The Complete Guide to Pocket Wi-Fi in Japan for Foreigners!

update date 2024/02/14

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How to secure Internet communication is an important issue when staying in Japan for travel or study. In urban areas, public Wi-Fi is available in an increasing number of places, but if you are looking for an environment where you can use the Internet stress-free anytime, anywhere, pocket Wi-Fi is recommended. Like fiber-optic lines, there is no need for construction or long-term contracts, and since it is easy to carry around with you, it can be used conveniently even for short-term stays.

In this article, we will introduce in detail the pocket Wi-Fi especially recommended for foreigners to make your stay in Japan more comfortable. Based on the features, plans, and prices of each, let's find the best one for you.

★ Click here to view Goandup Picks' most popular articles.▼

How much does pocket Wi-Fi cost in Japan?

The price of pocket Wi-Fi depends on the amount of data available and the length of the contract. For a monthly subscription, a low-cost provider will charge between 3,000 yen and 4,000 yen per month. For example, we will introduce later.Giga Wi-Fi.is available for 2,695 yen per month (tax included).

Rentals range from 500 yen to 900 yen for one day, and the longer you rent, the lower the daily rate. To be introduced later.Global Mobileis available for a rental fee of 432 yen per day (tax included).

Be sure to check for promotions for the first contract, device rental costs, and speed after data limits, as these are also important points.

Pocket Wi-Fi or SIM card?

Both pocket Wi-Fi and SIM cards have their advantages and disadvantages. Prices are often slightly lower for SIM cards, but the advantage of pocket Wi-Fi is that it is easier to initially set up and can be used with multiple devices. When using a SIM card, you should also check compatibility with your cell phone and data limits, while pocket Wi-Fi requires you to consider battery life.

WiFi Rental.comcan pick up their Pocket WiFi at the airport, so they can start using it as soon as they arrive in Japan. On the other handLyprimo.is a prepaid SIM card that is easy to process, but requires the hassle of changing your phone's language settings to English or Japanese.

(data) item	pocket Wi-Fi	SIM card
Price	expensive	comparatively cheap
initialization	easy	somewhat troublesome
Number of devices	Multiple connections possible	1 device only
Battery Charging	Charging required	unnecessary
Communication Area Coverage	provider-dependent	provider-dependent
Term of Use	Rental / Monthly	Prepaid/monthly
Foreigner Support	Depends on the vendor	Depends on the vendor
Multi-country roaming	not allowed	Possible (depending on vendor)

Who is suited for pocket Wi-Fi?

Pocket Wi-Fi is suitable for those who are not good with machines and have trouble with the initial setup of SIM cards, those who want to use a smartphone and a tablet at the same time, and those who want to use the Internet with family and friends.

People who are unfamiliar with technology and want to avoid SIM card replacement and initial setup
People who want to connect multiple devices such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops to the Internet at the same time.
People who are traveling with family or friends and want to share and use the Internet.
People who work mostly in a fixed location and use the Internet infrequently while traveling.
- For example, it is useful for working at your place of stay or in a café.

Who the SIM card is suitable for

SIM cards are suitable for those who want to save on usage fees, those who only need to connect their own smartphone to the Internet, and those who don't want to lug around a mobile router.

People who are traveling or staying for short periods of time and want the most cost-effective way to get the most out of their trip.
People who need to connect only their own smartphone to the Internet.
Lightweight and looking to minimize luggage
- Especially when you are sightseeing or doing active activities, it will not get in the way
People who want to use the same SIM card after leaving Japan by using roaming

▼If you are interested in purchasing a SIM card, this article is for you★.

Where can I buy a prepaid SIM in Japan? Recommended SIM cards for foreigners are also introduced.

Check the communication speed when choosing pocket Wi-Fi.

Pocket Wi-Fi speeds can vary widely depending on the area and the provider you use. When stable, the speed is usually 30 Mbps or more for downlink and 10 Mbps or more for uplink (downlink is the speed at which data is received from the Internet, and uplink is the speed at which data is sent over the Internet). However, the speed may decrease in congested areas or buildings. Since the speeds offered by different providers vary, be sure to check the estimated communication speed and the area of use before signing a contract.

Online games require 30 Mbps or more

A speed of 30 Mbps or higher is quite fast for pocket Wi-Fi. When playing online games, especially competitive games, a speed of 30 Mbps or higher is recommended to avoid delays.

About 10Mbps to 20Mbps for video viewing and web conferencing

For video viewing services such as Youtube and web conferencing such as Zoom and Skype, a speed of 10Mbps to 20Mbps is sufficient for comfortable use.

About 1 Mbps is sufficient for browsing sites, e-mail, and LINE.

Even when speed is limited, browsing text-based websites, sending and receiving e-mail, and chatting on LINE can be done relatively smoothly with 1 Mbps.

5 Pocket Wi-Fi recommendations for foreigners

So here are five Japanese pocket Wi-Fi recommendations for foreigners.

So here we are.Goandup PicksThe following is a list of recommended pocket Wi-Fi selected carefully by We will explain in detail the features, plans, fees, and foreigner support available for each, so please find the one that best meets your needs!

1. NETAGE

NETAGE."has no cumbersome two-year contracts and no penalty fees. Furthermore,There are no initial fees or administrative fees!Applications can be made easily via the web and are available as early as the next day.

And the big attraction is,Rental is available from 1-day unitsPrices start at a few tens of yen per day. In addition, you can choose from a wide variety of Wi-Fi routers, including lines from SoftBank, docomo, au, and Ymobile, with capacities ranging from 3 GB per day to unlimited.

After use, simply drop it in a Japanese mailbox for easy return!NETAGEis recommended for those staying in Japan for a short period of time or temporarily returning to Japan, as well as for those planning to be hospitalized or move to a new location, for those planning to travel within Japan, and for those on business trips or events.