Internet in Japan
The Internet is essential. Be it to keep in touch with your loved ones, to work, to get information about restaurants, hotels, and accommodations, to book a table in a restaurant or a place in a movie theater, to find your way in the street, or simply to chat on your favorite online platform, you will always need a good Internet connection. So, what does Japan has to offer? Here's a practical guide.
Types of Internet connection in Japan
There are two types of Internet connections in Japan: Hikari-Fiber and ADSL. Regardless of the choice of connection, it is common to pay an installation fee for the configuration of the equipment to connect your home to the Internet service.
Hikari-Fibre
Hikari-Fibre connections use optical fiber. Speed and quality of the connection are guaranteed.
There are two options:
- The family-type connection, which is when the building is directly connected to the network equipment, which is located down the street.
- The domestic-type connection, which works through a peripheral installed in the home.
ADSL
ADSL connections are cheaper than Hikari-Fiber, but slower and of lower quality. You can connect with your landline.
Wi-Fi in Japan
Besides all the connection types mentioned above, there are many free Wi-Fi hotspots in Japan, like train and subway stations, shops, and cafes, etc.
Wireless Internet in Japan
To set up a wireless connection in your home, you will need to purchase a router, either wired or wireless, depending on the configuration of your home connection. Ask your landlord/real estate agent for more information. Routers can be found in all high-tech and household appliance stores, such as Yodobashi Camera, Bic Camera, and so on. Count about 3,000 yen for a mid-range wired router.
Are you simply visiting Japan? Think about renting or buying a pocket Wi-Fi connection. The "Pocket Wi-Fi" works like a portable router and allows you to connect several devices simultaneously from any location. There are different connection speeds and different data limits. Pocket Wi-Fi can be rented online or in physical stores like Yodobashi Camera, Softbank, NTT Docomo, etc. You can also find it at the airport, and your sharehouse or hotel can offer you to rent one.
ISPs (Internet Service Providers) in Japan
There are 2 types of ISPs in Japan. One for mobile (phone line) and there are the pure players.
Mobile providers
These are the ones who provide access to landlines. We can differentiate between the big operators who have their own networks, like AU, NTT Docomo, Sotfbank, and Rakuten, and the others who use the network of the big operators. They are the MVNOs, (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) such as IIJmo, Mobal, HIS, Sakura mobile, and GTN mobile.
Pure Players
In Japan, there are two leading providers of modems and fixed connections. They are NTT West (providing Internet in the west of the country) and NTT East (in the east of the country). There are also a few smaller Internet service providers, such as KDDI.
Choosing your Internet package in Japan
It will all depend on the duration of your stay in Japan. If you don't stay long, there is no need to invest in a fixed Internet package. A mobile data package will be enough.
For a very short trip (less than 3 months), consider a prepaid SIM card. You can find them in all high-tech and household appliance stores. Their validity range between 15 days and 3 months, and are available in several options: data only, voice only, mixed data and voice. Prices vary according to the validity period of the SIM card, its number of GB, and the talk time capacity.
If you are staying for 1 year, you should opt for operators with no commitment and no minimum contract duration or with a maximum duration of one year. GTN mobile calls itself "the operator for foreigners in Japan". Its services are multilingual, without long-term commitments, and adapt to the expectations of most expats living in Japan.
You are now better informed on how to choose your Internet package.
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