Category: Getting Around

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Staying connected in Japan is easy — the question is pocket wifi or eSIM? For most travelers the answer is now clear. Here’s the honest comparison.

Quick answer

For solo travelers and couples with modern phones, an eSIM is usually cheaper, simpler, and nothing to carry or return. Pocket wifi still wins for families/groups sharing one connection, older phones, or if you need to connect laptops and cameras.

eSIM — pros & cons

• ✅ Cheap, instant (install before you fly), nothing to pick up or return.
• ✅ Keeps your home number active for calls/texts.
• ❌ Needs an eSIM-compatible, unlocked phone.
• ❌ Only connects that one device (unless you hotspot).

See our full best eSIM for Japan guide.

Pocket wifi — pros & cons

• ✅ Connects several devices at once — great for families and groups.
• ✅ Works with any phone/laptop; often higher data allowances.
• ❌ A device (and charger) to carry, keep charged, and return.
• ❌ Everyone stays together (the wifi walks off with whoever holds it).
• ❌ Usually pricier per person for solo travelers.

Which should you pick?

• Solo / couple, modern phone → eSIM.
• Family or group sharing → pocket wifi (one rental covers everyone).
• Old/locked phone or need laptop data → pocket wifi.
• Heavy data user → compare unlimited plans on both.

How to get each

• eSIM: buy online and install before departure — compare on Klook .
• Pocket wifi: reserve online, pick up at the airport, return by mail/airport drop.

Whichever you choose, pair it with an IC card and our first-timer tips.

One of Japan’s best-kept travel secrets: send your suitcase ahead and travel hands-free. It’s called takkyubin, and once you try it you’ll never lug bags up station stairs again.

What is takkyubin?

A cheap, ultra-reliable courier service (Yamato’s “Ta-Q-Bin” is the famous one, with a black-cat logo) that forwards luggage hotel-to-hotel, airport-to-hotel, or hotel-to-airport — usually next day.

Why travelers love it

• No wrestling bags on crowded trains or up stairs.
• Shinkansen-friendly — avoid the oversized-luggage reservation hassle on the bullet train.
• Day-trip freedom — send your suitcase ahead and explore a stopover city with just a daypack.
• Reliable — Japan’s couriers are famously punctual and careful.

How to use it

1. Ask your hotel front desk — most handle takkyubin directly.
2. Fill in a slip with the destination hotel’s address (they can help).
3. Pay a few thousand yen per bag; hand it over by the daily cut-off.
4. Your bag arrives at the next hotel, usually the next day.

Also available at

• Konbini and airport counters (great for airport-to-hotel on arrival).
• Cold/frozen forwarding exists too — handy for food souvenirs.

Smart ways to use it

• Overnight bag trick: forward the big suitcase, keep one night’s essentials in a daypack.
• Send souvenirs ahead to the airport so you’re not overweight at check-in.
• Allow 1–2 days — it’s not instant, so plan cut-offs around your route.

Travel light and love Japan more. Pair with our packing list and train guide.

Costs & timing at a glance

Expect roughly 1,500–2,500 yen per medium suitcase between cities, depending on size and distance, with most deliveries arriving the next day. Same-day is not guaranteed, so send bags a day ahead of when you’ll need them. Airport-to-hotel on arrival (and hotel-to-airport before departure) is one of the most useful uses — you land or fly out hands-free.

Forwarding vs coin lockers

For a few hours between check-out and check-in, station coin lockers (payable by IC card) are cheaper and instant. For moving bags to your next city or skipping the crowded shinkansen luggage shuffle, forwarding wins.

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The bullet train from Tokyo to Kyoto is a rite of passage — fast, smooth, and with a chance to spot Mt. Fuji from your seat. Here’s exactly how to do it.

The basics

• Time: about 2 hours 15 minutes on the fastest trains.
• Line: the Tokaido Shinkansen, from Tokyo Station (or Shinagawa) to Kyoto Station.
• Trains: Nozomi (fastest), Hikari (slightly slower, covered by the JR Pass), and Kodama (all-stops).

Nozomi vs Hikari — which to take

Nozomi is fastest but not covered by the standard Japan Rail Pass. If you have the pass, take a Hikari (only ~15 minutes slower). Paying cash? Nozomi is fine and runs most frequently.

Reserved vs non-reserved seats

• Non-reserved cars are cheaper and fine off-peak — just queue on the platform.
• Reserved is worth it during holidays and busy seasons like cherry blossom time.
• Green Car (first class) has roomier seats for a premium.

Get the Fuji view

Sit on the right-hand (D/E) side heading from Tokyo to Kyoto for the best Mt. Fuji view, roughly 40–45 minutes in. On clear days it’s spectacular.

How to buy tickets

• Ticket machines and JR ticket offices at the station (English available).
• Reserve online in advance for peace of mind — handy at peak times. Compare rail options and passes on Klook .
• Have an IC card for the local trains at each end.

Pro tips

• Grab an ekiben (station bento) before boarding — a classic shinkansen ritual.
• Oversized luggage needs a reserved spot; otherwise use luggage forwarding to travel light.
• Stay connected with an eSIM.

Arriving in Kyoto? Jump to our Kyoto guide and where to stay.

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Japan’s trains are fast, punctual, and cover almost everywhere — and once you know the basics, they’re the best way to get around. Here’s a simple guide to riding them with confidence.

The types of train

• Local & rapid — city and suburban trains; tap in with an IC card.
• Limited express — faster regional trains, sometimes needing a reserved seat.
• Shinkansen (bullet train) — long-distance; buy a ticket (and optionally reserve a seat).
• Subways & private railways — run by different companies but the same IC card works.

The easiest way to pay: an IC card

Get a Suica or Pasmo (or add one to your phone). Tap in at the gate, tap out at your destination, and the fare is calculated automatically. It also works on buses and at konbini.

Finding your train

• Use Google Maps — it shows the exact line, platform, departure time, and even which car to board.
• Follow the colored line signs; stations are well-marked in English.
• Check the train type on the platform board — a “rapid” or “express” may skip your stop.

Shinkansen basics

• Buy at a ticket machine or counter; you can also reserve online.
• Non-reserved cars are cheaper and fine off-peak; reserve seats for busy times and with luggage.
• Note the fastest Nozomi/Mizuho trains aren’t covered by the nationwide pass — check the JR Pass guide.

Etiquette

Keep quiet, set your phone to silent, queue on the platform markings, let people off first, and keep backpacks off your back in crowds. More in our etiquette guide.

Handy tips

• Luggage forwarding (takkyubin) saves hauling big bags on transfer days.
• Rush hours (roughly 7–9am, 5–7pm) are packed — avoid if you can.
• Get an eSIM so maps and times are always to hand.

Ready to plan the route? Start with the 7-day itinerary.

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An IC card is the single most useful thing you’ll get in Japan. Tap it to ride any train, subway, or bus, and use it to pay at convenience stores, vending machines, and lots of shops. Here’s how Suica, Pasmo, and the tourist versions compare.

Suica vs Pasmo — what’s the difference?

Honestly, almost none. Both are rechargeable tap cards that work nationwide on nearly all transit and at the same shops. Suica is run by JR East, Pasmo by the private railways. Pick whichever you can get first.

Mobile Suica/Pasmo — the best option for many

If you have an iPhone (or Apple Watch), you can add a Suica or Pasmo straight into Apple Wallet and top it up with your credit card — no physical card, no queue, no deposit. This is often the easiest route for visitors. Some Android/Google Pay setups support it too, depending on region.

Physical cards for tourists

Due to a chip shortage, standard plastic Suica/Pasmo have had limited availability at times. Tourist versions to look for:

• Welcome Suica — no deposit, valid 28 days, for visitors.
• Pasmo Passport — similar tourist card.

You buy these at airport stations and major terminals. If mobile Suica works on your phone, though, you may not need a physical card at all.

How to use it

• Top up at any station machine (cash) or, on mobile, with your card.
• Tap in and out at train gates — it calculates the fare automatically.
• Pay at konbini by saying the card name and tapping.

Do you still need a rail pass?

IC cards handle city travel and short hops perfectly. For long-distance Shinkansen trips, that’s a separate decision — see whether the JR Pass is worth it. For everything else, an IC card plus an eSIM covers your day-to-day. New to Japan? Start with our first-timer tips.

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Tokyo has two airports, and they’re very different distances from the city. Here’s the simple guide to getting from Narita and Haneda into central Tokyo without overpaying or getting lost.

From Haneda (close — 30–45 min)

Haneda is the closer, easier airport. Best options:

• Keikyu Line / Tokyo Monorail — cheap and fast to Shinagawa/Hamamatsucho, then connect on the Yamanote line. Tap in with a Suica/Pasmo.
• Airport Limousine Bus — direct to major hotels; great with luggage.
• Taxi — reasonable at night if you’re a group heading to a central hotel.

From Narita (far — 60–90 min)

Narita is ~60 km out, so the transfer matters more:

• Keisei Skyliner — fastest to Ueno/Nippori (about 40 min); buy discounted tickets in advance.
• Narita Express (N’EX) — direct to Tokyo, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Yokohama; comfortable with big bags.
• Airport Limousine Bus — door-to-hotel, no transfers.
• Budget buses — cheapest to Tokyo Station if you’re watching every yen.

You can pre-book Skyliner, N’EX, and bus tickets in English (often discounted) on Klook , which saves queueing at the airport counter.

Which to choose

• Light bags, want cheapest: trains + IC card.
• Lots of luggage / late arrival: Limousine Bus or taxi straight to the hotel.
• Narita to west Tokyo (Shinjuku/Shibuya): N’EX; to Ueno/Asakusa: Skyliner.

Before you land

Have your eSIM active so maps work immediately, know which neighborhood your hotel is in, and grab an IC card at the station. Then you’re ready for the 7-day itinerary.

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Japan is not a place you want to land without data — you’ll need maps, train apps, and translation from minute one. The easiest fix in 2026 is an eSIM: you install it before you fly and your phone connects the moment you touch down, no picking up a pocket Wi-Fi at the airport. Here’s how the main options compare.

eSIM vs pocket Wi-Fi vs physical SIM

• eSIM — best for most solo travelers and couples. Instant, cheap, nothing to return.
• Pocket Wi-Fi — best for families or groups sharing one connection, or if your phone doesn’t support eSIM.
• Physical SIM — fine, but you have to swap your home SIM and can’t receive normal texts/calls on it.

First, check your phone supports eSIM (most iPhones since XS and recent Pixel/Galaxy do) and is carrier-unlocked.

The main eSIM providers for Japan

Airalo

The biggest global eSIM store. Cheap data-only plans, huge range of sizes, and a clean app. Great value if you’re a light-to-moderate data user. → Airalo

Holafly

Known for unlimited-data plans and 24/7 support. Costs more than Airalo per day, but if you stream, tether, or just don’t want to think about running out, it’s the stress-free pick. → Holafly

Ubigi & Sakura Mobile

Ubigi offers strong native-network speeds; Sakura Mobile is a Japan-specialist with English support and both eSIM and pocket Wi-Fi. → Sakura Mobile

How much data do you actually need?

• Light (maps, messaging, occasional browsing): ~1 GB per 3–4 days.
• Typical tourist: ~3–5 GB per week.
• Heavy (video, tethering a laptop, lots of uploads): unlimited plan.

Set-up tip

Install and activate the eSIM before you leave home, but set it to turn on when you arrive (the app explains this). That way you’re connected at the airport without burning data early. Turn on data roaming for the eSIM line and set it as your data line, keeping your home number for texts.

With data sorted, plan the rest of the trip: our 7-day Japan itinerary, whether the JR Pass is worth it, and where to stay in Tokyo.