Which is Better? Pocket WiFi vs SIM / eSIM for Japan in 2024

Подписаться 39 тыс.

Просмотров 444 тыс.

50% 1

Stay connected to the internet on your Japan trip with a pocket WiFi or data SIM card / eSIM. We go through the details of our experience and help you make the right decision for your trip! Best pocket WiFi: www.sakuramobile.jp/joji808-top Favorite eSIM for data: few.cellulardata.ubigi.com/?P... Favorite SIM for data: www.mobal.com/japan-sim-card/... GoogleFi fi.google.com/ Referral: K61DXJ
00:00 Intro of options
00:30 Is your phone unlocked?
00:38 What is an unlocked phone?
01:23 Pocket WiFi ( Mobile HotPSpot)
01:45 Benefits of a Pocket WiFi
02:19 Cons of a Pocket WiFi
03:07 Where to rent a Pocket WiFi
08:08 Pocket WiFi Tips
09:24 Google Fi
13:37 SIM / eSIM
14:23 Pros of SIM Cards
14:52 Cons of SIM Cards
16:05 Get A Local Japanese Number
16:48 eSIMs
🏝 Subscribe to join our worldschooling family on adventures! Turn on the bell for notifications. / kenshoquest
BUY DATA
💖 We appreciate the commissions we earn when you purchase through our affiliate links!
JR Pass with Ninja Pocket Wifi: click.jrpass.com/SH82
Pocket WiFi [ Airport Pick Up ]
4G WiFi for Unlimited Data from Ninja Mobile: geni.us/klookwifi
4G WiFi & Power Bank (Airport Pick Up) [Unlimited] - Tokyo only:
geni.us/klookwifipowerbank
When ordering on Klook, save 5% with KENSHOQUEST
Pocket WiFi [ Hotel Delivery ]
Sakura Mobile Pocket Wifi [Unlimited]: www.sakuramobile.jp/joji808-top
SIM [ DATA ONLY ]
Unlimited Data 4G SIM Card (Multiple JP Airport Pick Up) for Japan from Sakura Mobile: geni.us/klooksakurasim
SIM [ with Japanese number ]
Mobal long-term SIM: www.mobal.com/japan-sim-card/...
Mobal short term SIM: www.mobal.com/japan-sim-card/...
eSIM:
Ubigi: few.cellulardata.ubigi.com/?P...
You can also purchase directly from the carrier websites if your location is served, but they may be more expensive:
Ninja Wifi: ninjawifi.com/en
GET 10% OFF WITH COUPON: KENSHO10
Sakura Mobile: www.sakuramobile.jp/joji808-top
Japan Wireless: www.japan-wireless.com/en
GOOGLE FI
fi.google.com/
Referral code: K61DXJ
You and I get a $20 USD credit once your account has been active for 30 days!
Best charger/adapter combo: www.voltacharger.com/KENSHOQUEST
🌟 Save 10% with KENSHOQUEST
RELATED VIDEOS 🎞
Best eSIMS for Japan: • BEST eSIMs for Japan T...
eSIM with Japanese Phone Number: • Finally! 🎉 An eSIM wit...
How to Activate eSIM on iPhone: • How to Activate eSIM B...
How to Make Free Calls in Japan with WiFi: • Best Apps for Making F...
JAPAN TRIP ESSENTIALS 🇯🇵
💖 We appreciate the commissions we earn when you purchase through our affiliate links!
🚅 JAPAN TRANSPORTATION
Purchase Shinkansen train tickets (save 5% with KENSHOQUEST): geni.us/shinkansen
Whole Japan Rail Pass: geni.us/wholejrpass
Hokuriku Arch Pass ( scenic arch Tokyo - Kanazawa - Kyoto ): geni.us/hokurikuarchpass
Hakone Free Pass ( round trip from Shinjuku ): geni.us/hakonefreepass
🇯🇵 JAPAN TRIP ESSENTIALS
Data eSIM: few.cellulardata.ubigi.com/?P...
Pocket WiFi: www.sakuramobile.jp/joji808-top
VPN: get.surfshark.net/aff_c?offer...
Travel health insurance: safetywing.com/ambassador/ref...
Ship luggage to Tokyo hotel or airport: geni.us/shipluggagetokyo
🍄 JAPAN ATTRACTIONS
USJ Super Nintendo World tickets: geni.us/usjapan
Tokyo Disneyland & DisneySea tickets: geni.us/tokyodisney
TeamLab Planets Tokyo: geni.us/teamlabplanets
Hello Kitty Sanrio Puroland Tickets: geni.us/sanriopuroland
✈️ TRAVEL HACKS
Lightest weight carry-on suitcase 1.8kg: julyus.pxf.io/daEqkW
Best charger/universal adapter combo (save 10% with KENSHOQUEST): www.voltacharger.com/KENSHOQUEST
Unbound Merino wool travel clothing (save 10% with coupon KENSHOQUEST): shrsl.com/4bqmf
Best travel first aid kit (save 10% with coupon KENSHOQUEST10): www.keepgoingfirstaid.com/ken...
Ultimate credit card for earning miles: www.referyourchasecard.com/6f...
Powder shampoo that lathers with water! amzn.to/3SGGyrz
Solid travel toiletries: prz.io/N0yvO0gTv
Travel gear in our Amazon shop: www.amazon.com/shop/kenshoquest
🤙🏼 LET'S HANG OUT
/ kenshoquest
/ kenshoquest
#kenshoquest #traveljapan #japantravel #japantravelguide
🌺 ABOUT US
Aloha! We are a worldschooling family with three young kids. Our home base is the beautiful island of Oahu, Hawaii. We've been living a nomadic lifestyle for the past 15 years. We hope to inspire you to begin your own quest!

Опубликовано:

4 июн 2024

Ссылка:

Скачать:

Готовим ссылку...

Добавить в:

Мой плейлист

Посмотреть позже

Комментарии : 649

@ezyutube4871 Год назад

Thank you! Just what I needed to know. Heading to Japan this July! Great idea of getting with JR rail pass and having it delivered to your accommodation! Will save me a lot of stress at the airport.

@mylientran2455 11 месяцев назад

You are the best explanation, your voice is clear and easy to understand. Thank a lot

@arcticredpanda4598 Год назад

Thank you for the thorough and informative video. Also love that crazy hair cut man.

@vitalitymirth Год назад

I used a pocket WiFi at the summit of Mt Fuji in the middle of an ice storm, and the pocket WiFi worked!

@KenshoQuest Год назад

Wow! Thanks for sharing!

@ryanlecoeur 19 дней назад

Which one did u use

@chrisjeelizondo8164 3 дня назад

They should make that a commercial lol

@ynotmoah Год назад

This is such an awesome and informative video. Thank you sir!

@hamburgersmmmmmm Год назад

Thanks for the Google Fi info. You're the first person to cover this that I've found.

@wailengimhof2746 Год назад

Thank you for the information .

@Spyduck Год назад

Where I'm from, my airport provides the service of rental and return of the wifi device. Pretty easy to connect to, and for the first time, I had a troubleshooting session for the device solved in just 30 mins. Really pretty handy. Most of us carry portable batteries anyway, so another small gadget block isn't a big deal.

@tomhenschel2847 Год назад

Wow! Fantastic research clearly explained. What a gift. You're the best. Thanks!

@KenshoQuest Год назад

THANKS TOM!!

@lvujas98 Год назад

Thanks for details, just planning my trip on Oct.😊

@KenshoQuest Год назад

You’re welcome 😊 Let us know if you have other questions about Japan that we haven't covered yet!

@trixe9840 Год назад

Just subscribed! Your videos have been really helpful. Keep up the good work!

@KenshoQuest Год назад

Thank you!

@videotravelsonline 5 месяцев назад

Very informative! Thank you!

@user-ly6dh5tz6d Год назад

The problem I had with pocket wi-fi is that if you are part of a group and are sharing a hotspot if you get separated from each other only the person who has the hotspot will have internet. If you are depending on the hotspot to communicate with each other then you are basically screwed.

@WhenKittensATK1125 9 месяцев назад

Thanks for the GoogleFi recommendation. Saved a bit on this tip.

@monkulu 11 месяцев назад

Such a great video, well explained, very comprehensive. I am a Japanese person having lived away from Japan for so long -- now trying to visit Japan with a whole family who's not from there. I learned a lot. Thank you!

@KenshoQuest 10 месяцев назад

Glad it was helpful! Let us know if you have other questions. We have a ton of content on Japan and adding new stuff all the time :)

@pascalejacquelinepetit5131 5 месяцев назад

Many thanks for the informative and greatly articulated video.

@wizerdjuice9589 Год назад

Excellent video. With data only plans there are apps you can use to make phone calls.

@sharonpanlaqui7974 3 месяца назад

Thank you so much for this video! It’s very helpful and informative especially for a first time traveler like me to Japan.

@gsr4535 Год назад

Good, solid advice. Thanks.

@KenshoQuest Год назад

Thank you!!

@blackhorn7888 Год назад

I just traveled to Japan from India last week.. went through your video and decided to use UBIGI eSIM… must say the network was fantastic and very competitively priced. It took only 10 minutes for setup. No hassle for pick up and drop off of pocket Wi-Fi. Thank you so much for guiding me.

@KenshoQuest Год назад

Hi, so glad to know this! Thank you for sharing your experience :) BTW, I'll be testing a variety of different eSIMs in Japan very soon!

@nilofaurashik6967 8 месяцев назад

Hi, so did you use both esim and pocket wifi ?

@blackhorn7888 7 месяцев назад

@@nilofaurashik6967 Hi I used only UBIGI eSIM and trust me it was enough unless your data requirement is enormously high which might drain your phone’s battery life.

@karthik000023 6 месяцев назад

Hi! We’re planning to go to Japan during March. Could you help us out to plan our trip?

@user-xm6jk5nq7x 3 месяца назад

Thank you for your research and clear explanations, it has helped my travel preparations for a group trip immensely.

@noahpalmieri941 Год назад

For ATT customers: if you purchased your phone from ATT on a payment plan, you need to fully pay it off before it can be unlocked. To unlock, you have to request it from ATT, usually approved within 24 hrs

@KenshoQuest Год назад

Hi, good to know, thanks for sharing this information!

@FeHopeCyndiW 2 месяца назад

Thanks for this! I last visited Japan in 1993 and cell phone service wasn't an issue back then. Headed back to Japan this summer for a race. :)

@Universalorbit Год назад

Thanks for the advice. I’m on my way to Japan now. Currently on the plane 😂

@danekim4275 11 месяцев назад

Great video, chock full of options especially for those of us who aren’t tech savvy. This will be essential when I return to Japan and east Asia.

@KenshoQuest 11 месяцев назад

Thank you for the comment! Please let us know if you have any questions as we are making a lot more content and happy to help!

@timmarshall5381 10 месяцев назад

Very helpful, thanks!

@KenshoQuest 10 месяцев назад

Glad it was helpful!

@czereyski Год назад

Dear Kensho, Great Video!!! During my last 3 stays in Japan I have used pocket wife. No issues, stronly recommended! In two weeks I'm going again to my favourite country, Japan. I want to try e-sim for my iPhone 14 PM. Ubigi looks intersting.

@KenshoQuest Год назад

Awesome! Let us know how it goes with your iPhone and Ubigi!

@cryptik_official 5 месяцев назад

Thanks for the tip on Ubigi!

@xeebot 7 месяцев назад

So helpful. Thank you!

@billhawaii8445 Год назад

I used to rent WiFi every time I went back to Japan. Nowadays I just use the roaming service that my carrier provides. It’s the easiest. なんの問題も無いです。

@patriciamurashige6879 9 месяцев назад

Thank you!!! Going with the Wi-Fi modem

@KenshoQuest 9 месяцев назад

Glad to help! Enjoy your trip.

@bhuld0115 3 месяца назад

Just ran across your channel. Thank you for great info. I want to second Google Fi for international travel (thanks for the thumbs up on Fi in Japan, my next destination ). I have been a Fi customer since day one and have had seamless connections throughout Europe and the UK. As I stood up upon landing in Munich in Nov and turned off airplane mode, I received a text that the door had closed on my connecting flight. A very quick network connection (and it was expected news). And I agree that customer service, which was once the best, is now nonexistent beyond the FAQ.

@amz9544 11 месяцев назад

Thank you for your detailed explanation. I didnt know there are a lot of options. And the pros and cons of each! Im planning to use my TMobile plan and rent a pocket wifi just in case 😁

@KenshoQuest 11 месяцев назад

Glad it was helpful! Your plan sounds solid. Have a great trip!

@ron7524 9 месяцев назад

Great video. Very informative. In Canada, all phones since 2017 are UNLOCKED, so it is more flexible. Yet, it was good to hear that almost all eSims are DATA-only (didn't know this).

@KenshoQuest 9 месяцев назад

Thanks for sharing!

@PeteCorp 5 месяцев назад

Great advice

@swissgamerzchannel2035 8 месяцев назад

I actually used a pocket wifi that my sister rented while in Florence. It was an awesome experience to have one. So thank you for telling us that you can get one in Japan and even delivered at your hotel 👍

@KenshoQuest 8 месяцев назад

Glad to have helped!

@ezwriter101 8 месяцев назад

Thanks for this clear and helpful video. I've decided to go with the Ninja WiFi, since I'll have my iPad and my iPhone, and I'll have a friend with me as well. I think my AT&T phone might still be locked, but I'll check just out of curiosity.

@warl0ch 11 месяцев назад

The T-Mobile International plan works great in Japan. But, I also got a esim for a local number with Au. They've got good rates/plans as well.

@KenshoQuest 11 месяцев назад

Thanks for sharing!

@CNEpornstar Год назад

We found the setup for our sim a little troublesome at first but then the instructions made sense and we just missed a few steps, but after that both phones were connected and did not need to be around the wifi hotspot to be connected. We debated initially getting a wifi hotspot, but then decided that since I go out in the mornings for coffee and exploration that if the other person woke up early that they may explore about too and need internet, this and the fact that we only need to worry about charging out phones and not the wifi hotspot so we each can just focus on our device and charge it with a battery pack when needed. Different situations might make it more viable for a hotspot such as having a family all using it, but if you're just solo or 2 people I think a sim is way more convenient. Great explanations for everything though!

@KenshoQuest Год назад

Thanks for sharing your experience! It all helps everyone!

@007johnnyman 6 месяцев назад

😂Q la

@tinale9458 4 месяца назад

THANKS FOR SHARING THE VIDEO ! HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOUR FAMILY AND ALL THE BEST WISHES IN 2024.

@KenshoQuest 4 месяца назад

Thank you! Happy new year.

@extremelucky1 Год назад

I got an eSim data with Ubigi which is an international provider. It was a very convenient and seamless experience, also affordable. I will probably use them again on my second trip to Japan. I don’t do phone calls as I use app calling when I am there. Great video!

@KenshoQuest Год назад

Aweseome! Thank you for sharing your experience! And thank for watching :)

@dreamerrider 8 месяцев назад

You phone needs to be unlocked for esim as well or no?

@ricktoledo21 7 месяцев назад

Ubigi has been great for me as well.

@mkowalski4646 9 месяцев назад

Soo good video! Thanks a lot!

@KenshoQuest 9 месяцев назад

Glad you liked it!

@MuchoArigato 6 месяцев назад

Fantastic. Very helpful.

@danih6820 4 месяца назад

Thank you so much for this video. Based on your advice I researched and rented 3 pocket wifi units for my family members when we were travelling Japan over Christmas 2023 (last month). The service was seemless - pick up at Narita airport and drop off by post. Speeds were super fast all the time. Now we’ve moved onto South Korea I wish I had rented a pocket wifi here. Instead I went with an eSIM and it’s really not the same. I’ve had to top up twice on an Unlimited plan because outside of your fast speed usage is just dead air slow. None of the tours, restaurants etc needed a SK number either. Your videos and tips have been spot on. What we didn’t appreciate was how busy travelling in Japan over the Christmas to NYs period actually is. Very exciting and crazy. I don’t think you can know unless you experience it as we did. So much so that we couldn’t get seats on the Shinkansen even with our JR passes because they were all booked. To get from Kyoto to Hakata to pick up the JR Beetle we had to travel by Nozomi. It was extra on top of our JR passes but it wasn’t a problem for us as meeting our ferry to Busan became the priority. So some smart planning across this timeframe is absolutely necessary I think. Luckily we got the last 3 seats on the Nozomi across different carriages but we got there and happily. We are still travelling but just wanted to say thank you for your help. I’ll never book an eSIM again. Pocket wifi all the way 🤗

@KenshoQuest 4 месяца назад

Hi, thank you for comment :) And thank you for sharing your experience. It's true that New Years time is the most crowded on trains in Japan. I'm sorry to hear about your experience but glad you figure it out and was able to ride the Nozomi! Have a great time in S. Korea!

@solidsn2011 Год назад

I’ve been to Japan first time in 2015 and pocket wifi was a great solution because I was always with my wife! Now that we are visiting again next month we will be more people and we will also have children so I am considering getting 3 esims just in case we separate and we need to communicate.

@KenshoQuest Год назад

Sounds like a good plan!

@theinternationalist1357 Год назад

Wow, thanks for this informative vid on wifi/esim, it is so helpful!! I'll be in Japan this June and is struggling on getting data/eSim for my Samsung 23 Ultra, which has the eSim capacity from ATT. Japan is my go-to country every year.

@mebeeingb2421 Год назад

I have a 22 Ultra and will be going with an esim! As soon as i found out, you can use a hotspot with esim it made since to use esim for my little group. it's basically a pocket wifi, and it's $17 for 10gbs

@theinternationalist1357 Год назад

@@mebeeingb2421 Ok Cool, please let me know when your JP on the Esim and which provider with your 22 Ultra, mine is 23 Ultra. I'll be in JP in June. Thanks.

@joits Год назад

On my previous trips, I've always gone with the pocket wifi mainly because I didn't have the option for buying a local SIM due to my phone being locked. Its worked great for us (group of 4) for the most part except for instances like when someone gets separated and we can't find them and can't contact them since they're out of range of the pocket wifi, or if one of two people choose to do something else. On a recent solo trip to the UK and France, I opted to go with AT&T's international day pass which was $10 per day since when doing research for local pocket wifi, I found that they were around $8 a day. I figured for just a bit extra a day, I don't need to carry around an extra device and worry about it's battery and by using the international day pass, I get to keep my own number and my phone just works as it does when I'm home. I had no issues with connectivity even when I ventured out of the big city areas. Whenever I return to Japan, I will probably still get a pocket wifi with my friends as we're sharing the cost, but I will activate the international day pass should I need it.

@KenshoQuest Год назад

Thanks for sharing your experience!

@PrinceDavid Год назад

I am going to Japan in a week and a half. I also use AT&T and plan to use the international day pass when I got here. I hope it works well.

@joits Год назад

@@PrinceDavid I did some research and read on forums that it works especially well in big cities. As I mentioned it worked great in Paris and even when I was in the North East of France in the Normandy area, it worked like a charm. So easy too. Once you land, your phone just searches for the local network and bam, you're connected!

@joits 10 месяцев назад

@@PrinceDavid How did it work out for you?

@PrinceDavid 10 месяцев назад

@@joits it worked out perfectly! I turned on roaming on my iPhone then as soon as I landed on Japan and took off airport mode it worked! No 5G but it still worked.

@rdwilander Год назад

I just had the bad experience of a closed "Mobal" counter pick up at Narita Japan. Wasn't expecting a 3 hour (ridiculous) line up to clear customs. Having said that, Mobal would be wise to extend their service counter hours or have some way of easily collecting the Sim at the airport. Something like a scaled down Amazon pick up locker.

@KenshoQuest Год назад

HI, terribly sorry to hear about your experience. They are supposed to have good customer service so I hope they can help you get your SIM elsewhere. Thanks for sharing your experience! I hope your trip is amazing from this point forward!

@JuanWayTrips 7 месяцев назад

Glad to hear that Google Fi works well in Japan. Traveling there next week for the first time and haven't seen any mention of it (just pocket WiFi) so I was worried it wouldn't work. I've used Fi for the past year, and have done international trips to Peru and Mexico. It does take 10-15 minutes to connect once in a new country, but usually, in that time we are still deplaning and walking to immigration, so a phone connection isn't as necessary. It's just so nice not needing to think about it when traveling (unlike when I had Verizon and had to pick the days I would use my cell phone in order to avoid extra charges).

@KenshoQuest 7 месяцев назад

Since you are already a user you will notice that it connects pretty quickly in Japan. Have a great trip!

@jacksan1 7 месяцев назад

I'm a frequent traveler to Japan, and I use Google Fi to stay in touch with the U.S. and HIS Mobile for Japan-side calls (two separate phones). Google Fi kicks in immediately every time my plane lands in Japan and is good to go while taxing to the gate. I carry the second phone so that people within Japan need not call international to reach me as being required to ring my Google Fi number.

@aleckinch1199 Год назад

Beautiful footage @ 2:00min , can you share what camera & setup & settings you used? I really like how high up you get, assume maybe a monopod pole or?

@KenshoQuest Год назад

Thanks! That was filmed with an Insta360 on a selfie stick. www.amazon.com/shop/kenshoquest/list/1GK1WDK926USP?ref_=cm_sw_r_mwn_aipsflist_aipsfkenshoquest_T2TSBV53CQQ9MNGSMD7Z

@betovas7306 Год назад

Thanks a lot for the video. It really helped. I choosed ninja pocket wifi I hope it works great!

@fsiqueirar 21 день назад

Did it work?

@garrettallen4106 9 месяцев назад

Edit** you answered my question at the end. Thanks!

@KenshoQuest 9 месяцев назад

Great, let us know if you have further questions!

@SuperAqueos Год назад

I used a sim and had mobal (data only), and was able to have it delivered to the US was nice. Was able to set it up in 5 minutes in line for the JR pass redemption.

@KenshoQuest Год назад

Great! Thank you for sharing your experience!

@JohnnyNacis Год назад

Mobal is great. used it last august for a month. down side, if you text/call your friends & family back at home, it'll show as unknown number bc you most likely never stored their numbers in your contacts with a country code. kind of annoying but the reliable data and service mobal provides is worth it

@davyf7620 Год назад

I rent my Wi-Fi from my local JTB or H.I.S. Travel agency at home in Honolulu. You take it with you and as soon as your plane touches down, you have Wi-Fi. Also, you don’t have to worry about the office not being open if your flight is delayed. When your trip is over, you simply carry it home with you and return it at the agency office. Portable charger and insurance included in price. Best Wi-Fi option for me, no worries.

@KenshoQuest Год назад

Thanks for sharing! 🏝

@tgwinternational3296 11 месяцев назад

Went to Japan in May 2023. I have an old plan from TMobile which included basic LTE roaming for free. It was good enough for basic browsing on my phone, checking train schedules, buying tickets, messaging and even FaceTime. My kids got the 4G Sakura sim from haneda airport which now I think we should not have gotten.

@KenshoQuest 11 месяцев назад

Hi, thanks for sharing your experience! It all helps! Sakura mobile is a good option! I have been testing it out for the past two months and it has been great!

@neogenesus Год назад

Going to Japan this May and will be getting a pocket wifi for me and SIM card for my wife. We probably will be using the pocket wifi most of the time but having a SIM card for my wife's phone is for when if we got separated. I also have T-mobile and get an unlimited but slow (256kbps) internet connection all over the world (I've used it in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand). It is good enough for using messenger, light browsing, using maps, etc. The pocket wifi in Japan is really good and I've used it on Shinkansen under an underground tunnel and still get 3-4 bars.

@KenshoQuest Год назад

Have a wonderful time in Japan!

@fabiozwei Год назад

hi, curious that i found a local pocket wifi with on fair usage policy and cheaper price than ninja wifi. I think its slower than Ninja tho. Thankyou for your recommendations!

@fusedglass01 Год назад

Just signed up for Google Fi to my unlocked Samsung S21 Ultra, funny seeing two antenna signals on my phone. I added a 2nd number vs transferring my existing. I'm on T-Mobile and told there is decent coverage in Japan but I didn't want to risk it. Thanks for the info. I'll try to remember to come back here and post my experience when I get back from Japan in a few months.

@KenshoQuest Год назад

Please do share how it goes!

@gymitsui7634 Год назад

Awesome info. When u coming bck to Malaysia ?

@KenshoQuest Год назад

Very soon!

@ozpain1 3 месяца назад

google fi was excellent during my first trip to Japan! worked perfectly, and I'll be using it again for my upcoming return.

@KenshoQuest 3 месяца назад

Thanks for sharing!

@jimbobimboslice 2 месяца назад

So do you just activate the plan before you fly out or when do you activate Google Fi? I have Verizon but confirmed my phone is NOT locked. When should I do the Google Fi plan?

@thenimitpatel Год назад

What a super informative video. You know it's great when I come to learn about ABC and learn about XYZ. I have heard of GoogleFi but since it was never a great option to use as our main plan here in the US, I didn't think of it for international travel! It sounds like a tremendous option to stay connected with a local number while traveling! I've used both pocket wifi/SIM when traveling internationally. Actually the first time, I opted for pocket wifi in Iceland. It was incredible. Blazing fast. Allowed us to connect not just our phones, but computers etc. Then I've mostly used SIMs in Europe. It was usually cheaper from the options I found, and worked just fine for us. However, this is the first time we are really traveling to a country where my expectation is there to be a huge language barrier for me to overcome and I mostly opted for the pocket wifi on softbank because it was only $17 for a week, and this way I can also use it for my computer. No brainer!

@KenshoQuest Год назад

Hi, thank you for the kinds words! And thank you for sharing your experience! Very much appreciated :)

@ductritran8637 11 месяцев назад

I live in Melbourne Australia , I travel to japan often each time is 4 weeks . I purchase Docomo SIM card in Australia, they are on line sale and cost $80.00 Australia ( $54 usd ) unlimited data for 30 days , far cheaper than roaming . You must order them fews weeks before you leave home , normally it’s arrived in a week after you order and paid . This way made everything easy once you in japan just swap the SIM cards and activate . There is an instruction come with the SIM card to activated your docomo sim or you can ask Docomo mobile staff at the airport help you to activated.

@KenshoQuest 11 месяцев назад

Thanks for sharing!

@leebradoify Год назад

Just subscribed! Super helpful Looking to travel to Japan for 40 days! Is there no truly unlimited data plans for Mobil wifi? The throttle seems terrible. Thanks again

@KenshoQuest Год назад

Hi, thanks for subscribing :) 40 days will be awesome! And correct, no truly unlimited plan that I am aware of. They all go by the fair usage policy. However, unless you using over 3GB of data/day then you should be fine. If you need more per day Ninja WiFi has plans up to 10GB/day. Otherwise, we like to take advantage of our accommodations wifi whenever we can. Usually faster in hotels vs Airbnbs.

@misterbill5700 8 месяцев назад

Love your videos, wish I found them sooner. Question about the return of the pocket wifi. My group is arriving in Haneda but departing in Narita. Do you know if there is any problem with returning the device at a different airport? Thanks!

@KenshoQuest 8 месяцев назад

It should be fine. The pocket WiFi usually comes with an addressed return envelope, so you can also drop it in the mail to return.

@felipet391 3 месяца назад

Excellent content as always! The only point I would add about the SIM card is verifying if the device works in the expected frequencies (Hz). After some research I realized my phone doesn't support all the mobile frequencies from the Japanese telecom companies... So, pocket wifi is probably the best solution for my scenario - even though I would prefer not carrying an extra device.

@KenshoQuest 3 месяца назад

Thanks for sharing!

@37jamesyboy Год назад

esim worked perfect for me

@KenshoQuest Год назад

Thanks for sharing!

@miguelangelsanchez3427 Год назад

The last time that somebody from our family went to Japan, we decided to go with the esim solution. All activated by QR code and had data as soon as it was permitted

@KenshoQuest Год назад

Thanks for sharing your experience!

@alfonsolujan6100 10 месяцев назад

I'm going this Tuesday thinking of going to esim also which one did you get ?

@eva_4g636 Год назад

Tmobile has a plan for 30 bucks I think I use it over seas all the time and no change in plan or Sim card needed. Just land and it sends a text saying welcome japan, Korea, Etc And roll unlimited data

@KenshoQuest Год назад

That's awesome, thanks for sharing!!

@presentcent1473 Год назад

How the service though?

@eva_4g636 Год назад

Was able to upload to Flickr and watch videos so good so far

@wendynguyen8296 Год назад

It works good my friend has used it. My Verizon didn’t work at all I was thinking changing my plan.

@osakakawaii Год назад

It is slower that using an esim or pocket wifi though.

@kvom01 3 месяца назад

I used an eSim in my Pixel8 phone the past few weeks when traveling in Asia. That one had a local phone#, but I never used it to call. And to call home I needed to turn it off. I think for tourists a non-call eSim might be ideal.

@billgracey6369 Год назад

I just used my cell phone in Japan and while I had trouble accessing some free wifi, I was able to use them for my two overnight trips there. I didnt get any SIM or pocket wifi while I was there. If I was there longer I may have gotten a pocket wifi or a SIM card. But my phone worked fine without any for my two short stays.

@KenshoQuest Год назад

Great, thanks for letting us know how it worked for you!

@terreechu 4 месяца назад

for my situation I used pocket wifi. i bought it from amazon and when i arrived to asia i bought the data plan in the pocket wifi app and it worked seamlessly. the pocket wifi acts as a router and uses the cell towers that are around you cons it may be bulky carrying it with a portable battery charger but it’s a small trade off since we were out for most of the day. both my partner and i haven’t paid off our phones yet so unlocking wasn’t an option. i also didn’t want to deal with the hassle of buying an e sim at the airport after an 14 hr flight. it’s one less thing you have to worry about. strongly recommend 😊

@KenshoQuest 4 месяца назад

Thanks for sharing your experience!

@1surftheblue 2 месяца назад

Which one did you buy?

@patsRN 4 месяца назад

For me, it’s Airalo e-sim, it’s fast. I’m not going to pay $10/day with added fees. I've always use it whenever I go to Japan 🇯🇵

@raahulvasanth 8 месяцев назад

Thank you for the great video as usual! I’m thinking it would be good to be able to call local numbers in Japan (for e.g., hotels, restaurants etc.) while there. Is there a way to achieve this with only a data connection, as getting a local Japanese number seems to be an hassle, especially for a short trip?

@KenshoQuest 8 месяцев назад

HI, thanks for the nice comment :) Many establishments use Line App. So if you know their ID you can message them that way. If you are staying at a hotel you can always ask them to place a call for you. But the best would be an actual number. I realize you have a short trip but the company Mobal I mention in the video is very good. We recently tested them out for two months and the service was easy to set up and worked great. You can pick it up at the airport upon arrival or have it delivered.

@raahulvasanth 8 месяцев назад

Thanks, I understand. Yes, ours is a 12-13 day trip. I guess I could also use Skype calling to call Japanese numbers. Do you think that’ll work well?

@janiekcarney5482 3 месяца назад

Exactly the video I needed. Thank you. I’m going to have to buy a new phone!

@KenshoQuest 3 месяца назад

Let us know if you have further questions.

@torakwarius Год назад

Thanks for this very informative video! I purchased an eSim plan with Airalo, but never got it to activate (I think there was a glitch in my installation). Hoping to be able to activate it on my next trip to Japan.

@KenshoQuest 11 месяцев назад

You're welcome! Let us know how it goes with Airalo and if you have any questions. We'll also be doing a comparison review with them included.

@camilogonzalez7770 3 месяца назад

Thank you

@hermes8258 Год назад

Thanks.

@KenshoQuest Год назад

You're welcome!

@sylviamartinez7407 9 месяцев назад

Excellent video. I am travelling to Japan in Nov. My question is, even that I have a different carrier like Boost mobile I can have a second plan like the google fi ?

@KenshoQuest 9 месяцев назад

Hi, glad it is helpful :) Regarding your question, yes, it doesn't matter who your current carrier is. As long as your phone is unlocked, you can switch or add a second plan. It's easiest if you have either a dual SIM phone or eSIM.

@adcxbbk Год назад

I have used both during my trips there. I prefer the sim card over the pocket wifi. The pocket wifi was an additional gadget that needs to be carried everywhere we go. The sim card is a one time installation and then forget about it during the trip. No need to recharge it separately.

@amyr3285 Год назад

Can these sim cards work on an old Iphone? Such as the SE?

@as-1982 11 месяцев назад

@@amyr3285 Yes, you can as long it is an unlocked iPhone. I have the first generation iPhone SE.

@MrsKBeee 5 месяцев назад

@@as-1982 Do you have to remove your existing sim card (for your home country) to put in the Japanese sim?

@jayperreira2778 2 месяца назад

Got back yesterday. AT&T International Plan is $10 a day and $5 more for a second line. Worked perfectly.

@KenshoQuest 2 месяца назад

Thanks for sharing!

@raahulvasanth 8 месяцев назад

Hi! Almost decided on Ninja and the 3GB plan looks good for my use. Only concern though is the device (GW01) which looks more like a smart phone. Worried if this might have a low WiFi range and not so good battery. Higher plans seem to come with different and better devices. Any experiences with this device which comes with the 3GB plan?

@KenshoQuest 8 месяцев назад

Hi, my brother recently used the next higher-up plan but it was still the new cellphone design wifi. His experience was good with a good range. However, the battery did deplete in less than 8 hours if the wifi was being used a lot. So, if you will be having multiple users connect to the device it may not last a whole day. I also thoroughly tested Sakura mobile's pocket Wifi over a three-month period and it worked great and while it does follow under the fair usage policy, we were never throttled. Here is a link: www.sakuramobile.jp/joji808-top

@craigholt71 3 дня назад

We have just come back from Japan, used the pocket wifi and it worked brilliantly allowing us to use multiple devices without any problems. Even worked on our cruise ship whilst we were at sea, only lost connection once.

@KenshoQuest 3 дня назад

Thanks for sharing!

@eisenklad Год назад

personally, in 2019, i used a pocket wifi and a travel data sim from my country(singapore) the pocket wifi device also doubled as a powerbank. as for throttling, the pocket wifi did it to me after i tried streaming my walk. so probably the upload amount is the main issue. the reason why i got both because i was using a Huawei phone, so some mobile frequency coverage is kinda spotty. i did pack my old sony C3 just in case, which i did use on my second day with the travel sim. better speeds over all as a second hotspot device. when you hit the daily limit, which you will get a SMS to buy certain 3/5/7/30 day "data packages".

@KenshoQuest Год назад

Thank you for sharing your experience!

@Rudyjosephjr 10 месяцев назад

Huawei have dual sim slot. Why the need for pocket wifi? Im usin p30 pro. Used singtel on primary and metfone, digi on secondary if im in cambodia or msia.

@eisenklad 10 месяцев назад

@@Rudyjosephjr the second sim slot is for my 256GB micro SD...

@Rudyjosephjr 10 месяцев назад

@@eisenklad why keep data in removable drive. I suggest you export all via usb c to external drive. Besides huawei have 256 or 512gb build in.

@Khalilnewyork116 9 месяцев назад

This was super informative! Though I do have one question: Since my iPhone was purchased from a T-Mobile store, would it still be considered “locked” even if there is an easy way to switch out my SIM card and replace it with a Japanese eSIM card during my trip? Otherwise, thanks! Can’t wait for my trip in October! 😄🎌

@KenshoQuest 9 месяцев назад

Hi, glad it is helpful :) Regarding your phone being locked, it's hard to say. If you are in the U.S. then I would contact T-Mobile and ask them. By default, your phone will be locked if you signed up for a plan regardless if you can take out your SIM. Let me know if you need further clarification :)

@ari_young Год назад

I just got back from 10 days in Japan last week. My mobile plan comes with 5GB of high speed data while roaming internationally (including Japan), then throttled to 256kbps after using the 5GB. This was more than enough for my daughters though my son did go over the allotment by day 7. I paid $50 for an additional 15GB of high speed data for me and my wife and that was more than enough. I used WiFi wherever available and I had no issues. If your carrier does have such options I would opt for renting the wifi.

@KenshoQuest Год назад

Awesome, thank you for sharing!

@ayasreviewsandtoycolection7148 Год назад

A Young what carrier specifically do you use?

@Aquacurve80 5 месяцев назад

Hi there! I will be heading to Japan in one week. I appreciate all the info you provided. Do you recommend a pocket Wi-Fi if it’s just myself and no one else? Or is an e-sim more recommended for just an individual (as opposed to a group)? Thank you !

@KenshoQuest 5 месяцев назад

Hi, since you are going solo and I'm assuming you have an unlocked eSIM capable phone, eSIM would be the way to go unless you need a ton of data and/or need to connect multiple devices at once. Even then Mobal is a great choice as they offer up to 50GB for a month for an eSIM. I hope this helps!

@Aquacurve80 5 месяцев назад

@@KenshoQuest thank you so much for this very helpful information! I’ll get an eSIM with mobal. Do you have a link so you can get credit or anything? Also, do they have a pick up place or anything at Haneda? I wasn’t sure if it’s eSIM if you still need to get paperwork or something there to activate? Thank you!

@falafelwaffle1605 5 месяцев назад

These days eSims have gotten crazy convenient. Airalo has 10 GB for $9 in Japan, and I've used the same app for Australia and Europe, which makes it easy to have them all in one place. Just save offline/print a copy of the activation instructions to make sure you don't forget a step. And if you are going to two countries on one trip, only add one esim at a time in the order that you need them, since some phones will only allow one at a time and don't allow you to remove and re-add one if you enable them in the wrong order.

@KenshoQuest 5 месяцев назад

Thanks for sharing your tips!

@1988remixx Месяц назад

Thank you so much for your channel & info. I would love to go back to Japan at least once as an adult. I could be wrong or not getting all my info straight but it just seems like Japan makes it so cumbersome & convoluted to travel there? Everything seems so segmented. “Get this, but not that, can’t go here, can’t go there, got it buy it here, can’t buy it there, turn this on but not before this time & can’t use it after that time ect ect”!! LOL!

@janiekcarney5482 3 месяца назад

Thanks!

@KenshoQuest 3 месяца назад

Happy to help :)

@ChickenScratchStationeryShorts Год назад

This is super helpful! I do have a question, I’ll be traveling to Japan on my own with my iPhone and I only want data to use GPS features since i don’t want to call or text much, would the pocket wifi work just fine for that? I guess I just don’t know how much data i need if i mostly just want to use my GPS to explore

@KenshoQuest Год назад

Hi, thanks for the nice comment! Yes, excellent question. Data on any of those pocket wifis mentioned will be plenty enough. Just keep in mind to not always have your maps on as that will use up your battery very quickly! Have a great trip!

@noncil Год назад

I just returned from Japan, and another tip is to add the suica card to your apple wallet. Use it for most purchases to avoid change, which might be in 1 or 5 yen since those coins are harder to use. Vending machines only accept 10 yen coins and up. You can only load up your apple wallet suica if you have an internet connection, and it will help you to avoid leftover cash on the card (you can load any amount to round up the leftover value for last usage vs using physical card with minimum ¥1000 top up) If you have 10 or later model iPhones, then you are good to go.

@ChickenScratchStationeryShorts Год назад

@@noncil Thank you for sharing!! I have an iphone 12 pro and I wasn’t sure if I should add it to the wallet or keep it physical but this comment definitely convinced me to add it, thank you!

@robinsang7746 8 месяцев назад

I used data roaming for 2 days, then got a data sim from Bic Camera at my convenience. My network charges $5 for a day of data roaming, but I was only charged for 1 day of use 😛

@KenshoQuest 8 месяцев назад

Thank you for sharing your experience! BIC Camera is a good option in a pinch!

@MGreen18F Год назад

Great info! Any suggestions or recommendations for someone from the US moving to Japan, but would like to keep their US number mainly for texts and voicemail? Thank you

@KenshoQuest Год назад

We are traveling long-term and we use GoogleFi for that purpose. We ported our phone numbers to GoogleFi before we left the US. I receive text messages on my multi-SIM phone and I can also have a local phone number. Here's our referral code, for $20 credit VW8EAH. 🌺 Heidi

@MGreen18F Год назад

@@KenshoQuest That's awesome! Thank you for the information and referral code/$20 credit. Sounds like the best plan!

@celebrityrog Год назад

One of the reasons my friends and I stay with T-Mobile is cause we get unlimited low-speed data while roaming in foreign nations. It's enough for maps, messages, email, browsing the web, but not really good for video. It's "okay" for music depending on the stream quality. We used it a lot in Japan simply because getting a data plan there is impossible for foreigners and carrying around a wifi hotspot was ridiculous. We just used our phones for free.

@KenshoQuest Год назад

Thank you for sharing your experience!

@madmax8620 4 месяца назад

But how did you watch hd porn then??

@blueniq 6 месяцев назад

Hi great video! I travel with my boyfriend and we arrive at Narita airport and depart from fukuoka airport. We stay for 3 weeks. We have to use a lot of google maps and maybe book transportation on the fly. So is pocket wifi or sim the smarter choice? Thanks in advance. We also plan to use Ta-q-bin. Both of us have an android phone with double sim option.

@KenshoQuest 6 месяцев назад

Hi, if you are going to be using a lot of data, say watching movies as well as using a lot for maps then may want to opt for a pocket wifi since in general they come with a lot more data. However, since it is just the two of you a SIM might serve you well if both of you each get one. This way you can separate and each of you still have internet. If you need a lot of data on your SIM I highly recommend Mobal. They are great, but here are my top picks overall based on my personal experience. Let me know if you have futher questions! Mobal: www.mobal.com/japan-sim-card/?t=st&source=3402 Ubigi: few.cellulardata.ubigi.com/?P512C3F57DA13131 Airalo: airalo.pxf.io/ZQJnJQ Favorite pocket WiFi: www.sakuramobile.jp/joji808-top

@mikegriffin2425 Год назад

Great video, just an fyi...Verizon unlocks phones 60 days after purchase now, even if on a device payment plan. This makes e-sims much more attractive.

@KenshoQuest Год назад

Hi, thanks for sharing this! Super helpful to know!

@bertman4 Год назад

I do have Google Fi and an option I use for voice calling is LINE. Obviously the other person must have the app installed on their smartphone.

@KenshoQuest Год назад

Excellent advice! Especially in Japan where everyone uses LINE!!

@albertopicciau9934 Месяц назад

hi thanks for all these information, everything is very useful. I have a question, is it possible to select where to drop off your pocket wifi on Klook?

@KenshoQuest Месяц назад

Hi, depending on who you are renting from will determine where you can drop off. IT won't be up to Klook. But all of these companies are very flexible with options. If you can tell me which carrier and/or plan you are interested in, I can give you better info.

@albertopicciau9934 Месяц назад

@@KenshoQuest i have found a good offer on klook, but it seems it doesn't give the opportunity to drop the PW in other airports. Thanks for the help

@athomas9661 9 месяцев назад

Thanks so much for this thorough video. It is very helpful. @kenshoquest What about AnyFoneJapan?

@KenshoQuest 9 месяцев назад

Hi, thanks for watching! We have not tried Anyfone but have added it to our list of services to try. However, a quick look at their website, they look pretty good. However, their return and pickup locations may be limited depending on your journey. Let us know if you have further questions :)

@Looseefer Год назад

Hi Kensho, what about bringing your own pocket wifi? I have a pocket wifi and normally I'll just get a local SIM. I have been using it in South East Asia countries for a couple of years but am not sure whether this works in Japan or not (my assumption is it should). Love your work,

@KenshoQuest Год назад

Hi, this is a great question! I don't see why it wouldn't work. Please do let us know how it goes. Have a great trip and thanks for watching :)