The Best 10 Pocket Wi-Fi in Japan for Long-Term Stays in Comparison

Use Pocket Wi-Fi for Long-Term Stays in Japan

It’s recommended to rent Wi-Fi for long-term residents if you are staying in Japan for more than a month. It’s often more cost-effective and convenient than renting for a short period.

In this article, we introduce our top 10 recommended pocket Wi-Fi services for long-term residents. These services are convenient for both foreign nationals living in Japan as well as Japanese returnees.

Our guide is divided into two sections: companies that offer English and multilingual support, and companies that only provide support in Japanese. Compare the options to find the best long-term Wi-Fi service for you.

Top 10 Pocket Wi-Fi Services for Long-Term Stays

1. Wi-Fi Rental.com
2. GTN Wifi
3. Sakura Mobile
4. mobal
5. CD Japan
6. LightPocket (SoftBank)
7. Global Advanced Communication
8. Japan Wifi Rental
9. Kashimo WiMAX
10. WiFi Rental Honpo

When is Pocket Wi-Fi Convenient?

Photo by Pixta

Many people stay long-term in Japan whether it be for business, studies, or other reasons. In such cases, having an internet connection is essential. Renting pocket Wi-Fi for long-term residents is a recommended option if you are staying in Japan for more than a month.

Multiple devices, including your smartphone, tablet, and laptop, can connect simultaneously to a single pocket Wi-Fi device. These services often offer unlimited data plans, making them great for watching videos and gaming.

If you are staying in Japan for longer than a year, please consider installing a fiber-optic connection at home. The article below also provides information on fiber-optic internet and low-cost SIM cards.

Pocket Wi-Fi Services for Long-Term Residents

Numerous companies in Japan offer support in English and other languages. You don’t have to worry at all even if you’re not confident in your Japanese.

Once you’re more comfortable with Japanese, you might be able to consider using services from a company that only offers support in Japanese.

Companies Offering English and Multilingual Support

Service	Main Plan	Initial Costs
Wi-Fi Rental.com	unlimited data for 6,000 yen	None
GTN Wifi	10 GB/day for 5,390 yen	3,000 yen handling fee, 10,000 yen deposit
Sakura Mobile	100 GB for 5,478 yen	5,500 yen setup fee
mobal	100 GB for 4,980 yen	6,980 yen Wi-Fi router fee
CD Japan	unlimited data for 7,900 yen (minimum three-month plan)	None
LightPocket (SoftBank)	100 GB for 5,960 yen (minimum three-month plan)	3,300 yen activation fee
Global Advanced Communication	unlimited data for 18,110 yen (30 days)	None
Japan Wifi Rental	50 GB for 6,450 yen/month (31 days)	None

Japanese-only Companies

Service	Main Plan	Initial Costs
Kashimo WiMAX	unlimited data for 1,408 yen for the first month (4,818 yen for every additional month)	27,720 yen device fee
WiFi Rental Honpo	100 GB for 8,250 yen (31 days)	None

Moreover, MATCHA recommends GTN Wifi, which provides support in multiple languages, as well as relatively inexpensive options like Wi-Fi Rental.com and Sakura Mobile, which offer English support.

Please feel free to consider these options.

1. Wi-Fi Rental.com

Picture courtesy of Wi-Fi Rental.com’s Official Website

This is a Wi-Fi service for long-term residents offered by VISION INC., known brands such as Global Wifi and Ninja Wifi. You can sign up for a minimum of one month, with no long-term contractual obligations or cancellation fees, making it easy to use.

The most popular plan is the unlimited data plan for 6,000 yen per month operating on the SoftBank network. The maximum download speed is 150 Mbps. Internet speed will be limited if you use more than 5 GB in a day.

Other plans are also available as options. There is the unlimited data plan for 6,930 yen per month (maximum download speeds of 1.2 Gbps, speed limitations when using more than 10 GB in three days) operating on WiMAX2+’s network, and the 5 GB monthly plan for 3,190 yen per month (maximum download speeds of 300 Mbps) operating on SoftBank’s network.

Additionally, WiMAX2+’s network service is considered to have fast connection speeds over a wide service coverage. This plan is recommended for those seeking a better internet connection.

Get a great deal by ordering your pocket Wi-Fi service through MATCHA’s link when using Wi-Fi Rental.com. You will receive free shipping and save 1,100 yen, so make sure to take advantage of this offer!

2. GTN Wifi

Picture courtesy of GTN Wifi’s Official Website

GTN provides SIM card and data services. Customer support is available in seven languages: Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Nepali, and Indonesian. The best feature of this service is that you can place an order on the website in any of these languages.

The only plan available is 10 GB per day for 5,390 yen. Data speeds are up to 50 Mbps for uploads and 150 Mbps for downloads. If you use over 10 GB in a day, speeds will be limited to 700 Kbps for the rest of the day. Connection speeds will return to normal the next day.

Customers who have a voice call SIM from GTN will receive a 330 yen discount on their monthly pocket Wi-Fi subscription. Long-term residents will find it convenient to also have a SIM card, so it would be a good idea to sign up for both at the same time with GTN.

3. Sakura Mobile

Picture courtesy of Sakura Mobile’s Official Website

Sakura Mobile is highly regarded by English-speaking travelers in Japan.

The first reason is that inquiries and customer support are available in English. Additionally, many people rave about their polite and attentive customer service.

Another attractive feature is its low pricing, which is similar to that of mobal, another service provider mentioned later in this article. They offer a monthly plan of 100 GB for 5,478 yen and a 200 GB plan for 7,128 yen. You can sign up for either plan for a minimum of one month.

The service is also known for its flexible payment options, accepting credit cards, convenience store payments, and cash.

They also provide SIM cards and home internet, making it a strong contender as a one-stop shop for various services.

4. mobal

Picture courtesy of mobal’s Official Website

They only offer a monthly plan of 100 GB for 4,980 yen, which is known for its inexpensive price tag. Data speeds are up to 50 Mbps for uploads and 150 Mbps for downloads.

There are no daily data usage limits. However, if you exceed 100 GB of data usage in a month, speeds will be reduced to a maximum of 384 Kbps.

Mobal operates on the networks of Japan’s three major carriers-SoftBank, Docomo, and au-and will always automatically connect to the most stable network available. This guarantees a low-stress internet experience.

There are two important things to note. First, you must purchase a router (6,980 yen) to use this service. Second, the minimum contract period is three months.

However, mobal offers a money-back guarantee, allowing you to cancel without any extra charges at any time if you are not satisfied with the service. (Please note that if you cancel within the minimum three-month contract period, a cancellation fee of 3,000 yen will apply).

Customers using a SIM card or eSIM from Mobal can receive a 10% discount on their pocket Wi-Fi device, so it's worth considering both services together.

5. CD Japan Rental

Picture courtesy of CD Japan Rental’s Official Website

This service allows you to choose between two data networks: WiMAX+5G or SoftBank. Both networks only offer an unlimited data plan.

The minimum contract periods are three months, six months, and 12 months with monthly fees decreasing the longer the contract length is. Your contract will automatically renew unless you request cancellation, even after the minimum period has elapsed.

Data speeds are up to 2.7 Gbps for uploads and 183 Mbps for downloads on WiMAX+5G. On the SoftBank network, maximum speeds are 50 Mbps for uploads and 150 Mbps for downloads.

Moreover, WiMAX+5G is a plan that combines au's LTE and 5G networks with WiMAX's data service. This plan offers faster speeds and greater data capacity compared to the WiMAX2+ network, along with a wide coverage area.

Very few providers offer WiMAX+5G, making this service especially recommended to those who prioritize the quality of their internet connection.

6. LightPocket (SoftBank)

Picture courtesy of LightPocket’s Official Website

This pocket Wi-Fi service operates on the SoftBank network, one of Japan’s major telecommunications carriers.

There is only a monthly plan of 100 GB, with prices varying based on the contract duration. The cost is 5,960 yen per month for a three-month contract and 5,300 yen per month for a six-month contract. If you cancel during the contract period, a cancellation fee equal to one month's fees will apply.

Data speeds are up to 37.5 Mbps for uploads and 150 Mbps for downloads. If you exceed 100 GB of data usage in a month, then speeds will be reduced to 256 Kbps.

Your contract will automatically renew even after your contract period has elapsed as long as you do not terminate it. Additionally, if you cancel your subscription through My Page by the 20th of the month, you will not be billed for the following month.

7. Global Advanced Communication

Picture courtesy of Global Advanced Communications’ Official Website

This service offers an unlimited data plan (Unlimited Plan), a 3 GB per day plan (Standard Plan), and an unlimited 5G data plan (5G Unlimited Plan).

The Unlimited Plan, the most popular option, offers maximum download speeds of 350 Kbps. The Standard Plan provides 150 Kbps, while the 5G Unlimited Plan provides speeds up to 2.2 Gbps.

The plan does not automatically renew every month. Instead, customers can choose a usage period of 30 days, 90 days, or other options in advance. The price decreases the longer the contract is.

* If you wish to rent a device for more than 60 days, you must contact the provider directly via email.

8. Japan Wifi Rental

Picture courtesy of Japan Wifi Rental’s Official Website

The only plan available is the monthly 50 GB plan, which costs 6,450 yen for a usage period of one month (31 days). You can rent a device for up to six months (186 days) in a single order.

Monthly subscription fees decrease the longer the contract length is. Renting for six months will cost 5,400 yen per month.

The plan does not automatically renew every month. Instead, customers can choose their rental period. The initial rental period is a maximum of six months, with the option to extend afterwards.

An extended rental period and cost are a minimum of 430 yen for two days and a maximum of 31,970 yen for six months (186 days).

The service supports a 4G LTE data network with maximum speeds of 612 Mbps. If you use over 50 GB in a month, your connection may be subject to restrictions.

9. Kashimo WiMAX

Picture courtesy of Kashimo WiMAX’s Official Website

The only plan available is unlimited data. The appeal lies in its low cost; the first month is 1,408 yen, and subsequent months are 4,818 yen.

The plan operates on three networks: WiMAX2+, au 4G LTE, and au 5G. It automatically connects to the most accessible network based on your location, ensuring a stable internet connection at all times.

Data speeds are 183 Mbps for uploads and 3.9 Gbps for downloads. Some pocket Wi-Fi services claim to provide unlimited data, but their connection speeds slow down after exceeding a certain data limit. With WiMAX, you won't have this problem. Unlimited data will always be available, no matter how much data you use.

You must purchase a router. However, if you are not satisfied with the service, due to experiencing poor connection, you can cancel your contract within eight days without paying for the router.

Sign up for Kashimo WiMAX along with an au or UQ smartphone to receive a discount of up to 1,100 yen each month. It’s a great deal!

10. Wi-Fi Rental Honpo

Picture courtesy of WiFi Rental Honpo’s Official Website

This service offers a wide range of plans, including a 100 GB monthly plan, a 300 GB monthly plan, a 10 GB monthly plan, and a 5 GB per day plan. Initially, you can sign up for any plan for up to six months and request an extension thereafter.

What we recommend for long-term residents is the 100 GB plan for 8,250 yen (31 days). Data speeds are 37.5 Mbps for uploads and 187.5 Mbps for downloads. The longer the rental period, the lower the price becomes. If you rent the service for six months (186 days), you can get 60% off. That would cost about 6,833 yen per month.

The monthly subscription fee is higher compared to other services, but its strength lies in the ability to rent the service on a daily basis.

If your plans are set and you find monthly contract renewals inconvenient, you might consider including WiFi Rental Honpo as an option since it offers rentals on a daily basis.

Rent Long-Term Wi-Fi for a Comfortable Stay in Japan

Everyone wants to find Wi-Fi, an absolute necessity during their stay in Japan, that is as affordable as possible and meets their needs, right? This is even more crucial for long-term stays in Japan.

Feel free to reference this article and consider renting Wi-Fi tailored for long-term residents!

Main image by Pixta