Complete Guide to the Internet in Japan

In this complete guide, we will talk about everything regarding the internet in Japan, examining prices, speed, etc. You will discover how to get internet in Japan, what internet services exist, and how a tourist can access the internet for free.

Just because it’s Japan doesn’t mean that the internet will be 1gbps everywhere as some imagine. Many people still use ADSL and not fiber optics. Or worse, most use modems from mobile phone services; fortunately, 4G or even 5G is not bad.

In Japan, the speed and price of the internet vary greatly by company, location, region, and contracted service. Speeds range from 30mb to 1gbps. Mobile internet also often reaches speeds of up to 300mbps thanks to 4G.

As this article is extensive, we will share a summary to help you navigate and understand the objectives of this Internet Guide in Japan:

Internet Services in Japan

Fiber optics in Japan has speeds ranging from 100mb to 500mb. There is a fiber optic service called hikari that reaches speeds of up to 1gbps. This speed may have increased significantly compared to the date I wrote this article (2020).

It’s worth remembering that speed doesn’t matter; a good server is necessary for downloads, and your ping should be low for a better experience in loading pages and games.

The most well-known companies in Japan are:

NTT
ASAHI
Au one net
BIGLOBE
TWICS
Yahoo BB
OCN
So-net
@nifty

Sometimes the company that provides the line is different from the company that provides the internet. Prices are quite affordable, ranging from 2,000 yen to 8,000 yen (60 – 250 reais). The installation of the internet can be a bit expensive.

Most condominiums, apartments, and neighborhoods offer special internet services; some apartments even provide internet installed or even for free. The common price is usually 3,000 yen for 100 megas.

Mobile Internet in Japan

In Japan, most hotels, airports, train stations, and shopping malls offer free Wi-Fi access. Sometimes, to use these free options, you need to register, and some restrict access to certain websites.

It is recommended to use the Japan Connected Free Wi-Fi app to locate free access points. There are also paid Wi-Fi services that cover 95% of major cities in Japan (Wimax).

Japanese people often use a small modem that distributes Wi-Fi to their surrounding area. Mobile internet in Japan also usually has limits, which can cut access or reduce speed.

Large mobile companies like Softbank and Docomo have made good use of Wimax technology, in addition to offering great options for data network access through 4G.

How Can a Tourist Access the Internet?

There is a great prepaid chip service that you buy to gain internet access throughout your trip. You can purchase the card at stores and konbini like Lawson, Yodobashi, Don Quijote, Nojima, Yamada Denki, Joshin, Aeon, Kojima, and Sofmap.

You can also buy the card online and request it to be delivered to the airport’s post office. Some companies even provide cell phones and internet and phone plans within the airport.

These 4G cards reach speeds of up to 250mb and can be purchased for 3,000 yen with a limit of up to 2GB. If you exceed this limit, just recharge.

There are also other unlimited plans that reduce speed if you exceed the daily limit. The companies that provide this internet service to tourists are: IIJmio, B-Mobile, COMST, Datago, eConnect, JPSIM, So-Net, and others.

Free Internet in Japan

“What do you mean? Free internet?” Yes, it is possible to access free internet in Japan! We have even mentioned it in the article… All thanks to a national program created by the Japanese government called: Japan Connected Free Wifi.

Through this program, Japan made an agreement with convenience store brands, hotels, restaurants, and other establishments to allow free internet access for tourists traveling to Japan.

Getting to Know the App and Its Positive Points

First of all, it is very simple to use. Basically, just arrive at a Wi-Fi registered in the government program and connect. And if you want to know if the place allows you to connect or not, just look for the symbol in this image:

The app unifies the registration process of over 150,000 free tourist points by numerous companies and organizations, so visitors can use them without needing to register for each service individually. Some personal data registration is necessary.

Other Ways to Get Free Internet in Japan

Another way to get free internet in Japan is through the more than 400,000 hotspots from Softbank spread across restaurants, cafes, train stations, hotels, and other locations in Japan. To use this service, you need Global Roaming, which is not advantageous for Brazilians and their abusive operators.

There are paid Wi-Fi network solutions, but they are not at all advantageous compared to a 4G chip or a portable router. The best option is to use this Japan Free Wi-Fi app and perhaps buy a tourist chip with a good duration for internet use.

Does the Internet Dominate Japan and the World?

It is not new that we know the internet is “dominating” the world. Calm down, it’s not a conspiracy theory; it’s just the pure reality. But let’s explain better what we are talking about.

Analyzing a post from not long ago, The Most Accessed Sites in Japan and Brazil, we can notice interesting things. One of them is the top position of the gigantic Google search site.

On this site, we can access information from all over the world. But just to be clear, we cannot access all the information in the world as believed. We can do school research, entertain ourselves, learn things, and much more.

Can you imagine having to search for sites one by one to do a school research? Many would prefer to abandon the internet and go straight to books. This may seem good at first; reading will always be a good thing. The problem arises when information from that locality is lacking.

Another important point is the rankings of social networks and online stores. This can be seen as a dependence on convenience. Social networks allow us to communicate and meet different people. And since we are collective animals, this brings us a certain happiness.

Online stores are convenience and ease personified. These sites allow us to shop from distant places without leaving home. This results in a massive rise for this type of convenience.

Now comes the reality shock. I believe the world would collapse if the internet stopped working. Various types of businesses depend directly and indirectly on the internet to function.

Just as I mentioned online stores, we also have online companies and individuals who depend on the internet to survive. Moreover, we are all indirectly affected. Theoretically, communications between people, cities, and countries would reach poor and critical levels.

Commerce would be hindered. Additionally, companies would go bankrupt, and we would be forced to lose conveniences. And to end the discussion, we would lose our greatest source of information. Therefore, value the internet you have! Even if it is not the fastest!