Re: [tlug] Wifi hotspot access in Tokyo

[Darren Cook <darren@example.com>]

> Hi all.... I'll be visiting Tokyo soon, and thinking about how I'm gonna
> get my Net fix while around town with my laptop. 

I rely on wi2-300 mostly, which is 380 yen/month (if you are Japanese
resident), and covers a lot of restaurants, as well as (most)
Mc.Donalds. (It also has quite a few places like hairdressers and
doctor's surgeries.) Encrypted connections are offered in most places,
which is a little bit more piece of mind than the free services. In some
places the signal is strong everywhere, in others, especially large
places you might want to go round and test the signal before choosing a
seat!
  http://300.wi2.co.jp/area/2/  (locations, Japanese page)
  http://300.wi2.co.jp/en/price/ (pricing if non-resident)

Starbucks has a free service: you need to register, but beyond that
there is no catch. As a drink in Starbucks can cost 500 yen vs. 100 yen
in Mc.D. this can be a false economy if you didn't actually want a drink:
  http://starbucks.wi2.co.jp/pc/index_en.html

The JR Yamanote loop has free wifi; I think it is registration like with
Starbucks.

Finally Atil operates out of a Turkish restaurant in Roppongi, and rents
out LTE wifi modems quite reasonably (6000 yen for one month). His
operation exudes ayashii, but I had no problems with a 3-month rental
last year:
  http://www.wifibank.net/
(well "minor problems": they charged an extra commission for paying with
credit card, and never got around to giving me a receipt.)

(BTW, I'm working with a start-up currently, kind of in this area,
mainly for business people and freelancers, who need a temporary desk,
wifi, power, etc., but I am not allowed to say any more just yet; send
me your details off-list if you want to be added to a one-off
announcement mailing.)

Darren

-- 
Darren Cook, Software Researcher/Developer

http://dcook.org/work/ (About me and my work)
http://dcook.org/blogs.html (My blogs and articles)