By Shawn Gallagher
I recently came back from a 10 day trip to Tokyo, Japan. I regularly visit the city, as I used to live there and still have some family there.
I was going to purchase a SIM card as I usually do from Mobal.com. They have a spectacular connection, and I find them easy to purchase and use. I’ve written reviews about their products previously.
However, with busy days leading up to my trip, I kicked the can down the road and left the SIM card purchase to the end. Before I knew it, I had arrived in Tokyo with no connection whatsoever. At that point, I decided to have a little fun and do my 10 day trip with no SIM card connection and see how doable it actually was.
One thing to note is that I’m at an advantage when it comes to doing something like this in Tokyo. I’ve lived here previously for 18 years, so I more or less know exactly where I’m going and don’t really need the assistance of Google Maps and other navigation sources. I mean, I technically had lived in Tokyo before the smartphone days! This wasn’t anything new.
With that said, a lot has changed since the non-smartphone days. I was able to see and learn about public Wi-Fi availability and its connectivity in Tokyo, a critical piece of technology in a major city.
Let’s talk about my findings.
“I Don’t Need to be Online Anyway.” But…
If you know where you’re going, I don’t think you really need to be online. This might say more about myself as a traveler, but let me explain.
Throughout the trip, I never had any moments where I thought that I absolutely had to be online. This was because most of the time, I found myself hanging out with my friends, eating at a restaurant, or exploring a certain part of the city. Do I really need to be online all the time when I do these things? In a way, it was kind of refreshing to do stuff without picking up my phone every other minute.
However, I still needed to send messages during those times when I had to meet up with somebody or tell my family that I was heading home. I utilized the public Wi-Fi at train stations for these messages, which tends to be okay.
Areas near the turnstiles at stations tend to have Wi-Fi. However, note that not all stations have Wi-Fi (if you’re at a major train station, they definitely will have available Wi-Fi).
It can sometimes take time and multiple attempts though. This was the biggest limitation when I had to message somebody; I always had to find and wait to get a connection. That can be frustrating.
Trains in Tokyo do not have Wi-Fi. Subway stations mostly do not have Wi-Fi near the turnstiles, either.
It’s Doable
I think some people will be able to get away without a SIM card in Japan. If you know the city well enough and know how to navigate its public transportation, it’s fairly doable. Even then, there are things to keep in mind so you don’t get lost or seem to be MIA from your friends.
For example, maximize your time at your hotel. If you have to make plans to meet someone or want to create a navigation route on Google Maps, do it before you leave your room or the lobby.
Related: The ultimate guide to every Hyatt hotel in Tokyo, Japan
When you’re out and about, utilize the Wi-Fi at major train stations. McDonald’s, Starbucks, and other fast food and coffee shops mostly have reliable free Wi-Fi.
“It’s doable” was my experience with public Wi-Fi in Tokyo. I was definitely able to make it work, but not without frustrations. Most connections are very poor, and it’s a pain to have to stop for 5-10 minutes just to send a text message or to look up some train times.
You Might Still Want a SIM Card
If you’re traveling to Tokyo for the first time or don’t have a lot of international travel experience, I would get a travel SIM card. The overall availability and connection of public Wi-Fi in Tokyo is not really good, and if you want to venture out into suburban Tokyo or other parts of Japan, you will definitely need one.
Even for experienced travelers, there’s still the convenience factor when you have a SIM card. Although I think it’s nice to get a break from being online all the time, waiting for your phone to connect to a bad piece of public Wi-Fi just to send one text message isn’t a lot of fun. A SIM card will no doubt help maximize your time and make your trip smoother overall.
Mobal.com has great SIM and eSIM products, and they’ve been my go-to for the past 2+ years (I travel to Japan about 3 times a year). Be sure to check out their website if you’re looking for a reliable connection in the country.
Related: Mobal Japan SIM card review, the best for Japan travel
Bottom Line
Will my next Japan trip also be without a travel SIM card? I don’t think so. Although I was able to make it work, there’s a convenience factor when you have a consistent connection wherever you go. Public Wi-Fi is available in many parts of Tokyo, but they still have a ways to go if you want to roam around the city reliably with no SIM connection.
All photos taken by the author.