Job Discussion Forums

[ravel]

Hi I just arrived in Osaka from Seoul. I need to find a prepaid/pay as you go cell phone. I went to Den Den town today and found one place, but they were sold out and didn't know when they would be getting more in I found out that they are available at Kansai airport, but does anyone know of somewhere closer to Dobutsuen mae station where I can get one? I am wanting to look into esl jobs here, so I need the phone right away so employers can contact me. Second....I found a place selling used bikes for about 6000 to 8000 yen, I am undecided if the folding bike have any real advantages. Can you bring a folding bike onto the train when other bikes are not allowed? I've never had a folding bike so I don't know how they are for general riding. Finally what about multi gear bikes, why are there so few here?


Thank for helping,
ravel

[fluffyhamster]

I thought you could (i.e. am pretty sure that you can) still buy prepaid phones in convenience stores (provided you have your ID/"gaijin" card by now, to prove your address).

Regarding the bike, I'd imagine it would be OK if you weren't taking it onto rush-hour trains or regularly, but just to be safe you might want to consider cramming it into a big holdall or something to make it less conspicuous (perhaps they come supplied with one already?). I suppose it ultimately depends on how small the particular model folds, and its weight.

[ravel]

Thank for the info, the trick here is....I don't have a fixed address yet, I'm here as a tourist, and if I had a Gaigin card I could just get a contract phone, that is why I want a prepaid, which from what I've seen so far are existant but rare here, I' check at the conveince stores though.

Thanks
ravel

[fluffyhamster]

It used to be the case that one could buy a prepaid phone anonymously, but given the spate(s) of 'moshi moshi' scams etc, the phone companies were forced to make all prepaid customers, whether existing or future, register their most recent personal details. I doubt if you will be able to get one unless you can provide evidence of having a relatively fixed address (and to get the ID card with your address on it, you need to show you have an employer and thus a visa allowing work of some sort etc). But I could be wrong about some or all of this, so keep checking back here until somebody sets me and you straight about whether it's possible as a tourist. As for the popularity of prepaid phones, it might be hard to tell if a lack of stock implies they're selling like hot cakes or not being ordered due to unpopularity! Whatever may be the case, you could also try going directly to the phone companies' shops themselves if it turns out you are allowed to buy one but your local convenience store is out of 'em.

But hey, seeing as you're here as a tourist maybe it should be you who's calling them (and outlining your reasons for wanting to be possibly interviewed sooner rather than later) rather than waiting for them to call you, and you can do that (i.e. badgering) from a pay phone (or by checking your email at least once a day).

BTW, you know that prepaid phones are pretty expensive when it comes to making calls, right?

[rampo]

I got a phone from Softbank on my first full day here.

Take the subway to Umeda Station (Midosuji line). Go to the Floatcourt mall. On the second level is a Softbank store, right across from a kaiten sushi place.

They asked me for ID (ostensibly a gaijin card) and an address, so I gave them my passport and my hostel address. Their English is so bad I think they couldn't manage to turn me away and so gave me a phone on the spot. They're sweethearts- they even programmed the phone and registered my calling card for me.

[Willy_In_Japan]

Softbank wouldnt give me a prepaid phone because my Alien card was only registered at the City Hall at the beginning of my 3 year visa. They said I had to 'renew' it at the City Hall, so they couldnt give me a phone.
It said October 2004 and well, of course everyone knows you have to 'renew' it once a year, right?

Totally bogus. As far as I know, you have to register your Alien card with the new visa only once. I guess I should get them to write down the expiry date of the visa next time.

I just got my friend to get it for me on his card. Bloody annoying.

[fluffyhamster]

[markle]

Prepaid phone have been almost impossible to find since New Year (anyone got one in the last 3 months?). I gave up.

"Can you bring a folding bike onto the train when other bikes are not allowed? I've never had a folding bike so I don't know how they are for general riding. Finally what about multi gear bikes, why are there so few here?"

You can get any bike on a train if it can fit in a bag (just avoid peak hour) Folding bikes are just easier to deal with.
For commuting around the city folding bikes are great, but longer haul they aren't the best.
In fact most bikes are multi gear just the mechanism is different to the standard derailluer (sp?) You have to look abit harder for road and mountain bikes.
[/code]

[Willy_In_Japan]

[Zzonkmiles]

[fluffyhamster]

I'm not sure if arguing the finer points of bureaucratic red tape is what most people would imagine they'd need to be able to 'effectively communicate in the local language'. In fact, if it weren't for this prepaid phone crackdown, I doubt if anyone would really care about the updating or not of the card's stated Period of Stay (as opposed to the actual Period of Stay/visa itself in the passport) - I mean, it's not like people who've overstayed their visas are walking around flashing updated ARCs and fooling everybody that way, is it.

[BigPoppa]

It's very expensive, but if you REALLY need a local cellphone:

http://www.softbank-rental.jp/