For your trip to Japan, you’re going to need internet to stay connected. The most popular option is renting a pocket wifi. I’ll go over the 4 most popular Pocket WiFi options. I have tested them all for at least a month and this one, you get to keep after your plan is up. How awesome is that?!
They are all very good but what I’ve learned is they each have their strengths and weaknesses. I’ll go over each then we’ll do a cost/feature comparison. By the end of this video you’ll know which is the best for your needs.
First, this article is not sponsored, I paid for renting all of the pocket wifis and while we may earn a commission if you purchase through our links, this review is 100% my own opinion.
Why A Pocket Wifi?
Why not a SIM card or eSIM? Because a lot of user’s phones are locked. Especially, if you are from the United States. A pocket Wifi does not require your phone to be unlocked like using a separate SIM card or eSIM. This makes the pocket wifi available to everyone who has a mobile device with Wifi. Pocket Wifis are also the easiest to setup and you can quickly connect multiple devices just like your wifi router at home. Finally, if you use a lot of data, then a pocket WiFi is the most economical solution.
One more. If you stay in Airbnbs, it’s common the unit will come with a pocket Wifi vs a traditional wifi router. If this is the case, then you will surely be limited with your internet access at your Airbnb. Having your own pocket Wifi will give you extra data if you need it.
That’s why we always rent a pocket WiFi for our trips to Japan, even though we also use an eSIM.
Basic Information
Let’s first discuss some important information about using pocket WiFis.
All of these companies are Japan based and they all specialize in both Pocket WiFis and SIM/eSIMs and some offer other services. I’ll link to all of these companies below and I have coupon codes for a couple of them.
If you need help deciding whether you should get a pocket Wifi, SIM, eSIM or use your current network provider, we have a separate video on that.
All devices come with their own charging cable and AC adapter so you won’t need anything else.
Insurance. All companies offer an optional insurance policy. We personally never buy the insurance. But is something you might want to consider because if you lose the pocket Wifi or damage it the replacement cost might be over 200,000 Yen!
Unlimited Data
What does “unlimited” data mean? Many plans are sold as ‘unlimited’ but it doesn’t mean you have unlimited download speeds.
It means you will not be disconnected based on your usage or the amount of data transferred. Instead, your internet speed can be reduced to 1990s dial-up speeds without notice. And as far as I know, every company has something called the fair usage policy ( FUP ).
What is a FUP ( Fair Usage Policy)?
Depending on the network operator’s decision, the overuse of mobile communication will affect the usage of other customers and may be deemed as irregular usage. It’s not meant for a sudden large burst of data usage. It’s not meant for live video game streaming or a long video conference call, watching YouTube for hours, or just using too much data.
All of these scenarios may trigger the fair usage policy and your data speed may drop significantly. Down to as low as 200 Kbps.
If your internet speed drops to 200 Kbps speed you will notice it and you will only be able to do basic tasks like: web browsing, checking emails, instant messaging and maybe maps. Anything else like trying to watch a video may be too painfully slow and glitchy to do so!
Your high speed may not return until the next day. So be watchful of your data usage. And now you know unlimited data, doesn’t mean unlimited high speed.
Easy Pickup and Return
You can pick up the pocket wifi at airports upon arrival. And with some you can also choose to have it sent to your hotels, residences and more. When you are done, you can return it to most airports in Japan. This means you can pick up your pocket wifi from one airport and return it at another. Additionally, most provide a postage paid return envelope so when you are done you just drop it in the mailbox. To me, this is the easiest option.
Downsides of Pocket Wifis
While PW are great and we always rent one every time we are in Japan there are a couple of glaring downsides that you need to know:
- If you want internet, you have to carry around the Pocket WiFi wherever you go.
- If you are traveling as a group your internet will only work if you are near the person who is carrying the device.
- Pocket WiFi battery life is typically no more than 8 hours of usage. Sometimes less so you may need to carry a powerbank.
- Not really an issue but most companies claim download speeds of 150 Mbps or more. We have never come close to this in our speed tests. The higher end download speed is usually in the 50-60 Mbps range, which is still very good. The upload speeds can sometimes be in the 50 Mbps range which is amazing and just great if you need to upload data like videos.
But to us, the benefits far outweigh the negatives.
Let’s now talk about the 4 best pocket Wifi options for travelers to Japan.
Ninja WiFi
Ninja WiFi is great for power users. They offer plans of guaranteed data speeds of both 3GB/day 5GB/day and 10GB/day. None of the other carriers offer daily guaranteed data speeds of 5 & 10GB/day. So if you know you need daily speed minimums then this might be the best for you. But hold on, just because the others don’t offer this service, doesn’t mean they wont work for you.
Design
They are now transitioning to using mobile phones as their WiFi devices. This is nice because they are slim and have a large display. But I’m a little concerned about the durability. The new devices are USB-C powered. And while they are phones, you can only use them as pocket wifis.
It is possible you may still get an older device. When we last used them in the Fall and Winter of 2022 it was still the old design that used a micro USB charging.
Speed
Very fast 4G LTE download and upload speeds and very consistent. They are possibly the fastest. Easy to watch movies, Youtube videos and upload large files with no problems.
Pickup/Return
Easily pick up at major airports all over Japan from Sapporo to Tokyo, Osaka and even Okinawa. We have a video that shows you where you can pickup directly at Haneda Airport but at other airports like Narita are just as easy. You can return at other airports as well at no extra cost.
You can have it delivered to a residence or hotel, but it will cost you an additional 550 yen. Also, if you want to return via mail you will need to pay an additional 550 yen. All the other companies offer free return by mail instead of airport return.
Overall Experience
Very good. Very consistent connection speed. However, we rented a plan that had a 3GB daily limit. We frequently hit the 3GB daily limit and every time we did our internet speed was reduced to 256kps, almost unusable. Also, price is on the higher side.
Sakura Mobile
Sakura Mobile is another one of the major players that provides wireless internet solutions in Japan including pocket WiFi’s, SIM cards and eSIMs. They offer services for short term travelers, long-term visitors and residents in Japan.
Sakura is best for long term users. They have the best price for users who rent over 45 days. We used them for 90 days in the spring and summer of 2023 and it worked flawlessly and without issue everyday with only one exception. When we were staying at an accommodation near Tokyo Disney, the pocket wifi did not work in the unit at all. But as soon as we stepped outside and walked around the corner the internet connection returned and we had 4G speed again.
Speed
Very fast 4G LTE download and upload speeds. If you are from the US, then you might be surprised at the available upload speeds in Japan at a relatively low cost. We never really had any connectivity issue or noticeable slow internet except for the one time mentioned earlier near Disneyland.
Design
Older thick design that has a minimal display. Also uses micro USB charging. This is not really an issue since it comes with its own charging supply.
Pickup/Return
Airport pickup is the most common method. We picked up ours at JAL ABC at HND and dropped it off in the mail with their included pre-paid envelope.
Overall Experience
While the device was old it worked very well and was consistent. But what made Sakura mobile so great was during our usage for 90 days, we never hit the fair usage policy. Our plan was for 3GB of guaranteed high speed data and it kept on working at full speeds past 3GB/day. Here you can see it at over 4GB, this one is over 5GB, and this final one at near 8GB! We were never throttled! Which means our internet speeds were never reduced. But please know that your experience may be different and you may be throttled when you hit 3GB.
Japan Wireless
Another good option for pocket WiFis. They have some newer designed pocket Wifis with a very easy to use interface. We just tested them out for a month and overall the service was very good. We did have an initial hiccup though. We picked up the pocket WiFi from Haneda (HND) and as soon as we plugged it in it worked right away. However, the connection speed was slow and I noticed that we had high data usage even though we were hardly using it. Turns out the device security was not working and anyone could log into the device. I was able to test this by changing the password and still being able to connect on my laptop and mobile devices. I reported this to Japan Wireless but they said this was impossible. I requested a new device and even though they didn’t seem to believe me they sent me a new device which we received in two days. Note, we were in Sapporo at the time and the device came from Tokyo so overall they responded pretty quickly and while the next device I received was an older version it worked much better without issues.
Speed
Mostly very fast 4G. There were a couple of times we had issues but I think it was due to the hotels we were staying in.
Bonus
Of all the pocket Wifis in this review, Japan Wireless is the only company that provides a power bank at no extra cost. It’s a small one but it worked great the couple of times I needed it.
Pickup/Return
Airport pickup is the most common method. But they also offer free delivery to hotel, residence or even the nearest post office. We picked up ours at Ninja Wifi at Haneda Airport and dropped it off in the mail with their included pre-paid envelope. No extra charge to drop in mail, super easy.
Overall Experience
Customer service was quick to respond and replace a faulty device which made our experience a pleasant one. The second device, while older, worked very well. Data wise, we never hit the fair usage policy limit and internet speeds were never reduced. However, we also were using multiple different devices including another pocket wifi as well as eSIMs and hotel WiFis. Our daily usage on this pocket Wifi was between 2GB – 3GB. Not a significant data usage amount.
Mobal
Mobal is one of our favorite SIM/eSIM companies in Japan. I just recently tested out their Pocket Wifi and still using it today since they offer a unique pocket wifi rental/sale compared to the others. When you rent from them you are actually buying the device as well.
If you travel a lot or just want to own your pocket WiFi then Mobal could be a great option for you.
However, service is meant for long-term plans but short term travelers can also purchase the plan as well. Minimum plan is for 3 months then you can keep the plan on a month-to-month basis or cancel. After 3 months you get to keep the Pocket Wifi!
You can terminate your contract early at any time by returning your device and paying an early termination fee of 3,000 yen.
Device
Brand new slim designed device with both clear English and Japanese instructions on the touchscreen. Also I think it is the lightest of all the pocket WiFis we have ever tested.
Speeds
Fast 4G most of the time. Sometimes a little slow. But to their defense, we used their pocket Wifi in some remote places such as in small towns in Niseko, Hokkaido. We’ve also used it a lot on trains. While the Shinkansen bullet trains and most Limited Express trains offer free WiFi, it usually isn’t so great, so having a pocket wifi for those train trips are essential.
The higher end of download speed was around 40 Mbps. While upload speeds maxed at just under 30 Mbps. The lower end download speed on a train was 5 Mbps and upload was around 1 Mbps. For most people these speeds are plenty fast.
When we returned to Tokyo the speeds did improve to as much as 100 Mbps download speeds.
Pickup/Return
Mobal doesn’t allow you to pick up their device at the airport. Instead they will mail it to your accommodation or residence in Japan. We had ours mailed to our accommodation in Asahikawa, Hokkaido Japan. There was no extra charge for this and it was nice having it delivered!
As for return, well, with their plan you get to keep the device unless you decide to cancel your plan early. Early, is any time before your 90 day period. Just remember if you return early you will pay a termination fee and need to return the device.
Overall Experience
I really like the slim and lightweight design and the touchscreen of the device. However, the speed is slightly slower than the others but it will be fast enough for most users. Another strong selling point is that I get to keep the device after 3 months. For long-term users the cost of Mobal cannot be beat. More on this in a bit.
One thing to keep in mind, once you cancel your plan, you currently cannot re-signup with a Mobal pocket Wifi plan. Instead, you would need to purchase a separate SIM card to insert into your pocket Wifi. However, you have the option to purchase this from any company, not just Mobal.
* Recently, I spoke with Mobal and they are currently working on a new plan that will let you reactivate your pocket wifi with Mobal.
Cost/Feature Comparison
Now let’s compare each device.
From this price comparison chart you can see that for 10 day rental Japan Wireless has the lowest price at ¥5,466. This is by far the cheapest deal!
For a 30 day rental Japan Wireless is still the cheapest option at ¥14,555. You will also notice that now we can see the price for Mobal. Remember with Mobal, you rent for a minimum of 90 days. You can cancel early but you will be charged for at least one month plus a termination fee.
At 45 days Sakura mobile is now the cheapest option but Japan Wireless is still an excellent option since it includes a power bank.
For a 60 day rental Sakura Mobile continues to be the most economical option but Mobal is really starting to look good since at this point you will have only paid ¥9,960 for renting only.
At 90 days the lowest price goes to Mobal but remember you have a signup fee of ¥6,980. But at ¥14,940 it is by far the most cheapest option and one that jumped on!
Recommendations
If you need a lot of dedicated high speed data everyday then your best option is Ninja Wifi as it is the only one that will guarantee 5 or 10GB/day. Of course, you will pay more for their service. Just keep in mind that you will need to pay ¥550 extra if you want to return via mail vs returning at the airport.
If you are a casual user. You will mostly be using internet to check emails, use maps, translation and upload some photos and short videos to social media then the best option is Japan Wireless. They have the lowest prices if you rent under 30 days. They are also the only provider that includes a power bank at no extra cost.
If you are looking for a little more speed but don’t need a guaranteed 5 or 10 GB/day then Sakura mobile is a great choice. We also were never faced with the fair usage policy issue, meaning our data speeds were never reduced over the 90 day period we rented. But keep in mind, your experience may be different.
Finally, if you want to own your pocket WiFi then Mobal’s offering is very unique and very affordable. But their pocket Wifi is best for long term users or frequent travelers like us since it requires a 3 month commitment. After 90 days of usage you own your pocket wifi and the monthly charge is by far the lowest at 4,980 Yen/month. But keep in mind, you do pay for the device upfront of 6,980 yen. Also, know that plans start at 3 months. If you cancel early you will be charged a termination fee of 3,000 yen plus you need to return the pocket Wifi.
If you are not renting from Japan Wireless then consider bringing a power bank because there is a high chance the battery of your pocket Wifi will run out. Your mobile phone’s battery may run low too!
Which is our personal favorite? Currently it is Japan Wireless because it continues to work very well. The more we use it the more I notice that it’s speeds are consistently fast, commonly between 50 Mps – 100 Mbps! The low price for long-term rental is also great.
Our second choice would be Mobal’s Pocket WiFi because we get to own the device after 90 days. And the cost per month is very very cheap.
But overall, all of these devices work as expected and as long as you choose the correct one for your travel plans, I don’t think you will be disappointed.
Let me know in the comments which company will work best for you or if you think a SIM or eSIM will be better for your travel plans.
Here at Kensho Quest we share a ton of information about traveling in Japan. Next you might be interested in watching our choices for the best eSIMs in Japan or if you are still on the fence about the type of internet you need watch our video about choosing between a pocket Wifi, SIM or eSIM.
Where to rent
💖 We appreciate the commissions we earn when you purchase through our affiliate links!
Japan Wireless ( Best overall ): https://www.japan-wireless.com/?via=kenshoquest – GET 10% OFF WITH COUPON: JWKENSHO
Sakura Mobile ( Best for long term users over 45 days ): https://www.sakuramobile.jp/joji808-top
Ninja Wifi (Best if you need dedicated high speed data of 5GB or 10GB per day ): https://ninjawifi.com/en – GET 10% OFF WITH COUPON: KENSHO10
Mobal ( Best if you want to own your own pocket wifi and for long-term users ): https://www.mobal.com/japan-wifi/?source=3402