The short answer
Japan has excellent coverage and almost no free public Wi-Fi worth relying on. Pocket Wi-Fi means collecting and returning a device; a local SIM means queuing at the airport. A travel eSIM is the only option you can set up before you leave home.
Pocket Wi-Fi, SIM cards or eSIM? We compare the options for getting online in Tokyo, Kyoto and beyond.
- Networks
- NTT, SoftBank, KDDI
- Typical speed
- 4G / 5G
- 2 weeks
- 5-10 GB
Japan has excellent mobile coverage, including in subways and on most bullet train routes. The question is how to get online as a visitor.
Pocket Wi-Fi
Good for groups, but it's another device to carry, charge and return at the airport.
Physical SIM cards
Available at airports and electronics stores, but you'll need to swap cards and store your home SIM safely.
Travel eSIM
The simplest option for most travellers: install before you fly, keep your home SIM in place, and connect as soon as you land at Narita or Haneda.
Common questions
Is there free Wi-Fi in Japan?
Less than travellers expect. Convenience stores and some stations have it, but it often needs registration, and trains outside the Shinkansen have none. If you plan to navigate as you move, assume you need mobile data.
Will my phone work in Japan?
Any modern unlocked phone will. Japan switched off its 3G networks, so a very old handset may find no signal at all even where coverage is good.
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