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NTT DOCOMO, Inc says that a further 11 brands will participate in its joint program to offer benefits tailored to overseas visitors in Japan. Also, one more mobile operator will soon become a partner in the initiative.
Under the program, special deals at specific shops and websites are offered to customers who roam on the DOCOMO mobile network while in Japan. Customers can access the deals via their mobile phone.
In addition to Japan-based tax-free retailer Laox, which has been partnering with DOCOMO since July 2015, customers will now be able to get special deals at Mitsui Outlet Park, LaLaport shopping malls, the COREDO shopping mall, the Nihonbashi Mitsui Tower shopping mall, Megane Ichiba eyewear shops, ALOOK eyewear shops, MUJI shops, Daimaru department stores, and Matsuzakaya department stores, as well as coupon websites Hot Pepper Beauty and Hot Pepper Gourmet.
Customers from Hong Kong will soon be able to receive the special deals, bringing the number of partner mobile operators up to four. DOCOMO has been partnering with China Mobile Communications Corporation since October 1, 2015, KT Corporation since December 18, 2015, and Far Eastone Telecommunications Co, Ltd since February 1, 2016.
Under its +d initiative to intensify efforts to share its extensive business assets with partner companies, DOCOMO said it will continue to strengthen support for foreign visitors. Going forward, the company plans to add even more partner enterprises and mobile operators to expand this innovative benefit program to more visitors.
© Japan Today
13 Comments
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AsianGaijinYesWeExist
When I visited Japan, what I wanted most was free wifi signal, not special deals if I roam with a local telco. But boy do they make it hard for you. Spotty or none at train stations and shopping malls. In hotels, there is no signal in the room, so I was sitting in the lobby in my bathrobe and fuzzy slippers checking my email. Then I realized that I could stand outside most 7-Elevens to get free wifi signal.
m6bob
I had no problems at all with WIFI in the Prince Hotel at Sunshine City in January & was stark naked in the shower with my water-resistant Sony Xperia while streaming music.
Yoshitsune
What they really need to do is allow overseas visitors to be able to buy a local SIM card. In Thailand, in China, in Korea, in Taiwan, in Europe, in Canada, etc etc, one simply walks into a phone shop, asks for a prepaid SIM, pays, and leaves with a working local number. Perfect for a stay of a few weeks or months. Yet in Japan you have to be a citizen or a resident to get a Japanese number; why?! It's ridiculous, and there will be a lot of very unimpressed visitors come 2020.
turbotsat
How can they track your phone if they let you do that?
bullfighter
Family Mart also has free WiFi. I have found that the free WiFi from convenience stores often carries some distance outside the store. Convenience store WiFi is probably currently the best bet for both visitors and locals without a contract with one of the WiFi providers.
I have not checked SIM cards, but you can certainly rent smart phones for local use at Narita and Haneda.
Free WiFi is being expanded. I would expect it to be fairly general by the time of the Olympics.
bisoy
You can actually buy a SIM in Japan. No need for credit card. But for security reasons, it is not sold to those with tourist visa, and you have to show proof of residence. The provider is Docomo but , it's not sold at Docomo shops. It's sold at a special dealer in Yokohama.
Yoshitsune
Exactly what I was referring to, because of:
Which is totally ridiculous. Because of "security concerns" (whatever that is supposed to mean) visitors must rent a phone rather than simply putting a local SIM into their own phone, at much greater expense. As I said, if they don't change this there will be a lot of unimpressed visitors in 2020, and no one has ever given me a logical explanation for what the "security concerns" are regarding foreigners having phones!
wtfjapan
@asian 7/11, lawson, FM all have free wifi, although Lawson and 7/11 give you 1hr session before it cuts out and you have to logon again, FM is only about 20minutes which can be a pain in the butt at times.
DDDMone
There are several prepaid SIM options in Japan... all with no residency or even ID required.
I've used several services that can be purchased at any major electronics retailer. Here's a pretty good article that outlines many of your options: https://tokyocheapo.com/business/internet/prepaid-cheap-japan-sim-card-options/
As for WiFi, get Japan Wi-Fi app.
AsianGaijinYesWeExist
I get connected to check emails and a quick glance of social media. Takes less than 15 minutes, so those time limits don't bother me. 7-Eleven is easy, but one of the other chains wants you to register first, and of course everything was in Japanese. Store clerk was very eager to help but we went nowhere.
As to security concerns with prepaid SIM, in Singapore, as a tourist, you walk into any 7-Eleven, ask for a prepaid SIM, hand your passport to the clerk so he or she can type in some info into the computer, pay, and you're out the door. Sometimes, people (Japanese regulators or whoever) overthink stuff.
Yoshitsune
Exactly as it should be! In Korea they also check your passport, while every other country I've had a SIM in (UK, Canada, Austria, PRC, ROC, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand) didn't even do that.
Black Sabbath
Special benefits like detention and deportation?
AsianGaijinYesWeExist
Used to be no checking in Singapore too, until terrorism became a real concern with the Bali bombings.
I've bought prepaid SIM in Malaysia, China and Hong Kong with ease as well. Even in the US, you can buy a prepaid SIM fairly easily from T-Mobile outlets. Japan really needs to work on this issue before the Olympics.