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The Ultimate Guide to renting pocket WiFi in Japan

Sebastien Chaneac
The Ultimate Guide to renting pocket WiFi in Japan

This is our complete guide to renting pocket WiFi in Japan so you can stay connected online during your travels.

If you're planning a trip to Japan, renting a pocket WiFi is a great way to stay connected during your travels without incurring roaming charges or having to buy a new SIM card. Whilst it is true public WiFi hot spots have become more available over the past few years, you'll quickly realize it won't be enough to keep you connected on the road, hence the need to invest in a pocket WiFi.

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This small portable WiFi device has completely changed the way people travel. Whereas before, you would most likely need to buy several prepaid SIM cards for every single traveler in your group, with one standalone pocket WiFi you can instead connect multiple devices at once, with unlimited internet access. It's also light, easy to transport, and fits comfortably in your pocket.

During our extensive travels in Japan as a gay couple, we tested renting a pocket WiFi with several providers and found it to be an essential item to add to any travel shopping list. However, there are so many different options to choose from that it can be quite overwhelming to decide which one is best for you. We, therefore, put together this comprehensive guide to renting a pocket WiFi in Japan with plenty of guidance and clarity to help you decide which one you should pick.

Travel advice for LGTBQ community

Advice for LGBTQ travellers to Japan

As a gay couple traveling in Japan, we found it to be gay friendly. We never had a problem getting a double bed in the hotels we stayed at. We rank Japan as one of the most gay friendly countries in Asia. Although Japanese society is quite conservative, the Japanese will never show this to tourists and only ever treat you with the utmost respect! This is one of many reasons why we love Japan. For the best parties, you'll want to head to Tokyo, which has hundreds of tiny gay bars in Shinjuku's Ni-Chōme district. For more, check out our gay guide to Tokyo.

What is pocket WiFi?

Pocket WiFi is a small portable device with a SIM card inside which transforms 3G and 4G signals into a private and secure WiFi connection. It's perfect for tablets, smartphones, and laptop users who want to stay connected with high-speed wireless internet whilst traveling.

For example, you're walking the streets of Tokyo, and want to find a good restaurant to sample some traditional Japanese foods. A simple search on TripAdvisor or Google Maps will quickly pinpoint the best restaurants nearby with directions on how to get there.

What we love about the pocket WiFi router is that you can connect multiple devices to it at the same time, which you can use anywhere in Japan (subject to network coverage). It meant that for our Japan trip, we were always connected, and could easily communicate with family and friends, upload to social media whenever we wanted, research things on the go, and get GPS directions from Google Maps. It's also light, fitting perfectly into the palm of your hand.

Renting a pocket WiFi in Japan
What is pocket WiFi? This tiny unassuming box of course!

What are the advantages of pocket WiFi?

Well for one, roaming fees are extremely expensive that we've just become accustomed to switching off our mobile data the second we set off! We therefore always buy a new local SIM card in every new country we visit and rely on those. But after a few days traveling in Japan with our portable router, we quickly realized there are many advantages to renting a pocket WiFi in Japan:

  • Can connect many devices at the same time: you will no doubt save a lot of money if you are several people traveling together. Instead of buying a separate SIM card for each smartphone, with a pocket WiFi, you can connect numerous devices at the same time. This also includes tablets and laptops, in addition to your smartphone.
  • Easy to carry: a pocket WiFi is usually the size of a smartphone or smaller and weighs between 80-150 grams (3-5 ounces).
  • No roaming charges: an obvious advantage, but with pocket WiFi, you will save a lot of money on roaming charges.
  • Unlimited Internet data: most pocket WiFi services offer unlimited data usage. Whereas with prepaid SIM card packages, we've found them to be quite limited with the data offered and have had to top up with more (1GB, 2 GB, 5 GB, etc…). This makes a massive difference to the overall cost of your internet access throughout your trip.
  • Secure: pocket WiFi creates a private and secure connection to your device, unlike public WiFi hotspots (such as in a restaurant, hotel, airport, train, etc), which are often not secure.
  • Easy to use: one of the things we loved about our pocket WiFi during our travels in Japan is how simple and easy it is to use. You simply switch it on, connect your devices to the WiFi network by entering the credentials, and voila – you're sorted for the rest of your trip! By contrast, what we hated about SIM cards was the amount of time wasted playing with the settings to activate them. So on a few occasions, we had purchased a SIM card and ended up not using it because it took too long to activate properly.
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For over a thousand years, Kyoto was the Imperial capital of Japan. Since it escaped major bombing during WWII it is home to more than 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites – worth a day trip at least.

Find out more

Where can I get a pocket WiFi in Japan?

Getting a pocket WiFi in Japan is very easy. You can either pre-order it online before you set off, or you can rent it over the counter at Narita or Haneda airports in Tokyo. However, we strongly recommend ordering it online before you go to avoid any disappointments when you arrive. During busy periods, vendors may sell out and you may end up with no Internet access which would, of course, be HELL ON EARTH!!!

Ordering online also allows you to compare prices and get the best deals. It allows you to select options like whether you want to collect it at the airport or have it delivered to your hotel. 

The returning process cannot be any more simple: you just place this little magical box into the pre-paid envelope they give you, then drop it off in a post box anywhere in Japan.

 

How many devices can connect to a pocket WiFi?

The number of devices that can connect to a pocket WiFi varies, depending on the type of router you get. On average, pocket WiFi routers allow between 5 to 15 devices to connect at the same time.

Make sure you check this before you rent your pocket WiFi. Most pocket WiFi internet providers will specify the maximum number of connections allowed.

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One of the most recognizable sights in Japan is the beautiful Mount Fuji. You can see this dormant volcano from Tokyo on a clear day, but visiting it up close is almost a requirement while exploring Japan!

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What is the cost of a pocket WiFi rental?

Prices can vary a lot from one provider to another, so we've highlighted below the factors that constitute the cost of renting a pocket WiFi in Japan:

  • Data limit: probably the most important factor. Most providers will limit the data consumption daily, or over the total usage, in exchange for a very low price. To avoid disappointment, make sure the cost of your pocket WiFi includes unlimited internet usage.
  • Number of days: the longer you stay, the cheaper it is to rent a pocket WiFi in Japan. For example, a 15-day rental with GetYourGuide will cost you $75. If you add $7 to this, you can keep it for 20 days, which works out to just $1.30 per extra day.
  • The number of devices: a basic router allowing only 5 connections tends to be cheaper than a router supporting 15 connections.
  • The speed: the speed is essential when it comes to renting a pocket WiFi. Always check before ordering. Anything between 75MBps and 187MBps is good.
  • Delivery/return policy: a low price often means that the delivery and return are not included in the price. Make sure you check whether your pocket WiFi can be delivered to your hotel when you arrive, and for the return, a prepaid envelope is provided.

What should I look for when ordering pocket WiFi in Japan?

  • Amount of 4G data: the total amount of high-speed data you can enjoy with your pocket WiFi. If you reach the limit, the internet will still work but at lower speeds usually on 3G instead of 4G.
  • Max. numbers of devices connected: the total amount of devices that connect simultaneously to your pocket WiFi. The higher the number, the better.
  • Speed: the maximum download speed you can expect to get from the pocket WiFi to your devices.
  • Battery life: maximum battery life for your pocket WiFi router. Anything between 8 to 12 hours is good.
  • Hotel delivery: whether the provider offers free hotel delivery or if you need to pick it up at their office.
  • Easy envelope return: some providers provide a pre-paid envelope for you to easily return your pocket WiFi from anywhere in Japan by placing it in any (Japanese!) letterbox.
  • Free cancellation policy: some providers provide a free cancellation policy. We find this to be important as you never know if your plans are going to change.
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How to use a pocket WiFi?

First, make sure the portable router is fully charged up. It takes around 3 hours for a full charge but it depends on the WiFi router manufacturer. To connect your device to the pocket WiFi, you just need to enter the WiFi name and password key once, then you're good to go for the entire trip.

The devices need to stay within 65-80 feet (20-25 meters) from the pocket WiFi. As with any portable router, the further away your device is from it, the weaker the signal becomes.

One final tip: if like us you're a heavy user of internet data, then take with you a good battery pack to charge up your pocket WiFi on the go.

Read more travel adventures like this in our book!

We've published our very own gay travel book called, ‘Out in the World'. It has all our practical safety tips, first-hand advice, and travel stories from some of our favorite destinations.

We hope it inspires you to have a fun and safe trip!

Click on the book to order:

Gay couple travel book Nomadic Boys Out in the World

For more inspiration:

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Our complete guide to renting a pocket WiFi in Japan

Happy travels are safe travels

We recommend you always take out a reputable travel insurance before your next vacation. What happens if you suffer from illness, injury, theft, or a cancellation? Many travelers forget about it and regret it when something happens. Better to pay a small price and have the peace of mind and not worry.

Sebastien Chaneac

Hey everyone, I'm Seby, the co-founder, editor, and know-it-all IT guru behind the Nomadic Boys gay travel blog...at least that's how Stefan describes me! I'm also a total travel nerd and food enthusiast. Over the past 10 years, I've travelled to over 80 countries with my partner in crime and the love of my life, Stefan. I've written for a wide range of publications ranging from Pink News, Matador, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Guardian and many more. Want to know more about me? Check my full bio here.

Jon

Wednesday 4th of March 2020

Why on earth don't you just use a SIM which is much cheaper and much easier?

Stefan Arestis

Thursday 5th of March 2020

For the reasons set out in this article.

Lara Watt

Friday 3rd of January 2020

Hi, We fly in to Osaka, can I do the same deal with the pocket wifi there as well.

Stefan Arestis

Friday 3rd of January 2020

Actually we are also about to find out ourselves when we go there next week! Let us know your experiences :)

Lea

Thursday 26th of December 2019

Hi! Thank you for this article - super helpful. I have a question about the pocket wifi and I can't find an answer anywhere. Can you pick up your pocket wifi at the airport, but only activate it at a later date? Example: Our trip is 21 days, but for the first 6 days, our airbnb includes a pocket wifi so we would only need our own pocket wifi at day 7. Do you only pay for the days it is ''on'' or that you use? Thanks!!

Stefan Arestis

Friday 27th of December 2019

Not entirely sure, but we recommend contacting GetYourGuide who will be able to answer all specific questions about this.

Justin_Thinh

Saturday 2nd of November 2019

Thanks for your very helpful article. I have problems with data roaming, and I cannot connect to facebook. It was a horrible time. I almost spent a day just looking for help, and you know, really a waste of time. I wish I had read this article earlier.

Stefan Arestis

Sunday 3rd of November 2019

Sorry to hear :(

JouJou

Tuesday 22nd of October 2019

Hi! I found your article extremely informative. However, I have a question and I hope you can help. Unfortunately, I did not think to pre-order a pocket wifi, and will be purchasing one at Narita airport. I am leaving in 2 days and I am wondering, if you have any brand or companies you suggest to rent one from at the airport? Please and thank you!

Stefan Arestis

Tuesday 22nd of October 2019

Definitely the one recommended in this article, which we can vouch for.