INTERNET IN JAPAN PORTS?

[WESTEAST]

We've booked a cruise of Japan with a stop in Busan, SK and read that while in Japanese ports or their waters, there is no internet; understanding is that the Japanese government uses the satellite bandwidth the ship's internet would use.  Is this accurate? 

[BruceMuzz]

Not quite accurate.

The Japanese have some very conservative (and old) laws regarding communications by foreign flag ships.

C-Band communications from and to the ship are not legally allowed.

Older ships use C-Band for Satellite telephone and internet.

 

Newer ships use K-Band for Satellite telephone and internet communications, which is perfectly legal in Japan.

Plus, K-Band has better connections and higher speeds.

If your ship has K-Band, you will have no problems with internet (from the ship) in Japan.

 

On shore, however, you may have difficulty finding free WIFI / internet. This is just starting to become popular in Japan.

Your Cabin Steward, Barman, or Waiter can tell you where the fastest, closest free WIFI is to be found in any Japanese port.

[Miaminice]

We habe done two Japan cruises and had no problem finding internet.

 

I also brought a Skyroam hotspot which worked very well even when quite far out at sea.