On the lookout for one of the simplest ways to make use of the web when in Japan? Pocket WiFi or eSIMs are the best choice. However which one must you select?
Travelling in Japan is quite a bit simpler with a secure web connection for navigating the prepare system, translating menus and utilizing your pre-planned Google Maps. Utilizing the web in Japan is best carried out by means of Pocket WiFi or an eSIM, however how do they work, and which must you select?
Having used a wide range of each Pocket WiFi and eSIMs throughout a number of journeys in Japan, we’ve put collectively this information to point out the variations, the right way to use them, and which one is best on your journey type.
Pocket WiFi vs eSIM Overview
If you happen to don’t have time to learn the complete information, here’s a fast overview:
| Pocket WiFi | eSIM | |
|---|---|---|
| Finest for | Teams, households, travellers with a number of units and heavy knowledge customers. | Solo travellers, teams that wish to do separate issues, and travellers searching for an affordable and fast resolution |
| Execs | Works with a number of units, simple to arrange and use, shareable inside teams, good for heavy web customers, choice in case your telephone is locked/not eSIM suitable. | Nice for solo travellers or teams that wish to do separate issues, no additional units, not doable to lose or harm, simple to arrange (no ready in strains on the airport for a bodily SIM card), extra handy. |
| Cons | Have to be close to the machine for connection (tougher in case your group needs to separate up), have to hold and cost an additional machine, extra charges for dropping/damaging the machine. | Requires unlocked and eSIM-compatible telephone, each machine will want its personal eSIM (until hotspotting is allowed). |
| Best choice | Japan Wi-fi | Journey Japan eSIM |
Each Pocket WiFi and eSIMs typically supply “limitless knowledge” plans. Whereas this may increasingly sound interesting, not all limitless plans are literally limitless. A few of these give you a certain quantity of information earlier than reaching the “truthful utilization restrict” and can then cap your web speeds dramatically, making it very laborious to make use of the web correctly. Earlier than choosing these, all the time test the T&Cs.
Do I Actually Want an Web Connection in Japan?
Sure, you want a dependable web connection whereas travelling in Japan. Navigating the prepare system, translating menus, and utilizing Google Maps for instructions are important in Japan. It’s very simple to journey round Japan, however a variety of this ease comes from having the ability to use your telephone.
Public WiFi is changing into extra out there in Japan, however it’s not ok to depend on it on your complete journey. To not point out that it may be unstable and never out there in all places. On prime of that, as public WiFi doesn’t provide you with a personal connection, it may be unsafe to make use of it with out a VPN.
Relying in your lodge’s WiFi additionally received’t provide you with sufficient entry to comfortably journey round. Getting a Pocket WiFi field or a dependable eSIM is a should.
Can I Use My Residence Supplier in Japan?
You may typically use your private home supplier when overseas. Nonetheless, this feature is virtually all the time far more costly in comparison with getting a Pocket WiFi or eSIM. Common roaming expenses are already very costly, however there are generally hidden prices connected to them that may skyrocket your telephone invoice.
Earlier than merely going with your private home supplier to be used of use, it’s greatest to check the costs to those for an eSIM or Pocket WiFi beneath. Additionally, test for any extra hidden charges for calls or texts.
What’s an eSIM?
Finest for: Solo travellers, teams that wish to do separate issues, and travellers searching for an affordable and fast resolution.
An eSIM is a digital SIM card. It’s just like a bodily SIM card, however as an alternative, you’ll be able to obtain and activate it in your telephone with out having to swap the precise SIM card. There isn’t a want for a further machine, as you’ll have the whole lot you want in your telephone.
Listed below are the professionals of utilizing an eSIM in Japan:
- Good if you happen to’re travelling solo
- A very good choice if you happen to’re travelling with a gaggle, however plan to do separate issues throughout elements of your journey
- No want to hold or cost an additional machine
- No extra charges for insurance coverage
- You can’t lose or overlook to convey it.
You may solely use an eSIM in case your telephone is eSIM suitable. Most fashionable telephones are able to utilizing an eSIM, however it’s price double-checking earlier than you make your buy. Your telephone additionally must be unlocked, which suggests it’s not tied to a sure supplier.
Establishing the eSIM can take a number of steps, however it’s typically defined step-by-step by the supplier.
Each machine will want its personal eSIM, so it may be extra pricey when travelling with a household or bigger group. Some eSIMs permit for hotspots, so you’ll be able to let others connect with your eSIM with a number of extra steps.
Take into account that most eSIMs are knowledge solely. You received’t get a Japanese telephone quantity, and also you received’t have the ability to make telephone calls or ship SMS messages. With knowledge, it is possible for you to to make use of providers like WhatsApp, LINE, iMessage, FaceTime and Fb Messenger.
Most eSIMs provide you with a set quantity of information you need to use throughout a number of days. For instance, 10GB throughout 14 days. There are limitless plans too, however watch out for truthful use insurance policies that cap your knowledge pace after reaching a sure restrict.
Finest eSIM in Japan
In recent times, numerous eSIM corporations have popped up that supply web connections in a large variety of totally different nations. I’ve tried a number of, however I’ve not had the perfect experiences with them, so I’ve struggled to suggest any previously.
Fortunately, I’ve now come throughout Journey Japan eSIM. Not solely is it a Japan-based firm that gives eSIMs in Japan solely, however Journey Japan eSIM was created by Chris Broad from Overseas in Japan. Understanding the issues with different eSIMs and the problems travellers have when visiting Japan (particularly the significance of getting dependable knowledge!), Chris got down to create an eSIM particularly for individuals travelling to Japan.
Specialising in Japan makes Journey Japan eSIM the most effective choices, as they know Japan’s native networks significantly better than corporations providing eSIMs worldwide. You’ll additionally get higher and sooner assist as they’re in the identical time zone as you (and in English!).
Journey Japan makes use of NTT Docomo’s community, the biggest and most dependable telephone community in Japan. This ensures nice protection, just about wherever you go (overlaying 99% of Japan). One other professional is that Journey Japan lets you use limitless tethering and hotspotting.
They take the stress out of travelling by providing tailor-made Japan journey knowledge plans, providing set quantities of information that you need to use over 30 days (10GB, 20GB or 50GB). They’ve now additionally launched an limitless plan, supplying you with limitless GBs throughout 30 days. In contrast to another “limitless” eSIMs, Journey Japan eSIM truly offers you limitless knowledge, with none each day caps, truthful coverage utilization or decreased speeds.
What’s Pocket WiFi?
Finest for: Teams, households, travellers with a number of units and heavy knowledge customers.
Pocket WiFi is a small machine that acts as a bridge between a community in Japan and your units. You carry it round with you, and it lets you join a number of units on the similar time.
It’s just like connecting to your WiFi at dwelling, however you merely carry the WiFi field with you. That method, you’ll all the time have a connection.
Listed below are the professionals of utilizing Pocket WiFi:
- Good if you happen to’re planning on utilizing a number of units
- Preferrred if you happen to’re travelling with a gaggle or household and are planning to remain collectively whereas travelling
- Tremendous simple to arrange, you merely flip it on and join with the offered password
- Nice choice for heavy web customers, like streaming movies or gaming
- Usually comes with bigger knowledge allowances and sooner obtain/add speeds in comparison with eSIMs
- A very good choice if you happen to don’t have an eSIM-compatible telephone (locked to your private home supplier or an older mannequin).
You may get them organized on-line and decide them up from most airports. Some even ship them to your lodge, however we suggest getting them on the airport so you need to use the web to search out your strategy to your lodge. Dropping it off can also be very simple, as you’ll obtain a return envelope together with your Pocket WiFi. On the finish of your journey, you merely pop it within the envelope and drop it off at a postbox, which could be discovered in any respect airports.
You do have to hold an extra machine with you (although it’s small), and it does require charging each night time. Nonetheless, we usually cost them alongside our telephones and cameras, so it’s not a variety of additional work. It’s additionally a good suggestion to hold an influence financial institution with you in case the Pocket WiFi runs out of cost throughout an extended day of exploring.
One other draw back is that if you happen to’re travelling with a gaggle, you want to keep collectively to remain linked to the web. In case your group needs to separate up and do various things, you received’t all have the ability to keep linked to the identical Pocket WiFi. An analogous situation can happen if you happen to by accident overlook your Pocket WiFi at your lodge. It’s essential to be close to it to make use of it.
There are extra insurance coverage charges when renting a Pocket WiFi, and additional charges apply if the machine is misplaced or broken (which may’t occur with an eSIM).
Finest Pocket WiFi in Japan
There are a number of Pocket WiFi corporations in Japan, however we suggest Wi-fi Japan or Ninja WiFi as we’ve had nice experiences utilizing each.
Each providers have counters on the massive airports, making it very simple to select up after arriving. Wi-fi Japan and Ninja WiFi work equally, and the battery life appeared okay on each. It’s nonetheless sensible to hold an extra energy financial institution with you simply in case. With each providers, we needed to prime up the cost a number of occasions, particularly on lengthy days.
Even in rural elements of Shikoku or throughout our hike alongside the Nakasendo, Wi-fi Japan gave us a good connection with out ever hitting a restrict.
Ninja WiFi has additionally labored nice on earlier journeys, however we did discover it slowing down after hitting a sure utilization on a number of days. These have been very heavy web utilization days, so I don’t assume you’d simply hit this if you happen to’re travelling round Japan, however it’s nonetheless price mentioning.
Costs appear to range as each Wi-fi Japan and Ninja WiFi have reductions and promotions operating on totally different events, so it’s greatest to check the costs to search out what works greatest on your journey.
Closing Advice: eSIM or Pocket WiFi?
Each Pocket WiFi and eSIMs are nice methods to simply get an web connection when travelling in Japan.
Pocket WiFi is an effective choice for teams that journey collectively or people who find themselves planning to make use of a number of units. They’re simply picked up upon arrival and arrange inside seconds. The downsides are having to hold a further machine round and having to be close to the machine to attach, which could be difficult in case your group needs to separate up for an exercise.
eSIMs, however, are a simple and cost-effective choice for solo travellers or teams which are planning to separate up on sure days. Your telephone does have to be eSIM suitable, and each consumer normally wants their very own eSIM (until you need to use a hotspot).
You too can go for getting a mixture. Getting a Pocket WiFi machine as your principal supply of web, topped up with particular person eSIMs when your group splits up, could be a nice different. That method, you’ll all all the time be linked to the web.