Ninja Wifi – How to Rent the Best Portable Wifi in Japan
Whenever I travel across the countryside of Japan, staying connected is undeniably a top priority and I use Ninja Wifi for this. Over a decade ago, I used to travel around Japan WITHOUT a Wifi – relying heavily on old school methods like looking at the train schedule to catch the train and reading the signs at a village to get to some secluded temple.
And while it was an adventure on its own, it was indeed tiring & confusing at times without the help of our trusty Google Maps. Nowadays, portable Wifi became more accessible and affordable, that it became mandatory for me to rent one on a road trip in Japan. Compact and convenient with reliable connection, navigating around Japan became SO MUCH easier.
If this is your first time visiting Japan, I would highly recommend renting a pocket Wifi device from Ninja Wifi.
Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links. If you book after clicking on one of these links then I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Table of Contents
Why Rent a Pocket Wifi & eSIM?
Ninja Wifi is one of the leading Wifi providers in Japan, with more than 21 million customers worldwide. In fact, their service provider is Softbank which is one of Japan’s leading telco companies. Softbank’s network is quite extensive that it even works inside Japan’s secluded mountain ranges and also remote islands.
They also offer customer support in English & Chinese and you can order the pocket Wifi device in advance by either collecting it from their service desk at the major airports or have it delivered to your accommodation. Once you have gotten the device, all you need to do is simply turn on the device and scan the QR code with your mobile and you will be connected in no time!
This is an extremely convenient option to stay connected especially for travelers like myself who visit the rural parts of Japan very often. And the BEST part of them all, you can connect multiple devices with Ninja Wifi.
Why Not Just Use The Public Wifi?
While the airport and some major stations do offer free Wifi, Wifi is not easily available everywhere. And if you are planning to drive around Japan, there are times where you will be unable to find the destination in your car’s GPS. This is where having a pocket Wifi like Ninja Wifi makes your travel experience around Japan so much easier.
Also, even if you are able to connect to a public Wifi, the performance can be slow, time-limited and less safe than having your own portable private Wifi. Let’s not forget the troublesome process of having to register for free Wifi and it is only limited to a certain area. Overall, connecting to a public Wifi is certainly not a practical option.
How to Book Ninja Wifi?
Online Reservation
Start by clicking into Ninja Wifi website, and then select your planned dates for pick-up and drop-off. Select the pick-up point and drop-off point accordingly (you can select different points for pick-up and drop-off as well). After that, click on ‘Reserve Now’.
Select the plan you desire from the options and update the quantity accordingly. My wife and I chose the Unlimited 5GB plan per day and it was sufficient for us for two devices throughout the day.
You can also select your insurance plan for the device which covers in case of loss or damage of the device. The plan also comes with a mobile battery and medical insurance as well.
Additionally, there are also add-ons for rental such as a mobile phone for domestic calls, a portable translator for those who have concerns with language barriers and an AC adapter. After selecting, click on ‘Next’.
Ninja Wifi Customer Registration Page & Payment
After that, you will be directed automatically to Ninja Wifi’s customer registration page. Simply register or login if you are an existing customer. Fill in the details and click on ‘Next’.
Double check your rental period and pick-up & drop-off locations and then, input your flight number and pick-up time slots. Fill in your payment details and other details before finalising your reservation.
Collecting Your Device & Returning It
One of the easiest ways to collect the device is collecting from the counters in the airport, as Ninja Wifi has counters across various airports in Japan. Ninja Wifi has collection counters in Narita Airport (成田空港), Haneda Airport (羽田空港) and Kansai Airport (関西空港); making it convenient for your collection especially if you are flying into Japan!
For my case, I collected it directly from Kansai Airport Terminal 1 First floor at the arrival hall. At the counter, simply show the reservation number to them and they will hand over the device to you. If you are concerned about the language barrier, fret not as they provide customer support in both English & Chinese. In fact, I had an issue setting up my eSim in my phone and they were able to sort it out on the spot.
For the list of airport pick-up points, check out their site here. They also provide an option to collect it at Shinjuku (新宿), Tokyo (東京) at KDX Higashi Shinjuku Building which you can find out more here. You can also opt for them to deliver the device directly to your accommodation (more info in their website here).
To return the device, simply hand over the device and its apparels to the counter staff or put it into the drop box next to the counter. It is that convenient! Make sure to do it before going through the security & customs as you will not be turn back! Or, you can also opt to courier it back to Ninja Wifi (more info in their website here).
Your Ninja Pocket Wifi - What's Included & How to Connect?
Upon collection from the counter, you will be provided with the following:
- 1x Wifi device
- Power plug (a lifesaver to charge your device in case of low battery!)
- USB cable to connect the device to the plug
- A zip-up pouch to store the device and an instruction manual
To connect to the Wifi:
- First, turn on the device by pressing and holding the button at the side of the device for a few seconds.
- Wait for about a minute or two, and then press the small QR code icon on the screen for the QR code to pop-up.
- Simply scan the QR code with your phone and you will be connected in no time! I have tried this with my Android phone together with my wife’s Apple (IOS) phone and we both managed to connect seamlessly.
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Renting An eSIM
The process is generally similar to renting the pocket Wifi, where you will need to reserve in advance first. Select the validity period and data plan as well as your pick up date (which is the starting date). Then, click on ‘Next’ and register your details accordingly or login if you already have an existing account.
Afterwards, confirm the details of your package and input the credit card payment to finalise the payment.
Upon payment, Ninja Wifi will send a confirmation email together with the instructions to setup the eSIM. Make sure to setup the eSIM and issue the QR code before boarding the plane (advisable to do it on the same day you will be arriving to Japan).
If you still encounter issues after setup, fret not as you can head to the Ninja Wifi counter in the airport and request for the staff assistance to assist with the setup.
Our Experience with Ninja Wifi
Now here comes the important part, how did the device performed throughout our road trip? I am glad to say that my wife and I managed to stay connected with ease throughout our journey. in fact, we find it easy to bring around the pocket Wifi by simply putting it into our bag and carry it around with us.
We travelled across coastal roads, the lush mountains and even up until the southern most tip of Honshu island (本州) and had no issues connecting with the internet. Our device lasted the entire day and we can just return to the hotel at night to recharge the device for next day. We also tried the eSIM and had no issues connecting at these areas too. See our pictures below for some of our experiences we managed to try with the help of our trusty private Wifi =).
If you are on the fence as to whether to go with the pocket Wifi or eSIM, here are some perks and IMPORTANT points to consider:
- You can connect to multiple devices including mobile phones and laptops
- Portable and easy to carry around inside a hand carry bag
- Data limit resets everyday by midnight; providing more flexibility for the data usage (especially for those who use a lot of data)
- Make sure to bring along the charger in case you need to charge the device
- Advisable to purchase the insurance + battery plan as it covers for any damage or loss on the device
- An alternative economical option especially for those who are on budget (and also if you are someone who doesn’t use too much data)
- Sim card can be installed and setup digitally
- Setup can be done anytime prior to boarding the flight to Japan
- Ideal for those who prefer to travel light
- Additional APN setup may be required depending on the phone model (advisable to check with the pick-up counter staff if there is a setup issue)
Do I Recommend Ninja Wifi?
Absolutely, yes! Especially if you are visiting the countryside and lesser known destinations, staying connected is essential for a smooth trip. Even if you are only visiting the major cities, having a Wifi could save you the time and effort in getting around the city and finding the best transportation option.
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