Internet Providers in Japan: A Handy Guide

Tired of slow-to-load streaming? Need reliable Wi-Fi for those hard-to-schedule calls back home? Here's what to know about Internet providers in Japan. 

Pocket Wi-Fi is a standard option for visitors to Japan, with plenty of advantages for those who are here short-term or who spend limited time at home.

However, if you are here for over a year or you work from home for large portions of the day or week—you might want to consider something other than your phone or pocket Wi-Fi's data plan.

Before listing the top Internet providers in Japan, here are some basics and tips to understand first:

Tip 1. Choose a bundled service.

In Japan, there are two separate contracts to sign to get landline Internet access: (1) with the telecommunications carrier who owns and installs the fiber internet optic line, and (2) with the company that provides access to the Internet, i.e., your Internet service provider.

In recent years, internet service providers in Japan have started to bundle these two services together so that you only need to sign one contract. (Good news: In this article, we're only listing bundled plans.) 

Tip 2. Check if you already have a contract.

Find out if your mansion or building complex has a contract with a telecommunications carrier.

If you live in an apartment, your building may have already signed a contract with a wired landline carrier. This could narrow your options when choosing your provider, so find this out first. (If you need help with that, let us know!) 

Tip 3. Assess speed and stability. 

Your choice should be steadier and faster than the pocket Wi-Fi option (which has a data speed of 187 Mbps). 2 Gbps is more than sufficient for quality streaming or gaming.

If you don't do heavy streaming, but want website pages to load quickly, then 1 Gbps might be sufficient for your needs. Also, see if the company you are considering uses a Hikari fiber optic line (the current standard) instead of an ADSL, a slower, older form of Internet cable. 

Tip 4. Check if they service your region. 

Not all carriers provide equal service throughout Japan. If you are moving to the Tokyo Metropolitan Area or other urban region, you will have many providers from which to choose.

Those in rural areas will need to look at the fine print of the Internet connection service to see if the telecommunications carrier provides sufficient coverage to that area. 

Tip 5. Be aware of penalties and extra costs.

If your apartment or house is uncontracted with a telecommunications company, that means you will need to pay for the fiber optic internet line to be installed (between ¥15,000 to ¥40,000; construction fees differ depending on whether yours is a single-unit house or an apartment).

Some companies waive this fee or bake this fee into your monthly payments—but if you cut your contract before it's up, you might need to pay it off in one go. There may be other cancellation fees to contend with, so be sure to ask about this before signing up. 

Tip 6: Plans are often divided into two basic types. 

When visiting any website, you'll notice that typical plans are divided into a higher-priced plan if you live in a house and a lower-priced plan for apartments. The thinking behind this is likely that if you live in a single-unit residence, you probably have more household members using the Internet than someone in an apartment. 

The 4 best Internet providers in Japan

Ready to choose a service? Let's go shopping for the best internet service that will fit your needs. 

Ready to choose a service? Let’s go shopping. 

1. Nuro Hikari (Japanese website) 

Nuro Hikari is considered one of the fastest Internet providers in Japan, with a peak performance speed of up to 10 Gbps (depending on which of their plans you choose).

This is an ideal choice if you're a heavy Internet user. Their 10 Gbps plan is ¥5,700 tied to a 3-year contract (not including the installation fee). 

Precautions: Service is limited to the Hokkaido, Kanto, Tokai, Kansai, and Kyushu. So this is an excellent choice if you live in Tokyo, but not so great if you live in Tohoku or Shikoku. 

2. Softbank Hikari (Japanese website)

Nuro Hikari is considered one of the fastest Internet providers in Japan, with a peak performance speed of up to 10 Gbps (depending on which of their plans you choose).

This is an ideal choice if you're a heavy Internet user. Their 10 Gbps plan is ¥5,700 tied to a 3-year contract (not including the installation fee). 

Precautions: Service is limited to the Hokkaido, Kanto, Tokai, Kansai, and Kyushu. So this is an excellent choice if you live in Tokyo, but not so great if you live in Tohoku or Shikoku. 

3. Docomo Hikari (Japanese website)

The Docomo Hikari plan includes free rental of a Wi-Fi router, monthly discounts on Docomo phone charges, and an IPv6 connection that minimizes congestion issues.

A good option if you are already a Docomo mobile plan user or plan to use them in the future. The speed is 1 Gbps to 10 Gbps. If you apply during a campaign month, construction costs are zero. Monthly fees range from ¥4,400 to ¥5,720. 

Precautions: Cancellation fees kick in if you end your contract before the contract period is up. Also, compensation is required if you have rented a wireless router as part of your plan and it is not returned once the contract is up or if it is found to be damaged upon its return.

4. Au Hikari (Japanese website)

After Nuro Hikari, this is one of the most speediest Internet providers you can choose from. Monthly charge ranges from ¥3740 to ¥5,610～, for apartments and houses, respectively. Expect to pay more for their speedier data plans. The construction fee is ¥41,250 for houses and ¥33,000 for apartments.

Many campaigns and mobile plan tie-ins can bring down your monthly payment but verify the contract particulars before signing the contract. 

Precautions: There is a ¥4,730 cancellation fee.

Frequently asked questions

Who are the main internet providers in Japan?

The main internet providers in Japan that offer bundled packages include Nuro Hikari, Softbank Hikari, Docomo Hikari, and Au Hikari.

What types of internet services are available in Japan?

Internet services in Japan range from a pocket wifi to fiber optic Internet lines.

How can I choose the best internet provider for my needs?

To choose the best internet provider for your needs in Japan, consider whether you require a bundled service, then check whether the service you're interested in using provides good coverage in your region.

How fast is the internet in Japan?

Internet speed in Japan will vary based on your internet service provider, but the best internet services will range from 1Gbps to 10Gbps.

Can I get internet service without a long-term contract?

Some Internet service providers offer short-term contracts. However, the standard is a 1 year to 2 year contract.

What is the average cost of internet in Japan?

The average cost of Internet in Japan is between 4000 to 6000 yen.

Are English-speaking customer support services available?

Asahi Net provides connection services in English to some of the major Internet providers in Japan, including Flet's Hikari and Docomo Hikari. In this case, you'll be paying for the connection and the optic line separately.

In closing

The internet services listed in this article contain many details that we could not easily cover within the space of one article. To find the plan that will best fit your needs, make sure to read through the fine print to avoid penalties or signing up for something insufficient for your needs.