cell phone for short visit

can anyone suggest where to rent a cell phone for a short visit to tokyo? for 4 weeks, thanx

kmj,

can anyone suggest where to rent a cell phone for a short visit to tokyo? for 4 weeks

At the airport when you arrive.

The airport rentals are convenient in that you can just go to a counter, fill out some forms, and pick one up. You then usually have to return it to an office in the same airport. I just got a Softbank phone at Centrair that looked good as they were advertising Y250/day rentals. The airtime was expensive though as they charged Y100 per rounded up minute domestic, and Y200 per rounded up minute to the US. My calls were a lot more than the phone even though I didn't use it that much.

I usually get a phone through rentafonejapan.com, but I didn't this time as I didn't plan ahead and they like a few days to deliver it from their Kyoto office.
http://rentafonejapan.com/

The phone and charger is delivered to your first hotel (or you can pick it up at an airport post office) and to return it you just stick it in the supplied envelope and drop it in any mailbox. The charges are Y90/minute but rounded up to the nearest 6 seconds. You can also use the pre-programmed discount card by dialing a prefix which gets you down to Y55 to other cells or Y35 to land lines. Calling the US is Y45/minute any time of day. Incoming calls are also free. For anything over a week and using the phone, I've found this service to total the lowest costs over a 2 to 6 week period.

Hey. Are you located in the US perchance? If you are, you can get a hostel international membership, and one of the perks is a cell phone that can be used nearly anywhere in the world, with air time charges similar to renting a phone in Japan.

http://www.hiusa.org

This link specifically goes to the phone page where you can see the prices and countries where the phone works. I've found this better than renting, because it's easier, and if you destroy the phone or lose it, it's no big deal.

http://www.hiusa.ekit.com/ekit/home/

Have fun!

I also used rentafone Japan.

(1)I wanted to know my phone number before I left home.

(2)I had the phone delivered to me in New York (for a small extra charge) as I was going directly to Hakone the same day I arrived at NRT and did not want to have to spend time looking for a phone then.

Enjoy!

got it, thanx a lot