Internet Connection in Japan - WiFi & SIM Card

When travelling to Japan, Internet connection is crucial for everyone to keep in touch with your family and friends. Generally, there are some common ways to connect Internet in Japan, in which pocket WiFi rental and tourist SIM card are in great demand.

  1. Public Wi-Fi - Absent Sometimes & Hidden Hazards
Japan shows a pretty high coverage of public Wi-Fi in the cities, such as at metro stations, on trains, and at airports. Even so, it’s not available anytime and anywhere; and not every accessible Wi-Fi is secure.
  2. Global Roaming - Expensive & Unstable
You can surf the Internet in Japan by contacting your communication operator to turn on the global roaming service. However, it is usually expensive but with unstable network speed.
  3. Local Pocket WiFi Rental
Pocket WiFi rental is very popular for oversea visitors, especially those go for a family tour or with a few friends.
  4. Tourist SIM Card
Tourist SIM Card is also very useful, allowing you to surf the Internet anywhere stably. 

A WiFi & SIM Card Counter at Narita Airport

Pocket WiFi vs. SIM Card

	Pocket WiFi	Tourist SIM Card
Usage	Direct use	Setting before use sometimes
Deposit	There might be a deposit. Please confirm the contract before your payment.	No deposit usually if you buy a SIM card
Price	Approx. JPY 860 a day & JPY 200 or so for the deposit Relatively cheaper if several fellows share the expense	Diverse prices for different days to use, network traffic limitation, etc. Averagely, JPY 110-210 per day.
Ways to Rent/Purchase	1. Rent directly at the airport on spot; 2. Online booking before your travel and pick up at the designated counter at airport	1. Buy or rent on arrival, at the airport or a store in the city; 2. Book online in advance, self-pick-up at the airport
Ways to Return	1. Return at the airport before you leave Japan; 2. Send back if allowed	If you buy a time-limited SIM card, you can bring it home to throw away or store up.
Advantages	Cheap and convenient if used for a small group with 5-10 people	You can surf the Internet anywhere & anytime within the traffic limitation.
Disadvantages	Need to be charged regularly You can’t connect the Internet perhaps if getting separated with your group.	Some SIM cards have no function to make phone calls. You need an extra phone to plug in the SIM card if only 1 card can be loaded in your phone.

The prices are for your references only, as it is varied for different operators and packages.

Pocket WiFi or SIM card, which one to choose? It depends on your situation and network demand.

  If you travel with several friends or family members, it’s cost-effective to rent a pocket WiFi router.
  If you have not much baggage and take your laptop with you, such as a business trip, a pocket WiFi is more convenient.
  Tourist SIM card is more suitable for solo travelers.

Multiple Communication Operators in Japan

WiFi & Phone Rental Counter

NTT DoCoMo, Softbank, au, etc. are the major operators of Internet in Japan. There is no big difference in the coverage of them in popular tourist destinations, while the fare and service days are the more important to be taken into consideration. You can compare the packages of these operators online, and choose the one optimal for you.

Based on visitors’ reviews, if you go to Hokkaido, Tohoku and Shikoku regions, NTT Docomo is superior; while SoftBank and au provide a better service in suburban areas, Shiga, Okayama, Kagoshima, Izu, etc. Y!Mobile is also good in metropoles like Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya.

Tips

  If the pocket WiFi router is damaged during your journey, you would be asked to make compensation for it perhaps. Confirm the items on compensation for damage beforehand.

  All of you, members in the small group, have to stick together with a pocket WiFi router. If someone get separated with others, he/she would suffer from a network outage and be out of touch.

  Please ask the clerk clear whether the SIM card is used for connecting the Internet only but if you need to make telephone calls.

  Regardless of pocket WiFi or tourist SIM card, you’d better read the description of the product clear, for instance, if the network speed would be reduced or not when your traffic reach a certain limitation.

  Remember to keep your original SIM card well during your trip, if you take it out.

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