PlanJapan
VS
Pocket WiFi
Torn between an eSIM and renting a pocket wifi for your trip to Japan? Short answer: the eSIM wins for almost every traveller — cheaper, nothing to carry, nothing to return, and tethering is included with no limits. We'll show you why, point by point, and tell you honestly when a pocket wifi can still make sense.
Price, logistics, battery, group travel: everything that concretely changes your stay, compared line by line.
| Feature | PlanJapan Recommended |
Pocket WiFi |
|---|---|---|
| Price for 2 weeks | 21,99 €20 GB · 15-day unlimited: €38.99 | ≈ 70-110 €+ deposit |
| QR code by email, before you leave | Counter pickup at the airport | |
| Nothing to return at the end of your stay | Device to hand back at the airport | |
| No extra device to charge | Device to charge every night | |
| No deposit | Deposit required | |
| No risk of loss or damage | Charged at full price | |
| Zero bulk — built into your phone | One more device to carry | |
| Tethering (hotspot) | Yes — within range of the device | |
| 1 eSIM per phone, everyone free to roam | The group has to stay within range of the device | |
| Support 7 days a week, satisfaction guaranteed | Depends on the rental company |
PlanJapan prices: official rates, July 2026. Pocket wifi: observed range for a 2-week rental, excluding the deposit — rates and terms vary by rental company.
PlanJapan doesn't rent pocket wifi — so we have nothing to sell you here. Honestly, here's when a device still makes sense, and why the eSIM wins everywhere else.
Pocket WiFiRenting a 4G device≈ €70–110 / 2 weeksVerdict — A genuine fallback when an eSIM isn't possible — rarely the best choice otherwise.
eSIM PlanJaponThe digital SIM, no hardwarefrom €13.99Verdict — For almost every traveller: cheaper, nothing to carry, nothing to return.
Two ways to get online in Japan. A pocket wifi means renting a small 4G router, collected at an airport counter, which you have to charge every night and hand back at the end of your stay — deposit included. An eSIM is a 100% digital SIM already built into your phone: after your purchase you get a QR code by email within 2 minutes, you scan it calmly before you leave, and it activates automatically in Japan on the NTT docomo 4G/5G network.
What the table doesn't show is peace of mind. With a device, your connection depends on an object: queueing at the counter after a long flight, slipping it into your bag every morning, watching its battery, charging it, handing it back on the last day amid the luggage — and that nagging question: “what if I lose it?”. The eSIM is entirely sorted before you leave; on the day, TikTok, Instagram, Google Maps and WhatsApp all work without restriction, and your usual number stays active as a dual SIM. Check whether your phone is compatible →
The only real argument for a pocket wifi is connecting several devices. But your phone already does that: tethering is included with no limits on every PlanJapan plan — a laptop, a tablet or a travel companion's phone connect over Wi-Fi, exactly as they would with a device. An honest tip: if several of you are online all day, bring a power bank — just as you would have had to charge a pocket wifi every night. Turn on tethering →
For a typical 2-week stay in Japan, here are the ballpark figures — exact PlanJapan prices, observed range for renting a device.
eSIM 20 Go
21,99 €
eSIM illimitée 15 j
38,99 €
Pocket wifi 2 sem.
≈ 70-110 €
Renting a pocket wifi adds a deposit on top of these amounts, and losing or damaging the device is charged at full price. With an eSIM, the price shown is the final price: no deposit, nothing to return.
And that's not all: every eSIM includes the Japan Guide (70+ pages) and the Google Maps map (200+ spots), worth €29.98 — included free and added automatically to your order. Travelling together, the discounts apply on their own: −5% from 2 eSIMs, −10% from 3.
4.9/5 from 1,500+ verified reviews — every review is collected after a verified purchase.
Ballester FrédéricFrance — verified purchase
✓ Verified
“The SIM worked perfectly. You just need to remember to turn on data roaming before you land in Japan. It runs on the docomo network, one of the best in Japan. I got one for myself and my whole family. Highly recommended.”
Isabelle TardieuFrance — verified purchase
✓ Verified
“I hesitated for a long time, there are so many eSIM options for Japan! I went for the 15-day unlimited plan: everything was perfect, both for Google Maps and for social media. I'd do it again without hesitation, thank you so much.”
“Very happy with the network, no connection problems and access to all my social media. The 10 GB plan was more than enough for 10 days using the internet all day.”
Everything you need to choose your connection with confidence before you leave.
The eSIM, unless your phone isn't compatible. A pocket wifi costs around €70–110 for 2 weeks, adds to your luggage, has to be charged every night, collected and returned at the airport with a deposit. An eSIM installs in 2 minutes before you leave, weighs nothing and includes unlimited tethering. Check whether your phone is compatible →
Budget around €70–110 for a 2-week rental, plus a deposit — and losing or damaging the device is charged at full price. By comparison, the PlanJapan eSIM starts at €13.99 (10 GB), €21.99 for 20 GB, and the 15-day unlimited plan costs €38.99. See the data plans →
Yes. On every PlanJapan plan, tethering (hotspot) is included with no limits: your phone shares its data over Wi-Fi with your laptop, your tablet or your travel companions' phones — exactly what a pocket wifi does, without an extra device to charge or return. How to turn on tethering →
First check your model in our database of 650+ compatible devices, updated every week. If your phone genuinely isn't compatible, a travel companion with an eSIM can share their connection with you — otherwise a pocket wifi may make sense. And if your phone turns out not to be compatible after your purchase, we refund you in full: that's our compatibility guarantee. Check my phone →
Occasionally, yes, thanks to the unlimited hotspot. For a whole trip with several people, one eSIM per phone is far more comfortable: everyone stays connected everywhere, even away from the group. The discounts are automatic: −5% from 2 eSIMs and −10% from 3 or more, applied at the cart with no code to enter. Find out more →
NTT docomo network, unlimited tethering included, guide + map free and support 7 days a week — the Japan eSIM specialist, activated in 2 minutes.
Choose my plan →Satisfaction guaranteed · −5% from 2 eSIMs, −10% from 3