Many people who are considering traveling to Japan want to use a SIM card, eSIM or Pocket Wi-Fi to access the Internet while in Japan. This is fine if you have unlimited data, but unlimited plans for travelers to Japan have data usage limits, and in most cases the speed will decrease after a certain amount of data is used like 500MB/day. Unlimited plans are also expensive.
Knowing how much data you need in Japan can help you avoid unnecessary expenses.
In this article, We would like to provide a guide on how much data usage is recommended for people traveling to Japan. Knowing the recommended amount will help you decide whether to rent a Pocket Wi-Fi or purchase a SIM card or eSIM.
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Data usage is measured in units like gigabytes (GB) and megabytes (MB). 1000 KB (kilobytes) = ~1 MB (Megabyte) = ~.001 GB (Gigabyte). 1GB = ~1000 MB = ~1,000,000 KB.
In conclusion, 830 MB of data capacity per device per day is sufficient.
Statista, which publishes global statistical data, has released the global average monthly mobile data usage by region for 2022.
The global average monthly mobile data usage in 2022 is 15GB.
In areas with the highest data communication capacity, it is about 25 GB per month, but in areas with low data usage, there is a significant difference of about 4.5 GB.
It is a good idea to check the average for the area you are in.
Assuming you'll use more data than usual during your trip to Japan, let's use the highest average of 26GB/month in this data.
Then the calculation is that you need 830MB of data communication capacity per day for a smartphone.
The average length of stay for a traveler in Japan is about 14 days.
If you plan to stay in Japan for two weeks, you will probably use about 12 GB of data capacity (830 MB x 14 days).
If you will also be using your smartphone and Laptop computer, you will need more data over 30GB.
If you want to use your smartphone as a hotspot to connect your computer and other devices to the Internet, an eSIM or SIM card may not be enough data capacity for your needs.
Our eSIM has a large 50GB , so if you are looking for an eSIM, please take a look our eSIM plans -> Japan Travel eSIM.
If you need more than 50 GB of data capacity, you need to rent a Pocket Wifi. Pocket wifi has a variety of plans that allow you to use 50GB or more of data.
Days | Data Usage |
1 | 830MB |
2 | 1.7GB |
3 | 2.5GB |
4 | 3.3GB |
5 | 4.2GB |
6 | 5.0GB |
7 | 5.8GB |
8 | 6.6GB |
9 | 7.5GB |
10 | 8.3GB |
11 | 9.1GB |
12 | 10.0GB |
13 | 10.8GB |
14 | 11.6GB |
15 | 12.5GB |
16 | 13.3GB |
17 | 14.1GB |
18 | 14.9GB |
19 | 15.8GB |
20 | 16.6GB |
21 | 17.4GB |
22 | 18.3GB |
23 | 19.1GB |
24 | 19.9GB |
25 | 20.8GB |
26 | 21.6GB |
27 | 22.4GB |
28 | 23.2GB |
29 | 24.1GB |
30 | 24.9GB |
If you can use 1GB of data per day, it is sufficient for most people's data needs. The table below illustrates how this amount can be utilized for various purposes.
Data Usage Category | Usage per 1GB |
---|---|
Email (Send/Receive) | Approximately 200,000 messages |
Internet Browsing | Approximately 3,000 pages |
Video Streaming (SD Quality)* | Approximately 2.2 hours |
Music Download | Approximately 11.5 hours |
There is a low-cost Pocket Wi-Fi plan that can use 1 GB per day based on this data as well.
This data capacity plan is the best and cheapest way to travel alone in Japan.
docomo Pocket Wi-Fi
If you are traveling with family or friends, a Pocket Wi-Fi is a great way to share communication, and Pocket Wi-Fi offers high-capacity plans such as 50GB and 100GB, so renting a Pocket Wi-Fi is recommended for multiple travelers in Japan.
If you only have one smartphone that needs to be connected, purchasing a SIM card or eSIM will suffice. You can also use your smartphone as a hotspot (tethering) and connect multiple devices to the Internet. However, you should purchase a high-capacity SIM card or eSIM, such as 30GB or 50GB.
Best eSIMs for Visiting Japan : Tethering is ok, more than 30 GB of data capacity.
You can use your smartphone as a hotspot, but if you want to use the Internet on multiple devices,renting a Pocket Wi-Fi. Pocket Wi-Fi is useful because it allows you to connect multiple devices to the Internet.
Which is better for traveling in Japan? Pocket Wi-Fi vs. SIM card (eSIM)When it comes to using the Internet in Japan, if you're relying solely on your smartphone, any SIM card, or eSIM offered by Japanese companies will suffice. However, if you're going to be using the Internet for work, or if you're staying longer than 20 days, We would recommend renting a Pocket Wi-Fi. This is mainly because it offers the best communication quality.
Pocket Wi-Fi includes a SIM card, and in most cases, these SIM cards are contracted directly with major telecommunications companies for a long-term period. Because of this long-term contract, the communication quality is consistently monitored and operationally stable.
Prepaid SIM cards (eSIMs), on the other hand, manage bandwidth allocation based on various forecasts. However, in the case of unexpected temporary spikes in communication demand, immediate bandwidth expansion isn't possible. As a result, during peak travel seasons when there's a large influx of travelers, communications tend to become congested and slowed down due to the inability to immediately increase bandwidth.
For those who prioritize communication quality, especially when using the Internet for work purposes, renting a Pocket Wi-Fi would be highly recommended.
The required connection speed varies depending on the intended use. Here are specific benchmarks to consider.
Activity | Speed Range |
---|---|
Online Gaming | 30Mbps to 100Mbps |
High-definition Video Streaming | 20Mbps to 30Mbps |
Remote or Online Meetings | 10Mbps to 20Mbps |
Emailing and Social Media Use | 1Mbps to 10Mbps |
Web Browsing | 1Mbps to 10Mbps |
For a comfortable and seamless experience while playing online games, it's recommended to have a connection speed of around 30 to 100Mbps. Considering both the speed and stability of communication, if you're into online gaming, it's advisable to use a fixed-line connection (such as fiber optic) rather than relying on a Pocket Wi-Fi.
Speed Range | |
---|---|
Pocket Wi-Fi | 10Mbps to 100Mbps |
SIM card/eSIM (for Short Term) | 1Mbps to 20Mbps |