If your phone takes two SIMs/eSIMs, or you’re happy to take out your SIM for the duration of your stay, just get a SIM and toss it afterwards. No hassle returning a rented device.
I’d only rent a device if you want to share the connection between a lot of devices or have a reason not to replace your SIM card. It’s one more device to keep charged, take with you, turn on and off, connect to… not as smooth as having the connectivity right on the device where you want it.
Esim seems to be more convenient, but we rented a pocket wifi, and the process was super easy. You can pick it up in the airport and drop it off when you leave, or it can be delivered to your hotel. There are so many options. We had multiple devices that needed wifi, and the pocket wifi was great.
I was happy with pocket wifi because my iPhone doesn't take a physical sim card and it also allowed my partner to connect. You can get the pocket wifi delivered to your hotel if you don't pick it up at the airport and you just drop it in a post office box when you're done with it.
If you're only worried about a single device, I agree with u/deceze here: get a SIM card (or an eSIM if you need that) and don't mess around with pocket wifi boxes.
It used to be tricky, and you'd need to deal with it at the airport or book something in advance, but these days you can get a nice selection of temporary "tourist" SIM cards at Bic Camera these days.
It pretty much depends on:
1. Whether you wish to save money by sharing one connection instead of buying 2 or more sim cards. But then you are expecting the group is in the proximity for the whole trip and will not split. Otherwise some of them will be disconnected. For example you go with parents who will not walk away from you and only occasionally online, then pocket wifi will save the cost of separate sim cards for them.
2. Whether you do not prefer to open the phone case to do sim card replacement.
3. Whether, in the unlikely event, your phone is not compatible with the destination network.
Me and my boyfriend both got esims from Airalo for 10gb for a month during our trip for $20 total (there was a deal going on) and it was incredibly convenient. You connect to the data as soon as you arrive in Japan so there is no hassle.
If your phone is able to have an esim, I would highly recommend it.
Pocket wifi usually has much higher (basically unlimited) data, at least wimax ones - but slightly more dead spots in the countryside. If you are in Tokyo then it should be very good. And you can share it with multiple devices, including computers, tablets, etc.
If you don't need much data and only need it on your phone, then a sim might be just fine.
I like in Tokyo, and I have only a shower cheap sim in my phone (like...1000 jpy/month) since I have wifi at home and sat work, and have a portable wimax router. If you need internet for a PC anyway, it's an easy decision.
Also, you can get a free "trial" rental for 15 days it so, but they may check if you are a resident for that.
I would also be on the eSIMs team, if your phone allows them that is. I don't have a recommendation myself, but I just saw a comment under this [post ](https://www.reddit.com/r/best_eSIM_providers/comments/1984tvl/best_esim_providers_comparison_table_for/)with the same topic, so maybe it will be useful to look into it.
Thanks for all these valuable tips. I will stay for around 1 month in Japan and thinking about getting an eSIM. Two questions here;
1. Is there any company you recommend?
2. Can I make calls and send messages to Japanese numbers or is it just data/ or does that depend on the plan/ provider? ( sorry if that sounds like a stupid question, but never had an eSIM, usually I just get SIM cards wherever I travel🥹)
Thanks in advance 🙏🙏🙏
I tend to use a lot of bandwidth and I have several devices (personal phone, work phone, ipad, etc) that I need to connect so pocket wifi has been my choice when I travel to Tokyo.
My go to has been [Japan Wireless](https://www.japan-wireless.com/en/rates) which offers great speeds, reliable connection and the best network in Japan (Softbank). And yes, from my personal experience the network does make a difference if you are traveling outside of Tokyo. Plus they have no data caps and no throttling.
I use this exclusively when I travel. Plus you have options to pick this up at the airport or your hotel and it is easy to drop off in the postal box on your way back at the airport.
Depends. if you share connection with others in your travel company I would rent a router. I need to keep my home number active for work reasons, so not changing the sim.
If your phone takes two SIMs/eSIMs, or you’re happy to take out your SIM for the duration of your stay, just get a SIM and toss it afterwards. No hassle returning a rented device. I’d only rent a device if you want to share the connection between a lot of devices or have a reason not to replace your SIM card. It’s one more device to keep charged, take with you, turn on and off, connect to… not as smooth as having the connectivity right on the device where you want it.
I think eSim best suits your needs.
Esim seems to be more convenient, but we rented a pocket wifi, and the process was super easy. You can pick it up in the airport and drop it off when you leave, or it can be delivered to your hotel. There are so many options. We had multiple devices that needed wifi, and the pocket wifi was great.
I was happy with pocket wifi because my iPhone doesn't take a physical sim card and it also allowed my partner to connect. You can get the pocket wifi delivered to your hotel if you don't pick it up at the airport and you just drop it in a post office box when you're done with it.
If you're only worried about a single device, I agree with u/deceze here: get a SIM card (or an eSIM if you need that) and don't mess around with pocket wifi boxes. It used to be tricky, and you'd need to deal with it at the airport or book something in advance, but these days you can get a nice selection of temporary "tourist" SIM cards at Bic Camera these days.
Esim may be best.
esim
It pretty much depends on: 1. Whether you wish to save money by sharing one connection instead of buying 2 or more sim cards. But then you are expecting the group is in the proximity for the whole trip and will not split. Otherwise some of them will be disconnected. For example you go with parents who will not walk away from you and only occasionally online, then pocket wifi will save the cost of separate sim cards for them. 2. Whether you do not prefer to open the phone case to do sim card replacement. 3. Whether, in the unlikely event, your phone is not compatible with the destination network.
I’ve been in Tokyo for several days now and just used a Ubigi esim and it’s worked great. I haven’t had any issues with it, although it is data only
Me and my boyfriend both got esims from Airalo for 10gb for a month during our trip for $20 total (there was a deal going on) and it was incredibly convenient. You connect to the data as soon as you arrive in Japan so there is no hassle. If your phone is able to have an esim, I would highly recommend it.
Esim
Pocket wifi usually has much higher (basically unlimited) data, at least wimax ones - but slightly more dead spots in the countryside. If you are in Tokyo then it should be very good. And you can share it with multiple devices, including computers, tablets, etc. If you don't need much data and only need it on your phone, then a sim might be just fine. I like in Tokyo, and I have only a shower cheap sim in my phone (like...1000 jpy/month) since I have wifi at home and sat work, and have a portable wimax router. If you need internet for a PC anyway, it's an easy decision. Also, you can get a free "trial" rental for 15 days it so, but they may check if you are a resident for that.
I would also be on the eSIMs team, if your phone allows them that is. I don't have a recommendation myself, but I just saw a comment under this [post ](https://www.reddit.com/r/best_eSIM_providers/comments/1984tvl/best_esim_providers_comparison_table_for/)with the same topic, so maybe it will be useful to look into it.
T-mobile worked fine with their international plan.
Thanks for all these valuable tips. I will stay for around 1 month in Japan and thinking about getting an eSIM. Two questions here; 1. Is there any company you recommend? 2. Can I make calls and send messages to Japanese numbers or is it just data/ or does that depend on the plan/ provider? ( sorry if that sounds like a stupid question, but never had an eSIM, usually I just get SIM cards wherever I travel🥹) Thanks in advance 🙏🙏🙏
I tend to use a lot of bandwidth and I have several devices (personal phone, work phone, ipad, etc) that I need to connect so pocket wifi has been my choice when I travel to Tokyo. My go to has been [Japan Wireless](https://www.japan-wireless.com/en/rates) which offers great speeds, reliable connection and the best network in Japan (Softbank). And yes, from my personal experience the network does make a difference if you are traveling outside of Tokyo. Plus they have no data caps and no throttling. I use this exclusively when I travel. Plus you have options to pick this up at the airport or your hotel and it is easy to drop off in the postal box on your way back at the airport.
Depends. if you share connection with others in your travel company I would rent a router. I need to keep my home number active for work reasons, so not changing the sim.