Travelling Together as a Family or Group? eSim vs Sim Card vs Pocket WiFi for Japan

You’re travelling as a group or family and plan to stay together during your trip. This means you have the flexibility to choose a shared solution that keeps everyone connected without needing to manage multiple devices or plans.

We’ve personally used all connectivity options extensively (eSims, Sim Cards and Pocket Wifi rentals) and broken down the pros and cons below to help you make the best choice for your group.

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TL;DR – Best Internet Options for Families and Groups Travelling Together

Travelling as a group and staying together? You’ve got three solid options to stay connected in Japan:

  • Pocket WiFi Rental – Best for simplicity. One device with unlimited data that everyone can use. No Sim swaps or tech setup needed. Just turn it on and you’re ready. Great for families or groups who want something easy. Requires pickup at the airport or delivery to your hotel, plus return. Our recommended options include Japan Wireless, Ninja Wifi and Sakura Mobile.
  • eSIMs with Hotspot – Best for flexibility. If someone in your group is comfortable with a bit of setup, eSIMs can work well. Each person can use their own phone, and hotspot to others if needed. Good if you’ll sometimes split up or want to carry less gear. Can be set up in advance of your trip and activated on arrival in Japan (we usually do this on the plane while taxiing to the terminal!). Our recommended options include Japan Wireless, Klook, Holafly and Saily.
  • Mix and Match – Combine both. Plenty of groups do a mix. For example, parents use eSims while kids have a Pocket WiFi. Or use Pocket WiFi for tablets and laptops, and eSims for phones.

Note, all pricing information is accurate as of December 2025.

Option 1: Pocket WiFi

If your group or family plans to stay together most of the time, renting a Pocket WiFi is one of the easiest and most reliable ways to stay connected while travelling in Japan. With just one small device, everyone can access fast, secure internet without needing to install anything on individual phones.

You pick up the pocket wifi upon arrival at the airport, turn it on, and everyone logs into the wifi hotspot it generates, and you are good to get started. You recharge it every night and should carry a backup battery to ensure you can continue to access data if the charge runs out during a big day out. All of our recommended options either include a free backup battery or you can rent one for a small fee.

It’s also ideal if some members of your group have older phones that don’t support eSims, or if you don’t want the hassle of navigating eSim device settings. Also, as a group, the price can be lower than individual eSims.

Here are the best options for travellers like you:

  • Japan Wireless (5G/4G) – $52 USD for 7 days with unlimited data and no speed throttling (discounted price and free backup battery using our 25% off coupon code JPW004), includes up to 10 connected devices, 20-hour battery life, with easy pickup at airports, hotels, post offices, or local addresses in Japan. Return via the included mail satchel. Click to book with our discount code.
  • Ninja WiFi (5G/4G) – $45 USD for 7 days with unlimited data (may slow if heavily used), up to 5 connected devices, 9-hour battery plus free backup battery, airport pickup/return (can be different airports), or optional hotel delivery for a small fee. Check current rates and pick-up options.
  • Sakura Mobile (4G) – $53 USD for 7 days with unlimited data (fair use policy applies), up to 15 connected devices, 20-hour battery with optional backup battery ($1.37/day), and pickup at airports, hotels, post offices or local addresses in Japan. Return via the included mail satchel. Secure your rental before you fly.

Option 2: eSim with Hotspot

If your group includes travellers with eSim-compatible phones, using one or more eSims is one of the easiest and most flexible ways to stay connected across Japan, with no airport pickup, instant activation, and in many cases, the ability to share data via hotspot.

This option is especially useful for groups where one person manages the tech setup or for those who prefer not to collect and carry an extra device. Just keep an eye on battery usage if you’re out for a big day or hotspotting throughout the day. We recommend carrying a backup battery like these ones on Amazon to stay charged on the go while travelling. Note that your backup battery must be carried in your hand luggage on the plane.

Here are our top recommended eSims:

  • Japan Wireless eSim – Unlimited Japan-Only Plans. Choose between 5G ($35 USD) or 4G ($29 USD) unlimited data for 7 days, with fair usage policy. Hotspot sharing is supported, and setup is quick via QR code. Includes English-language customer support based in Japan. Great options for travellers who want easy activation and fast, reliable connectivity. Book online instantly.
  • Klook 5G eSim – Unlimited Japan-Only Plan. $11 USD for 7 days, discounted price using 10% off coupon code PRETRAVELLER10. Includes unlimited 5G and 4G data with hotspot enabled. No stated fair usage policy, and activation is fast via QR code. Instant eSim setup – book here.
  • Holafly 5G eSim – Unlimited Data. $28 USD for 7 days, discounted price using 5% off coupon code PRETRAVELLER5. Holafly offers unlimited data with no daily caps or throttling. Works on 4G and 5G networks where available. Setup is easy with a QR code or via the Holafly app. Hotspot sharing supported (up to 5 devices). Get your eSim in minutes.
  • Saily eSim – Unlimited Data + Free VPN. $35 USD for 10 days, discounted price using 5% off coupon code PRETRAVELLER5. Saily offers unlimited data with 5GB per day at full 4G/5G speed, then throttled. Setup is fast via QR code or the Saily app. Hotspot sharing is supported, and select fixed-data and unlimited plans include a free VPN. Great value for Japan-only or multi-country Asia/Oceania travel. Get your Japan only or Asia and Oceania Regional eSim here – instantly.

How to Check Whether Your Mobile Phone is eSim Capable and Unlocked

You can easily check whether your phone is eSim capable by dialling *#06# on your mobile phone. Do this before paying for an eSim to ensure you have eSim capability. Many older phones and cheaper versions of newer mobile phones are not eSim capable. If the EID barcode appears, it means your mobile phone is eSim capable.

  • On a non-eSim capable phone, you will most likely see only the IMEI and SN barcodes.
  • On an eSim-enabled phone, you will see the IMEI1 and/or IMEI2, EID and SN barcodes.
  • Note that IMEI is your unique phone identification number and the SN is your unique phone Serial Number – every mobile phone in the world has these two numbers.
  • On a Windows laptop computer, open the bottom right corner menu. If Cellular settings are visible, then your laptop supports eSim.

You can easily check whether your phone is unlocked by:

  • iPhone: Go to Settings -> General -> About, scroll to Carrier Lock. If it says “No Sim Restrictions” then your device is unlocked.
  • Andoid: Go to Settings -> Network & Internet -> Mobile Network, turn off Auto network selection. If you see multiple available networks, then your device is unlocked. If only one shows or you get an error, your phone may be locked.

If you do these actions and find that your mobile phone is NOT eSim capable, or is network LOCKED, then your best options are to either purchase a Sim Card (unlocked phones only), rent a Pocket WiFi or contact your provider to see whether you can get your phone unlocked. Our recommended options are:

Pocket WiFi vs eSim: What’s Best for Groups Travelling Together?

For groups travelling together, both Pocket WiFi and eSims can work well. It really depends on how your group prefers to travel.

If you’re sticking together most of the time and want a simple, plug and play solution, a Pocket WiFi is the easiest way to get everyone connected with one device. It’s ideal for families or friends who want to avoid any tech setup and just share one connection. You’ll need to carry and recharge the unit each day, but the convenience and unlimited data make it a stress-free option. Make sure you carry a backup battery to recharge both the Pocket Wifi and your phones on the go!

If your group prefers more flexibility, for example, if you split up during the day or want to carry fewer gadgets, then eSims can be a great alternative. Each person can connect directly with their own device, and some plans support hotspotting if you still want to share with a partner. This works especially well if at least one person is comfortable managing the setup.

Can You Combine eSims and Pocket WiFi?

Yes, many groups do exactly that! For example:

  • Parents use eSims, and kids have the Pocket WiFi for when they explore separately
  • A couple travelling together may each have their own eSim, or one person may hotspot to the other
  • A Pocket WiFi can be used for tablets and non-phone devices, while the phones use their own eSims

It all depends on how connected your group wants to be and how much tech setup you’re comfortable with.

Why Not Just Use Free WiFi?

Japan does have many free WiFi hotspots in stations, cafes, hotels and some public areas, but relying on them has its drawbacks:

  • Logging in can be time-consuming at each location
  • Connections are often slow or unstable
  • Public and Hotel WiFi is not secure and not suitable for things like banking or bookings
  • You may not be connected when you need to be, especially when navigating or translating on the go

Every option we recommend above provides a secure, encrypted internet connection that’s safer and far more convenient than jumping between free WiFi networks.

Global Roaming: Worth It?

Roaming plans from home providers are usually more expensive, include less data (often 1GB/day or less) and are slower than local options in Japan.

By comparison, Pocket WiFi gives whole groups unlimited high-speed data from $38 USD for 7 days, and eSIMs start from $11 USD with fast 4G or 5G speeds.

Our Recommendation for Travelling Together as a Family or Group

If your group is mostly staying together and you want something easy to use with no technical setup, we recommend renting a Pocket WiFi device.

If someone in your group is happy to manage hotspot setup and your group wants fewer devices to carry, then an eSim can also be a great option, especially if you’re only sharing between two or three people.

Both options are safe, fast, and much more affordable than international roaming or using unsecured free WiFi.

Ready to book? Click below to book your Pocket Wifi or eSim and enjoy fast, secure internet from the moment you arrive!

eSim vs Sim Card vs Pocket WiFi for Japan Quiz Results

We have created dedicated articles for each of the traveller profile resulting from the quiz, you can check them out below:

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