Yes
It's easy just call and confirm with a credit card. You can do it on the phone in minutes.
When you rent a cell phone you have to have a credit card. There is an authorization fee which is billed immediately to your credit card and the fee is substantial. There does not seem to be any kind of checks that they do.
Most cell phone providers have international phone options. Some even rent international phones. Another option is an international SIM card for your phone. You use your same number and billing for roaming goes on your credit card.
You can rent a cell phone in Japan from the Rent A Fone Japan website. Once on the website, you can order a rental online and read reviews and testimonials of the service.
It depends on where your currently living. You can find websites such as this one: http://www.cellphonerental.net/ and it will ask you where you're from and tell you where you can rent a cell phone.
You can get a prepaid cell phone at almost any walmart or equivelant. With prepay you never need to use a credit card. The cost can be as little as 20 a month to as high as you want to pay for minutes.
See the related link - I found good phone rental site from where you can rent on affordable rates.
You don't necessarily need credit to get a credit card, it's bad credit that they don't want to give you a credit card. If you have a cell phone bill, or utility bill or pay rent, you should have some kind of credit.
The best alternatives for calling abroad is to use phone cards, VOIP solutions like Skype or to swap the SIM card for a local one. Another option would be to rent a phone.
There are man websites that rent cell phones in Europe. Among them are Europe-Cell-Phone, CelloMobile, CellualarAbroad, OneSimCard, Telestial, and CellHire.
One of the most popular international cell phone providers is mobal (www.mobal.com) which will eitther sell (starting at $49) or rent you (starting at $7/day) an international phone. Another option is Cellular Abroad who will also rent (starting at $18/week) or sell you an international phone. Finally, if you have an unlocked GSM phone (AT&T uses GSM), you can also just purchase an international SIM card and put it in your existing phone. Iphonetrip.com rents sim cards to allow for overseas use. Alternatively you could jailbreak your At&t Iphone for overseas use.
You can get a rental cell phone through verizon, cellomobile, cellularaboad, and planetfone.com. You can rent or purchase an international phone and most offer nationwide delivery.