Which is Better? Pocket WiFi vs eSIM vs SIM Card for Japan Travel 2024

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 พ.ย. 2024

ความคิดเห็น • 666

  • @vitalitymirth
    @vitalitymirth ปีที่แล้ว +28

    I used a pocket WiFi at the summit of Mt Fuji in the middle of an ice storm, and the pocket WiFi worked!

    • @KenshoQuest
      @KenshoQuest  ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Wow! Thanks for sharing!

    • @ryanlecoeur
      @ryanlecoeur 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Which one did u use

    • @chrisjeelizondo8164
      @chrisjeelizondo8164 5 หลายเดือนก่อน

      They should make that a commercial lol

  • @blackhorn7888
    @blackhorn7888 ปีที่แล้ว +46

    I just traveled to Japan from India last week.. went through your video and decided to use UBIGI eSIM… must say the network was fantastic and very competitively priced. It took only 10 minutes for setup. No hassle for pick up and drop off of pocket Wi-Fi. Thank you so much for guiding me.

    • @KenshoQuest
      @KenshoQuest  ปีที่แล้ว +7

      Hi, so glad to know this! Thank you for sharing your experience :) BTW, I'll be testing a variety of different eSIMs in Japan very soon!

    • @nilofaurashik6967
      @nilofaurashik6967 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Hi, so did you use both esim and pocket wifi ?

    • @blackhorn7888
      @blackhorn7888 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@nilofaurashik6967 Hi I used only UBIGI eSIM and trust me it was enough unless your data requirement is enormously high which might drain your phone’s battery life.

    • @karthik000023
      @karthik000023 ปีที่แล้ว

      Hi!
      We’re planning to go to Japan during March. Could you help us out to plan our trip?

  • @noahpalmieri941
    @noahpalmieri941 ปีที่แล้ว +32

    For ATT customers: if you purchased your phone from ATT on a payment plan, you need to fully pay it off before it can be unlocked. To unlock, you have to request it from ATT, usually approved within 24 hrs

    • @KenshoQuest
      @KenshoQuest  ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Hi, good to know, thanks for sharing this information!

    • @augustreubenrodil2502
      @augustreubenrodil2502 3 วันที่ผ่านมา

      I went to Japan last year and ran into this exact same problem and had no idea what was going on lol

  • @extremelucky1
    @extremelucky1 ปีที่แล้ว +41

    I got an eSim data with Ubigi which is an international provider. It was a very convenient and seamless experience, also affordable. I will probably use them again on my second trip to Japan. I don’t do phone calls as I use app calling when I am there. Great video!

    • @KenshoQuest
      @KenshoQuest  ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Aweseome! Thank you for sharing your experience! And thank for watching :)

    • @dreamerrider
      @dreamerrider ปีที่แล้ว

      You phone needs to be unlocked for esim as well or no?

    • @ricktoledo21
      @ricktoledo21 ปีที่แล้ว

      Ubigi has been great for me as well.

  • @joits
    @joits ปีที่แล้ว +32

    On my previous trips, I've always gone with the pocket wifi mainly because I didn't have the option for buying a local SIM due to my phone being locked. Its worked great for us (group of 4) for the most part except for instances like when someone gets separated and we can't find them and can't contact them since they're out of range of the pocket wifi, or if one of two people choose to do something else. On a recent solo trip to the UK and France, I opted to go with AT&T's international day pass which was $10 per day since when doing research for local pocket wifi, I found that they were around $8 a day. I figured for just a bit extra a day, I don't need to carry around an extra device and worry about it's battery and by using the international day pass, I get to keep my own number and my phone just works as it does when I'm home. I had no issues with connectivity even when I ventured out of the big city areas. Whenever I return to Japan, I will probably still get a pocket wifi with my friends as we're sharing the cost, but I will activate the international day pass should I need it.

    • @KenshoQuest
      @KenshoQuest  ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Thanks for sharing your experience!

    • @PrinceDavid
      @PrinceDavid ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I am going to Japan in a week and a half. I also use AT&T and plan to use the international day pass when I got here. I hope it works well.

    • @joits
      @joits ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@PrinceDavid I did some research and read on forums that it works especially well in big cities. As I mentioned it worked great in Paris and even when I was in the North East of France in the Normandy area, it worked like a charm. So easy too. Once you land, your phone just searches for the local network and bam, you're connected!

    • @joits
      @joits ปีที่แล้ว

      @@PrinceDavid How did it work out for you?

    • @PrinceDavid
      @PrinceDavid ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@joits it worked out perfectly! I turned on roaming on my iPhone then as soon as I landed on Japan and took off airport mode it worked! No 5G but it still worked.

  • @davyf7620
    @davyf7620 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    I rent my Wi-Fi from my local JTB or H.I.S. Travel agency at home in Honolulu. You take it with you and as soon as your plane touches down, you have Wi-Fi. Also, you don’t have to worry about the office not being open if your flight is delayed. When your trip is over, you simply carry it home with you and return it at the agency office. Portable charger and insurance included in price. Best Wi-Fi option for me, no worries.

    • @KenshoQuest
      @KenshoQuest  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thanks for sharing! 🏝

  • @eatingR34
    @eatingR34 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    We found the setup for our sim a little troublesome at first but then the instructions made sense and we just missed a few steps, but after that both phones were connected and did not need to be around the wifi hotspot to be connected.
    We debated initially getting a wifi hotspot, but then decided that since I go out in the mornings for coffee and exploration that if the other person woke up early that they may explore about too and need internet, this and the fact that we only need to worry about charging out phones and not the wifi hotspot so we each can just focus on our device and charge it with a battery pack when needed.
    Different situations might make it more viable for a hotspot such as having a family all using it, but if you're just solo or 2 people I think a sim is way more convenient.
    Great explanations for everything though!

    • @KenshoQuest
      @KenshoQuest  ปีที่แล้ว

      Thanks for sharing your experience! It all helps everyone!

    • @007johnnyman
      @007johnnyman ปีที่แล้ว

      😂Q la

  • @solidsn2011
    @solidsn2011 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    I’ve been to Japan first time in 2015 and pocket wifi was a great solution because I was always with my wife! Now that we are visiting again next month we will be more people and we will also have children so I am considering getting 3 esims just in case we separate and we need to communicate.

    • @KenshoQuest
      @KenshoQuest  ปีที่แล้ว

      Sounds like a good plan!

  • @hihitek
    @hihitek ปีที่แล้ว +7

    The problem I had with pocket wi-fi is that if you are part of a group and are sharing a hotspot if you get separated from each other only the person who has the hotspot will have internet. If you are depending on the hotspot to communicate with each other then you are basically screwed.

  • @JuanWayTrips
    @JuanWayTrips ปีที่แล้ว +10

    Glad to hear that Google Fi works well in Japan. Traveling there next week for the first time and haven't seen any mention of it (just pocket WiFi) so I was worried it wouldn't work. I've used Fi for the past year, and have done international trips to Peru and Mexico. It does take 10-15 minutes to connect once in a new country, but usually, in that time we are still deplaning and walking to immigration, so a phone connection isn't as necessary. It's just so nice not needing to think about it when traveling (unlike when I had Verizon and had to pick the days I would use my cell phone in order to avoid extra charges).

    • @KenshoQuest
      @KenshoQuest  ปีที่แล้ว

      Since you are already a user you will notice that it connects pretty quickly in Japan. Have a great trip!

    • @jacksan1
      @jacksan1 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I'm a frequent traveler to Japan, and I use Google Fi to stay in touch with the U.S. and HIS Mobile for Japan-side calls (two separate phones). Google Fi kicks in immediately every time my plane lands in Japan and is good to go while taxing to the gate. I carry the second phone so that people within Japan need not call international to reach me as being required to ring my Google Fi number.

  • @ductritran8637
    @ductritran8637 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I live in Melbourne Australia , I travel to japan often each time is 4 weeks . I purchase Docomo SIM card in Australia, they are on line sale and cost $80.00 Australia ( $54 usd ) unlimited data for 30 days , far cheaper than roaming . You must order them fews weeks before you leave home , normally it’s arrived in a week after you order and paid . This way made everything easy once you in japan just swap the SIM cards and activate . There is an instruction come with the SIM card to activated your docomo sim or you can ask Docomo mobile staff at the airport help you to activated.

  • @EarthbendR
    @EarthbendR 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    google fi was excellent during my first trip to Japan! worked perfectly, and I'll be using it again for my upcoming return.

    • @KenshoQuest
      @KenshoQuest  9 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Thanks for sharing!

    • @jimbobimboslice
      @jimbobimboslice 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

      So do you just activate the plan before you fly out or when do you activate Google Fi? I have Verizon but confirmed my phone is NOT locked. When should I do the Google Fi plan?

  • @neogenesus
    @neogenesus ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Going to Japan this May and will be getting a pocket wifi for me and SIM card for my wife. We probably will be using the pocket wifi most of the time but having a SIM card for my wife's phone is for when if we got separated. I also have T-mobile and get an unlimited but slow (256kbps) internet connection all over the world (I've used it in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand). It is good enough for using messenger, light browsing, using maps, etc. The pocket wifi in Japan is really good and I've used it on Shinkansen under an underground tunnel and still get 3-4 bars.

    • @KenshoQuest
      @KenshoQuest  ปีที่แล้ว

      Have a wonderful time in Japan!

  • @FeHopeCyndiW
    @FeHopeCyndiW 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Thanks for this! I last visited Japan in 1993 and cell phone service wasn't an issue back then. Headed back to Japan this summer for a race. :)

  • @adcxbbk
    @adcxbbk ปีที่แล้ว +14

    I have used both during my trips there. I prefer the sim card over the pocket wifi. The pocket wifi was an additional gadget that needs to be carried everywhere we go. The sim card is a one time installation and then forget about it during the trip. No need to recharge it separately.

    • @amyr3285
      @amyr3285 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Can these sim cards work on an old Iphone? Such as the SE?

    • @as-1982
      @as-1982 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@amyr3285 Yes, you can as long it is an unlocked iPhone. I have the first generation iPhone SE.

    • @MrsKBeee
      @MrsKBeee 11 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@as-1982 Do you have to remove your existing sim card (for your home country) to put in the Japanese sim?

  • @eva-r2f
    @eva-r2f ปีที่แล้ว +128

    Tmobile has a plan for 30 bucks I think I use it over seas all the time and no change in plan or Sim card needed. Just land and it sends a text saying welcome japan, Korea, Etc And roll unlimited data

    • @KenshoQuest
      @KenshoQuest  ปีที่แล้ว +7

      That's awesome, thanks for sharing!!

    • @presentcent1473
      @presentcent1473 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      How the service though?

    • @eva-r2f
      @eva-r2f ปีที่แล้ว

      Was able to upload to Flickr and watch videos so good so far

    • @wendynguyen8296
      @wendynguyen8296 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      It works good my friend has used it. My Verizon didn’t work at all I was thinking changing my plan.

    • @osakakawaii
      @osakakawaii ปีที่แล้ว +12

      It is slower that using an esim or pocket wifi though.

  • @danih6820
    @danih6820 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Thank you so much for this video. Based on your advice I researched and rented 3 pocket wifi units for my family members when we were travelling Japan over Christmas 2023 (last month). The service was seemless - pick up at Narita airport and drop off by post. Speeds were super fast all the time. Now we’ve moved onto South Korea I wish I had rented a pocket wifi here. Instead I went with an eSIM and it’s really not the same. I’ve had to top up twice on an Unlimited plan because outside of your fast speed usage is just dead air slow. None of the tours, restaurants etc needed a SK number either.
    Your videos and tips have been spot on.
    What we didn’t appreciate was how busy travelling in Japan over the Christmas to NYs period actually is. Very exciting and crazy. I don’t think you can know unless you experience it as we did. So much so that we couldn’t get seats on the Shinkansen even with our JR passes because they were all booked. To get from Kyoto to Hakata to pick up the JR Beetle we had to travel by Nozomi. It was extra on top of our JR passes but it wasn’t a problem for us as meeting our ferry to Busan became the priority. So some smart planning across this timeframe is absolutely necessary I think. Luckily we got the last 3 seats on the Nozomi across different carriages but we got there and happily. We are still travelling but just wanted to say thank you for your help. I’ll never book an eSIM again. Pocket wifi all the way 🤗

    • @KenshoQuest
      @KenshoQuest  10 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Hi, thank you for comment :) And thank you for sharing your experience. It's true that New Years time is the most crowded on trains in Japan. I'm sorry to hear about your experience but glad you figure it out and was able to ride the Nozomi!
      Have a great time in S. Korea!

  • @billhawaii8445
    @billhawaii8445 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I used to rent WiFi every time I went back to Japan. Nowadays I just use the roaming service that my carrier provides. It’s the easiest. なんの問題も無いです。

  • @miguelangelsanchez3427
    @miguelangelsanchez3427 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    The last time that somebody from our family went to Japan, we decided to go with the esim solution. All activated by QR code and had data as soon as it was permitted

    • @KenshoQuest
      @KenshoQuest  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thanks for sharing your experience!

    • @alfonsolujan6100
      @alfonsolujan6100 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I'm going this Tuesday thinking of going to esim also which one did you get ?

  • @ron7524
    @ron7524 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Great video. Very informative. In Canada, all phones since 2017 are UNLOCKED, so it is more flexible. Yet, it was good to hear that almost all eSims are DATA-only (didn't know this).

  • @mylientran2455
    @mylientran2455 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    You are the best explanation, your voice is clear and easy to understand. Thank a lot

  • @hamburgersmmmmmm
    @hamburgersmmmmmm ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Thanks for the Google Fi info.
    You're the first person to cover this that I've found.

  • @fusedglass01
    @fusedglass01 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Just signed up for Google Fi to my unlocked Samsung S21 Ultra, funny seeing two antenna signals on my phone. I added a 2nd number vs transferring my existing. I'm on T-Mobile and told there is decent coverage in Japan but I didn't want to risk it. Thanks for the info. I'll try to remember to come back here and post my experience when I get back from Japan in a few months.

    • @KenshoQuest
      @KenshoQuest  ปีที่แล้ว

      Please do share how it goes!

  • @tgwinternational3296
    @tgwinternational3296 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Went to Japan in May 2023. I have an old plan from TMobile which included basic LTE roaming for free. It was good enough for basic browsing on my phone, checking train schedules, buying tickets, messaging and even FaceTime. My kids got the 4G Sakura sim from haneda airport which now I think we should not have gotten.

    • @KenshoQuest
      @KenshoQuest  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Hi, thanks for sharing your experience! It all helps! Sakura mobile is a good option! I have been testing it out for the past two months and it has been great!

  • @jayperreira2778
    @jayperreira2778 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Got back yesterday. AT&T International Plan is $10 a day and $5 more for a second line. Worked perfectly.

    • @KenshoQuest
      @KenshoQuest  8 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Thanks for sharing!

  • @clydekawanishi7998
    @clydekawanishi7998 5 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I loved my pocket wifi when I was inJapan in Oct 23. I used mine for my tablet which allowed me to uses Google. since I don't uses my cell phone in Japan witch is a locked phone. It came in handy through out my trip.

    • @KenshoQuest
      @KenshoQuest  5 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Thanks for sharing!

  • @celebrityrog
    @celebrityrog ปีที่แล้ว +14

    One of the reasons my friends and I stay with T-Mobile is cause we get unlimited low-speed data while roaming in foreign nations. It's enough for maps, messages, email, browsing the web, but not really good for video. It's "okay" for music depending on the stream quality. We used it a lot in Japan simply because getting a data plan there is impossible for foreigners and carrying around a wifi hotspot was ridiculous. We just used our phones for free.

    • @KenshoQuest
      @KenshoQuest  ปีที่แล้ว

      Thank you for sharing your experience!

    • @madmax8620
      @madmax8620 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

      But how did you watch hd porn then??

  • @Bassplaya71
    @Bassplaya71 5 หลายเดือนก่อน

    We have just come back from Japan, used the pocket wifi and it worked brilliantly allowing us to use multiple devices without any problems. Even worked on our cruise ship whilst we were at sea, only lost connection once.

    • @KenshoQuest
      @KenshoQuest  5 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Thanks for sharing!

  • @warl0ch
    @warl0ch ปีที่แล้ว +11

    The T-Mobile International plan works great in Japan. But, I also got a esim for a local number with Au. They've got good rates/plans as well.

  • @ezyutube4871
    @ezyutube4871 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Thank you! Just what I needed to know. Heading to Japan this July! Great idea of getting with JR rail pass and having it delivered to your accommodation! Will save me a lot of stress at the airport.

  • @patsRN
    @patsRN 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    For me, it’s Airalo e-sim, it’s fast. I’m not going to pay $10/day with added fees. I've always use it whenever I go to Japan 🇯🇵

  • @SuperAqueos
    @SuperAqueos ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I used a sim and had mobal (data only), and was able to have it delivered to the US was nice. Was able to set it up in 5 minutes in line for the JR pass redemption.

    • @KenshoQuest
      @KenshoQuest  ปีที่แล้ว

      Great! Thank you for sharing your experience!

  • @37jamesyboy
    @37jamesyboy ปีที่แล้ว +2

    esim worked perfect for me

  • @felipet391
    @felipet391 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Excellent content as always! The only point I would add about the SIM card is verifying if the device works in the expected frequencies (Hz). After some research I realized my phone doesn't support all the mobile frequencies from the Japanese telecom companies... So, pocket wifi is probably the best solution for my scenario - even though I would prefer not carrying an extra device.

    • @KenshoQuest
      @KenshoQuest  9 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Thanks for sharing!

  • @wizerdjuice9589
    @wizerdjuice9589 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Excellent video. With data only plans there are apps you can use to make phone calls.

  • @Spyduck
    @Spyduck ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Where I'm from, my airport provides the service of rental and return of the wifi device. Pretty easy to connect to, and for the first time, I had a troubleshooting session for the device solved in just 30 mins.
    Really pretty handy. Most of us carry portable batteries anyway, so another small gadget block isn't a big deal.

  • @WhenKittensATK1125
    @WhenKittensATK1125 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Thanks for the GoogleFi recommendation. Saved a bit on this tip.

  • @mikegriffin2425
    @mikegriffin2425 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Great video, just an fyi...Verizon unlocks phones 60 days after purchase now, even if on a device payment plan. This makes e-sims much more attractive.

    • @KenshoQuest
      @KenshoQuest  ปีที่แล้ว

      Hi, thanks for sharing this! Super helpful to know!

  • @eisenklad
    @eisenklad ปีที่แล้ว +2

    personally, in 2019, i used a pocket wifi and a travel data sim from my country(singapore)
    the pocket wifi device also doubled as a powerbank.
    as for throttling, the pocket wifi did it to me after i tried streaming my walk. so probably the upload amount is the main issue.
    the reason why i got both because i was using a Huawei phone, so some mobile frequency coverage is kinda spotty.
    i did pack my old sony C3 just in case, which i did use on my second day with the travel sim. better speeds over all as a second hotspot device. when you hit the daily limit, which you will get a SMS to buy certain 3/5/7/30 day "data packages".

    • @KenshoQuest
      @KenshoQuest  ปีที่แล้ว

      Thank you for sharing your experience!

    • @Rudyjosephjr
      @Rudyjosephjr ปีที่แล้ว

      Huawei have dual sim slot. Why the need for pocket wifi? Im usin p30 pro. Used singtel on primary and metfone, digi on secondary if im in cambodia or msia.

    • @eisenklad
      @eisenklad ปีที่แล้ว

      @@Rudyjosephjr the second sim slot is for my 256GB micro SD...

    • @Rudyjosephjr
      @Rudyjosephjr ปีที่แล้ว

      @@eisenklad why keep data in removable drive. I suggest you export all via usb c to external drive. Besides huawei have 256 or 512gb build in.

  • @tomhenschel2847
    @tomhenschel2847 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Wow! Fantastic research clearly explained. What a gift. You're the best. Thanks!

  • @videotravelsonline
    @videotravelsonline 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    Very informative! Thank you!

  • @machado5765
    @machado5765 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Pocket wi-fi 100%. Works everywhere and for multiple devices at once.

  • @andaron
    @andaron ปีที่แล้ว +1

    We have used Moshi Moshi eSim for 2 weeks, 30 dollars for 20GB, no problem with reception and we had over half of data left

    • @KenshoQuest
      @KenshoQuest  ปีที่แล้ว

      Thanks for sharing!

    • @alfonsolujan6100
      @alfonsolujan6100 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Never heard of that one was it fast?

    • @andaron
      @andaron ปีที่แล้ว

      @@alfonsolujan6100 yes

  • @thenimitpatel
    @thenimitpatel ปีที่แล้ว +10

    What a super informative video. You know it's great when I come to learn about ABC and learn about XYZ.
    I have heard of GoogleFi but since it was never a great option to use as our main plan here in the US, I didn't think of it for international travel! It sounds like a tremendous option to stay connected with a local number while traveling!
    I've used both pocket wifi/SIM when traveling internationally. Actually the first time, I opted for pocket wifi in Iceland. It was incredible. Blazing fast. Allowed us to connect not just our phones, but computers etc. Then I've mostly used SIMs in Europe. It was usually cheaper from the options I found, and worked just fine for us.
    However, this is the first time we are really traveling to a country where my expectation is there to be a huge language barrier for me to overcome and I mostly opted for the pocket wifi on softbank because it was only $17 for a week, and this way I can also use it for my computer. No brainer!

    • @KenshoQuest
      @KenshoQuest  ปีที่แล้ว

      Hi, thank you for the kinds words! And thank you for sharing your experience! Very much appreciated :)

  • @swissgamerzchannel2035
    @swissgamerzchannel2035 ปีที่แล้ว

    I actually used a pocket wifi that my sister rented while in Florence. It was an awesome experience to have one. So thank you for telling us that you can get one in Japan and even delivered at your hotel 👍

  • @ynotmoah
    @ynotmoah ปีที่แล้ว +2

    This is such an awesome and informative video. Thank you sir!

  • @trixe9840
    @trixe9840 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Just subscribed! Your videos have been really helpful. Keep up the good work!

  • @garrettallen4106
    @garrettallen4106 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Edit** you answered my question at the end. Thanks!

    • @KenshoQuest
      @KenshoQuest  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Great, let us know if you have further questions!

  • @JohnnyNacis
    @JohnnyNacis ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Mobal is great. used it last august for a month. down side, if you text/call your friends & family back at home, it'll show as unknown number bc you most likely never stored their numbers in your contacts with a country code. kind of annoying but the reliable data and service mobal provides is worth it

  • @DocRock
    @DocRock ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Ubigi is amazing and cost $17ish for ten gigs for 30days. It’s hella fast and easy to setup as modern phones don’t have sim slots.
    Global Advance Communications is the best pocket WiFi company and has been doing this for over a decade. Easy pickup and post box drop off.

    • @lindatruong4058
      @lindatruong4058 ปีที่แล้ว

      I have a eSIM compatible iPhone but does it need to be unlocked to use an eSIM with Ubigi?

    • @DocRock
      @DocRock ปีที่แล้ว

      @@lindatruong4058 Yes it must be unlocked.

  • @KenshoQuest
    @KenshoQuest  ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Top recommendation for pocket WiFi: www.sakuramobile.jp/joji808-top
    Favorite eSIM for data: few.cellulardata.ubigi.com/?P512C3F57DA13131
    Favorite SIM for data: www.mobal.com/japan-sim-card/?t=st&source=3402

  • @falafelwaffle1605
    @falafelwaffle1605 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    These days eSims have gotten crazy convenient. Airalo has 10 GB for $9 in Japan, and I've used the same app for Australia and Europe, which makes it easy to have them all in one place. Just save offline/print a copy of the activation instructions to make sure you don't forget a step. And if you are going to two countries on one trip, only add one esim at a time in the order that you need them, since some phones will only allow one at a time and don't allow you to remove and re-add one if you enable them in the wrong order.

    • @KenshoQuest
      @KenshoQuest  10 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Thanks for sharing your tips!

  • @arcticredpanda4598
    @arcticredpanda4598 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Thank you for the thorough and informative video. Also love that crazy hair cut man.

  • @JWL216
    @JWL216 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Great note for people from Canada. Any phone can be unlocked. Canadian government made it illegal to refuse to unlock a phone and can’t charge to unlock it.

    • @KenshoQuest
      @KenshoQuest  ปีที่แล้ว

      That's great to know!

    • @J-Dot73
      @J-Dot73 ปีที่แล้ว

      Thank you. I’m Canadian and my my question when watching this video was, can’t you just unlock your phone? Good to know

  • @terreechu
    @terreechu 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

    for my situation I used pocket wifi. i bought it from amazon and when i arrived to asia i bought the data plan in the pocket wifi app and it worked seamlessly. the pocket wifi acts as a router and uses the cell towers that are around you
    cons it may be bulky carrying it with a portable battery charger but it’s a small trade off since we were out for most of the day.
    both my partner and i haven’t paid off our phones yet so unlocking wasn’t an option.
    i also didn’t want to deal with the hassle of buying an e sim at the airport after an 14 hr flight. it’s one less thing you have to worry about. strongly recommend 😊

    • @KenshoQuest
      @KenshoQuest  10 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Thanks for sharing your experience!

    • @1surftheblue
      @1surftheblue 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Which one did you buy?

  • @wailengimhof2746
    @wailengimhof2746 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Thank you for the information .

  • @bhuld0115
    @bhuld0115 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Just ran across your channel. Thank you for great info. I want to second Google Fi for international travel (thanks for the thumbs up on Fi in Japan, my next destination ). I have been a Fi customer since day one and have had seamless connections throughout Europe and the UK. As I stood up upon landing in Munich in Nov and turned off airplane mode, I received a text that the door had closed on my connecting flight. A very quick network connection (and it was expected news). And I agree that customer service, which was once the best, is now nonexistent beyond the FAQ.

  • @monkulu
    @monkulu ปีที่แล้ว

    Such a great video, well explained, very comprehensive. I am a Japanese person having lived away from Japan for so long -- now trying to visit Japan with a whole family who's not from there. I learned a lot. Thank you!

    • @KenshoQuest
      @KenshoQuest  ปีที่แล้ว

      Glad it was helpful! Let us know if you have other questions. We have a ton of content on Japan and adding new stuff all the time :)

  • @czereyski
    @czereyski ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Dear Kensho, Great Video!!! During my last 3 stays in Japan I have used pocket wife. No issues, stronly recommended! In two weeks I'm going again to my favourite country, Japan. I want to try e-sim for my iPhone 14 PM. Ubigi looks intersting.

    • @KenshoQuest
      @KenshoQuest  ปีที่แล้ว

      Awesome! Let us know how it goes with your iPhone and Ubigi!

  • @pascalejacquelinepetit5131
    @pascalejacquelinepetit5131 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Many thanks for the informative and greatly articulated video.

  • @kathiesobremonte870
    @kathiesobremonte870 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    i used Sakura 2x and it is really fast and reliable.

    • @KenshoQuest
      @KenshoQuest  ปีที่แล้ว

      Thanks for sharing! Very helpful :)

    • @kathiesobremonte870
      @kathiesobremonte870 ปีที่แล้ว

      I got pocket wifi. I pick it up in JAL ABC counter in airport. Then they give use return envelope. I just put the wifi pouch (pocket wifi, chargers) inside the envelope and seal it. They already have the sticker for the return address. So I just drop it inside a mailbox in a convenience store at the airport.

  • @iPlayOnSpica
    @iPlayOnSpica ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I have Google Fi, so I see no reason to do anything. I get the same $10/GB/month and unlimited text, and I can use WhatsApp or LINE to avoid paying for calls. I also have a vpn so public wifi's lack of security isn't an issue.
    If I somehow see myself using data a lot, I may consider portable wifi if it turns out to be the cheaper option and isn't a burden to carry and recharge.
    EDIT: You covered it starting at 9:24 lol, cheers! 😊

  • @robinsang7746
    @robinsang7746 ปีที่แล้ว

    I used data roaming for 2 days, then got a data sim from Bic Camera at my convenience. My network charges $5 for a day of data roaming, but I was only charged for 1 day of use 😛

    • @KenshoQuest
      @KenshoQuest  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thank you for sharing your experience! BIC Camera is a good option in a pinch!

  • @wizirbyman
    @wizirbyman ปีที่แล้ว +9

    I don't think i'd get a pocket wifi just because I hate having to hold more things in my bags/pockets. Plus it's kind of annoying to go out at night to restaurants or bars and need to watch over the pocket wifi lol. Obviously it's way cheaper to share and use but the convenience of a sim/esim is what makes it the choice for me.

    • @KenshoQuest
      @KenshoQuest  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Can't argue with this! Thanks for sharing!

  • @ari_young
    @ari_young ปีที่แล้ว +4

    I just got back from 10 days in Japan last week. My mobile plan comes with 5GB of high speed data while roaming internationally (including Japan), then throttled to 256kbps after using the 5GB. This was more than enough for my daughters though my son did go over the allotment by day 7. I paid $50 for an additional 15GB of high speed data for me and my wife and that was more than enough. I used WiFi wherever available and I had no issues.
    If your carrier does have such options I would opt for renting the wifi.

  • @missj.4760
    @missj.4760 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    E-sim is the way to go. No pick up, no delivery, no pin, no problem. And with Whats App and Messenger, the only think you need is a data plan.

  • @lvujas98
    @lvujas98 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Thanks for details, just planning my trip on Oct.😊

    • @KenshoQuest
      @KenshoQuest  ปีที่แล้ว

      You’re welcome 😊 Let us know if you have other questions about Japan that we haven't covered yet!

  • @gayathrinarayanan4263
    @gayathrinarayanan4263 5 หลายเดือนก่อน

    This is *just* the video I was looking for!! Thank you for the detailed info and comparison!

    • @KenshoQuest
      @KenshoQuest  5 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Glad it was helpful!

  • @danekim4275
    @danekim4275 ปีที่แล้ว

    Great video, chock full of options especially for those of us who aren’t tech savvy. This will be essential when I return to Japan and east Asia.

    • @KenshoQuest
      @KenshoQuest  ปีที่แล้ว

      Thank you for the comment! Please let us know if you have any questions as we are making a lot more content and happy to help!

  • @rdwilander
    @rdwilander ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I just had the bad experience of a closed "Mobal" counter pick up at Narita Japan. Wasn't expecting a 3 hour (ridiculous) line up to clear customs. Having said that, Mobal would be wise to extend their service counter hours or have some way of easily collecting the Sim at the airport. Something like a scaled down Amazon pick up locker.

    • @KenshoQuest
      @KenshoQuest  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      HI, terribly sorry to hear about your experience. They are supposed to have good customer service so I hope they can help you get your SIM elsewhere. Thanks for sharing your experience! I hope your trip is amazing from this point forward!

  • @davidmcfarland2531
    @davidmcfarland2531 6 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    If you get a Pocket WiFi make sure to disable photo cloud sync like iPhoto to iCloud. Otherwise you could quickly get throttled taking photos and video all day
    If getting a data only plan make sure you and your contacts install WhatsApp for voice (and txt) over the internet. WhatsApp is ubiquitous in Asia

    • @KenshoQuest
      @KenshoQuest  6 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Excellent advice, thanks for sharing!

  • @cryptik_official
    @cryptik_official 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Thanks for the tip on Ubigi!

  • @gsr4535
    @gsr4535 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Good, solid advice. Thanks.

  • @auwz66
    @auwz66 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    The issue with pocket wifi is cost. Its usually around £4.50 ($5) per day (thats starting price!). That is just too expensive IMHO, can be as much as £10 / $12 per day if you go for unlimited data and insurance on the device. Sim cards are normally about £2.50 a day. If you are going for just a week then ok pocket wifi is ok but for longer trips of 3+ weeks then a sim card is better. Just IMHO.

    • @KenshoQuest
      @KenshoQuest  ปีที่แล้ว

      Thanks for sharing!!

    • @Netro1992
      @Netro1992 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Pocket wifi is really intended more for groups of people rather than a single person for that reason, but coming from a country whose phones are a gamble if they work with the Japanese networks or not, they provide an excellent and hassle free way to connect, specially in my case where I normally travel with at least 4 wifi enabled devices. Outside of those circumstances, Sims are superior in just about every way.

  • @sharonpanlaqui7974
    @sharonpanlaqui7974 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Thank you so much for this video! It’s very helpful and informative especially for a first time traveler like me to Japan.

  • @kvom01
    @kvom01 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I used an eSim in my Pixel8 phone the past few weeks when traveling in Asia. That one had a local phone#, but I never used it to call. And to call home I needed to turn it off. I think for tourists a non-call eSim might be ideal.

  • @Universalorbit
    @Universalorbit ปีที่แล้ว

    Thanks for the advice. I’m on my way to Japan now. Currently on the plane 😂

  • @Yamato-tp2kf
    @Yamato-tp2kf ปีที่แล้ว +3

    The 4 times I went to Japan, the pocket WiFi was the best solution to me because it allowed to me to be able to use google maps (90% of the streets have no name so...) which was very useful, and also allows me to watch my emails, talking with my family on whatsapp and all of that without limits of kbps!!! I live in France, and here there's some good agencies that offer good prices to have a pocket WiFi for 120 euros for 5 weeks!!! That's a reasonable price for a no limited kbps WiFi!!!!

    • @KenshoQuest
      @KenshoQuest  ปีที่แล้ว

      yes, very reasonable price! Thanks for sharing!!

  • @tinale9458
    @tinale9458 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

    THANKS FOR SHARING THE VIDEO ! HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOUR FAMILY AND ALL THE BEST WISHES IN 2024.

    • @KenshoQuest
      @KenshoQuest  10 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Thank you! Happy new year.

  • @bertman4
    @bertman4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I do have Google Fi and an option I use for voice calling is LINE. Obviously the other person must have the app installed on their smartphone.

    • @KenshoQuest
      @KenshoQuest  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Excellent advice! Especially in Japan where everyone uses LINE!!

  • @BryceMerry-s3l
    @BryceMerry-s3l 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Thank you for your research and clear explanations, it has helped my travel preparations for a group trip immensely.

  • @billgracey6369
    @billgracey6369 ปีที่แล้ว

    I just used my cell phone in Japan and while I had trouble accessing some free wifi, I was able to use them for my two overnight trips there. I didnt get any SIM or pocket wifi while I was there. If I was there longer I may have gotten a pocket wifi or a SIM card. But my phone worked fine without any for my two short stays.

    • @KenshoQuest
      @KenshoQuest  ปีที่แล้ว

      Great, thanks for letting us know how it worked for you!

  • @xeebot
    @xeebot ปีที่แล้ว +1

    So helpful. Thank you!

  • @amz9544
    @amz9544 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thank you for your detailed explanation. I didnt know there are a lot of options. And the pros and cons of each! Im planning to use my TMobile plan and rent a pocket wifi just in case 😁

    • @KenshoQuest
      @KenshoQuest  ปีที่แล้ว

      Glad it was helpful! Your plan sounds solid. Have a great trip!

  • @billcleaver2721
    @billcleaver2721 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    There is another option that you forgot. If you have AT&T, they have a world plan it’s $10 a day till you hit 10 days or it’s $100 a billing cycle a month. And you can use everything on your phone without having to use SIM or pocket Wi-Fi

    • @KenshoQuest
      @KenshoQuest  ปีที่แล้ว

      Yes, that's an option, as well!

  • @sirebellum0
    @sirebellum0 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    You talk so damn articulate I'd believe you for almost anything! Whatever your non-TH-cam career is/was it must heavily involve communication skills! Kudos

  • @pres002
    @pres002 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Lol Google fi service is amazing idk what issues you've had. I've never once had issues and I've been with them since the alpha days when they first started

  • @theinternationalist1357
    @theinternationalist1357 ปีที่แล้ว

    Wow, thanks for this informative vid on wifi/esim, it is so helpful!! I'll be in Japan this June and is struggling on getting data/eSim for my Samsung 23 Ultra, which has the eSim capacity from ATT. Japan is my go-to country every year.

    • @SnowFoxPaperie
      @SnowFoxPaperie ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I have a 22 Ultra and will be going with an esim! As soon as i found out, you can use a hotspot with esim it made since to use esim for my little group. it's basically a pocket wifi, and it's $17 for 10gbs

    • @theinternationalist1357
      @theinternationalist1357 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@SnowFoxPaperie Ok Cool, please let me know when your JP on the Esim and which provider with your 22 Ultra, mine is 23 Ultra. I'll be in JP in June. Thanks.

  • @MuchoArigato
    @MuchoArigato 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Fantastic. Very helpful.

  • @theharper1
    @theharper1 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    There's lots of other options which you haven't mentioned and travellers from countries other than the USA may not have the options you've recommended. One thing I'll say from recent experience; beware of buying from a vending machine at the airport. Before Covid, I was able to buy a great SIM card deal from Narita airport which included unlimited downloads. At Haneda I bought a SIM which I thought was 3GB a day for 10 days but was actually 3GB total for 10 days, which was a total ripoff. Your advice also didn't seem to consider solo travellers. Pocket wifi is a great choice for families or groups travelling together, but not necessarily the best value for solo travellers. Travellers to Japan also need to be aware that travel SIM cards hardly ever allow phone calls, so you may be up for international roaming rates if you need to call someone or someone needs to call you (unless you can use data calls on social media etc, which won't work to call a hotel or a business). I have a dual SIM unlocked phone for this reason. For Australians travelling to Japan solo, I'd get a travel SIM before you leave. For a large family or group, rent a WiFi hotspot when you arrive. Anyway, YMMV and the right choice for Americans might not be the right choice for others.

    • @KenshoQuest
      @KenshoQuest  ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Hi, thanks for chiming in and adding a lot of solid information!

    • @theharper1
      @theharper1 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@KenshoQuest no worries!

    • @sandiesabaka9033
      @sandiesabaka9033 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Thanks for the comments about solo travelers. I’m leaving in 9 days and will be solo for the first 4 days and then with a group skiing the rest of the time. All on Hokkaido.

    • @theharper1
      @theharper1 11 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@sandiesabaka9033 you're welcome! Have a great trip!

  • @jameslouie5626
    @jameslouie5626 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Totally agree with the pocket wifi. Been to Japan 3x and always got a pocket wifi..so useful. Toss in my placket and my friend connect to it and we use our phones and iPads while walking around. Thanks for deep diving on the different companies and your recommendation. Hope to head back to Japan soon..my fav country to visit.

    • @KenshoQuest
      @KenshoQuest  ปีที่แล้ว

      HI! Thanks for sharing your experiences!

    • @series25a
      @series25a ปีที่แล้ว

      what if you do a carrier international plan lets say for the same price as a pocketwifi and have coverage everywhere.. which you still prefer??

    • @KenshoQuest
      @KenshoQuest  ปีที่แล้ว

      @@series25a as a family of 5 we use a ton of data so by default we will still get the pocket wifi even if it is a backup
      But certainly an international plan can suffice.

  • @timmarshall5381
    @timmarshall5381 ปีที่แล้ว

    Very helpful, thanks!

  • @janiekcarney5482
    @janiekcarney5482 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Exactly the video I needed. Thank you. I’m going to have to buy a new phone!

    • @KenshoQuest
      @KenshoQuest  9 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Let us know if you have further questions.

  • @mkowalski4646
    @mkowalski4646 ปีที่แล้ว

    Soo good video! Thanks a lot!

  • @betovas7306
    @betovas7306 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thanks a lot for the video. It really helped. I choosed ninja pocket wifi I hope it works great!

    • @fsiqueirar
      @fsiqueirar 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Did it work?

  • @PeteCorp
    @PeteCorp 11 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Great advice

  • @superwill043
    @superwill043 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    We're in Japan now, and set up Google Fi before we left. Very great suggestion (for us)! Our phones are compatible with the service (Pixel 6 Pro), so it was easy to set up with a virtual SIM. Not sure how it would be if we needed a physical SIM or had compatibility issues with the phone.

    • @KenshoQuest
      @KenshoQuest  ปีที่แล้ว

      Glad it’s working out well for you!

    • @thaomai8112
      @thaomai8112 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Hi there, your video is very helpful. I have a question that if I have T-mobile will covering WiFi In Japan, do I need to buy E SIM card? Thank you very much! 👍

    • @KenshoQuest
      @KenshoQuest  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@thaomai8112 If you have an international T-mobile plan covering Japan, that should work instead of getting an E SIM.

    • @thaomai8112
      @thaomai8112 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@KenshoQuest thank you very much for your response 👍 your video is very helpful 👍

    • @moriahdavies8376
      @moriahdavies8376 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Where in Japan have you been using it?

  • @ezwriter101
    @ezwriter101 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thanks for this clear and helpful video. I've decided to go with the Ninja WiFi, since I'll have my iPad and my iPhone, and I'll have a friend with me as well. I think my AT&T phone might still be locked, but I'll check just out of curiosity.

  • @patriciamurashige6879
    @patriciamurashige6879 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thank you!!! Going with the Wi-Fi modem

    • @KenshoQuest
      @KenshoQuest  ปีที่แล้ว

      Glad to help! Enjoy your trip.

  • @KenshoQuest
    @KenshoQuest  4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    UPDATED video with the best Pocket WiFi, eSIM, and SIM card options: th-cam.com/video/9t-ubj4jNps/w-d-xo.htmlsi=_qu2fp4aB_IKtmoT