Japan was the first country to implement the 3G network on a wide scale. 75% of the Japanese population owns a cell phone. Japan has some of the most advanced phone networks and technologies in the world, although many feel that their systems are too inclusive because they usually cannot be used outside of the country. This can be frustrating to travellers both to and from Japan.



There are three cell phone technologies used in Japan: PDC (personal digital cellular), CDMA (code divisional multiple access) and WCDMA. The three main companies that offer cell phone service in Japan are NTT Docomo, au by KDDI, and Softbank. The companies DoCoMo, AU and Vodafone all support PDC. DoCoMo and Vodafone support WCDMA, a newer technology, and AU supports CDMA. All three technologies are incompatible.

CDMA networks exist outside of Japan and are the second most common network system after GSM, which is used mostly in Europe, Africa, and Asia. Japanese networks have begun trying to combine CDMA and GSM networks with their domestically available ones to give subscribers a service that allows them to use a single phone in and out of Japan.

There are new products will soon be for sale that come close to realizing this. The first is a handset that combines WCDMA and GSM. Another is the FOMA Card, which is removed from the device and put into a foreign phone to be used internationally.

Cell phone rentals are also available in Japan for travellers and require photo ID and a credit card. The cost is usually about 250-1,000 yen per day with a usage fee.

Internet based landlines are also available. These telephone lines are much more affordable than the traditional ones and are usually packaged with internet services from Yahoo's YahooBB and NTT's Hikari Denwa. Many VOIP (internet phone) companies offer unlimited and international plans that work in Japan. Some of these are: BroadVoice's unlimited world plus plan, Lingo's international and Asia plans, Packet 8's freedom unlimited global plan, and SunRocket's sunspots plan.

Also, there are a number of landline services available in Japan. Conventional landlines can be rented or purchased. A new line costs 35,000 yen, although you can buy secondhand phone lines. Be aware, however, that you may not be able to make international calls with a rented phone line. Telephone lines are handled by the company Nippon Telegraph and Telephone.

The country code that's used to call Japan from elsewhere in the world is 81.