ONLINEINJAPAN
THE BEST WAYS TO STAY ONLINE IN JAPAN
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE VARIOUS OPTIONS TO STAY ONLINE HERE! Including top Sim Cards & Pocket Wifi.
GOING TO JAPAN? YOU'LL NEED A POCKET WIFI OR SIM CARD.
You will need mobile internet access! It's hard to find public wifi networks and they have small range and are not secure. Rent a sim card or pocket wifi!
See below for SIM vs PocketWifi.
Below that for company comparisons for Light/Medium/Heavy users comparison.
I've met many travelers who are confused about this topic, so I've done a lot of research to help you.
SIM vs Pocket Wifi - Which one is best for me?
There are so many options....which one is best?
Sim Card
A popular option - Check out the Pros & Cons
Pros
Cons
Pocket Wifi
A popular option - Check out the Pros & Cons
Pros
Cons
Comparisons for Heavy Data Users in Japan
Most users probably are Medium or Heavy users. Heavy device provide (true) unlimited LTE-speed data.
Ranked on Price (Low to High)
Updated July, 2019 prices are standardized based on current rate of $1USD = 108 yen.
All prices include that company's shipping price and tax, unless mentioned in "NOTES" on right column
Comparisons for Medium Data Users in Japan
Most users probably are Medium or Heavy users. Medium Data devices provide at least 1GB per day.
Ranked on Price (Low to High)
Updated December 1, 2018, prices are standardized based on current rate of $1USD = 112 yen.
All prices include that company's shipping price and tax, unless mentioned in "NOTES" on right column
Comparisons for Light Data Users in Japan
Most users probably are Medium or Heavy users.
Ranked on Price (Low to High)
Updated August 9, 2018 prices are standardized based on current rate of $1USD = 111 yen.
All prices include that company's shipping price and tax, unless mentioned in "NOTES" on right column
FAQ
Common Questions that people ask me when they are searching for wifi or sim cards
What is difference between 3G and LTE/4G speed?
Most (all?) plans offer unlimited 3G speed with a specific amount of LTE-speed. LTE-speed is very fast in Japan, and I think faster than most networks in western countries.
You can easily run demanding tasks like stream high-resolution Netflix on a powerful laptop at these speeds. Or if you have many users sharing one connection, they can usually all enjoy high speeds.
3G speeds were amazing in 2006, but now that we're used to higher speeds, it feels very slow.
What is the best network for me to choose?
There's not necessary a "best" network in Japan.
If you're looking for the widest coverage area because you'll be traveling thoroughly around the country. Docomo, AU and SoftBank will be the best.
If you want the highest speeds and best data plans available, Wimax2+ and Softbank will be the best.
When I look at other company's website it says "unlimited data" but on your list it doesn't. Why?
I have done the research to find the agreements. Most companies like to advertise "UNLIMITED" because it sounds more exciting for the user, but very few are actually unlimited. In our testing and experience, there are only a few, and those are listed in the "HEAVY" category.
I have checked each of the company's agreements and provided this information to you. When they say unlimited they mean that you will always have a connection, but 3G connection is usually slow. So please be careful.
Where can I pick up my items?
Almost every company offers shipping to all of the airports, or your hotel. Some companies provide this as a free service, and some are not free. Some companies have locations at the airport too, but they are usually very expensive.
Some companies can also ship to your AirBNB or to a shipping company that is very close to your AirBNB. You can ask their customer service if they can do this.
Airport and post office staff are used to speaking to people who can't speak Japanese, so don't worry.
I'm going to Japan alone. Isn't a sim card the best option for one person?
In many cases, especially for heavier user, a pocket wifi can be a better option because it usually provides more data and flexible rental lengths. I have heard of many cases where sim cards have compatibility issue with certain models of phones or tablets too, but almost every time there are no problems with pocket wifi.
Confused?
If you have more questions, I am happy to help you. I know all network's coverage too.
Don't see a company you're interested in? Tell me and I can research for you.
Hiroshi Kanda © 2017