Internet and Phone Coverage in Japan
After arriving to Japan, we still needed to figure out our internet and phone service. The plans we had from back home provided us 2GB of data and unlimited text but this would be for a limited time since it was meant for traveling and not long term use.
In Japan there are many companies that offer pocket wifi. It was our first time encountering pocket wifi. I was amazed that such a thing existed. It is a small device that you carry around with you and it provides wifi that you can connect to with your devices. Below is a table of three companies that we looked at for pocket wifi, although there are many more options available to that you can find online.
We decided to try Japan Wireless for five days and then extend it if we liked it. It came with a pouch, power bank, charger, instructions, and return envelope. There's also a coupon code available if you are a JET participant and/or you mention it in a blog, Facebook, or Instagram.
Once we had internet coverage for home, we wanted to get some sort of coverage for me since I would not have the pocket wifi when I would be at work. We asked some of our neighbors what they were doing for cellphone plans. There are three major companies that provide coverage. They are Docomo, AU and Softbank. There are short-term plans available which are great if you are just visiting Japan, but since we'll be living here for at least a year we knew that we needed a long-term plan. I found that a lot of options required a two-year contract and had cancellation fees if you cancelled before your contract ended. Below is a table of four options we were looking at for phone service.
We chose Sakura Mobile. We filled out the application online. Since it was for a long-term rental they did require proof of residence but other than that it was a very simple application in English. There were also options to pay with card or in-person at a convenience store in Japan and a small discount available if you're a student. We received an envelope with instructions in English, a card with the phone number, SIM serial number, a SIM eject tool, and the SIM card. Since it is a SIM card rental, we have to return the SIM once we terminate our phone plan.
In Japan there are many companies that offer pocket wifi. It was our first time encountering pocket wifi. I was amazed that such a thing existed. It is a small device that you carry around with you and it provides wifi that you can connect to with your devices. Below is a table of three companies that we looked at for pocket wifi, although there are many more options available to that you can find online.
Pocket Wifi Options
|
Japan Wireless
|
Sakura Mobile
|
WiFi Rental Japan
(rentalwifi.jp)
|
Contract
|
No contract – Daily or Monthly rental
|
No contract – Monthly rental
|
No contract – Monthly rental (6 months maximum)
|
Activation fees
|
No
|
Yes, ¥5,000/$50
|
???
|
Termination fees
|
No
|
No
|
???
|
Data
|
Unlimited
|
5GB, 30GB, or 50GB
Data slows down
|
5GB, Unlimited, maybe other options?
|
Cost
|
~¥10,000
per month
|
¥3,840
- ¥6.980
|
¥1,824
– ¥3,000
|
Devices
|
Up to 10 devices
|
Up to 15 devices
|
Up to 10 devices
|
English Support
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
No
|
We decided to try Japan Wireless for five days and then extend it if we liked it. It came with a pouch, power bank, charger, instructions, and return envelope. There's also a coupon code available if you are a JET participant and/or you mention it in a blog, Facebook, or Instagram.
Once we had internet coverage for home, we wanted to get some sort of coverage for me since I would not have the pocket wifi when I would be at work. We asked some of our neighbors what they were doing for cellphone plans. There are three major companies that provide coverage. They are Docomo, AU and Softbank. There are short-term plans available which are great if you are just visiting Japan, but since we'll be living here for at least a year we knew that we needed a long-term plan. I found that a lot of options required a two-year contract and had cancellation fees if you cancelled before your contract ended. Below is a table of four options we were looking at for phone service.
SIM Card Options
|
Japan Wireless
|
Sakura
|
Mobal
|
Rakuten
|
Contract
|
No contract – Daily or Monthly rental
|
No Contract - Monthly rental
|
No Contract – Monthly rental
|
???
|
Activation Fees
|
No
|
Yes,
¥5,000
|
Yes, SIM ¥3,000
|
???
|
Termination Fees
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
???
|
Plan
|
Data only - 500MB/day
|
Data only – 3, 5, 7, 20GB
Voice+Data- 3, 5, 7, 20GB
|
Voice+Data+Text
Voice + text
|
Data+Voice+Text
Data + Text
Data Only
|
Cost
|
¥3,240
- ¥4,320
|
¥1,980
- ¥5,680
¥2,980
- ¥6,680
|
¥4,500
¥1,000
|
¥1,600
- ¥6,150
¥1,020
- ¥5,520
¥900
- ¥5,450
|
Network
|
Docomo 4G LTE
|
Docomo 4G LTE
|
Softbank
|
Docomo or AU ?
|
Device
|
Unlocked device
|
Unlocked Device
|
Unlocked Device
|
Unlocked Device
|
English Support
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
No
|
We chose Sakura Mobile. We filled out the application online. Since it was for a long-term rental they did require proof of residence but other than that it was a very simple application in English. There were also options to pay with card or in-person at a convenience store in Japan and a small discount available if you're a student. We received an envelope with instructions in English, a card with the phone number, SIM serial number, a SIM eject tool, and the SIM card. Since it is a SIM card rental, we have to return the SIM once we terminate our phone plan.
For both the pocket wifi and phone plans, there are other options available and pick-up available at the airport so you can have coverage as soon as you land. Some of them may even be cheaper, but most likely the information will all be in Japanese. Unfortunately, we don't know Japanese and preferred to get something that had English support available for us.
2024 Update on Pocket Wifi and Phone Plans:
Pocket Wifi Options
|
WiFi Rental Japan
(rentalwifi.jp)
|
||
Contract
|
No contract – Daily or Monthly rental
|
No contract – Monthly rental
|
No contract – Monthly rental (6 months maximum)
|
Activation fees
|
No
|
Yes, ¥5,500/$35
|
???
|
Termination fees
|
No
|
No
|
???
|
Data
|
Unlimited
|
100GB or 200GB
Data slows down
|
5GB, Unlimited, maybe other options?
|
Cost
|
~¥5,000/$30.80 /mo w/ power bank
|
¥5,500
- ¥7,200 /mo w/ power bank
|
¥1,824
– ¥3,000 /mo
|
Devices
|
Up to 10 devices
|
Up to 15 devices
|
Up to 10 devices
|
English Support
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
No
|
SIM Card Options
|
||||
Contract
|
No contract – Monthly rental
|
No Contract - Monthly rental
|
No Contract – Monthly rental
|
Monthly
|
Activation Fees
|
¥3,300 + ¥450 sim fee
|
Yes,
¥5,500
|
No, but SIM fee ¥3,000
|
???
|
Termination Fees
|
No?
|
No
|
No
|
???
|
Plan
|
Voice+Data 2GB-50GB Physical/esim
|
25GB/40GB
Voice+Data Physical/esim
|
Voice+Data 1GB-30GB
Physical/esim
|
Data+Voice+Text 20GB Physical/esim |
Cost
|
¥850-¥2,800
|
¥4,400
- ¥5,500
|
¥1,650-¥4,378
|
¥3,300 |
Network
|
Docomo 4G LTE (Type D)
|
Docomo 4G LTE
|
Softbank
|
Docomo or AU ?
|
Device
|
Unlocked device
|
Unlocked Device
|
Unlocked Device
|
Unlocked Device
|
English Support
|
No
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
No |
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