Tokyo's 1000 hot spots

As the mercury rises, "hot spots" sound like places best avoided in Tokyo during the summer months, but for those on the go who cannot survive without laptop Internet access, the growth of wireless hot spots is the coolest thing going. According to wireless information and service provider JiWire, Japan is one of the leaders in the global charge toward a ubiquitous Internet, with Tokyo's 1,000 or more hot spots second only to London's 1,200. Although some U.S. cities such as Philadelphia have suggested plans to offer wireless access citywide, the push in Marunouchi, part of what Mitsubishi Estate calls a "ubiquitous workplace" concept, may be one of the first to make it happen. Hot spot users are required to sign up for a virtual passport with NTT Communications at a cost of 500 yen (including tax) for a single day or 1,680 yen for a monthly membership. (By comparison BizPortal, which serves Shinjuku Ward, charges 500 yen a day and 1,000 yen per week). According to its site, as of April 2004 there were 700 access points in Tokyo and other cities such as Osaka, Sapporo and Yokohama, with more to follow.
Via Anthony Fensom