New Free Wi-Fi Service for Foreign Visitors to Start in Japan

Tokyo, Dec. 11 (Jiji Press)--A group of 17 local governments and companies in Japan said Thursday it will start a free Wi-Fi service aimed at foreigners visiting Japan Friday. The Travel Japan Wi-Fi project will make the service available through a smartphone app and accessible at up to 240,000 locations across the country. The app will provide sightseeing and other information in English, Chinese, Korean and Thai. The group includes Wire and Wireless Co., a subsidiary of KDDI Corp. <9433>, Okinawa Prefecture, Kyoto, Kobe, Japan Airlines <9201>, JCB Co., Bic Camera Inc. <3048> and Matsumoto Kiyoshi Holdings Co. <3088>. Calls for free Wi-Fi in Japan are growing as the number of visitors to the country has been increasing. The number topped 10 million for the first time last year. END