7 Best Pocket WiFi Rentals at Kansai Airport | Cheap, Unlimited Data Options

Are you looking for rentable Pocket WiFi at Kansai Airport?

In order to look up directions, train times, and also keep in contact with friends and family, you are going to want to be connected to the internet as soon as you arrive in Japan.

Kansai Airport offers free WiFi, but only inside the building. Options for free WiFi outside the building are few and far between.

This is why it is important for you to get your hands on WiFi at Kansai Airport. If you secure WiFi from the getgo, you will be prepared to go outside and explore the rest of Japan.

In this article, we will be introducing you to providers that you can rent from as soon as you arrive in the country.

We will be covering everything from the prices and company details to the availability of English support, comparing each provider so you can have a better idea of where to go for Pocket WiFi.

Let’s get started!

Table of contents

1. Things to keep in mind when choosing Pocket WiFi
2. Compare 7 pocket wifi providers at Kansai Airport
3. Top 3 Pocket WiFi providers at Kansai Airport
4. If you don’t know what to choose… We recommend this!
5. Airport counters
6. For those who want a separate connection for each of your devices, consider getting a SIM card
7. For long-term stays (more than 3 months), consider getting a long-term contract
8. Is there free WiFi available at Kansai Airport?
9. There is not much free WiFi in Japan, so you need Pocket WiFi or a SIM card

Things to keep in mind when choosing Pocket WiFi

There are three main points that you should be thinking about when choosing a portable WiFi device.

• Make sure to reserve Pocket WiFi in advance instead of buying at the airport
• Check whether or not a provider has English support
• Look into getting insurance

Below, we will go into more detail about each point.

1) Make sure to reserve Pocket WiFi online in advance instead of buying at the airport

Many providers allow you to buy Pocket WiFi directly from their counter at the airport when you arrive in Japan.

However, we recommend that you reserve a device before leaving for Japan. There are two reasons for this.

One is simply that it is cheaper to reserve WiFi in advance. By taking a few extra steps, you can also save extra money. For example, if you are renting a personal hotspot for 14 days and reserve online, you can save up to 10,000 JPY (around 80 USD).

The other reason is that there is no guarantee that products will be available when you want them. Airport counters might be out of stock of the device you are looking for, especially during seasons with high numbers of travelers.

It would be much more inconvenient to be without WiFi after coming to Japan, so you should take the time to reserve Pocket WiFi before you leave on your trip.

2) Check whether or not a provider has English support

While you are traveling, you might run into problems with your Pocket WiFi. If you cannot connect to the internet and do not know the reason, get your device stolen, or find yourself in other types of trouble, you will need someone to help.

This is why we recommend making sure the provider you are considering offers English support.

To go a step further, the quality and availability of English support varies between providers. Some companies only offer English support over email or only on certain days of the week, which may not be enough in an emergency.

Your safest option is to find a provider that has English support 7 days a week and can respond through email, live online chat, and the phone.

3) Look into getting insurance

If possible, you should consider getting insurance for your Pocket WiFi.

It is not impossible that something may happen to cause damage to your device. In particular, if you are traveling long distances or through crowded cities, it could get lost or stolen.

If not insured, the fees for the loss or damage of a portable WiFi device can get up to 20,000 to 30,000 JPY. This is something that you do not want to worry about during a vacation.

Most insurance options only cost around 100 JPY per day, which is a small price to pay for the peace of mind that you can get from not having to worry about your Pocket WiFi constantly.

↑ Go back to the table of contents

Compare 7 pocket wifi providers at Kansai Airport

From the many companies that provide their Pocket WiFi services at Kansai Airport, we have chosen a few of the best to compare. Below is a table on the specifics of each provider.

Scroll right for more →→

※All prices listed include tax
※Insurance and other add-on options are not included in the prices listed above

As of 2022, many providers have suspended their services due to the spread of the Coronavirus.

Although the number of companies has decreased, the ones that remain are still working hard to provide their services and continue to be chosen by visitors to Japan for their reliability.

Below, we will go into detail about the best 3 providers that you can find at Kansai Airport.

↑ Go back to the table of contents

Top 3 Pocket WiFi providers at Kansai Airport

#1. Sakura Mobile

Sakura Mobile is the first on our list of recommended providers. With the unlimited data plan, you will not have to worry about staying connected while in Japan. Sakura Mobile offers English support seven days a week, helping travelers with any possible connection or device problems that might arise.

Sakura Mobile’s Pocket WiFi products are on the docomo network, which is the biggest in Japan. It has the best coverage you can find in the country, so by using Sakura Mobile, you will be able to surf the web without any problems almost everywhere in Japan.

Out of the providers in the above table that are currently in operation, Sakura Mobile has some of the lowest prices. Combined with an online reservation system, you can save a great deal on Pocket WiFi.

Scroll right for more →→

※All prices listed include tax

Below is a video that shows the process of picking up your Sakura Mobile product from the airport.

Click below to play YouTube video↓↓

#2. JAL ABC

JAL ABC is a WiFi rental service run by JAL, or Japan Airlines. Pocket WiFi is sold for a flat fee, which could be both a pro and a con. The fees are all visible and easy to understand, but you should not be expecting any special discounts the longer you rent a device.

JAL ABC might be appealing to you if you fly with JAL frequently. Every 100 JPY will get you two miles with the airline.

Scroll right for more →→

※All prices listed include tax

#3. Joy2Call

Scroll right for more →→

※All prices listed include tax

↑ Go back to the table of contents

If you don’t know what to choose… We recommend Sakura Mobile

If you are feeling lost on which provider to choose for your portable WiFi needs, Sakura Mobile is the safest bet. Over the years, Sakura Mobile has helped thousands of travelers in Japan and has a great reputation with over 3,000 reviews. These reviews average a 4.7/5, making Sakura Mobile a trustworthy company with high ratings from customers.

For those looking to keep their portable WiFi insured, Sakura Mobile’s insurance will cost only 100 JPY per day. This is very affordable and will set you at ease during your trip.

Currently, a limited-time campaign will save you 1,000 JPY on shipping. Be sure to make use of it before it goes away!

Scroll right for more →→

※All prices listed include tax

↑ Go back to the table of contents

Pickup and return

As stated earlier, Sakura Mobile has a multitude of pickup locations, with at least one at each international airport in Japan.

Below are the details of Sakura Mobile’s airport pickup counter which is located at Kansai Airport.

Pickup location

If you have reserved a SIM card from Sakura Mobile, you should be looking to visit the one pickup location in Kansai Airport.

Return locations

To return the Pocket WiFi to Sakura Mobile, simply put the device into the return envelope provided and send it back. The return envelope is free and you can put the package into any mailbox in Japan. These are also located at all the airports in Japan if you are unsure.

You can find more information on Sakura Mobile’s pickup and return policies here.

• Sakura Mobile pickup counters

↑ Go back to the table of contents

For those who want a separate connection for each of your devices, consider getting a SIM card

Many Pocket WiFi can connect to multiple devices at once, sometimes even up to 10. If you are planning on traveling in a group, portable WiFi hotspots are a simple way to keep your whole party connected.

However, this can also be an inconvenience if you are not planning on staying together for the whole trip, or you want your own personal connection for your phone.

In this case, we recommend purchasing a travel SIM card.

Before you leave this article in search of a company that offers travel SIM cards, Sakura Mobile has you covered in that department as well.

Visit the following page to find out more!

• View travel SIM deals

↑ Go back to the table of contents

For long-term stays (more than 3 months), consider getting a long-term contract

Some of you may be planning on staying in Japan for an extended period of time. If this is the case, we recommend that you look into long-term plans for your phone and other devices.

For those who are interested in long-term plans, Sakura Mobile offers SIM cards specifically for customers staying in Japan for longer.

You can find more details about Sakura Mobile’s long-term SIM card plans by clicking the link below!

• View long-term SIM deals

Additionally, if you are interested in a comparison of some of the best long-term SIM cards that you can find in Japan, check out the article below.

• 8 Best SIM Cards in Japan | Cell Phone Plans for Long-Term Stay

↑ Go back to the table of contents

Is there free WiFi available at Kansai Airport?

Kansai Airport has a WiFi service that is free of charge. It does not require any verification or application, making it easy to get connection after you have just landed in Japan.

There are two networks IDs and you can connect to either one. They are named, “_FreeWiFi-KansaiAirports” and “_FreeWiFi-KansaiAirports_2.4G”.

Note that the WiFi does not reach too far outside of the premises of the airport; you will not have connection if you walk too far away from the building or enter an aircraft. If you are without a SIM card or pocket WiFi device, make sure you send messages and check everything you need before leaving Kansai Airport.

↑ Go back to the table of contents

There is not much free WiFi in Japan, so get Pocket WiFi or a SIM card

You might be under the impression that you can get by in Japan just by relying on the free WiFi spots in the city.

While it is true that there are many places to find free WiFi such as cafes and fast-food restaurants, these internet connections are often unstable and will not protect your privacy. There is no guarantee that you will be able to find good connection when you need it.

This is why we strongly recommend that you be prepared with a portable WiFi device or SIM card ready when you come to Japan. Your travels will become much easier and stress-free.

We hope that you enjoy your journey to Japan!

Check out Sakura Mobile’s plans by visiting the link below.

• View travel WiFi deals

You can reserve your product up to three days before your trip!