
The question is whether that convenience balances out with the cost for your personal needs.
#Ivideo pocket wifi japan rental free#
On earlier trips when these devices weren’t commonplace, we would do our research in the hotel or over breakfast in a coffee shop with free WIFI but it does have it’s limitations and no matter how well you plan there are benefits in being able to adjust on the go. We’ve travelled in Japan a number of times and know first hand that being able to use Google Maps, translation apps, read QR codes and check train connections and timetables is invaluable. Public WIFI exists but is far less commonplace in Japan than you would think in such as high technology country. We found this recently when we spent a couple of weeks travelling Japans Golden Route from Osaka to Tokyo. For the latest information, please refer to their website.When travelling somewhere new, especially when you’re not fluent in the local language, it can be incredibly useful to stay connected throughout the day. This article was written in June 2013, therefore the prices and services, while accurate at the time of publication, may differ slightly to that currently offered by. This is by far the best solution I have found while traveling in Japan. The device will be fully charged and ready to use as soon as you receive it. You can also extend your contract should you wish to and long-term contracts are available.

Rental prices start from as little as 4980 yen for the five-day contract, and go up to 12,800 yen for the forty-five day contract. The rental periods are great, allowing you to rent the device from between five and forty-five days. The device will then be delivered to your Japanese address at your convenience. Perhaps the most convenient aspect of renting from is that you can apply from outside of Japan. You can either pick up the device from the WiFi-Hire offices in Higashi-Shinjuku or you can have it delivered to your address for free. Pocket WiFi can be rented from for decent rates. It is as simple as switching on the device and connecting to the internet. Using this device does not require any installation process. Pocket WiFi uses both LTE and 3G networks.

The only time I had issues connecting to the web was from the basement floor of a shopping centre which is understandable. Surfing the web with Pocket WiFi has been an enjoyable experience, I have yet to experience slow internet speed. However, I wouldn’t leave it on the whole day unless I had the charger with me. The battery life of Pocket WiFi is pretty decent too it can easily last up to six hours without recharging. This allows me to use direct messaging on my phone to my friends back home and the internet on my laptop. I like to connect both my cell phone and my laptop to the WiFi. What’s more is that multiple devices can connect to Pocket WiFi at the same time. Telephone calls can easily be made via Skype if you have an account. This means you can use your overseas WiFi enabled smartphone or iPad to stay connected. The beauty of this device is that it can connect to any WiFi enabled device. It is about the size of an iPhone and light to carry. The Pocket WiFi from eMobile Japan is a great little device that provides its own network, allowing you to connect to the World Wide Web from just about anywhere. Luckily there is a viable solution to this conundrum. This does not leave one with many options and this experience can be a little frustrating. There is the option of buying a phone card and making calls from public phones however, this can be a bit of an inconvenience. You have to be a resident to get a phone contract. Unlike other countries you cannot buy a pre-paid SIM card for your phone either. Compared to other developed countries Japan is quite far behind in terms of providing public networks. Public WiFi networks are not that easily accessible unless you want to spend 600 yen on a coffee at Starbucks to use their WiFi. This is especially true when traveling in Japan.

Staying connected to the rest of the world while traveling can be a difficult task.
