business

Free Wi-Fi coming to McDonald’s Japan branches

37 Comments
By Casey Baseel, RocketNews24

For a couple of years now, McDonald’s Japan has been looking with envy at Starbucks’ and other coffee houses’ ability to draw in customers throughout the day to sip and snack even outside of peak dining hours. In response, the burger chain has remodeled many of its locations for greater style and comfort, and launched its own McCafe menu of upscale (for a fast food joint) beverages and desserts.

Now, McDonald’s branches in Japan are adding something else that’s a big part of Starbucks’ attraction: free Wi-Fi.

McDonald’s has announced that it will be adding complimentary wireless Internet access to select restaurants, with the service scheduled to be available in some 1,500 branches across all 47 Japanese prefectures by the end of July. Customers can log in using their email, Facebook, or Twitter account, and initially guidance will be offered in both Japanese and English, with Chinese, Korean, and one as-yet-unannounced language (though the smart bet would be Thai) set to be added in the future.

The first Japanese McDonald’s locations will be getting their free Wi-Fi on June 20, so if you’re looking for a place to rest your feet and soak up the AC this summer, now you have one that’ll let you keep up with all of the important online happenings too.

Source: Fashion Press via Jin

Read more stories from RocketNews24. -- About time! Osaka embraces free city-wide Wi-Fi -- Free Wi-Fi now available on Tohoku Shinkansen, inside Tokyo’s Yamanote Line stations -- McDonald’s Japan to give new burgers away for free—provided you have the right name

© Japan Today

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.


37 Comments
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gee only about 5-10 years late..

Maybe Im just getting old, but I do have an issue with Starbuck, Maccas and alike being used as study halls, I don't go to these places often but having to wait to sit down, or not being able to at all, while 20 or so students are sitting there who clearly haven't brought anything in hours take up all the seats and tables, I suspect this will only make this issue worse.

12 ( +13 / -2 )

I've concluded that - by and large - Japan, Tokyo especially, just doesn't "get" the concept of free WiFi. Lame attempts like carrier hotspots (which you only ever use for minutes at a time, if at all) & the likes of Yahoo BB aside, there is almost always a catch, and you ALWAYS have to go through a convoluted registation process.

I once offered to help some tourists attempting to connect to Starbucks' WiFi, which requires a connection to sign up (yep, you also have to manually type in the URL to access te sign-up page). So, get this - I had to tether my phone to their laptop to get them to the sign-up page, as the Starbucks staff weren't interested in helping. And here I was just waiting in line for my overpriced & bland "coffee"!

Then again, anything IT-related here is always made out to be as overly-complicated as possible anyway! Oh won't 2020 be fun...

11 ( +15 / -5 )

In Japan this become one of daily news but in the world it's usual to get Free-Wifi at city or restaurant or other places.

By installing Wifi system in McDonald's, it's still unclear how much they will get additional customers and profit in future.

But it's better for Japanese and especially foreigners that Free-Wifi can be used.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

i don't understand why MC D's make it sound like it's a breakthrough thing. get a router, remove password. done in 5 mins. even un-classy coffee shops and restaurants in 3rd world countries have "free" wifi way back years ago. actually, nowadays it's kind of already an expectation to have it. especially for "tourist" prone areas. it's more surprising if you don't have it than if you have.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

i don't understand why MC D's make it sound like it's a breakthrough thing

It is a breakthrough thing in Japan.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

All right! The 21st century!

8 ( +9 / -1 )

Japan rates even behind some third-world countries in regards to public wifi. In many places in America McDonald's has been offering free wifi with no registration or sign in since 2003. Parks and tourist areas in larger American cities offer similar free wifi since 2005.

Japan is one of the places which would benefit most from this service, as larger numbers of tourists who have a hard time getting around could really use it. But Japan's economy is not free,

7 ( +8 / -1 )

I didn't realize this until about 6 months ago when I bought my a Japanese Amazon tablet. No free wifi anywhere without having to sign up for it. Unbelievable! Returned it for a US one.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

1.) McDonalds provides free wifi 2.) Someone uses free wifi to send bullying line messages, death threats or scam old people 3.) Media picks up the story and goes crazy over free wifi 4.) McDonalds executives apologies 5.) Ministry of Bureaucracy publishes new administrative guidance on providing free wifi in Japan 6.) Free wifi is never seen again.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

MacD is supposed to be "fast food". Do they now want people to hang out there for hours, surfing and sipping on their cheap coffee? Starbucks etc. I can understand, but fast food joints?

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Wow, a whole decade behind! I remember six years ago when McD's announced they were going to supply free internet to wireless devices, but it turns out it was only for kids with Nintendo DS to play Mario Brothers or Dragon Ball or something. Japan is far enough behind the times in terms of providing Wi-Fi hotspots, it's amazing McD's is only doing this now out of desperation.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

Maybe Im just getting old, but I do have an issue with Starbuck, Maccas and alike being used as study halls, I don't go to these places often but having to wait to sit down, or not being able to at all, while 20 or so students are sitting there who clearly haven't brought anything in hours take up all the seats and tables

Not just with students but also senior citizens who spend a great deal of their retirement time there loitering and chatting with fellow seniors. I see this especially at McDonald's. If you ever need proof of Japan's aging society, just walk into any of the golden arches.

I suspect this will only make this issue worse.

With free wi-fi, a chance to save from using up one's data plan, while taking advantage of the 100 yen menu, you bet.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Not sure its a great selling point. Perso i never spend more than 20min at maccas, not the kind of place where i want to spend a lazy arvo sipping coffees. Free wifi in nice cafes or public places such as libraries makes sense, not so much at fast-food restos imo.

It may be a good initiative for tourists, not so much for japan tourism itself though( i can picture gaijins on a budget spending hours browsing at maccas sipping free coke).

0 ( +1 / -1 )

certainly won't entice me there.....

1 ( +2 / -1 )

McDonald's had an agreement with Softbank and there were Softbank hotspots in all locatoins. The managers used to turn off the routers and claimed they didn't know how to fix it so customers would leave and open up seats. Otherwise, too many people just hung around drinking one cup of coffee for 3 hours.

I predict the same thing will happen again.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

I've given up trying to connect when I see "wifi available" signs in Japan. Usability is terrible.

Good on McDs. I hope proper "free wifi" catches on.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Japan's economy is not free

Best point in the thread.

No bulk discounts. Telecoms cartels. Jumping through hoops. Being victim to a vacuous Omotenashi where you get something unexpected (read: unwanted) for free (read: included in the price). Point cards.

McDonalds might just find this move reduces, not increases, customer turnover.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Sure free WiFi....

the thing is... why do we need to stuck our faces to a PC/smartphone/tablet all the time everywhere?

So people are going to use these free WiFi as most people do in Starbucks and in other countries where WiFi is free... being connected to FB/Twitter/Instagram to post and make public every single step they take?

Ten years ago, I used to do my work at a coffee house that offered free WiFi (it was slow and kind of crappy since it as in South America at the time)... I was able to get my job done, sit down on a table and drinking coffee quietly. And after that meet with my friends nearby....

Now, if I try to do that... the same coffee shop is over crowded with every single people taking pictures every 5 seconds, the net is slow because there are so many devises connected at once... I prefer to stay at my house and do the work there quietly instead of having to hear the late post of the former boyfriend of the perky girl that is sitting down next to me...

... And in Japan.. lately the usual Starbucks where I go is getting the same...

2 ( +4 / -2 )

If it hasn't been said already enough times, make sure that you use a reputable VPN service if you EVER plan on using free (open) unsecured wi-fi networks otherwise you run the risk of having all your data transmissions mined for your personal passwords and financial information out of thin air.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Meanwhile, their neighbor SK (whom they tend to look down on) has free wifi in every part of the country.

I do have an issue with Starbuck, Maccas and alike being used as study halls, I don't go to these places often but having to wait to sit down, or not being able to at all, while 20 or so students are sitting there who clearly haven't brought anything in hours take up all the seats and tables, I suspect this will only make this issue worse

My advice, mate, is just avoid going to these places. They're crap anyway. We have a NO Mcdonald's or Starbucks policy in our home.

I've concluded that - by and large - Japan, Tokyo especially, just doesn't "get" the concept of free WiFi. Lame attempts like carrier hotspots (which you only ever use for minutes at a time, if at all) & the likes of Yahoo BB aside, there is almost always a catch, and you ALWAYS have to go through a convoluted registation process

As with ANYTHING and EVERYTHING in Japan.

And here I was just waiting in line for my overpriced & bland "coffee

That's one reason we have that policy in my home.

Then again, anything IT-related here is always made out to be as overly-complicated as possible anyway! Oh won't 2020 be fun...

Yep. Can't wait.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

To be fair to Japan, most of their people have phones with 3G/4G capability. As a person with that ability as well, I find that I don't even bother looking for available hotspots since just sticking with the phone connection is more convenient.

1 ( +1 / -1 )

For those of you who were here pre-3/11, McD's had a deal with Nintendo to provide free WI-FI in the restaurants. It lead to lumps sitting in seats for hours on end...

Good times, good times...

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

NZ2011: "Maybe Im just getting old, but I do have an issue with Starbuck, Maccas and alike being used as study halls, I don't go to these places often but having to wait to sit down, or not being able to at all, while 20 or so students are sitting there who clearly haven't brought anything in hours take up all the seats and tables, I suspect this will only make this issue worse."

Well, if it'll make you feel any younger you'll be glad to know that Starbucks shops are actually starting to give people the boot if they stay for too long without ordering anything (more), and in some locations, such as the Kyoto Kamo River Starbucks, they won't even let you sit down on the river front area if you have a book with you. So, whether they are students in gaggles and giggles taking up space, or old geezers taking advantage of the 'free' air-conditioning for a nap, the are FINALLY starting to crack down on what could be classed as loitering. Even McD's are starting to put up signs stating they will not give water to customers who do not order anything, and will ask people who stay too long and do not order anything to leave. So, that situation is getting better little by little, although I don't think they're strict when business is slow.

Daniel Neagari: "the thing is... why do we need to stuck our faces to a PC/smartphone/tablet all the time everywhere?"

No, "the thing is" it's not your place to tell people what they should be doing and/or how to enjoy their free time. If that's what people like, so be it. I have no doubt they look at you and wonder why the oyaji has to bring his PC and do work at a coffee shop, but likewise they have no right to question what and why you do something in your free time so long as it is not harming others. You have no right to say it's okay to take a PC to do work, but not okay for people to stick their faces in PCs or smart phones or what have you in the same sentence.

Aly Rustom: Not just SK, but most countries in the world have Wi-Fi hotspots pretty much everywhere these days, and while some are crap and you have to sign up and/or make a profile to actually access them, they are ALL like that in the few places they have them in Japan. VERY unfriendly for tourists.

kohakuebisu: "I've given up trying to connect when I see "wifi available" signs in Japan. Usability is terrible."

Exactly! Even at the airports the 'free wi-fi' is horrible, and you have to sign up for something before you can use it. I use the one at my Starbucks because I made an account to do so some time ago, but half the time it says, "cannot connect to wi-fi" and is unusable. Can still use my cell, of course, or do some writing on my Macbook Air, but can't connect to check in on you lovely people if I should so choose.

McD's isn't going to improve things with this, slightly. It'll get the same clientele to maybe buy another cup of coffee (they used to have free refills way back when), but I doubt it'll draw new people that are going to spend a lot of money.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

@Smithinjapan

So I am an "oyaji"... hohoho... and by your stand you are a rebellious teenager it seems.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Daniel: don't take it personally. Any adult is seen as such by a child, myself included, especially if they are complaining about how kids use modern tech. I happen to agree with you, by the way, that as a society we are often too immersed in tech instead of the real world. My point was just that neither you nor I have the right to dictate how others spend their time or what they should enjoy.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

@Smith

I know.. sorry.. I said in another comment... I have been kind of enjoying "fighting" with you.

Any how, I do disagree with you in this one... I think it is necessary to tell the people that there is more to the world surrounding them than, the latest twit from Democles or the "cute selfie they took before eating a tuna sandwich".

People are getting to absorbed in this social media thing and I think it is up to us "oyaji's" and "obasans" and "preppy guys who don't want to be one of the bunch" to tell the people that.

That McD's doesn't offer free WiFi... maybe would have being a good thing, maybe the people who went there talked to each other a bit more and enjoy the food (as crappy as may be).

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Daniel Neagari: "Any how, I do disagree with you in this one... I think it is necessary to tell the people that there is more to the world surrounding them than, the latest twit from Democles or the "cute selfie they took before eating a tuna sandwich"."

You're entitled to your opinion, but you still have ZERO right to say it's wrong to go into Starbucks and take selfies, but okay to carry a laptop into a coffee shop and stick your face in it for work.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

About time. As others have pointed out, McD's has had wifi for years in SK and elsewhere. It's a little odd that wifi has been slow to catch on in Japan, especially given its high-tech reputation. We see this explanation from kazuaki:

To be fair to Japan, most of their people have phones with 3G/4G capability. As a person with that ability as well

But this 'ability' is not unique to Japan! Most phone users in most countries have 3G or 4G, but this doesn't prevent wifi from being popular and useful.

Here in Taipei, you can sign up to city-wide free wifi. You have to sign up with a Taiwanese number, but tourists are provided for and can sign up by going to tourist information with your passport. And that gets you wifi all over the place - every station, major roads, all tourist & sightseeing spots, public buildings (libraries etc), so you only need to sign up the once. McD's doesn't have wifi in Taiwan, but with the public wifi there isn't much need for private businesses to take the lead.

To be fair, some cities in Japan have done similar - the new underground passage from Sapporo station to Odori station has good free wifi, and Kyoto and Osaka have been introducing free city wifi. But nothing in Tokyo from the metro/wards, leaving you having to go through all those mendokusai sign-ups for JR, metro, 7-11, etc, separately if you need wifi... given that non-residents aren't allowed to buy phones in Japan, and given that even for residents Japanese phone companies won't give you a contract phone if you only have a one-year visa, and given that their prepaid services are absolutely lousy on the data front, wifi is very useful for a lot of people... and a lot of visitors will be coming to Tokyo in 2020, and as things stand they won't be able to get a local SIM in their phone and they won't be able to find wifi easily, and they will not be impressed. If things don't improve, Japan's high-tech reputation will be lost.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Not just SK, but most countries in the world have Wi-Fi hotspots pretty much everywhere these days, and while some are crap and you have to sign up and/or make a profile to actually access them, they are ALL like that in the few places they have them in Japan. VERY unfriendly for tourists.

so true smith. so true.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Peter Qinghai: "For those of you who were here pre-3/11, McD's had a deal with Nintendo to provide free WI-FI in the restaurants. It lead to lumps sitting in seats for hours on end..."

As I said, it was only Wi-Fi in that it let you use a Nintendo DS for networked games. That's all.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

There's going to lots of keyboards that have 'that smell' out there, and screens flecked with bits of ketchup and special sauce.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Ah, the joys of Wi-Fi. Can't remember the last time I communicated with anyone in my family. Every evening is the same- my wife on her tablet / PC (Facebook); my 13 year old daughter on her phone (Instagram/YouTube); my 9 year old son on his DS or Xbox; oh well, if you can't beat 'em.. my personal screen of choice is the good old gogglebox, and at least I don't get bothered as I watch every single game in Euro 2016 at home here in England. The only downside is that I have to fetch my own beer from the fridge as no one responds when I shout out for someone to bring me another can to drown my sorrows at England's latest abject non-performance. Ho hum..

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

as the Starbucks staff weren't interested in helping.

It's a restaurant not a computer store. I don't want to see the Starbucks staff helping some twat set up Wi-Fi when I need my coffee

0 ( +1 / -1 )

>FizzBitJun wrote on 15, 2016 - 10:20AM JST

I didn't realize this until about 6 months ago when I bought my a Japanese Amazon tablet. No free wifi anywhere without having to sign up for it. Unbelievable! Returned it for a US one.

Oh, wait. Pardon me, but what would be the difference between a Japanese Amazon tablet and a US one? It's not like free wifi spots in Japan would miraculously show up just because the tablet is an US model...

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

vallum

You're right, that didn't come out right. Went back to visit family and picked one up back home, plus a lot cheaper. With the Japanese one, unless you can find a truly free wifi, you can't register the tablet.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Sigh... I'd like to see public places block the use of electronic devices. People might actually communicate with one another then, lol.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

I'd prefer that there were no free Wi-Fi. Get rid of all these loiterers. Also if you do go to any restaurant don't ask the staff to help you sign up for the Wi-Fi. It slows down the meal service. The average in and out time in New York restaurants is now over an hour where as it used to be 45 minutes ... All due to Wi-Fi demands

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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