If you’re reading this guide, you probably don’t speak Japanese, in which you will probably need a mobile data connection if you want to survive your trip to Japan. Given the language barrier, a mobile data connection is essential for both translations as well as using Google Maps to get around in your itinerary
While you might be tempted to live off free Wi-Fi connections for your data needs in Japan, free Wi-Fi options can often be spotty or difficult to get working. Almost every free Wi-Fi connection requires you to either login via email or your social media, and sometimes without an existing connection, you can’t get to that confirmation email that gives you access to the free Wi-Fi. You should spend your trip enjoying your time in Japan, and not agonizing over your Internet connection.
In this guide we’ll talk about some options to get a data connection in Japan, and note that Pitari Japan does not get any commission from these sites. These are just options that we’ve turned up from our research.
Credit: Kentaro Toma (Unsplash)
Networks in Japan
Japan has four major carriers: NTT Docomo, Softbank, au/KDDI, and Rakuten. There are a number of other smaller carriers that run their network off the major carriers. Within the major carriers, the two most common are NTT Docomo and Softbank, which have rather reliable nationwide coverage.
When choosing a SIM card, if you can find which network that they
One tricky thing about getting SIM Cards in Japan is often the promise of “unlimited data”, followed by the fine-print of “high-speed data is limited by XXXGB a day before it is throttled to 128kbps”. Often times, unlimited data isn’t actually unlimited, sure you can still use it at 128kbps, but even at that speed, Google Maps would take a minute or two to load, which can be quite frustrating if you need quick directions or need to search something up real quick. If you hotspot to your friends or family, phones often treat a hotspot as a Wi-Fi connection, and background downloads can easily burn through that daily quota quickly. So when looking at data plans, make sure to look for the daily usage fine print.
That being said, travel sims in Japan can still be quite pricey, with the cheapest probably being b-mobile’s travel SIM at 5GB for 10 days at ¥1,980 on NTT Docomo’s network. You can reserve it online and pick it up at the airport, or purchase it at electronics stores in Japan.
The next most cost-effective alternative is Mobal’s Japan Tourist SIM which offers an actual unlimited data plan for 8 days at ¥3,990 on Softbank’s network. They offer pickup at the airport, or even free shipping worldwide for most countries.
You should definitely do your own research, but so far, these are two options that stand out to us and can serve as the yardstick for which to measure the other options on.
eSim Cards
While most of us might be most used to physical SIM cards, eSims are an increasingly popular option. These digital SIM cards must be supported by the phone hardware, so for Android phones you have to check your phone’s specs, but iPhones (XS or later) have a dual-SIM (physical and eSim) built in. Using an eSim is quite a painless process, typically involving scanning a QR code for the eSim on your phone and that’s it. Most phones allow users to store multiple eSims on it with only one active at a time.
The earlier mentioned b-mobile’s travel SIM at 5GB for 10 days at ¥1,980 on NTT Docomo’s network also has an eSim option that you can use.
There are also a number of international providers that sell prepaid eSim options for countries around the world. One of these providers, Ubigi, offers a 3GB for 30 days at USD$8, or 10GB for 30 days at USD$16, on NTT Docomo’s network. Airalo, another popular provider, offers a 3GB for 30 days at USD$14 on KDDI’s network.
While an eSim might not be the first option that comes to mind, the ease of use of a digital SIM card without having to pick one up, as well as the wider variety of choices available make it a good option to consider.
Mobile Wifi Router Rental
Another option might be to rent a mobile wifi router, a portable device that broadcasts a Wifi network and connects to a cellular data connection, to use during your trip. You can typically pick these up at the airport and then mail it back at a post box before returning home.
For Japan Wireless, the first day incurs a large base fee and subsequent days incur a smaller daily fee, meaning the longer you use it, the more cost efficient it is. For 8 days of unlimited data usage on Softbank’s network, it would cost ¥5,542. For Ninja Wifi, it costs ¥990 per day for unlimited data usage on Softbank’s network.
The Mobile Wifi option is convenient if you have a large group of people traveling together all the time. However, if the number of people is not great enough to split the cost, or you might want to travel separately on certain days, then it might not be the best option.
Free Wi-Fi Options
As mentioned above, free Wifi is not reliable as your primary source of data during your stay in Japan. That being said, if you need to supplement your data connection or download an app without having to burden your data limit, here are some tips.
For starters there are two apps that allow you to use free Wifi hotspots across Japan: Softbank’s Free Wi-fi Passport and Wi2’s Travel Japan Wi-Fi. Both require you to download an app, and install the appropriate profiles on your devices. Note that these only work on smartphones and not on laptops.
If you want to get some work done outside, you can also go to some cafes. Most cafes will have a free Wifi connection, and chains like Starbucks, Doutor, Excelsior Coffee, and St Marc’s Coffee have readily accessible Wifi networks that don’t require any account creation. Note that they typically require you to reconnect every hour, but there’s no daily limit to their usage.
Figuring out your data options in Japan
Travel data is by no way cheap in Japan, but there are quite a few options available depending on your needs, just remember to check that “Unlimited” is actually unlimited. Some travelers might have the tendency to just arrive at the airport and buy a SIM card at a counter there, but pricing at the airport is typically quite expensive and nowhere as affordable as if you reserve online and pick up at the airport.
Additionally, if you want to save on data during your stay, then be sure to download Google Maps offline in Japan as well as the Japanese translation packs if you need them. Google Maps is one of the biggest drains on data usage, so doing that would help to shave off a large amount of data usage. As mentioned above, if you need to do any heavy data downloads, then pop by a cafe with free Wifi for a break. Most of these cafes offer decently fast Wifi speeds.
