Tokyo free WiFi public service announcement
Or: Thanks Howard Schultz
tl;dr: Sign up for free WiFi in most every Tokyo Starbucks here: http://starbucks.wi2.co.jp/sp/sma_index_en.html
Tokyo has a weird relationship with open public wifi. Namely, the city never really adopted the NYC / SF ethos of live free or die, WiFi for all.
Leeching off something for “free” — both the WiFi and physical space of a general cafe — is not really part of the Toykoite mental model of acceptable cafe usage. Sure, there are manga kissa, places folks have been known to adopt as literal homes, but that’s part of the abusive pact you enter when you go to a manga kissa, and everyone is OK with it.
But normal cafes? No way. Even the idea of using an open power outlet is freakishly taboo. I’ve heard folk stories of lawsuits by cafes against people for plugging in. Truthful or not, the fact that anyone would spin such absurdity as truth speaks to the delicacy with which “public resources” in Tokyo are defined.
As such — reliable, fast, free WiFi is very rare in Tokyo, even today. Many circumnavigate the issue by buying pocket MiFi devices which run less than $50/mo for unlimited, unmetered, 4G connections.
But for a visitor to Tokyo, the lack of WiFi is indeed a bigger issue. Which is why it’s been shocking and inspiring to see Starbucks Japan begin to embrace not only unlimited free WiFi, but also abundant power.
Oddly, you can’t sign up for the open WiFi connection using the Starbucks connection. You need to do it at home or from another WiFi source. So, if you’re planning to visit Japan anytime soon, do yourself a favor and signup here:
http://starbucks.wi2.co.jp/sp/sma_index_en.html
And that’s it. You’ll be able to connect to a very fast, very reliable open WiFi spot called “at_STARBUCKS_Wi2" at most every Starbucks around Tokyo.
As for the best Starbucks to spend the day working? I recommend the one in Hiroo or Azabu Juban.
Tokyo may still have a weird relationship with public WiFi, but, like many things recently technological in this city — Apple and smartphones and tablets, Amazon and digital books — it’s taken a little prying from an outsider to shake things up.
