Once you arrive in Japan you will be greeted with access to free wifi as soon as you touch the ground. These hotspots can be a lifesaver when in a bind or until you get a Japanese sim card or pocket wifi. Though Japan doesn’t exactly match up to its western counterparts in terms of wifi hotspot availability, especially in the more rural areas, there are quite a few places that do offer free wifi in the bigger cities. The most budget-friendly option is to seek out places that offer free wifi. Though you can buy the pocket wifi device this can run anywhere from 4,000 yen for a low-end model to around 30,000 yen for a high-end model, which is just more extra money you will need to spend. Another downside is if you are renting the pocket wifi device you also need to return it once you are done, which means either going to a store or mailing it out, adding to the work you need to do. In addition to the pocket wifi device being an extra thing to lug around and keep track of, you will need to keep it charged to use the wifi. The biggest downside of a pocket wifi is the device itself. If you are not going to live in Japan for at least 2 years it may be better to get the slightly more expensive rental or prepaid option. Larger cell phone carrier companies will usually have contracts for mobile internet plans that last at least 2 years with cancellation fees that can be quite hefty. Now one thing to consider if you plan on going with a contract from one of the larger cell phone carriers especially, is how long you will be in Japan. Sometimes the cell phone carriers give discounts if you use their other services such as fixed - line internet for your home or their mobile phones. If possible it can be good to go with companies that you are already a customer of. Usually, the data range of the plans goes up to around 50 GB. Unfortunately, unlike most other countries Japan doesn’t usually have unlimited data plans. Most cell phone carriers such as Softbank, Au, Docomo will offer monthly pocket wifi plans where you can choose the amount of data that you receive. Pocket wifis are best for people that will be constantly using the internet. Who should get a Japanese pocket wifi?Īre you someone that likes to watch Netflix while on the train? Need to send emails or do other online tasks for work on the go? If you fall under either of these categories you will definitely want to grab yourself a pocket wifi while you’re living in Japan. A big plus with using a pocket wifi is that multiple devices can connect to it, so in the case that a friend from back home comes to visit, they should be covered on wifi at least while they are with you! These pocket wifis can be very useful especially for those that would like to use their laptop computers or tablets on the go in addition to their smartphone. These mobile routers are quite small and can easily fit into your pocket as the name suggests. Pocket wifi devices are mobile routers and are very popular among travelers and residents alike in Japan. Starting off, let’s talk about pocket wifi.
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