Weather Links and Internet/phone info.

Here in Japan for weather info we use the following links: JMA, weather map. JMA, local wind situation. (from here it's easy to go to an other area). JMA, local weather warning ( same). JMA, local rain radar (same). WindFinder.com, local forecast, for up to 5 days. (also easy to move to an other area). Yes, you'll need internet on board. In this part of Japan: SailMail and Winlink connections are very poor! Once we got our internet going…we had coverage almost anywhere between Ishigaki and Fukuoka. BUT at this writing there is a catch: It's not easy to get that mobile phone/internet account. Officially, only those with a "fixed" home address can get a contract. So for short term visiting cruising yachts… You'll have to make deal with a helpful Nippon resident. The best mobile internet set-up is from DoCoMo. Mind you, here in Fukuoka and so in other BIG cities, (Ishigaki is a small town) you can get Prepaid Internet with-out that "fixed" home address thing. This internet connection is called B-Mobile. Pre-paid mobile phones are, same story, also only available in Big Cities. See SoftBank for this. Hope this might be of help. Salute