Trueno on Facebook since he's out there and has actually rented cars. Or wait for someone here to pop in, I guess.

Posted by: ChennyZ May 23 2017, 11:02 AM
QUOTE (Nomake Wan @ 2 hours, 49 minutes ago)
1. Is your phone unlocked? Does your phone support Japan's cellular network frequencies? If the answer to both of those questions is 'yes', then you're good to go. T-Mobile should work just fine in Japan (in case you're not unlocked but the phone supports Japanese frequencies), but if you're concerned then buy a cheapass SIM at the airport when you arrive and slap it in.

You won't need portable wifi.

I can't answer #2 since I've never been and wouldn't have rented a car even if I had. If you can, hit up Takumi Trueno on Facebook since he's out there and has actually rented cars. Or wait for someone here to pop in, I guess.

1. Yes my phone is unlocked. using the OnePlus 3T device. If my phone supports Japan's network frequency that i don't know i would have to look into that but thanks for input. Something that i didn't think of.

2. I understand if i was in Toyko or other major cities i wouldn't bother with car rentals but Hokkaido is an island north of Japan that's not connected. My guess is that public transportation is limited to urban areas. Since its mostly farmland\countrysides. Besides Sapporo and small surrounding cities.

3. I don't have Facebook. I would have to message Takumi thru messaging here! ohmy.gif

Posted by: Nomake Wan May 23 2017, 01:21 PM
Your phone does support LTE Band 1 (2100 MHz), which NTT Docomo and Softbank both use. Your phone also supports 3G 2100MHz and 900 MHz which, again, NTT Docomo and Softbank use.

So you're good as long as you get a Nano-SIM from NTT Docomo or Softbank.

Posted by: ChennyZ May 23 2017, 01:53 PM
QUOTE (Nomake Wan @ 31 minutes, 22 seconds ago)
Your phone does support LTE Band 1 (2100 MHz), which NTT Docomo and Softbank both use. Your phone also supports 3G 2100MHz and 900 MHz which, again, NTT Docomo and Softbank use.

So you're good as long as you get a Nano-SIM from NTT Docomo or Softbank.

i talked to a Tmobile employee they told me signals should be ok as long as there are towers nearby... ohmy.gif maybe ill save myself a couple bucks and skip the japan sim.

Posted by: Nomake Wan May 23 2017, 02:07 PM
Depends on how service is and what T-mobile charges. Do your research in advance to see which is the better option.

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

Posted by: xiao May 23 2017, 10:55 PM
Yo welcome back dude! Where in Hokkaido are you going to, just Sapporo? Don't forget to get a JR Pass if you plan on heading South too. happy.gif

Never been either, but I dug up a negative review of T-Mobile in Japan.

So Nomake's right, don't be cheap & get a Docomo/Softbank SIM if you think you'll really need it! ohmy.gif

http://nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/t-mobile-for-travelers/#comment-971285

Don't forget to keep us posted & take lots of "selfies" in those onsen's if ya know what I mean jellybean! haha just kidding fear2.gif ...

Posted by: ChennyZ May 24 2017, 05:29 AM
QUOTE (Nomake Wan @ Yesterday, 5:07 PM)
Depends on how service is and what T-mobile charges. Do your research in advance to see which is the better option.

supposedly T Mobile One has free international data and text. Calls are 20 cents per min.

I will be landing in Sapporo but renting a car and driving to other regions. It will be a 12 day travel period.

I think i will invest in a japan sim once i land there. With my phone OnePlus 3T i can dual sim either way!

thanks for the input guys!

Fresh seafood here i comeeeeeeeeee!!!!

@xaio
i probably won't be allowed in an onsen! cause i have tattoos!!

Posted by: Nerubian May 24 2017, 09:34 AM
QUOTE (ChennyZ @ 4 hours, 4 minutes ago)
i probably won't be allowed in an onsen! cause i have tattoos!!

Why? Will people think you're part of Yakuza? blink.gif

Posted by: ChennyZ May 24 2017, 09:55 AM
QUOTE (Nerubian @ 21 minutes, 36 seconds ago)
Why? Will people think you're part of Yakuza? blink.gif

hah i believe that is exactly the reason why. I just know that its forbidden in the hot springs.

but ill be posting selfies on instagram!!! can't wait for this trip. It'll be my first japan trip!

Posted by: kyonpalm May 24 2017, 10:49 AM
You may still want to rent a pocket wifi just in case. Speaking from experience, the first time I went, I was with people who had T-Mobile and their connection was garbage most of the time. Even if all signs point to your phone being able to work just fine, it's not a bad idea to have a backup in case of emergency, because you definitely don't want to be stuck with (effectively) no phone.

CDJapan does http://rental.cdjapan.co.jp/index_en_jpy_10.html as well as http://rental.cdjapan.co.jp/index_en_jpy_7.html rentals with very fair rates.

Posted by: ChennyZ May 24 2017, 11:52 AM
QUOTE (kyonpalm @ 1 hour, 2 minutes ago)
You may still want to rent a pocket wifi just in case. Speaking from experience, the first time I went, I was with people who had T-Mobile and their connection was garbage most of the time. Even if all signs point to your phone being able to work just fine, it's not a bad idea to have a backup in case of emergency, because you definitely don't want to be stuck with (effectively) no phone.

CDJapan does http://rental.cdjapan.co.jp/index_en_jpy_10.html as well as http://rental.cdjapan.co.jp/index_en_jpy_7.html rentals with very fair rates.

rates are not bad. $55 USD for 11 days which is just what i need.

Thanks for the input this will surely help me! especially picking the pocket wifi up at the airport comes in handy.

P.S is this site legit? whistling.gif whistling.gif

also have you rented a car there? better to book in advance or once i arrive? book in the airport or outside airport?

Posted by: Nomake Wan May 24 2017, 02:15 PM
CDJapan is absolutely legit, I can vouch for them personally.

Posted by: xiao May 24 2017, 02:25 PM
QUOTE (ChennyZ @ 4 hours, 28 minutes ago)
hah i believe that is exactly the reason why. I just know that its forbidden in the hot springs.

but ill be posting selfies on instagram!!! can't wait for this trip. It'll be my first japan trip!

If you carry a giant Haruhi hug-pillow, people'll understand you're a gaijin & they'll let you in the hot springs! laugh.gif

Just post the cool pics here via http://imgur.com cause your http://instagram.com/ChennyZ is on private haha user posted image (I swear xiao's not a stalker... YET!)

Seriously tho, I had a friend that worked for Raytheon a private military contractor, as an electronic engineer up there in Hokkaido. I think he said the town's name was called Misawa or Chitose just south of Sapporo. And he loved the Snow sculpture festivals they had during the winter ~ maybe they have some cool stuff during the summer too. happy.gif

ARM the popular producer for http://www.iosysos.com/profile-arm is from Hokkaido！Have fun!!! ♥

--- --- ---

Edit: OH my gosh! Otaru looks beautiful user posted image →

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otaru
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Posted by: kyonpalm May 24 2017, 03:49 PM
QUOTE (ChennyZ @ 3 hours, 56 minutes ago)
also have you rented a car there?

I have not, sorry.

Posted by: ChennyZ Jun 13 2017, 04:59 AM
Here are some pictures i promised from my trip to Hokkaido guys! enjoy! it was a beautiful experience.

it says im not allowed to used image extension on this board. so here is the link to imgur i signed up for.


http://zhengcl86.imgur.com/all/

also the Pocket Wifi worked great! No lost of signals at all. Even in the high mountain areas we had full bars and T mobile's coverage was good. The service was weak but still usable, just have to deal with the 2G speed.

Posted by: xiao Jun 14 2017, 06:34 PM
QUOTE (ChennyZ @ Yesterday, 6:59 AM)
http://zhengcl86.imgur.com/all/

But there's no pictures in the album tho mang...? unsure.gif

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Glad you had fun though ... North Japan sounds beautiful!

Posted by: ChennyZ Jun 15 2017, 10:31 AM
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it should work now! sorry if im spamming. whistling.gif

@xiao uploaded a picture of Otaru canal for ya but it was rainy that day so not the best lighting.

@Nerubian mostly all of the Onsens banned me from entering because of my tattoos. I only got to enjoy 1 of the Onsen at our hotels but it was at like 1 AM in the morning when everyone was sleeping i was bath. LoL i guess they can't complain when there's noone around.

Posted by: xiao Jun 15 2017, 08:00 PM
QUOTE (ChennyZ @ 9 hours, 24 minutes ago)
@xiao uploaded a picture of Otaru canal for ya but it was rainy that day so not the best lighting.

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Dude! That's so cool that you went to Otaru. w00t2.gif

If you ever read the https://youtube.com/watch?v=isUbizchCoI manga, the author has a fascination with Venice, so she visited Otaru quite often to get planning & inspiration. They call Otaru the "little Venice" of Japan.

I want to go there one day cause I got a friend in Hokkaido I met thru the net! happy.gif

QUOTE (ChennyZ @ 9 hours, 24 minutes ago)
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Was Itsuki screaming on the back of the Hachi when you reached the top of the lake again? laugh.gif

Posted by: ChennyZ Jun 16 2017, 06:29 AM
@xiao haha my girlfriend sure was screaming when we were driving in the back roads during a rainy night!!

i also did get pulled over going 55 kph.....thats like 34 mph.....who goes that slow!! and i was in the country road...wide open space...noone around. I was in Hakodate coastal area. Lucky japanese cops were so nice they let me off with a warning and gave me a lecture on Japanese speed limit road signs. (which i already knew!)

http://imgur.com/YMx9Wi6
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Posted by: Nomake Wan Jun 16 2017, 03:29 PM
Yeah Japanese speed limits are waaaaaaaaaaay low. It's crazy. RIP people trying to get from one end of the country to the other, that's for damn sure. It makes you wonder why they bother making fast cars... awesome.gif

Posted by: xiao Jun 17 2017, 05:37 PM
QUOTE (Nomake Wan @ Yesterday, 5:29 PM)
It makes you wonder why they bother making fast cars... awesome.gif

Speed limits are meant to be broken man！user posted image

Chenny did you head down South to Tokyo & take pictures of those damn-pretty sakura trees adorning the Kaido Battle 2 roads in Hakone park？user posted image

Perfect timing cause it's Spring & all！

Posted by: ChennyZ Jun 19 2017, 04:34 AM
QUOTE (xiao @ Jun 17 2017, 08:37 PM)
Speed limits are meant to be broken man！https://idforums.net/html/emoticons/laugh.gif

Chenny did you head down South to Tokyo & take pictures of those damn-pretty sakura trees adorning the Kaido Battle 2 roads in Hakone park？https://idforums.net/html/emoticons/wub.gif

Perfect timing cause it's Spring & all！

no, i only covered the Hokkaido area. Central and West Hokkaido to be exact. south west, north west. I racked up 855 miles on the rental car tho.

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