How to Choose the best pocket wifi?
There are four things you need to know when choosing Pocket Wi-Fi.
These are the network, available data capacity, 5G, and price.
We will explain each of them.
Network
There are four major telecom companies in Japan. If you are staying in a big city such as Tokyo or Osaka, it doesn't matter which company's network you use, but those visiting different places will need to choose a Pocket Wi-Fi network that can easily communicate over a large area.
The Pocket Wi-Fi networks offered for travellers that can easily communicate over large areas are docomo and Softbank.
If you rent a Pocket Wi-Fi that uses either the docomo or Softbank network, you will almost never have problems getting a connection.
Data capacity (unlimited Data)
You want Pocket Wi-Fi with an unlimited data plan, right?
However, as Pocket Wi-Fi is designed to communicate with multiple devices, Rakuten Mobile and WiMAX are the only services that offer plans with unlimited data capacity for Pocket Wi-Fi.
Other services, even if they are called unlimited, impose a speed limit on the communication speed when a certain amount of data is exceeded in order to maintain a fair communication environment.
As for Rakuten Mobile and WiMAX's Pocket Wi-Fi, it is not beneficial for travellers as the places where it can be connected are not wide areas and are weak indoors.
Regarding the data capacity of Pocket Wi-Fi,
This page shows that the average is to use about 840 MB per person per day.
How much data will I need for my trip to Japan? Pocket Wi-Fi / SIM card (eSIM)
With Pocket Wi-Fi, you should think about using around 3 GB per day, considering that you will be using multiple devices.
For plans with the name 'unlimited', it is not easy to know how much you will be limited by the speed limit if you communicate, so it is better to choose a service that clearly states the capacity you can use, such as 100 GB available per month.
When you buy a product, it is easier to understand if you are told that it will be delivered tomorrow at 11am than if you are told that it will be delivered in the shortest possible time.
Don't be misled by the word 'unlimited' and make sure the service has a clear data capacity listed.
5G
As of 2024/3, there are still very few places in Japan where communications are possible at 5G millimetre wave.
The latest iPhone 15s on the market in Japan do not even support millimetre wave.
This means that there are few places where you can communicate on 5G.
If you want Pocket Wi-Fi with fast 5G speeds, don't expect 5G, as there are few places with 5G connectivity. 4G is fine for speed and you can watch videos comfortably.
Rental prices
You want to keep rental prices low,right?
As mentioned on this page, rental fees are higher if you rent at an airport shop.
Where to rent a pocket WiFi in Japan?
If you want to rent a pocket Wi-Fi easilyand low price, apply for a rental online before you come to Japan.
| Network |
Docomo or SoftBank |
| Data Capacity |
Plans with clear capacities such as 100GB |
| 5G |
Since connectivity is limited, 4G is sufficient |
| Reducing Rental Costs |
Reserve before coming to Japan |
