Sakura Mobile and NINJA WiFi User Review: Pros and Cons Based on Actual Use

Which Pocket WiFi is Better, Sakura Mobile or NINJA WiFi?

Those planning a trip to Japan might be wondering which pocket WIFI service to choose.

In recent years, eSIM has become popular for internet services during trips to Japan, but pocket WiFi also offers several advantages:

- No cumbersome procedures like APN settings are required
- You can use a large amount of data
- It reduces smartphone power consumption

In January 2025, we compared the usability and communication speeds of the popular services NINJA WiFi and Sakura Mobile. If you’re unsure which one to choose, refer to this comparison.

Sakura Mobile vs NINJA WiFi

1. Service Providers
2. Comparison of Plans and Prices
3. Pickup
4. Contents and Usability
5. Communication Speed and Battery Life
6. Ease of Return
7. Conclusion: NINJA WiFi is More User-Friendly

*Similarly, we've compared Japan Wireless and NINJA WiFi. Please see the article below for more details.

Comparison of NINJA WiFi and Sakura Mobile

Service	NINJA WiFi	Sakura Mobile
Operating Company	Vision	Og
Plans	Daily plans for 1, 3, 5, and 10GB / Unlimited plan available	Unlimited plan only *Speed restrictions apply for usage over 3GB per day
Pricing	Daily plans for 1 to 10GB are the cheapest. Unlimited plans are also among the lowest in Japan	Cheaper rental rates for longer rental periods (however, more expensive than NINJA WiFi)
Pickup	Dedicated counter at the airport	Shared counter with other companies
Included Items	Comprehensive coupons available	No coupons included
Communication Speed	Comfortable for 5 PCs	Significantly slower compared to NINJA WiFi
Ease of Return	Return box at the airport; delivery via convenience store is possible	Return by mail only

Now, let's take a look at the details.

Service Providers

Key Points: NINJA WiFi is a long-established player in the internet field. Sakura Mobile also offers internet services for long-term residents.

NINJA WiFi is a service provided by Vision, Inc., which was founded in 1995.

Vision is a major Japanese internet company listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market. They offer a variety of internet services, including pocket WiFi, eSIM, and fixed-line communication under the "Global WiFi" brand.

On the other hand, Sakura Mobile is a service provided by Og, Inc., founded in 2014. They offer SIM services targeted not only at tourists visiting Japan but also at foreigners who are staying in Japan for an extended period, as well as home internet services.

While it is smaller in scale compared to Vision, it is a trusted service among foreigners coming to Japan from English-speaking countries.

Comparison of Plans and Pricing

Key Points: NINJA WiFi offers affordable high-capacity and low-capacity plans

Both companies provide services with different characteristics.

NINJA WiFi features a variety of plans based on daily data usage, including 3GB, 10GB, and unlimited options.

MATCHA offers a 35% discount on the 10GB and unlimited plans, and a 20% discount on the 3GB and 5GB plans.

On the other hand, Sakura Mobile offers only one unlimited plan. The longer you rent, the lower the price becomes.

However, in the case of Sakura Mobile, even though it is labeled as "unlimited," there are actually speed restrictions applied if you use more than 3GB of data in a day.

Considering this point, it can be said that NINJA WiFi is much cheaper for both high-capacity and low-capacity data plans.

Additionally, the 35% discount on NINJA WiFi's 10GB plan is, according to MATCHA's research, the lowest price in Japan for such a large data plan.

Estimated data usage in Japan (what you can do with 1 GB):
Sending emails: approximately 2,090 emails (assuming each email is about 500 KB)
Video streaming: Approximately 2 hours for a 480p (medium quality) video, or about 3 hours for a 360p video.
Google Maps: Approximately 1,432 views (assuming each view lasts for 10 minutes)
Reference: Wi-Fi Rental.com

Pickup

Key Points: NINJA WiFi, which has dedicated counters at many airports, is convenient

Most people will pick up their pocket WiFi at the airport. In this regard, NINJA WiFi has dedicated counters at almost all major airports in Japan, including Narita, Haneda, and Kansai.

During this trip, I picked up the pocket WiFi from the second terminal at Narita Airport. There were dedicated staff available, so I felt assured knowing that I could consult them immediately in case of any issues.

On the other hand, Sakura Mobile does not have dedicated counters; instead, you will pick it up at post offices located in the airport or at shared counters with other companies (the photo shows the JAL ABC counter at Narita Airport's second terminal).

As a result, if there is any issue, you cannot consult someone immediately. This aspect is somewhat inconvenient compared to NINJA WiFi.

Included Items and Usability

Key Points: NINJA WiFi offers comprehensive coupons

Next, let’s take a look at the contents of the rental sets and their usability.

List of Included Items

Here is the list for NINJA WiFi. In addition to the router and charger, it includes coupons for the Japanese electronics retailer "Yamada Denki" as well as various brochures.

This is the list of items included with Sakura Mobile. It only includes a router and charger.

In terms of rental set contents, it can be said that NINJA WiFi offers a more comprehensive package.

Router

NINJA WiFi is larger than Sakura Mobile, but it is slim and about the same size as a smartphone. In contrast, Sakura Mobile is smaller but thicker.

Which one is easier to carry will depend on personal preference.

Functionality of the Operation Screen

Regarding the operation screen, I found NINJA WiFi to be easier to use.

Advantages of NINJA WiFi

NINJA WiFi supports language settings in English, Japanese, Chinese (Traditional and Simplified), and Korean (Sakura Mobile only supports Japanese).
NINJA WiFi allows for switching to a different communication line when the network is not functioning well (this is not possible with Sakura Mobile).
In terms of the operation screen, NINJA WiFi is significantly better.

One drawback I noticed with NINJA WiFi is the battery level display. While the battery level is shown by an icon in the upper right corner, it is not displayed in percentage, making it difficult to gauge the remaining battery life intuitively.

Internet Connection via QR Code

When it comes to pocket WiFi, the common connection method is to "enter the password from the WiFi settings screen."

However, both NINJA WiFi and Sakura Mobile allow you to connect to the internet simply by scanning the QR code found on the menu screen. This is very convenient when connecting your smartphone, so be sure to take advantage of this feature.

Communication Speed / Battery Life

Key Points: NINJA WiFi offers overwhelmingly smooth connections, while Sakura Mobile has better battery life.

In this case, we utilized the following plans in MATCHA’s Tokyo office to confirm the actual usability.

NINJA WiFi: Infinite Unlimited Plan (SoftBank)
Sakura Mobile: Unlimited Plan

We connected five computers simultaneously to a single router and used it for work over the course of an hour. For speed measurement, we utilized the "USEN Speed Test."

The results were as follows:

Sakura Mobile
- Date and Time: Measurement taken from 16:00 to 17:00 on January 16
- Average Communication Speed: Download 4.93 Mbps, Upload 1.35 Mbps
- Battery: 100% → 98%

NINJA WiFi
- Date and Time: Measurement taken from 15:00 to 16:00 on January 16
- Average Communication Speed: Download 12.88 Mbps, Upload 4.19 Mbps
- Battery: 100% → Approximately 85% (*based on visual estimation of the battery icon)

Impressions After Use

What surprised me while using NINJA WiFi is that it maintained a stable connection without any interruptions even when five PCs were connected.

During use, I uploaded and downloaded photos, watched videos, and participated in online meetings, and there were absolutely no drops in connectivity.

On the other hand, with Sakura Mobile, there were noticeable delays in loading photos, Google Maps took a long time to open, and various other issues arose. The communication speed was also significantly slower compared to NINJA WiFi, and honestly, I found it difficult to work with five connected PCs.

However, the battery life was better with Sakura Mobile. Since I was using NINJA WiFi for video streaming and online meetings, the battery consumption was likely higher. Even considering that, it can be said that Sakura Mobile has the better battery life.

Ease of Return

Key Points: NINJA WiFi has return boxes, making it convenient.

NINJA WiFi has established return boxes at many airports. You can simply drop it in before your departure.

If you wish to return it outside of the airport, you can place it in the included (*) delivery bag, attach the shipping label, and take it to a convenience store. In Japan, major train stations and airports are usually located near convenience stores, which makes this option convenient as well.

On the other hand, Sakura Mobile includes a mailing pack. You can simply drop it into a mailbox.

Both options are easy. However, NINJA WiFi, with its return boxes at airports, might be slightly more convenient since it requires no packaging or procedures at all.

Conclusion: NINJA WiFi is More User-Friendly

We compared various aspects such as communication speed, battery life, and usability, and in almost all areas, it can be said that NINJA WiFi is more user-friendly.

On the other hand, Sakura Mobile offers a variety of internet services for long-term residents. Additionally, they are known for their excellent customer support, providing thorough answers to inquiries.

If you are considering a long-term stay in Japan, it may be worth looking into Sakura Mobile.

Please refer to this article to help you decide which option is better for you!