Pocket WiFi is a small rented router that gives several phones and laptops internet at once. It’s the best pick for groups and families, or if your phone can’t use an eSIM. Book online before you fly, collect it at the airport or your hotel, and post it back at the end.
Pocket WiFi rentals compared
| Plan | Phone number | Hotspot | Checked | Link | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NINJA WiFi SoftBank | 1GB per day plan Pocket WiFi Tax not stated on the plan page. | 1GB/day | Any | ¥440/day | ≈$2.78 | – | No | Yes | Checked | View deal |
| Sakura Mobile Network not stated | Pocket WiFi, 30 days Pocket WiFi Unlimited data. | Unlimited | 30 | ¥18,579 | ≈$3.91 | – | No | Yes | Checked | View deal |
| Japan Wireless SoftBank | Unlimited pocket WiFi (from) Pocket WiFi Advertised from-price; the daily rate depends on rental length. Up to 8 devices. | Unlimited | Any | $4.70/day | ≈$4.70 | – | No | Yes | Checked | View deal |
| NINJA WiFi SoftBank | 3GB per day plan Pocket WiFi Tax not stated on the plan page. | 3GB/day | Any | ¥770/day | ≈$4.87 | – | No | Yes | Checked | View deal |
| Sakura Mobile Network not stated | Pocket WiFi, 14 days Pocket WiFi Unlimited data. | Unlimited | 14 | ¥11,616 | ≈$5.24 | – | No | Yes | Checked | View deal |
| Sakura Mobile Network not stated | Pocket WiFi, 7 days Pocket WiFi Unlimited data. | Unlimited | 7 | ¥8,558 | ≈$7.73 | – | No | Yes | Checked | View deal |
| NINJA WiFi SoftBank | 10GB per day plan Pocket WiFi Tax not stated on the plan page. | 10GB/day | Any | ¥1,320/day | ≈$8.34 | – | No | Yes | Checked | View deal |
| NINJA WiFi SoftBank | Infinite Unlimited plan Pocket WiFi Tax not stated on the plan page. | Unlimited | Any | ¥1,980/day | ≈$12.51 | – | No | Yes | Checked | View deal |
Per-day and per-GB figures are approximate, converted to US dollars at the European Central Bank rate of 19 Oct 2026. Prices are in the currency each provider’s site showed us, so you may see a different currency. You pay the provider’s checkout price. Per GB is left blank for unlimited and daily-allowance plans.
Some rentals are priced per day and some by trip length, so compare the per-day cost. NINJA WiFi sells daily data allowances from 1GB a day, while Japan Wireless and Sakura Mobile offer unlimited data. Our cost calculator works out the total for your trip.
How renting works
- Book online a few days before you fly. Choose your dates and where to collect it: an airport counter, your hotel or another pickup point.
- Collect it when you arrive. At the airport you show your booking at the counter. Hotel deliveries wait at reception.
- Switch it on and connect your devices using the network name and password on the device or its card.
- Return it at the end. Sakura Mobile and Japan Wireless include a prepaid envelope you drop into any post box. NINJA WiFi lets you return it at the airport.
Our airport pickup guide covers where the counters are at each major airport.
Battery life and charging
A pocket WiFi runs on its own battery, and a long day of maps and photos can drain it before you’re back at the hotel. Japan Wireless quotes 8 to 10 hours and includes a free power bank. NINJA WiFi sells battery add-ons by the day. In Stephen’s experience, a pocket WiFi with one or two people on maps and messaging gets close to 10 hours. Connect three or four people who are all uploading photos, streaming and navigating at once, and the battery can be flat in 4 to 6 hours, so bring the power bank.
Who pocket WiFi suits
A good fit if you:
- are travelling as a family or group and want one connection for everyone
- need to connect a laptop or tablet as well as phones
- have a phone that’s locked to your carrier, or doesn’t support eSIM
An eSIM is better if you:
- are travelling alone, or everyone has their own eSIM-capable phone
- don’t want to carry, charge and return another device
- will split up from your group during the day, since everyone sharing needs to stay near the router
Still undecided? eSIM vs pocket WiFi compares them side by side.
Questions people ask
How long does a pocket WiFi battery last?
It depends on the device and how hard you use it. Check the provider’s stated figure, expect less with several devices connected, and carry a power bank.
Is pocket WiFi worth it in Japan?
For a group sharing one device, often yes, because the cost per person can be lower than an eSIM each. For one person with an eSIM-capable phone, an eSIM is usually cheaper and simpler.
What are the disadvantages of pocket WiFi?
You have to collect it, keep it charged, carry it everywhere and return it on time. Everyone sharing it has to stay within range, and losing it can mean a replacement fee.
How does pocket WiFi work?
The device has a SIM inside and connects to a Japanese mobile network. It turns that connection into a private WiFi network that your phones and laptops join with a password.
Can I rent pocket WiFi at Haneda or Narita?
Yes, both have rental counters in the arrival areas. Booking ahead online is usually cheaper and guarantees a device. See the airport pickup guide.
Written by Stephen
Stephen lives in Osaka. fly-jpn is where he compares eSIMs, SIM cards and pocket WiFi for visitors, using what he has learned as a resident. A plan is only described as tested when he has bought it and used it in Japan himself.