Are you overwhelmed trying to work out how to stay connected while travelling through Japan without incurring hefty roaming charges? Having travelled extensively throughout Japan, we’ve personally used and compared Japan pocket wifi rental devices for our own family to enable us to share comprehensive reviews with you. Our top pick is the Unlimited Data Japan Wireless Pocket Wifi Rental.
Pocket wifi devices have been our key to easy and continuous connectivity, from the heart of Tokyo to the seaside vistas of Miyajima Island. We’ll help you to choose the right pocket wifi rental option to maximise your travel experience in Japan.
Summary of Recommended Best Pocket Wifi Japan Rental Options
Here is our summary of recommended Japanese pocket wifi rental options for those of you just looking for some quick recommendations without reading the whole article. On our holidays in Japan, we have personally used all our recommended pocket wifi rental Japan options, so we are well-placed to provide advice. We can confirm that all of the Japan wi fi products recommended below worked well and were easy to set up and use.
Read below for further information about each recommended provider and to learn more about their products.
Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links. If you book after clicking on one of these links then we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Japan Wireless Unlimited Data Pocket Wifi Rental - use coupon code JPW004 to get your 25% discount
- Best Value for Money for High Data Users
- Unlimited Data, no speed restrictions.
- Pick up at major airports, hotels, post office, local addresses (not AirBnB). Mail satchel for easy return.
- Up to 10 connected devices. 20 hour battery life. Free backup battery.
Ninja Wifi Unlimited Data Pocket Wifi Rental
- Best Value for Money for Families
- Unlimited Data, no speed restrictions.
- Pick up and return at major Japan airports. Option for hotel delivery and return.
- Up to 5 connected devices. 9 hour battery life. Free backup battery.
Sakura Mobile Unlimited Data Pocket Wifi Rental
- Best Value for Last Minute Shoppers
- Unlimited Data, fair use policy can cause speed restrictions.
- Pick up at major Japan airports, hotels, post office, local addresses (not AirBnB). Mail satchel for easy return.
- Up to 15 connected devices. 20 hour battery life.
Get Your Guide Unlimited Data Pocket Wifi Rental
- Best Value for Budget Travellers
- Unlimited Data, fair use policy can cause speed restrictions.
- Delivery to your hotel (not AirBnB) or airport post office. Mail satchel for easy return.
- Up to 10 connected devices. 20 hour battery life.
Many people consider internet access practically essential, particularly when travelling. It’s possible to travel without it, but the Internet makes travel so much easier. You can use it for many things like navigating using Google Maps, translation apps, making bookings, streaming Netflix, posting photos to social media, and accessing train/bus timetables and news sites.
While it has become easier to find free public wifi, there are still plenty of concerns with using it, such as the time to find and connect to public wifi, poor signal strength, slow speeds and internet safety. Renting a Japan pocket wifi to get internet access is for many people a bit of a ‘no-brainer’ as it’s small, cheap, encrypted as well as password protected and it has great battery life.
We’ll explain how to rent a Japan wifi router and introduce you to some of Japan’s very best wifi providers. We’ve also negotiated deals with a number of the best pocket wifi Japan rental companies and given you discount codes for their products. At the end of the article, we also have a comprehensive frequently asked questions section in which we have tried to answer as many as possible of the questions about accessing the internet and using pocket wifi. Armed with this information, you will be in a great place to choose the best Japan pocket wifi during your holiday or visit.
What is a Pocket Wifi?
A pocket wifi is a small portable mobile wifi router with a built-in sim card. Think of it as being like a phone without the fancy screen or advanced operating system. Other common names for a pocket wifi include a Japan travel wifi, mobile hotspot, mobile wifi, wi-fi dongle, mifi, portable wifi hotspot and portable wifi router.
It takes a 3G, 4G or 5G mobile signal from a mobile network such as Docomo NTT, then creates a secure, private wifi network. It’s secure and private because of its built-in encryption and a password to connect to the wifi.
It’s very easy to use. All you have to do is turn it on, connect your devices to the pocket wifi router wifi hotspot, and you are ready to get started. Then stream your favourite shows, use social media, browse the internet and use your apps. And remember to recharge it each night. For big days out, which are typical when you are travelling, also having a backup battery is a good idea to enable you to recharge your rental wifi device and phone while you are on the go.
At the end of your visit, you either return your portable wifi Japan to the return counter at your departure airport or, alternatively, your rental pocket wifi provider may include a prepaid return envelope which you can use to post your wifi device back to your provider. Each airport in Japan has a post box easily accessible before you go through security, so make sure you remember to post your device before entering the security check zone!
Is Pocket Wifi in Japan worth it?
Yes. You get plenty of data at a great price (cheaper than a cup of coffee per day). They’re also really easy to get set up, have an excellent battery life, and can support plenty of connected devices, making them great for larger groups. In some circumstances (such as solo travellers or groups with limited devices), a SIM card will work better. For certain people, using free wifi hotspots or using their normal mobile/cell phone provider’s international roaming plan may work best for their needs.
Best Pocket Wifi in Japan
We have done the research to help you find the best Japan wifi rental for your visit to Japan, with options to pick it up from any of the major Japanese airports or to have it delivered to your hotel. A key tip is pre-ordering your portable pocket wifi rental at least one week before your arrival date in Japan.
For more information about the mobile apps you will need for your trip to Japan, please check out our article on Top 16 Smart or Cell Phone Apps for your Trip to Japan. If you prefer to purchase an eSim plan or a pre-paid sim card, check out our Best Japan eSim Plan for Tourists or Best Sim Cards in Japan for Tourists articles.
Below is a Japan pocket wi fi comparison table to help you quickly decide which option will suit you best. If you are arriving or departing early or late, ensure you check the opening hours for your pick up and return options on the supplier’s page after you click through below.
Japan Pocket Wifi Features Compared
When comparing products, be aware that most companies promote the fastest possible speed which can range from about 150 Mbps (megabytes per second) download speed to 612 Mbps. You may see even higher speeds. The better measure is average speed which normally ranges from 40 to 50 Mbps, but it can be significantly lower or a little higher depending on a range of factors. We talk about this more in our FAQ section towards the end of this article.
Another feature to pay attention to is the amount of data. Most companies promote their product as having unlimited data, but for most products, this is subject to an excessive usage clause which may cause speed to be reduced until the next day. The amount of data at 4G speeds for all of our recommended providers is extremely generous. You are very unlikely to face speed restrictions unless you are extremely heavy data users.
NOTE: The prices in this article are current as of June 2023.
Japan Wireless | Ninja Wifi | Sakura Mobile | Get Your Guide | |
Product Title | Japan Wireless Unlimited Data Pocket Wifi Rental | Ninja Wifi Unlimited Data Pocket Wifi Rental | Sakura Mobile Unlimited Data Pocket Wifi Rental | Get Your Guide Unlimited Data Pocket Wifi Rental |
Data | Unlimited Data, no speed throttling | Unlimited Data, speed throttling for excessive usage | Unlimited Data, speed throttling for excessive usage | Unlimited Data, speed throttling for excessive usage |
Pick-up and Drop-off | At Major Airports, Hotels, Post Offices, mail satchel to return | At Major Japanese Airports (can be different arrival and departure location) Delivery also available for an extra fee | At Major Airports, Hotels, Post Offices, mail satchel to return | At Major Airports post-offices, Hotels, mail satchel to return |
Connected Devices | Up to 10 connected devices | Up to 5 connected devices | Up to 15 connected devices | Up to 10 connected devices |
Battery Life | 20 hours. Backup battery included | 9 hours. Free backup battery. | 20 hours, option to add on backup battery | 10 hour battery life |
Pre-order | At least one day prior | At least one day prior | At least one day prior | At least 3 days prior |
Cost for 7 Days | $US 54 (or $US 41 with coupon code JPW004) | $US 47 (or $US 38 with our 20% discount) | $US 53 | $US 38 |
Book here |
Japan Wireless Pocket Wifi Rental in Japan
Ninja Wifi Pocket Wifi Rental for Japan
Sakura Mobile Pocket Wifi Rental in Japan
Get Your Guide Pocket Wifi Rental for Japan
Long Term Pocket Wifi Japan
If you plan to visit or live in Japan for more than 90 days, Mobal has an excellent long term option for pocket wifi.
FAQS about renting a pocket wifi in Japan
In our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) section of this article, we’ll answer many questions about choosing the best pocket wifi for Japan. We’ll also look at the advantages and disadvantages of different ways to get online in Japan, including renting or buying a pocket wifi or sim, using a free public Japan wifi hotspot, or using your normal mobile or cell phone provider.
How do I choose the Best Pocket Wifi in Japan?
There are heaps of companies through who you can rent a portable wifi in Japan. There’s a lot to think about when comparing pocket wifi providers and products such as price, speed, amount of data, battery life, and number of devices it can handle. We’ve done the hard work comparing some of the top choices for pocket wifi in Japan. This will make it easier for you to decide what is the best wifi router in Japan for you.
Be aware that it is a very normal marketing strategy for companies to promote their products in the best possible light while downplaying any negatives. Therefore, it is important to closely check out details when comparing. In the following FAQs we’ve highlighted a number of things to look out for.
How Do I Get Online When Travelling?
There are lots of different options to get access to the internet when you visit a different country. This FAQ section looks at the advantages and disadvantages of the various options.
Japan Wireless Unlimited Data Pocket Wifi Rental - use coupon code JPW004 to get your 25% discount
- $US 7.71 per day for a 7 day hire period, daily cost reduces for longer time periods. Save 25% on this price using our coupon code JPW004.
- Unlimited Data, no speed restrictions.
- Pick up at major airports, hotels, post office, local addresses, not AirBnB. Mail satchel for easy return.
- Up to 10 connected devices. 20 hour battery life. Free backup battery.
- Pre-order at least one day prior.
"I got the pocket wifi for my stay in Tokyo recently. I picked it up at the airport easily. It was easy to use, with instructions in the package. Very consistent performance, and I was very happy with it. Drop off when I left the airport was also easy. Greatly recommend to use while you are in Japan." - Tuyet
Ninja Wifi Unlimited Data Pocket Wifi Rental
- $US 6.70 per day for a 7 day hire period, flat rate per day. Get 20% off this price and get a free backup battery when you book using our link.
- Unlimited data. Excessive use may cause reduced speed
- Collect and return at major Japan airports (can be different airports for collection and return).
- Delivery service to your hotel or to return is also available for a small additional fee.
- Up to 5 connected devices, 9 hour battery life
- Pre-order at least one day prior
"Japan-Wireless 5 Stars! We ordered prior to our trip on line. We requested that the router be sent to our hotel. The item was indeed there at checkin. Seem less to use, took seconds and we were connected. We travelled to various places in Japan and always had full bars and fast internet. Very pleased with the service and product." - T&F
Sakura Mobile Unlimited Data Pocket Wifi Rental
- $US 7.53 per day for a 7 day hire period, daily cost reduces for longer time periods.
- Unlimited Data. Excessive usage may cause reduced speed.
- Pick up at major Japan airports, hotels, post office, local addresses (inc. AirBnB). Mail satchel for easy return.
- Up to 15 connected devices. 20 hour battery life.
- Pre-order at least one day prior.
"Picking-up was super smooth and easy, no waiting time, no queue, straight to the point. And I booked it 48h before landing, super convenient. The pocket wifi works perfectly. The 30 Gb limit is way enough if you work all day." - Guillaume
Get Your Guide Unlimited Data Pocket Wifi Rental
- $US 5.32 per day for a 7 day hire period, daily cost reduces for longer time periods.
- Unlimited data. Excessive use may cause reduced speed.
- Delivery to your hotel (not AirBnB) or airport post office (during working hours). Mail satchel for easy return
- Up to 10 connected devices, 20 hour battery life
- Pre-order at least three days prior
"Very convenient option to have for traveling around Japan. The activity provider’s response was very fast and helpful. The person even helped to have the pocket wi-fi sent out to our hotel beforehand and was able to receive and activate it upon arrival." - Verified Reviewer
You may also like to check out the following articles:
Best Japan eSim Plan for Tourists [2023]
Best Japan Sim Card for Tourists [2023]
Rent the Best Pocket Wifi in Japan for Visitors [2023]
How to Rent a Japan Wireless Pocket Wifi [2023]
Review: Ninja Wifi Pocket Wifi Rental for Japan [2023]
Mobal Sim Card Review for Japan for 2023
Top 16 Phone Apps for Your Japan Trip (plus Bonus Apps!)
Join the Japan Travel Planning Facebook Group and Discord Server
You are also welcome to join our Japan Travel Planning Facebook Group and our new Japan Travel Planning Discord Server – they are great resources to enable you to ask questions about your upcoming trip to Japan!
Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links. If you book after clicking on one of these links then we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
I haven’t been to Japan yet but will keep this information in mind. You put so much effort into collection all the data and information, well done! I will definitely recommend this to others, too.
Thanks Silke!
We’ve been in Japan four times and haven’t tried using pocket wifi. I thought having one in Japan is a lot of hassle until I had read your article. Thanks for the info Anne.
Carlos, thank you for your feedback. We found having a pocket wifi in Japan to be a very convenient option – you log in once and then take it with you everywhere you go and have data available for multiple people at once.
Really great information! I was looking to reserve a pocket wifi through one of your recommended sites – GetYourGuide. I read a bunch of horror stories on TripAdvisor regarding this agency, though they have been about tours, not reserving a pocket wifi. Have you used them personally and are they reliable? Thanks for any insight you can offer!
Jim, Get Your Guide is a tour aggregator who markets many other companies tours and services, they do not actually provide the tours and services themselves. Overall Get Your Guide is a well regarded provider and the stories on TripAdvisor may have been about a particular tour operator rather than about Get Your Guide itself – you have not provided any details so I cannot look up the specific examples.
I have not used this service myself but many of my readers have purchased this option and have had no issues and the service has been provided as described. Thanks!
Hi. What is the range for these pocket wifi devices? We are a family of 4 (teenage kids) travelling for 13 days to Japan in June. Would 1 device be enough for all of us?
Any other tips about which option we should choose? Tnanks for the tips thus far very helpful
Rod, with regards to your question, one pocket wifi may be enough, but if you heavy data users using a lot of video etc you may need to consider getting more than one. You could also consider getting pre-paid sim cards for the kids and one pocket wifi, then if you split up you have options to communciate.
Hi,
great article helped me decide. I think it is important to note that although all of the suppliers say unlimited data the small print reveals that only a certain amount is at 4G speed then it drops to 3G. The different amount of data makes a HUGE difference to the value.
For example for AU$108 I can get one from GetYourGuide for 17 days which has a 7GB limit at 4G speed access for the ENTIRE rental period before dropping to 3G speed.
The Voyagin offer is AU$148 for the same period, more expensive BUT you get 3GB of data at 4G speed data per day. So if you go over one day it drops to 3G speed but the next day you have a fresh 3GB of data at 4G speed to use.
That could be a big deal if several people are using it and if you are using google maps a lot. I read many people saying there they ran out of 4G data on GetYourGuides hotspot and then performance was almost useless
Mark, thank you for sharing your insights. This is where it depends on whether you are a heavy or light data user and it pays to read the details.
Very informative post. Thank you very much!
Thank you for your feedback.