There are a variety of ways to stay connected to the internet while traveling in Japan. However, this is a quickly evolving industry where services and rates are constantly changing. The following are some of the common solutions available, however this is not an exhaustive list.

Hotels (0 to 2000 yen per 24 hour period)

Many hotels and some ryokan in Japan offer free internet in their guest rooms. A few hotels, typically the higher end Western chains, charge for internet access based on 24 hour periods. Access is typically provided as wired internet via LAN cable, but wireless networks are also common. At older hotels you may have to borrow and install some hardware in order to set up a network in your room. Many hotels also provide wireless internet or public computers in their lobby or business center.

In remote places, such as national parks or rural hot spring resorts, many hotels, ryokan and minshuku do not provide internet access of any kind. Hotel reservation websites, such as Japanican, provide details on internet availability and offer the option to filter for places with internet access.

Wireless (Wi-Fi) Hotspots

Both paid and free wireless (Wi-Fi) hotspots are available in Japan. Laptops and mobile devices can connect to publicly accessible hotspots found around airports, train stations, hotels, coffee shops, restaurants and bars.

• Free Wi-Fi Hotspots

  Free public Wi-Fi is not commonly available in Japan; however, some hotels, restaurants, bars, and shops provide free wireless internet access to their customers.

• Paid Wi-Fi Hotspots (500 yen per day)

  Paid Wi-Fi hotspots are the most common type of public Wi-Fi in Japan. Multiple companies provide service around stations, on trains, and in coffee shops and restaurants. One day passes usually cost 500 yen and give you access to all of that company's locations.

  Registration interfaces are often provided in Japanese only; however, Skype is partnering with several Japanese Wi-Fi providers and allows you to use the Skype application to bypass the Japanese login and pay for internet access in your own currency via your Skype account. See the Skype website for more details.

Personal Hotspots (1000 to 1500 yen per day)

Personal hotspots (also called mifi, portable hotspot, personal Wi-Fi, pocket Wi-Fi, etc.) are small, battery powered devices that use the cellular phone network to create a local hotspot. They are easy to set up, provide reasonably fast internet, work anywhere there is cell phone service, allow multiple devices to connect at once and are relatively inexpensive. Personal hotspots are available to rent at major Japanese airports or via the internet for delivery to your home or hotel.

USB Modems (500 to 1500 yen per day)

USB modems are available to directly connect a laptop to the internet via the cellular phone network. They are offered by the same companies that rent personal hotspots, and have similar coverage and speeds. Conversely, they tend to be less expensive and require no batteries or charging, but they can only be used with one device at a time. USB modems are available to rent at major Japanese airports or via the internet for delivery to your home or hotel.

Rental and Prepaid SIM cards (from 1500 yen per day or 6000 yen per month)

Those who wish to use their own mobile phones or tablets to directly access the internet in Japan can get rental or prepaid SIM cards that allow for unlimited internet access via the cellular phone network. They are available to rent or purchase at major Japanese airports or via the internet for delivery to your home or hotel. Your device must not be locked to a specific provider to utilize these services.

International Roaming (Varies by carrier)

International roaming is a convenient, albeit expensive way to access the internet during your travels. In order to do so, your device must be able to operate in Japan and your carrier needs to have roaming agreements with a Japanese provider. Be aware that international roaming can be extremely expensive, so check with your home provider for specific details, pricing and eventual plans.

Internet Cafes and Manga Kissa (from 400 yen per hour)

Internet cafes, known as netto cafe (ネットカフェ) or manga kissa (漫画喫茶 or マンガ喫茶), rent out internet connected computers at hourly rates. Most offer discounted rates for longer blocks of time or special overnight deals. While internet cafes are often found near major stations, they may be difficult to find as they tend to be in inconspicuous locations with signs in Japanese only. Also, some internet cafe chains require that you sign up for a membership and pay a small registration fee.

Internet Kiosks (100 yen per 10 minutes)

Although increasingly rare, coin operated internet kiosks can still be found around some major train stations and airports. They are also occasionally found at hotels and libraries. Coin operated internet kiosks usually only accept 100 yen coins.