For folks traveling in Japan, renting a Pocket Wi-Fi is a popular means of accessing the Internet. It's much more preferred compared to prepaid SIM cards or eSIM because it offers the best internet connection in terms of speed and quality.
Please see below page about why Pocket Wi-Fi offers better communication quality than SIM cards/eSIM.
Which is better for traveling in Japan? Pocket Wi-Fi vs. SIM card (eSIM)
Many people are curious about the speed of pocket Wi-Fi in Japan, so we investigated how fast our pocket Wi-Fi actually.
We measured the internet speed in Shibuya, Tokyo, using our Pocket Wi-Fi units on Jan 04, 2024.
Shibuya, Tokyo on Jan 04, 2024.
| Measurement Count | 10 times |
| Average Ping Value | 108.33ms |
| Average Download Speed | 29.28Mbps |
| Average Upload Speed | 13.8Mbps |
In the crowded Shibuya area, I thought the communication speed was not as fast as I expected.
Shibuya, Tokyo on Jan 04, 2024.
| Measurement Count | 10 times |
| Average Ping Value | 55.13ms |
| Average Download Speed | 30.28Mbps |
| Average Upload Speed | 11.13Mbps |
The speed was about the same for docomo as well as Softbank in the crowded Shibuya area.
Since we tested in Shibuya, a crowded area, there were times when the internet speed was slower due to the high number of people. If you're in less crowded areas, the internet speed will likely be faster.
In addition, we have data from a visit to Aomori Prefecture in October 2023, we measured the speed once in the morning, and here are the results for reference:
Aomori on Oct, 2023.
| Download Speed | 42.66Mbps |
| Upload Speed | 9.39Mbps |
Internet speeds tend to be faster in areas with fewer people, although the time and frequency of measurements vary.
Since places with congestion like Shibuya are rare in Japan, we expect the communication speed of the pocket wi-fi to be faster than the measured speed.
Once you know the actual internet speed of Pocket Wi-Fi, understanding the required speed for your specific needs will help you decide how much speed you'll need.
| Use | Speed Needed |
|---|---|
| Online Gaming | 30Mbps to 100Mbps |
| Video Streaming | 3Mbps to 20Mbps |
| Online Meetings | 5Mbps to 20Mbps |
| Web Browsing, Emails, SNS | 1Mbps to 10Mbps |
This is typically the primary use during your stay in Japan. You'll need speeds between 1Mbps to 10Mbps. If you're getting around 5Mbps, you won't face many issues. Pocket Wi-Fi provides sufficient speed, and the same goes for Prepaid SIMs or eSIMs.
To watch videos, you'll need speeds between 3 Mbps to 20 Mbps. Different video qualities demand varying speeds. Some platforms adjust video quality automatically based on your connection speed. Pocket Wi-Fi offers ample speed for video streaming, so there won't be any issues.
For online meetings, you'll need speeds between 5Mbps to 20Mbps, similar to video streaming. Pocket Wi-Fi should suffice for this purpose.
For online gaming, speeds between "50Mbps to 100Mbps" are recommended. This requires a substantial amount of speed, and the ping value is equally important. If you're keen on a seamless gaming experience in Japan, Pocket Wi-Fi might not be sufficient. It's recommended to opt for a fiber optic connection for comfortable gaming.
