If you’re planning a trip to Japan, staying connected is a must. From navigating the busy streets of Tokyo to finding your way to Toba 😎, having access to the internet can be a lifesaver. Fortunately, there are several options for travellers looking to stay connected, including pocket Wi-Fi, physical SIM cards and eSIM cards. Here’s a breakdown of each option to help you choose the best one for you.
Option 1: Pocket wifi
Pocket wifi is a portable wifi device that allows you to connect to the internet wherever you are. You can rent one at the airport or from a local provider, and it can be shared between multiple devices, such as your smartphone, tablet and laptop. Pocket Wi-Fi can be a good option if you’re travelling with a group or need to use the internet extensively for work or research. You can usually choose a plan before you leave and pick up your Pocket Wi-Fi at the airport when you arrive in Japan.
A full explanation can be found on Tokyo Cheapo’s blog page.
https://tokyocheapo.com/business/internet/rent-wifi-router-japan/
Option 2: Physical SIM card
A physical SIM card is a small chip that you insert into your smartphone to connect to the internet. You can buy a SIM card at the airport or from a local provider, and it will usually come with a certain amount of data and a certain period of validity.
If you choose this option, there are a few things you can do:
- You can order your SIM card before you arrive in Japan (buy one on Amazon or Rakuten…), have it shipped to you and bring it with you to Japan.
- You can buy one on the plane (Japan Airlines sells IIJmio data SIM cards on their planes).
- You can buy one at the airport.
- You can buy one at some electronics stores (Joshin, Bic Camera…), but not every store will have them.
Again, Tokyo Cheapo gives us a good explanation of the different options.
https://tokyocheapo.com/business/internet/prepaid-cheap-japan-sim-card-options/
Option 3: eSIM card
An eSIM (short for “embedded SIM”) is a type of SIM card that is built into a device, such as a smartphone or tablet, rather than being a physical card that you insert into the device.
With a traditional SIM card, you have to physically remove the card from your device and insert a new one if you want to switch operators or change your phone number. But with an eSIM, you can change operators or phone numbers without physically replacing the SIM card.
Instead, you can simply activate a new eSIM profile on your device using software. This can be useful for people who frequently travel to different countries and want to switch to a local operator without having to buy a new SIM card each time. It can also be useful for people who want to use multiple phone numbers on the same device, for example for business and personal use.
One company that works well in Japan is Ubigi. You can find more information about compatible devices on the Ubigi website.
The setup process is done through the Ubigi app, which you can download from your iPhone’s Appstore or your Android device’s PlayStore.
https://cellulardata.ubigi.com/ubigi-esim-compatible-devices/
And a detailed explanation of how to set up the esim on their YouTube channel.