DigitalHeMan Posted May 5, 2015 Author Share #161 Posted May 5, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi All, We've realised that it is almost impossible to find a suitable meeting point (cafe or bar) for the group without being in Tokyo to physically find somewhere So we'll keep the meeting point open until I have arrived in Tokyo and found somewhere suitable close to the hotels - please keep an eye on this thread for the details. For those of you that use WhatsApp on your mobiles, please send me a PM with your mobile number, and I will add you to a WhatsApp group so that we can communicate easily there as well Thanks Simon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted May 5, 2015 Posted May 5, 2015 Hi DigitalHeMan, Take a look here Asia One Challenge 2015. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
farnz Posted May 5, 2015 Share #162 Posted May 5, 2015 Simon, I have a guide book that's quite negative about overseas mobile phones working in Japan and recommends acquiring a Japan-based one. What's your experience on SIM cards and phones on, say, O2, Voda etc overseas contracts working as expected please? If it's just a hefty tariff I can live with that but if it's going to have little or no network coverage then that could be a bit of a problem (for most of us). Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DigitalHeMan Posted May 5, 2015 Author Share #163 Posted May 5, 2015 Simon, I have a guide book that's quite negative about overseas mobile phones working in Japan and recommends acquiring a Japan-based one. What's your experience on SIM cards and phones on, say, O2, Voda etc overseas contracts working as expected please? If it's just a hefty tariff I can live with that but if it's going to have little or no network coverage then that could be a bit of a problem (for most of us). Pete. Hi Pete Japan doesn't have a GSM network, so GSM only phones don't work. However most modern 3G or 4G phones are compatible with one or other of the Japanese networks. Personally I have used iPhone and HTC Android phones over there with no problems. Take a look at http:/www.japan-guide.com/e/e2233.html for more details. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
farnz Posted May 5, 2015 Share #164 Posted May 5, 2015 … Take a look at http:/www.japan-guide.com/e/e2233.html for more details. Interesting … I copied and pasted the link and my browser got hijacked to a website advertising jobs for foreigners in Japan - www.jobs.gaijin.com. I managed to find my way through the front door of the japan-guide website and the correct page is at the address in the link you provided so thanks for that. Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DigitalHeMan Posted May 5, 2015 Author Share #165 Posted May 5, 2015 Interesting … I copied and pasted the link and my browser got hijacked to a website advertising jobs for foreigners in Japan - www.jobs.gaijin.com. I managed to find my way through the front door of the japan-guide website and the correct page is at the address in the link you provided so thanks for that. Pete. Weird. I copied the link from my iPhone initially, but when I click on the link from my desktop I get the same redirection..... try again and see if it makes a difference... http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2223.html Edit - I see I missed a / out of the original link.... weird that that should cause redirection in that way though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
farnz Posted May 5, 2015 Share #166 Posted May 5, 2015 Yes that works fine now, Simon, except I appear to have landed a job as a Sumo fluffer in Kobe so that should be interesting if not challenging … Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
erl Posted May 5, 2015 Share #167 Posted May 5, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) Yes that works fine now, Simon, except I appear to have landed a job as a Sumo fluffer in Kobe so that should be interesting if not challenging … Pete. You must have put on more weight in the last 6 months Pete! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
erl Posted May 5, 2015 Share #168 Posted May 5, 2015 Two questions in my mind re mobiles in Japan. 1. I use an old iPone 3GS which is not really supported for upgrades now. 2. When travelling, I use a TravelSIM card that claims to work world wide. To date it has and is very good. I will query TravelSIM service with the precise question re Japan and post any useful info here. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
takanori.tomimatsu.apple Posted May 6, 2015 Share #169 Posted May 6, 2015 Hi Takanori san Thanks for joining the forum, and I hope you are able to meet with us when we are in Tokyo! Simon DigitalHeMan, Thank you for your kind reply. I'll be glad to see you in Tokyo, too. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
satijntje Posted May 6, 2015 Share #170 Posted May 6, 2015 Welcome to the forum Takanori. I hope that you will be able to join us in 2 weeks time in Tokyo! Looking forward meeting you in your village :-) John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnakChan Posted May 6, 2015 Share #171 Posted May 6, 2015 Hi All, We've realised that it is almost impossible to find a suitable meeting point (cafe or bar) for the group without being in Tokyo to physically find somewhere So we'll keep the meeting point open until I have arrived in Tokyo and found somewhere suitable close to the hotels - please keep an eye on this thread for the details. For those of you that use WhatsApp on your mobiles, please send me a PM with your mobile number, and I will add you to a WhatsApp group so that we can communicate easily there as well Thanks Simon Most of you are in E Hotel/Granbell Hotel in Higashi Shinjuku. Initially meeting in E-Hotel probably makes sense as it's just next to the Higashi Shinjuku station entrance. If it's meeting other folks in Tokyo, meeting points in the big stops can be a little daunting since Tokyo can get very crowded. I can recommend a few places depending on what you guys wanna do. Two questions in my mind re mobiles in Japan. 1. I use an old iPone 3GS which is not really supported for upgrades now. 2. When travelling, I use a TravelSIM card that claims to work world wide. To date it has and is very good. I will query TravelSIM service with the precise question re Japan and post any useful info here. If you (or anyone else) are considering prepaid SIMS :- https://t.iijmio.jp/en/ http://www.bmobile.ne.jp/english/ If anyone has any other questions prior to arrival, please don't hesitate to ask me (I've been living in Tokyo for 15 years). I'll try my best to help out. Otherwise, hope to meet you all for dinner or drinks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
satijntje Posted May 6, 2015 Share #172 Posted May 6, 2015 Most of you are in E Hotel/Granbell Hotel in Higashi Shinjuku. Initially meeting in E-Hotel probably makes sense as it's just next to the Higashi Shinjuku station entrance. If it's meeting other folks in Tokyo, meeting points in the big stops can be a little daunting since Tokyo can get very crowded. I can recommend a few places depending on what you guys wanna do. Great idea! +1 for meeting at Granbell hotel reception. John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
StS Posted May 6, 2015 Share #173 Posted May 6, 2015 Two questions in my mind re mobiles in Japan. 1. I use an old iPone 3GS which is not really supported for upgrades now. 2. When travelling, I use a TravelSIM card that claims to work world wide. To date it has and is very good. I will query TravelSIM service with the precise question re Japan and post any useful info here. For phone calls in Japan, a 3G (also called UMTS)-capable phone is needed. In Japan, the 3G frequencies are 1700 and 2100 MHz according to this page. The iPhone 3GS uses 2100 MHz for 3G/UMTS according to this page. Should be fine, else I owe you a beer... Stefan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DigitalHeMan Posted May 6, 2015 Author Share #174 Posted May 6, 2015 Great idea! +1 for meeting at Granbell hotel reception. John Note that Granbell Hotel (where most of us are) is a different place to E-Hotel. I would also have a preference for Granbell as a meeting point. I'll confirm once I have arrived. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
erl Posted May 6, 2015 Share #175 Posted May 6, 2015 Tried to estimate the walking distance/time between E-Hotel (where I will be) and Granbell. It seems like maybe 5-10min walk. I think that is quite doable, if I am right about the distance. Stefan, thanks for confirming my 3GS phone will work over there. I will now be desperately looking for somewhere it does not work to earn that beer! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnakChan Posted May 7, 2015 Share #176 Posted May 7, 2015 Tried to estimate the walking distance/time between E-Hotel (where I will be) and Granbell. It seems like maybe 5-10min walk. I think that is quite doable, if I am right about the distance. Stefan, thanks for confirming my 3GS phone will work over there. I will now be desperately looking for somewhere it does not work to earn that beer! It's pretty quick. 5 mins. Not far at all. Although kinda surprising that the folks prefer to meet in the dodgier of the two hotels ;-). The Higashi Shinjuku Station (Oedo Line) exits are closer to E-Hotel (literally next door), but from Grandbell, there's the option of walking to one of the Shinjuku Stn (a merge of multiple train lines) exits too - note that from there, there's till quite a long walk underground to the platforms themselves (Shinjuku Station is big, 3.64MM ppl use it everyday, that's 81% of New Zealand's population going through Shinjuku Station - everyday). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
erl Posted May 7, 2015 Share #177 Posted May 7, 2015 Thanks for that info AnakChan. Nice to know I am staying in the more salubrious joint. Is is reasonable for me to consider walking to E-Hotel from the main Shinjuku train direct from Narita, or would I be smarter to try and find the right Metro (Odeon Line) to take me to the hotel? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnakChan Posted May 7, 2015 Share #178 Posted May 7, 2015 Thanks for that info AnakChan. Nice to know I am staying in the more salubrious joint. Is is reasonable for me to consider walking to E-Hotel from the main Shinjuku train direct from Narita, or would I be smarter to try and find the right Metro (Odeon Line) to take me to the hotel? How much luggage do you have? I think the distance from the Narita Express stopping in Shinjuku to E-Hotel in Higashi Shinjuku is about a 1.2km 15 minute walk. You could train it but there's no direct line. You'd have to transfer somewhere else (real PITA). Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/222897-asia-one-challenge-2015/?do=findComment&comment=2811911'>More sharing options...
DigitalHeMan Posted May 7, 2015 Author Share #179 Posted May 7, 2015 It's pretty quick. 5 mins. Not far at all. Although kinda surprising that the folks prefer to meet in the dodgier of the two hotels ;-). . Sean, this is the second time you have suggested this hotel is not good is it really that bad as most of the online reviews when we chose it were positive. I am aware it is in the RLD but the hotel looks ok. Do you have experience to suggest it is not? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
erl Posted May 7, 2015 Share #180 Posted May 7, 2015 AnakChan, thanks again, for the map. I think we will walk it (after many hours in a plane). Luggage is always minimal for me. I never know where or how I must take it so it is kept light. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.