Which Pocket WiFi Rental is the Best in Japan 2024?

Are you wondering which pocket WiFi rental company you should choose in Japan? A pocket WiFi is one of the most important items for traveling in Japan. Let’s compare the prices, device specs, and other services.

A pocket WiFi is one of the most important items if you are traveling to Japan. You can’t help but use SNSs like Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram, search with Google Maps, and talk with WhatsApp and WeChat. It’s hard to travel to foreign countries smoothly without an Internet connection.

I’d like to find out which pocket WiFi rental company is the best in Japan so you can get the best deal. Spend your travel budget wisely.

Here are the comparisons of 10 popular pocket WiFi rental companies in Japan. Rental rates, data usage amount, data speed, battery life, delivery speed, and how easy to pick up and return are compared under the same conditions:

Pick-up Location: Airport
Rental Term: 14 days
Option: Extra mobile battery

These 10 pocket WiFi rental services allow you to pick up a WiFi unit at your hotel, but quite a few people think it’s too difficult to get to their hotels from airports without it. So I believe that pick-up at arrival airports is the most agreeable option.

I think a power bank is as necessary as a pocket WiFi router. If you connect to the Internet all day, the battery of the WiFi router is fully drained. What do you think if you run out of battery and cannot find a restaurant for dinner? Take one mobile battery, at least in Japan.

(The information below was updated in September 2024.)

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1. Japan Wireless

Japan Wireless is the most recommended pocket WiFi company in Japan, with over 800,000 rentals to customers coming from around the world. It has two kinds of WiFi routers, and both have entirely unlimited 4G LTE data usage plans. Thus, you can literally use the 4G Internet without data limitations.

For faster data speed, longer battery life, and wider coverage, Premium Wi-Fi is recommended. It offers an extra mobile battery for free, and you are never charged a cancellation fee before shipping if you want to cancel for any reason.

Special Offer: All orders with Japan Wireless are 20% discount using this coupon code!

Coupon Code: JPW001

Get the best deal right now here!

2. eConnect Japan

In eConnect Japan, there are three data usage plans from 20 GB to 100 GB with 4G. The WiFi connection allows you to use the 4G Internet for 20 GB, 50 GB, or 100 GB during your rental. You need to be careful about the given usage data limitation if you share it with some people or use a lot of data watching videos, downloading apps, and others.

This pocket WiFi rental company provides a free mobile battery, which helps you to use the WiFi outside all day. It’s also OK for you to return to different locations after pick-up. eConnect Japan also offers SIM cards with several data plans from 500 MB to 10 GB.

3. Pupuru WiFi

*From the standpoint of quality network maintenance and fair use of radio waves, data speed of the device will be limited in the case of large-capacity communication that occupies an extremely severe network (according to the website).

There are two 4G LTE unlimited plans in Pupuru WiFi: the Hi-Speed plan good for city areas and the Broad-Coverage plan good for suburban areas. The latter one is a little more expensive than the Hi-Speed plan. This WiFi rental company also lends the translator device POCKETALK for 400 yen per day.

The company frequently provides the mobile WiFi at a discounted rate. Please be noted that the data speed may drop down depending on the condition of the network.

4. NINJA WiFi

*The communication speed will be limited to 128kbps and slow down if it is exceeded 10GB per day (according to the website).

There are three pocket WiFi plans in NINJA WiFi for 3, 5 and 10 GB per day. For a heavy Internet user, it is recommended to hire the 10 GB plan. You can use up to 10 GB per day with high speed data. The WiFi company also serves useful optional items such as a voice translation device POCKETALK W and international adapter plugs.

You can also pick up at hotels or return from convenience stores or airport delivery service counters with additional fees.

5. Wi-Fi Rental Store

*There is an additional charge of 550 yen for pickup at the airport, which is included in the above fee.

Wi-Fi Rental Store serves three plans of 4G pocket WiFi. Its latest model device has the fastest connective speeds 612Mbps (Download). If you want to use WiFi a lot of the time, please note that there is a data usage limitation (20 GB per month) and that the battery life is shorter than that of other modems.

6. Global Advanced Communications

*Although we advertise that the WiFi provides unlimited data, your internet connection may be throttled by the network provider when you consume a large amount of data in a short period.This is due to the fair use policy, which is common with mobile internet devices. In order for you to enjoy your trip, we recommend using the pocket WiFi for a relatively light internet activity (according to the website).

Global Advanced Communications offers multiple plans: Standard Plan, Unlimited Plan, 5G Unlimited Plan and Long Plan. For example, the information of Unlimited Plan is like above. Global Advanced Communications also provides an extra mobile battery for 800 yen and an insurance for 500 yen.

7. Sakura Mobile

Sakura Mobile offers a 4G pocket WiFi plan with the unlimited data usage. If you connect to the WiFi to use the Internet in many ways including watching movies and talking through Skype and other VoIPs, the unlimited option may be suitable for you. There are also three SIM cards available for 8, 15 and 30 days.

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8. Japan Wi-Fi Rental

Japan Wi-Fi Rental, powered by Wi-Fi Rental Honpo, offers an affordable mobile Wi-Fi router service starting in just two days. Their modern device, compatible with the Softbank network, allows connectivity for up to 14 devices simultaneously, making it an ideal choice for travelers.

You can conveniently pick up and return your device at designated airports and hotels. The basic plan is priced at 430 yen/day for speeds up to 612 Mbps, with a monthly cap of 50 GB. However, additional costs for a charger (550 yen) and shipping for pick-up and return (1,100 yen) apply.

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9. Shibarinashi WiFi

Shibarinashi WiFi (縛りなしWiFi) offers a flexible pocket WiFi rental service in Japan that doesn’t require long-term contracts. You can sign up for just the period you need.

The pricing is straightforward: 473 yen per day for up to 14 days and a flat rate of 7,095 yen for any duration between 15 to 31 days, with an automatic contract extension beyond 32 days at 228 yen per day.

While return shipping costs fall on the customer, the service’s simplicity extends to its hassle-free postponement process. Designed for heavy internet use, it supports up to 10GB of daily data usage, making it ideal for streaming and online gaming. Although it can connect up to 10 devices simultaneously, a recommendation of up to 5 devices ensures optimal performance.

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10. Softbank Global Rental

SoftBank Global Rental offers an accessible way to stay connected in Japan with its pocket Wi-Fi service, which costs 860 yen daily and features unlimited data on SoftBank’s high-speed 4G LTE network.

Designed for extensive use, the device supports about 6 hours of continuous communication on a full charge. An additional administration fee of 330 yen is required, and if you opt for delivery, a courier fee of 1,000 yen applies. All data usage charges are included in the rental fee. Extensions on rental periods are offered without extra fees, adding to the convenience of longer stays or unexpected needs.

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For those looking to rent unlimited pocket WiFi

The use of WiFi has become more diversified today, not only for using map apps and search engines on smartphones and tablets but also for watching videos, playing games, uploading photos and videos to social media, and communicating with friends. For stress-free WiFi usage during a trip to Japan, many people may not want to worry about data limits. Hence, the preferable choice would be a service that offers unlimited data usage.

In Japan, there are numerous companies offering unlimited pocket WiFi, but it’s important to note that there are two types of “unlimited”. One is a “completely unlimited” service, which allows unlimited data usage at a stable speed, as the name suggests. The other type offers unlimited use of communication, but once a certain amount of data is used in a day or month, the speed becomes extremely slow. This latter type of “unlimited” can be problematic as the data speed may become so slow that it’s practically unusable.

The services introduced in this article clearly indicate whether they are truly unlimited or if there’s a potential for restrictions due to excessive use under the label of “unlimited”. Pay attention to this detail when choosing your rental pocket WiFi.

▶︎Here is the list of Best Unlimited Pocket WiFi in Japan.

For those seeking long-term pocket WiFi rentals

For those on long-term travels lasting several months, or for longer stays due to business trips or studying abroad, it would be beneficial to look for long-term rental plans. Many companies offer pocket WiFi at significantly reduced rates for rentals spanning a few months to over half a year.

For instance, Japan Wireless has Premium WiFi – Super Long Plan for rentals of over six months, allowing you to rent Unlimited WiFi at less than half the regular price. Additionally, Wi-Fi Rental Store offers advantageous plans for each of their packages starting from one month. Those interested in long-term rentals should check this out: Best Long-Term Pocket WiFi in Japan.

Furthermore, for those moving to Japan, it might be a good idea to contract with an internet service provider and install a home router. Here is a compilation of popular internet services.

Can you use Free WiFi in Japan?

Like many countries, Japan offers Free WiFi environments in public places. However, it’s important to note that it’s not necessarily convenient and easy to use for everyone. This can be particularly challenging for tourists from abroad.

First of all, there are limitations on usage time and data, unstable connection speeds, and the hassle of having to sign up every time you access the Free WiFi network. These are the main issues with using Free WiFi. It’s problematic when the connection is cut off every 30 minutes or the data speed is extremely slow, especially since travelers often need to quickly look up information or communicate.

If Free WiFi is unavailable, switching to international data roaming is the only alternative, which can end up being quite costly.

Moreover, while hotels and some public facilities might offer practical Free WiFi, the real need for internet access often arises when you are out and about. Additionally, security concerns are a common drawback of Free WiFi, regardless of the country.

For these reasons, when traveling in Japan, it’s wiser not to rely on Free WiFi and instead rent a pocket WiFi device.

In Japan, which is recommended, a pocket WiFi or a SIM card?

To conclude, it’s recommended to rent a pocket WiFi. The most significant reason is the data usage and speed. Nowadays, with the diversification of devices such as smartphones, tablets, and PCs, there’s a demand for internet connectivity in various situations. A pocket WiFi, especially those offering unlimited data services, allows you to use WiFi freely without worrying about limitations.

On the other hand, most SIM cards offer significantly less data usage compared to pocket WiFi. Moreover, there are usage limits set for either a day, a month, or both. If you are someone who only needs minimal internet access, a SIM card might be cheaper.

However, compatibility issues with your device remain a concern with SIM cards. Also, nowadays, services like eSIM are available, which don’t require a physical SIM card.

In any case, if you want to be as free as possible from all the limitations of WiFi usage and have a smooth journey, consider renting a pocket WiFi.

▶︎Check more details a about Pocket WiFi or SIM Card in Japan.

When traveling with multiple people, is one pocket WiFi device enough?

With recent WiFi devices, in most cases, 5 to 10 people can connect to one device simultaneously. However, as the number of smartphones or PCs connected at the same time increases, the speed can become slower, and battery consumption may be more intense. Therefore, using it with the maximum number of simultaneous connections isn’t very practical.

Ideally, it’s recommended to use one device for every 2-3 people. But if you often split up from your travel companions or if there are more people to travel with, it’s better to rent multiple devices. The smooth usage of WiFi offers convenience that can’t be substituted with money.

Should you take insurance with your pocket WiFi rental?

Do you worry about loss or damage of your pocket WiFi? You just maybe drop a WiFi router on the ground or have it stolen though Japan is a safer country. Some companies offer insurance options which cover full compensation or a part of it like 50%, 75%.

Just in case, it is recommended to take an insurance to avoid being charged for much more expensive compensation fee than the amount of WiFi rental fee.

Particularly if you want to enjoy outdoor activities or are aware that you tend to forget things, it is reassuring to take out insurance just in case, so you can travel with peace of mind. As none of the companies charge excessively high fees, it’s especially advisable for those renting WiFi in Japan for the first time to add insurance for added security.

▶︎For any further question about a pocket WiFi, check out this pocket WiFi FAQ list!

Conclusion

The best pocket WiFi depends on what you want to do with WiFi in Japan, however, it is definitely better to choose the unlimited data usage at an affordable rate. And, easy pick-up and return services will help you in the strange country. At rental periods, all you need is put the package in a post box or post office anywhere in Japan.

There are many different pocket WiFi rental services in Japan, so you may be at a loss as to which one to choose, but please refer to the recommended services above and choose the one that best suits your needs.

Take a wonderful trip to Japan staying connected with useful pocket WiFi devices!!

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▽To find a perfect rental option for pocket WiFi by area, check these articles below▽

▶︎Best Pocket WiFi in Tokyo
▶︎Best Pocket WiFi in Narita Airport
▶︎Best Pocket WiFi in Haneda Airport
▶︎Best Pocket WiFi in Osaka

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