Prepaid Wireless Data in Japan

For my past few trips to Japan, I had very limited internet access and it's really torturing unable to facebook or whatsapp etc rite? What do you guys feel without internet for a few days? I had to check which hotel provides free internet WIFI and the worse part is internet access only available in lobby area and not in room! I have to online downstairs wearing pyjamas..so inconvenient -_-"'

I got to know from Visit Japan Now that prepaid LTE SIM by So-net, an easy-to-use prepaid wireless data service, will be available from a vending machine at KIX （Kansai International Airport） from April 22. 

Yoooohooo...get to online anywhere in Japan now! It will be the 1st vending machine selling SIM card at airports in Japan. 

The price is 3,000 yen (~RM95) for 100MB, 5,000 yen (~RM160) for 500MB.

100MB plan last for 30 days while the 500MB one is for 60 days. You can always add more later.It's easy to check your remaining data or refill it on your user page.

These 2 plans really perfect for:

• immediate mobile service - After purchasing the SIM package, complete the simple web-based procedure to start using the service.
• short term, prepaid service - Use the service however you want, whether it's for short-term use or keeping cost at a minimum...or both! You can also add more data as needed.
• fast data service - Enjoy lightning-fast LTE speeds on the NTT DOCOMO network and rock-solid 3G speeds outside LTE areas.

Where to buy?

Purchase at the locations noted below:

Sale starts on 22nd April, 2014. Who is planning to go Japan soon? Must checkout where to get it ya..

• Kansai International Airport
• Narita International Airport
• Mobile Center New Chitose Airport Terminal（2F International Arrival Lobby）※Sales start in Mid-May
• Akibaoo
• BOOK OFF Shinjuku Station West Exit Store (Sales start on April 25, 2014)
• Big West International Prepaid SIM Card Shop (IKEBUKURO)
• Laox Akihabara Flagship Store

How to use it?

 

 

For more info about the SIM, please visit: http://www.so-net.ne.jp/prepaid/en/index.html

Interested to checkout my Japan travelogue? Check it out here.

 

Fuji Mihana Hotel

If you are visiting Mount Fuji and plan to put on a night somewhere nearby Mount Fuji, I will certainly recommend Fuji Mihana Hotel! 

Fuji Mihana Hotel signboard

Outside of Fuji Mihana Hotel

I believed this hotel has been in most of the travel agency itinerary as I did see a lot of my frens photos visiting Mount Fuji and taking the typical familiar shots in this hotel and wearing the same yukata..and in almost the same spot...LOL!

Why I super love and recommend this hotel? Believed me..stay on and continue reading my remaining post and you will see why it's really worth staying a night here :-) 

You will get a magnificent view of Yamanakako lake and Mt. Fuji at the court yard front side of the hotel. Remember to wake up early in the morning and dash out with your camera and start capturing as much nice shots as you can!

Sigh..so beautiful view..but too bad I have lousy camera la -_-"'

Another shot of the Yamanakako lake

At the courtyard of the hotel, you can have the magnificent view of Mount Fuji shots.

A shot with Jen, mummy and Rin (Daddy is missing, in the toilet perhaps..doing his early morning biz routine..haha)

Now a shot with only me inside

Now, let's see what is unique about the rooms in this hotel....you get to enjoy tatami room here! For those who din know what is tatami, its actually a type of mat used as a flooring material in traditional Japanese-styled room.

Tatami room

They have LCD tv..but too bad since we have 3 beds, so the arrangement is kinda weird not facing the tv directly

Writing desk

Kettle and packets of green tea provided

Yukata provided..pink for gals (*duh*) and grey one is for guys

Yukata is a Japanese traditional clothing which is considered as a Summer Kimono or a Casual Kimono. Yukata can be worn by Men and Women, and Children. You can find people wearing Yukatas at the Japanese Festivals all over the country. If you din know how to wear Yukata, checkout this link here.

Rin and myself in Yukata

Hangers to hang all your winter coats

Toilet is kinda small here though

The sink area

Japan super high tech toilet bowl..really luv it..especially to warm my bum..lolo

Remember the next morning, the moment you woke up..open your room curtain and be stunned by the magnificent Mount Fuji staring at you directly! Awesome...some more perfectly framed by the room window! Can't describe how awestruck I was that I keep taking shots of Mount Fuji.

*speechless*...too awesome!

Another awesome shot!

The food served at this hotel was good! I had Hokkaido Crab at the buffet dinner. It was really fresh and delicious! As for breakfast, it has good selection of local cuisine as well as international choices. 

Daddy's fav food..Hokkaido Crab..he can't help to take more and more of this :-)

And oh..before I forget...you can enjoy the spa in this hotel too! 

Onsen in this hotel..red color on is for ladies..and blue for guys

Btw, for those who never try Japanese hot spring or aka onsen before...you need to be totally naked! No bikinis, swimsuit, panties or undies..and no big towel to cover all your ahem parts! You are provided only with small towel..just enuf for you to cover either your top, bottom or whichever part you think you want to hide la. Haha..some of my tour ppl said..so small towel, if you dun wan ppl to see your body shape..cover your face la instead...lol..which I think it makes sense too! 

And since no camera is allowed in the onsen area, below photos are grabbed from the hotel site.

Onsen changing area

Onsen

How to get here?
Fuji Mihana Hotel
〒401-0501
195Yamanaka Yamanakako-mura,Minamitsuru-gun,Yamanashi Prefecture
TEL：0555-62-5210
FAX：0555-62-5211
Website: http://www.mihanagroup.jp/fujimihana/en.html

For more of my previous Japan trip blog post, checkout part 1 and part 2.

Part 2: Winter In Japan (Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto) - 25 to 31 Dec 2011

Day 5 (29 Dec 2011): Tokyo City Tour - Ginza - Shinjuku

Started wonderful morning by admiring Mt Fuji from my room..

Admiring Mount Fuji from my room

Then we checked out and started our itinerary...Here I come...Tokyo - biggest city in the world with 13 million population! It is about 140km of distance from Mt Fuji to Tokyo.



Started our tour from Edo Period. First destination - Asakusa Kannon Temple (aka Sensoji Temple). 

History and origin of Senso-ji

Early in the morning of March 18, 628, when the capital of Japan was Asuka (present-day Nara Prefecture), two fishermen, Hinokuma Hamanari and his brother Takenari, were fishing in the Sumida River. Suddenly sensing something, they pulled up their net to find a statue of Bodhisattva Kannon. When Haji no Nakatomo, village headman of Asakusa, heard about this, he immediately realized that the object was a statue of the important Buddhist deity Bodhisattva Kannon. Taking vows as a Buddhist priest and remaking his home into a temple, he spent the rest of his life in devotion to Bodhisattva Kannon.
   In 645, renowned Buddhist priest Shokai Shonin built Kannondo Hall upon visiting the Asakusa district during his travels. Following a revelation he received in a dream, Shokai decided that the image should be hidden from human view, and this tradition has remained in place ever since.

At the entrance to the temple, is the kaminari-mon or “Thunder Gate”. This monumental Buddhist structure with a giant red paper lantern is a popular photo opportunity. The lantern is painted in red-and-black tones suggesting thunderclouds and lightning. Statues of the gods of thunder and wind sit on either side of the gate. 

Two black characters with white lining read 'Thunder Gate' (from top to bottom)

A shopping street of over 200 metres, called Nakamise, leads from the outer gate to the temple's second gate, the Hozomon. Alongside typical souvenirs such as yukata and folding fans, various traditional local snacks from Asakusa area are sold along the Nakamise. The shopping street has a history of several centuries.

Asakusa Nakamise Shopping Street

kimono, yukata...

Folding Fans

Traditional Local Snacks

Umbrellas

At the street, I managed to capture quite a clear view of Tokyo Sky Tree. 

"Tokyo Sky Tree" will appear in the Narihirabashi/Oshiage area of Sumida Ward, Tokyo in 2012. Boasting a height of 634m, the tower will be one of the world's tallest.

Tokyo Sky Tree

Next we proceed to Ginza, the highest-class shopping area in Japan. At Ginza, there is biggest Burberry Store.

Burberry Store in Ginza

Burberry Store @Ginza

Matsuzakaya

The Ginza store of the Nagoya based Matsuzakaya department store chain offers goods and services on ten floors. Matsuzakaya has a history that reaches back to the year 1611.

Next shopping area - Shinjuku.  

Shinjuku (新宿) is one of the 23 city wards of Tokyo, but the name commonly refers to just the large entertainment, business and shopping area around Shinjuku Station.

@Shinjuku

Bidding farewell to our bus driver for few days...

We checked in one of the luxury hotel in Tokyo - Keio Plaza Hotel. Located in Shinjuku, in the very heart of the Tokyo metropolis, the Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo extends top rated services and facilities, features that guests come to expect of a world class hotel.

Keio Plaza Hotel

Day 6 (30 Dec 2011): Tokyo Disneyland - Narita



Today will be whole day full of fun with Mickey and Minnie in Tokyo Disneyland!

• Ticket Price (1 day passport) : 6200 yen (~RM247.00)

@Tokyo Disneyland

Tokyo Disneyland Parade

It's a small world ride:

After a whole day of tiring back to dreamland, we took another 1 hour ride to a Japanese BBQ restaurant, which is upstairs of Hanamasa Prospec Discount Supermarket.

Posing with Kobe Beef

Then we proceed to checked-in our hotel which is 5 mins away from the Narita Airport - Narita Marroad Hotel. A busy night to start packing to depart back next day...*sob*sob*..

Marroad International Hotel Narita

Day 7 (31 Dec 2011): Narita - KLIA
Big farewell to Japan as we proceed to the airport for our flight back home....I will come back to Japan for sure! *sob*sob* 

Our food in the flight...delicious...yummmy

Delicious Meiji Ice cream