So it looks like I'll indeed be back in 'town' in August (provided things go well tomorrow) and I'm trying to decide if I should pick up a GPS unit while back in Canada or buy a phone through one of the companies JPN-side. I understand that I can buy a map upgrade from Garmin that will have many maps of the main cities of Japan, but I've also come to understand that many of the other phones now available trough KDDI AU, DoCoMo and SoftBank will come with an integrated GPS system would would certainly be invaluable.

Does anyone out there know if most of the phones released these days do indeed have usable GPS?

aquamarine wrote:So it looks like I'll indeed be back in 'town' in August (provided things go well tomorrow) and I'm trying to decide if I should pick up a GPS unit while back in Canada or buy a phone through one of the companies JPN-side. I understand that I can buy a map upgrade from Garmin that will have many maps of the main cities of Japan, but I've also come to understand that many of the other phones now available trough KDDI AU, DoCoMo and SoftBank will come with an integrated GPS system would would certainly be invaluable.

Does anyone out there know if most of the phones released these days do indeed have usable GPS?

GG! Wake-up, you're on....

aquamarine wrote:Does anyone out there know if most of the phones released these days do indeed have usable GPS?

The Garmin device may be technically better but it means having to carry around more crap every time you go out. This might not seem like that big a deal but eventually you'll end up leaving it at home at least some of the time. Plus hassles of another device to charge and generally take care of.

The few times I have used GPS in Japan (outside my car) I have found the iPhone's to work "well enough" to tell me where I am and basically where I want to go. I don't know how soon the next iPhone will actually hit the stores here in Japan but if Apple is on the ball then you might see them arriving not so long after you do...

google maps has been available for all phones for quite some time;
http://www.google.co.jp/mobile/gmm/index.html
its really good, but watch out if you dont have packet houdai tho..

Greji wrote:GG! Wake-up, you're on....

Sorry for not replying immediately - I have a life!! Am an currently in Kyoto after spending a lovely weekend in Shikoku at a friends wedding in the middle of the mountains.

Anyhoo, Check specs before you pick up any phone with GPS - they are not standard but the ones are great. Use with Navitime or other services. BUT you have to have a good understanding of Japanese to use them. Will NOT be in English.

For the iPhone a few different options out there. Best ones in Japanese.

Now without GPS is a fab new application that I have been involved with. Still a few bugs to iron out and lots of new features to be released but we wanted to get it out and grow based on user feedback and suggestions. Lots of options to choose from so we thought we would put it out to the public and grow it from there:

Find!TOKYO is a collaboration with GMAP.

But it all really depends on what you want from a mapping/navi program. Navitime is the best "imode" service out there IMO. Jourudan is the best free program for route planning.

Perhaps if you could give some more information, I can be a bit more specific.

Thanks GG, I appreciate the info you already supplied here!

Well I had really had interest in being able to GeoTag where I take my photos throughout the city. However I know there's an actual device for my camera that already does that, I just thought that it would be fun to have it in my phone as well, rather than ALSO carry my handheld GPS unit too. Anyhow, it was more a thought than anything. I'll find out what's available when I touch down in August.

I seem to recall I needed my gaijin card to sign up with Vodafone before they became SoftBank. Is that still a policy you folks are aware of?

See you in a few months!

aquamarine wrote:I seem to recall I needed my gaijin card to sign up with Vodafone before they became SoftBank. Is that still a policy you folks are aware of?

Yes, you will need your gaijin card to get a phone, even a prepaid phone.

But, you can rent a SIM chip from Softbank for your foreign cell phone, if their test at the sales site reveals it is compatible.

http://www.softbank-rental.jp/en/phones/sim3g.php

That could be an option for someone just arriving and will need a cell phone right away. It could tide them over until they got registered. I can't recall how long it took for my first gaijin card to be made.

FG Lurker wrote:Yes, you will need your gaijin card to get a phone, even a prepaid phone.

Good christ, seriously? Even the ones from 7-11??? Good lord... Certainly has changed since I bought my prepaid in Vodafone Shibuya. I guess I'll just be out a phone till my paperwork goes through.