Today WAS my 1 ST full Day in Japan. Technically, I did Arrive in Japan Yesterday about 12 noon Japan time but I spent the next 7 hours in Airports not to Mention the time it Took to Get from Sendai station to the Hotel. By the time, I arrived at the Hotel I WAS so tired I pretty much Went to Bed as I spent about 20 hours getting to Japan. (The Flight WAS 14 but getting to the Airport and TSA tacked Another 5 to That) So I Consider today my real first day in Japan.
My mission today was to get a phone or a SIM card for my recently unlocked phone so I could contact my boss and maybe a few friends ... but mostly my boss because I do not know the phone numbers of any of my friends in Japan ( sad but true.) While They Sell SIM cards all over the Airports, none of THESE Stores HAD SIM cards That Would let you make A call. They only allowed you to access the Internet ... .Which IS Incredible Useful. I really wish I HAD That When I WAS in Japan back in February. While there IS free Wi-Fi in Japan ... it IS Never there When you need it.
I Would Have loved to BE able to pull up google Maps When I WAS Lost. And I do want to do that now but the important thing is the ability to contact my Boss, which none of these SIMs would let me do. So I did not get a SIM when I was at the airport.
Now I WAS going to hunt down Them When I WAS in Sendai. I learned there IS A reason That none of the places at the Airport HAD Those Types of SIMs.
Apparently, you need to BE A Japanese CITIZEN or Have A "Resident Card" (sort of like a Japanese version of a green card.) Unfortunately do to previous SNAFU I do not have one of those yet.
So I Decided to Get A pay as you Go phone, but UNLIKE back in the States, Burner phones Are not Plentiful in Japan. Most Stores do not Carry Them ... I Wonder if we Would Have less Crime in States if "TracFones and Burner phones Were harder to Get .. ??? While not quite A Burner phone, Japan does Have rental Cell phones. It IS Around $ 5 A Day and then there Are extra Fees (like data, International Calls, etc.) But the Important Thing WAS I Could with only A US Passport Get one of THESE phones and call my boss. I am Renting it for A fortnight ... I am Hoping by the time my rental expires I CAN Get A real phone or Rent A sim card ...
Either way it is MISSION ACOMPLISHED!
