Mar 22, 2016, 3:00 am
Last edit by: RichardInSF
Japan - Prepaid Data SIM Wikia
1) get a SIM before the trip, activate it when you land. you can find japan-specific prepaid SIMs on ebay/amazon/... .Some countries have providers that offer good roaming rates in other countries(eg Starhub in Singapore, Ais Sim2Fly available globally)
2) preorder it, delivered to your hotel
3) preorder it to airport post office, can pick up when you land
4) preorder it, pickup at some airport counter/store
5) at airport/city, find an store/kiosk/vending machine and buy from them
6) Use an app such as Iijmio, Airalo or Ubigi to buy an e-SIM if your phone supports it
If you are arriving at Haneda international terminal without a SIM: Exit customs, turn right, and continue to the BIC camera store on the left side. Ignore any other places and vending machines that will sell you a SIM. BIC has a good selection at regular camera store prices.
1) get a SIM before the trip, activate it when you land. you can find japan-specific prepaid SIMs on ebay/amazon/... .Some countries have providers that offer good roaming rates in other countries(eg Starhub in Singapore, Ais Sim2Fly available globally)
2) preorder it, delivered to your hotel
3) preorder it to airport post office, can pick up when you land
4) preorder it, pickup at some airport counter/store
5) at airport/city, find an store/kiosk/vending machine and buy from them
6) Use an app such as Iijmio, Airalo or Ubigi to buy an e-SIM if your phone supports it
If you are arriving at Haneda international terminal without a SIM: Exit customs, turn right, and continue to the BIC camera store on the left side. Ignore any other places and vending machines that will sell you a SIM. BIC has a good selection at regular camera store prices.
Prepaid SIM discussion (consolidated)
Jan 24, 2020, 9:49 pm
#526
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: YYZ
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Japanese MVNO with tourist products are a little more expensive and all will deprioritize + throttle speeds. IIJMio used to offer decent service among the MVNO options and is sold at Bic/Yodobashi for those who want to walk into a store and get help from a human. Not everyone is great at sim swapping and top up services.
Mar 4, 2020, 8:41 am
#527
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 142
Everywhere I read about travel to Japan people rave about incredibly expensive "pocket wifis".
1. Why are these considered a novelty when they've existed everywhere else in the world for over a decade?
2. Why do people rent them for $$$ when you can buy one to keep for $20?
3. Why on earth do people not just buy a prepaid SIM like in, oh I don't know, every other country in the world?
1. Why are these considered a novelty when they've existed everywhere else in the world for over a decade?
2. Why do people rent them for $$$ when you can buy one to keep for $20?
3. Why on earth do people not just buy a prepaid SIM like in, oh I don't know, every other country in the world?
Mar 4, 2020, 8:56 am
#528
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Between Seas
Posts: 4,754
Everywhere I read about travel to Japan people rave about incredibly expensive "pocket wifis".
1. Why are these considered a novelty when they've existed everywhere else in the world for over a decade?
2. Why do people rent them for $$$ when you can buy one to keep for $20?
3. Why on earth do people not just buy a prepaid SIM like in, oh I don't know, every other country in the world?
1. Why are these considered a novelty when they've existed everywhere else in the world for over a decade?
2. Why do people rent them for $$$ when you can buy one to keep for $20?
3. Why on earth do people not just buy a prepaid SIM like in, oh I don't know, every other country in the world?
Mar 4, 2020, 10:00 am
#529
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,304
Did you find a model which works for Japan for $20 which accepts a Japanese MVNO sim and supports several Japanese LTE bands? The least expensive I've seen is probably this NEC model https://www.amazon.co.jp/NEC%E3%83%9...E9DZ6RQH8DZ8DM
Japanese major telcos are not in and out affairs from what I hear. The inconvenience of paperwork, not prepaid for tourists without residency, and language barrier make it simpler for non-technical people to rent a hotspot. They're also cheaper when renting from nearby countries. Klook lists several pickup options - https://www.klook.com/en-US/wifi-sim...gion=26-Japan&
Japanese major telcos are not in and out affairs from what I hear. The inconvenience of paperwork, not prepaid for tourists without residency, and language barrier make it simpler for non-technical people to rent a hotspot. They're also cheaper when renting from nearby countries. Klook lists several pickup options - https://www.klook.com/en-US/wifi-sim...gion=26-Japan&
Mar 4, 2020, 11:33 am
#530
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 142
Did you find a model which works for Japan for $20 which accepts a Japanese MVNO sim and supports several Japanese LTE bands? The least expensive I've seen is probably this NEC model https://www.amazon.co.jp/NEC%E3%83%9...E9DZ6RQH8DZ8DM
Japanese major telcos are not in and out affairs from what I hear. The inconvenience of paperwork, not prepaid for tourists without residency, and language barrier make it simpler for non-technical people to rent a hotspot. They're also cheaper when renting from nearby countries. Klook lists several pickup options - https://www.klook.com/en-US/wifi-sim...gion=26-Japan&
Japanese major telcos are not in and out affairs from what I hear. The inconvenience of paperwork, not prepaid for tourists without residency, and language barrier make it simpler for non-technical people to rent a hotspot. They're also cheaper when renting from nearby countries. Klook lists several pickup options - https://www.klook.com/en-US/wifi-sim...gion=26-Japan&
Almost any $20 Android phone is a portable hotspot too. And that still leaves issue 3.
Mar 4, 2020, 1:01 pm
#531
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: YYZ
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Posts: 3,008
Everywhere I read about travel to Japan people rave about incredibly expensive "pocket wifis".
1. Why are these considered a novelty when they've existed everywhere else in the world for over a decade?
2. Why do people rent them for $$$ when you can buy one to keep for $20?
3. Why on earth do people not just buy a prepaid SIM like in, oh I don't know, every other country in the world?
1. Why are these considered a novelty when they've existed everywhere else in the world for over a decade?
2. Why do people rent them for $$$ when you can buy one to keep for $20?
3. Why on earth do people not just buy a prepaid SIM like in, oh I don't know, every other country in the world?
Granted most travelers do not need that much data at those speeds.
Mar 4, 2020, 1:02 pm
#532
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 142
I guess you just buy enough data necessary for your needs at a fraction of the cost of the rentals? Looks like plenty of options around 3500JPY. And then save $20 by just putting it in your normal phone.
Mar 4, 2020, 1:22 pm
#533
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: YYZ
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Posts: 3,008
>> Looks like plenty of options around 3500JPY
For each of those SIMs purchased in Japan, you spend 15 minutes to register and activate. Oh darn... data ran out while streaming. Let me stop everything, switch SIM and activate, and re-start.
All these SIMs are throttled severely during the day.
For each of those SIMs purchased in Japan, you spend 15 minutes to register and activate. Oh darn... data ran out while streaming. Let me stop everything, switch SIM and activate, and re-start.
All these SIMs are throttled severely during the day.
Mar 4, 2020, 1:28 pm
#534
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 142
>> Looks like plenty of options around 3500JPY
For each of those SIMs purchased in Japan, you spend 15 minutes to register and activate. Oh darn... data ran out while streaming. Let me stop everything, switch SIM and activate, and re-start.
All these SIMs are throttled severely during the day.
For each of those SIMs purchased in Japan, you spend 15 minutes to register and activate. Oh darn... data ran out while streaming. Let me stop everything, switch SIM and activate, and re-start.
All these SIMs are throttled severely during the day.
And I only see throttling on OCN and U-Mobile. Do ALL of Mobal, Simcard Geek, R Mobile, Rakuten, BIC, Yodobashi, etc. really have throttling?!
Mar 4, 2020, 1:38 pm
#536
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 142
It's just Japan is the only country I've ever seen these be a recommended thing.
In pretty much every other country in the world you just pop a local PAYG SIM in your phone and are good to go.
I'm simply trying to work out why this is not the case in Japan and instead people choose to spend almost $80 a month on a "pocket wifi" instead. And also why they call it that instead of their usual name.
Mar 4, 2020, 6:16 pm
#537
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: NYC
Posts: 557
You're approaching the question with a surprising amount of hostility, IMO. People can make decisions you consider suboptimal and that doesn't mean they're stupid.
Pocket Wifi operators have good advertising, Japan is a country where English is not enough for complicated processes like purchasing and activating a SIM card, pocket wifi can be used with more than one device, Pocket Wifi operators advertise to English-speakers who traditionally had SIM-locked devices, replacing the SIM card in your phone requires a tool and APN settings, historically Japanese networks were incompatible with foreign devices (especially for high speed data), etc...
There's a million reasons why people choose to use these services and the biggest one is likely marketing; getting a SIM as a tourist used to be basically impossible, so Pocket Wifi became a thing and is now a thing from everyone else. If a PAYG SIM works for you, then use it – I'm using one from Starhub (Airalo) right now and it's fine. But it's not ideal for everyone, and certainly not as plug-and-play as "connect your iPads, phones, and game consoles all to this same hotspot."
Pocket Wifi operators have good advertising, Japan is a country where English is not enough for complicated processes like purchasing and activating a SIM card, pocket wifi can be used with more than one device, Pocket Wifi operators advertise to English-speakers who traditionally had SIM-locked devices, replacing the SIM card in your phone requires a tool and APN settings, historically Japanese networks were incompatible with foreign devices (especially for high speed data), etc...
There's a million reasons why people choose to use these services and the biggest one is likely marketing; getting a SIM as a tourist used to be basically impossible, so Pocket Wifi became a thing and is now a thing from everyone else. If a PAYG SIM works for you, then use it – I'm using one from Starhub (Airalo) right now and it's fine. But it's not ideal for everyone, and certainly not as plug-and-play as "connect your iPads, phones, and game consoles all to this same hotspot."
Mar 4, 2020, 6:28 pm
#538
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 142
You're approaching the question with a surprising amount of hostility, IMO. People can make decisions you consider suboptimal and that doesn't mean they're stupid.
Pocket Wifi operators have good advertising, Japan is a country where English is not enough for complicated processes like purchasing and activating a SIM card, pocket wifi can be used with more than one device, Pocket Wifi operators advertise to English-speakers who traditionally had SIM-locked devices, replacing the SIM card in your phone requires a tool and APN settings, historically Japanese networks were incompatible with foreign devices (especially for high speed data), etc...
There's a million reasons why people choose to use these services and the biggest one is likely marketing; getting a SIM as a tourist used to be basically impossible, so Pocket Wifi became a thing and is now a thing from everyone else. If a PAYG SIM works for you, then use it – I'm using one from Starhub (Airalo) right now and it's fine. But it's not ideal for everyone, and certainly not as plug-and-play as "connect your iPads, phones, and game consoles all to this same hotspot."
Pocket Wifi operators have good advertising, Japan is a country where English is not enough for complicated processes like purchasing and activating a SIM card, pocket wifi can be used with more than one device, Pocket Wifi operators advertise to English-speakers who traditionally had SIM-locked devices, replacing the SIM card in your phone requires a tool and APN settings, historically Japanese networks were incompatible with foreign devices (especially for high speed data), etc...
There's a million reasons why people choose to use these services and the biggest one is likely marketing; getting a SIM as a tourist used to be basically impossible, so Pocket Wifi became a thing and is now a thing from everyone else. If a PAYG SIM works for you, then use it – I'm using one from Starhub (Airalo) right now and it's fine. But it's not ideal for everyone, and certainly not as plug-and-play as "connect your iPads, phones, and game consoles all to this same hotspot."
Point remains that Japan is completely unique afaik regarding this. And there's equal language barrier in dozens of other countries so am unable to see the relevance of that.
Likewise, I don't know anyone who travels with a sim locked device. Even if people do, again that's not remotely unique to Japan. And, for what it's worth, I've spent well over 12 months abroad over the last few years meeting tons of travellers every day and literally not a single one travelling outside of Japan have used a pocket WiFi over a local sim in their own phone. Apn settings also not relevant to why this happens only in Japan so another point I can't see the relevance of (especially since it's been transparent to the user for years now).
SIM lock, tools (paperclip you mean), apn settings, language - none of these are untrue in all the countries that aren't Japan.
Marketing is an answer to what I was curious about. But then, I guess, that simply changes the question to why are the companies able to persuade people to use a pocket WiFi in Japan but the marketing hasn't been successful in all the other non English speaking tourist destinations in the world?
I find it interesting but very curious because I can't what's special about the Japan situation.
Mar 4, 2020, 8:17 pm
#539
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Zero hostility, just curiosity. And nobody has called anyone stupid so no idea where that's coming from.
Point remains that Japan is completely unique afaik regarding this. And there's equal language barrier in dozens of other countries so am unable to see the relevance of that.
Likewise, I don't know anyone who travels with a sim locked device. Even if people do, again that's not remotely unique to Japan. And, for what it's worth, I've spent well over 12 months abroad over the last few years meeting tons of travellers every day and literally not a single one travelling outside of Japan have used a pocket WiFi over a local sim in their own phone. Apn settings also not relevant to why this happens only in Japan so another point I can't see the relevance of (especially since it's been transparent to the user for years now).
SIM lock, tools (paperclip you mean), apn settings, language - none of these are untrue in all the countries that aren't Japan.
Marketing is an answer to what I was curious about. But then, I guess, that simply changes the question to why are the companies able to persuade people to use a pocket WiFi in Japan but the marketing hasn't been successful in all the other non English speaking tourist destinations in the world?
I find it interesting but very curious because I can't what's special about the Japan situation.
Point remains that Japan is completely unique afaik regarding this. And there's equal language barrier in dozens of other countries so am unable to see the relevance of that.
Likewise, I don't know anyone who travels with a sim locked device. Even if people do, again that's not remotely unique to Japan. And, for what it's worth, I've spent well over 12 months abroad over the last few years meeting tons of travellers every day and literally not a single one travelling outside of Japan have used a pocket WiFi over a local sim in their own phone. Apn settings also not relevant to why this happens only in Japan so another point I can't see the relevance of (especially since it's been transparent to the user for years now).
SIM lock, tools (paperclip you mean), apn settings, language - none of these are untrue in all the countries that aren't Japan.
Marketing is an answer to what I was curious about. But then, I guess, that simply changes the question to why are the companies able to persuade people to use a pocket WiFi in Japan but the marketing hasn't been successful in all the other non English speaking tourist destinations in the world?
I find it interesting but very curious because I can't what's special about the Japan situation.
Mar 4, 2020, 10:09 pm
#540
Join Date: Oct 2015
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If you're in a group and staying together, the pocket WiFi is cheaper than individual visitor sims. Data only sims are the only ones basically available to visitors in Japan, which takes voice bundled prepaid cheap sims/plans marketed locally off the table. The visitor market captive to either relatively expensive data sims or pocket WiFi.
That is changing I think, with the use of foreign roaming sims or cheaper data plans (Sprint thanks to their parent led the way for US carriers). The first time we went to Japan, my wife turned on roaming accidentally and it was like a gas pump racking up charges. Last time I went, I used Verizon Travel Pass which was finally available, and cheaper than a sim for a short trip.
That is changing I think, with the use of foreign roaming sims or cheaper data plans (Sprint thanks to their parent led the way for US carriers). The first time we went to Japan, my wife turned on roaming accidentally and it was like a gas pump racking up charges. Last time I went, I used Verizon Travel Pass which was finally available, and cheaper than a sim for a short trip.