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Wi-Fi routers near Tokyo: where to get one + 5 home plans
Approximate, at the rate on 2026-10-02. You pay in yen.
- Japan home wifi with no installation: five 5G routers you plug in
- Measured speeds run from 83 to 207 Mbps down
- Only Tokutoku BB may be used away from the registered address
The five
| Best for | Where to get it | Score | Two-year total |
|---|---|---|---|
| The one you can take to another address — if you can’t decide | Tokutoku BB Home Wi-Fi Get it |
88/100 | ¥119,788 (two-year total) |
| Fastest measured, on Docomo’s network | Docomo home 5G Get it |
86/100 | ¥126,720 (two-year total) |
| First for satisfaction, and the lowest monthly price of the big three | Rakuten Turbo Get it |
82/100 | ¥119,460 (two-year total) |
| The cheapest two years here | BIGLOBE WiMAX Get it |
80/100 | ¥96,036 (two-year total) |
| Cuts a SoftBank or Y!mobile phone bill | SoftBank Air Get it |
69/100 | ¥131,010 (two-year total) |
These are Japanese services. Where a plan needs a Japanese address, a bank account or a residence card, we say so on the row itself.
Rather see them in a shop first? Where to buy in Tokyo lists six big electronics stores by the main stations, with opening hours.
The one you can take to another address
- Runs on WiMAX and au 5G
- Cash back available to everyone
Why it made the five
-
Usable away from the registered address, so it works the day you move
-
Dispatched the same day at the earliest; no exit fee
-
Switch to fibre later with no penalty
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No joining fee and no delivery charge
-
Right for: Moving often, or bridging the gap until fibre can be installed.
-
Not for: Not wanting the paperwork of claiming cash back.
-
Worth knowing: The monthly price rises by ¥605 from October 2026. The cash back requires you to answer an email in month eleven. The handset is on 36 instalments, so leaving at two years costs about ¥11,088.
Score breakdown — 88/100
| Criterion | Stars | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Quality | ★★★★☆ | The same device, the Speed Wi-Fi HOME 5G L13, averages 152.62 Mbps down and 28.01 up |
| Value for money | ★★★★★ | ¥119,788 over two years, after ¥20,000 cash back |
| Easy to live with | ★★★★★ | No exit fee, same-day dispatch, and explicitly usable away from the registered address: the maximum |
| Trust | ★★★☆☆ | A highly-rated company in Oricon 2026 (60 or above; score not published). Operated by GMO Internet |
| Only here | ★★★★★ | The only one here you may use away from the registered address, and you can leave for fibre without a penalty |
Fastest measured, on Docomo’s network
- Runs on Docomo’s 5G and 4G
- Handset written off over 48 months, so it effectively costs nothing while you stay
Why it made the five
-
Plug it in — no engineer, no appointment, nobody to let in
-
No monthly data cap, though very heavy use over three days can be slowed
-
Change the registered address yourself in My docomo, once a month
-
The most-measured home router in Japan, with 218,324 readings
-
Right for: Wanting the fastest option, in a flat with good Docomo signal.
-
Not for: Any chance of leaving within two years — the handset balance is large.
-
Worth knowing: The handset discount runs 48 months, so leaving at two years costs about ¥36,600. It works only at the registered address.
Score breakdown — 86/100
| Criterion | Stars | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Quality | ★★★★★ | 207.17 Mbps down, 22.25 up, 40.97 ms ping — the fastest here |
| Value for money | ★★★★☆ | ¥126,720 over two years: ¥5,280 × 24, no set-up fee online, handset effectively free |
| Easy to live with | ★★★★☆ | No minimum term, but registered address only; change it online once a month |
| Trust | ★★★★☆ | 64.9 overall in Oricon 2026 (third), and 65.8 for single-occupant households (second). Operated by NTT Docomo |
| Only here | ★★★★☆ | The only Docomo-network router here, and the fastest measured average |
First for satisfaction, and the lowest monthly price of the big three
- Runs on Rakuten’s 5G and 4G
- Lowest monthly price among the major home routers
- Handset written off over 48 months
- 83 Mbps down is enough for video calls and streaming
Why it made the five
-
No minimum term and no exit fee, whenever you leave
-
First overall and first for single-occupant households in Oricon 2026
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Monthly Rakuten points if you also have Rakuten Mobile
-
First for ease of signing up and getting connected
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Right for: Keeping the monthly cost down, especially if you use Rakuten Mobile or Rakuten Ichiba.
-
Not for: Putting speed first.
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Worth knowing: Registered address only. Leaving at two years costs about ¥20,800 in remaining handset instalments.
Score breakdown — 82/100
| Criterion | Stars | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Quality | ★★★☆☆ | 82.8 Mbps down, 38.7 up, 46.51 ms ping; second for speed and stability in Oricon at 66.8 |
| Value for money | ★★★★★ | ¥119,460 over two years: ¥4,840 × 24 plus ¥3,300, handset effectively free |
| Easy to live with | ★★★★☆ | No term and no minimum period, delivered in about two days, but registered address only |
| Trust | ★★★★★ | 67.0 overall in Oricon 2026 — first — and 67.6 for single-occupant households, also first |
| Only here | ★★★★☆ | 1,000 Rakuten points a month alongside Rakuten Mobile, and a higher points rate at Rakuten Ichiba |
The cheapest two years here
- Runs on WiMAX and au 5G
- Discount lasts 24 months, with cash back on top
Why it made the five
-
A monthly discount for the first 24 months
-
No minimum term and no cancellation charge
-
Up to ¥1,100 a month off an au or UQ mobile bill
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Dispatched next day at the earliest, delivery free
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Right for: Minimising the first two years, or already being on au or UQ mobile.
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Not for: Planning to stay past the third year, when the discount ends.
-
Worth knowing: The monthly price rises by ¥330 from October 2026 and the discount stops at 24 months. The handset is on 36 instalments, so a balance remains at two years. The cash back requires a coupon code.
Score breakdown — 80/100
| Criterion | Stars | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Quality | ★★★★☆ | The Speed Wi-Fi HOME 5G L13 averages 152.62 Mbps down and 28.01 up |
| Value for money | ★★★★★ | ¥96,036 over two years after ¥11,500 cash back — the cheapest here |
| Easy to live with | ★★★★☆ | No cancellation charge, no minimum period, next-day dispatch |
| Trust | ★★★☆☆ | A highly-rated company in Oricon 2026 (60 or above; score not published). Operated by BIGLOBE, part of KDDI |
| Only here | ★★★☆☆ | Both a 24-month discount and cash back the following month, plus the au and UQ mobile bundle |
Cuts a SoftBank or Y!mobile phone bill
- Runs on SoftBank’s 5G and 4G
- Air Terminal 6 is far quicker than its predecessors
- Price rise of ¥330 announced for December 2026
Why it made the five
-
Up to ¥1,100 a month off a SoftBank bill, ¥1,650 off Y!mobile
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Air Terminal 6 measures about 175 Mbps down
-
If it cannot get a signal within eight days of moving, SoftBank may release you without a penalty
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The only no-installation option on the SoftBank network
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Right for: Being on SoftBank or Y!mobile.
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Not for: Moving often, or any chance of leaving around the two-year mark.
-
Worth knowing: It works only at the registered address, and use elsewhere can lead to suspension. The handset discount runs 48 months, so leaving at two years costs about ¥47,520.
Score breakdown — 69/100
| Criterion | Stars | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Quality | ★★★★☆ | Air Terminal 6 averages 174.77 Mbps down, 19.02 up, 39.06 ms ping; SoftBank Air overall 158.26 down |
| Value for money | ★★★☆☆ | ¥131,010 over two years, at the revised price plus a ¥4,950 set-up fee, handset effectively free |
| Easy to live with | ★★★☆☆ | Can be suspended if used away from the registered address; moving is handled online or in a shop |
| Trust | ★★★★☆ | 64.4 overall in Oricon 2026 (fifth), 65.6 for single-occupant households (third). Operated by SoftBank |
| Only here | ★★★☆☆ | The only no-installation router on the SoftBank network, with the largest phone bundle discount here |
Where to buy in Tokyo
Want to see home Wi-Fi routers before you sign up? These six big electronics stores are at or near Tokyo’s main stations. Hours, floors and services are as each store’s official page listed them on 5 November 2026; check again before a special trip.
| Store | Station | Open | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yodobashi Camera Multimedia Akiba | Akihabara (JR), 1 min walk | 9:30–22:00 daily | 2F: Wi-Fi routers |
| Yodobashi Camera Shinjuku West Main Store | Shinjuku (JR), west exit | 9:30–22:00 daily | — |
| Yodobashi Camera Multimedia Ikebukuro | Ikebukuro | 9:30–22:00 daily | — |
| Bic Camera Yurakucho | Yurakucho (JR), Hibiya exit, 1 min walk | 10:00–22:00, open every day | 5F: internet enquiries desk |
| Bic Camera Shinjuku West Exit | Shinjuku, west exit (exit B16) | 10:00–20:30 Mon–Sat, 10:00–20:00 Sun and holidays | — |
| Yamada Denki LABI Shibuya | Shibuya, 5–10 min walk | 10:00–22:00 | — |
Know before you buy
- There is no installation and no appointment. The box arrives and you plug it in; most are dispatched the same or the next day.
- Measured over three months: Docomo home 5G 207 Mbps down, SoftBank Air’s Terminal 6 175, the WiMAX L13 device 153, Rakuten Turbo 83. All are enough for video calls; fibre is still better for gaming.
- None of these charges an exit fee, but the handset is on 36- or 48-month instalments. Leave at two years and you owe the balance — about ¥37,000 on Docomo home 5G and ¥48,000 on SoftBank Air.
- Most only work at the address you registered. SoftBank Air may be suspended if it detects use elsewhere; Docomo lets you change the registered address online once a month.
- One service here explicitly allows use away from the registered address, which is the one to take if you move often or need it at a second place.
- Data is unlimited in the sense that there is no monthly cap, but every provider reserves the right to slow heavy users at busy times.
How we chose: theme, conditions, scoring
How we chose
- Candidates: 12
- Met every condition below: 11
- Kept: five, each the best at something different
Conditions (all of them, not most of them)
- No installation work — it runs from a wall socket
- No monthly data cap (congestion management aside)
- A 5G-capable device
- A two-year total of ¥140,000 or less, including the handset and set-up fee
- Accepting new customers as of September 2026
Scoring
Five criteria, one to five stars each, weighted to one hundred points. Every star says where the number came from.
- Quality30 pts
- Average download speed over the last three months from Minsoku’s crowd-sourced measurements. 200 Mbps or more is five stars, 150–199 four, 80–149 three, under 80 two. Where a service has fewer than 1,000 measurements we use the figure for the same device.
- Value for money25 pts
- The two-year total: 24 months of charges, the set-up fee and the handset, less official discounts and cash back available to everyone. ¥120,000 or less is five stars, ¥130,000 four, ¥135,000 three, above that two.
- Easy to live with20 pts
- Minimum term, exit fee, dispatch speed and address restrictions. No term, same-day dispatch and usable away from the registered address is five stars; no term but registered address only, four; an exit fee, or suspension if used elsewhere, three.
- Trust15 pts
- Overall score in the Oricon 2026 customer satisfaction survey for home routers. 66 or more is five stars, 64 four, a highly-rated company without a published score three.
- Only here10 pts
- How useful the thing only this service does is to someone who has just moved into a flat alone. Our judgement, with the reason stated.
What we dropped
| Candidate | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| au Home Router 5G | Runner-up (77/100) | The score is high enough, but its character overlaps with the five |
| UQ WiMAX (Giga Hodai Plus S) | Runner-up (75/100) | The score is high enough, but its character overlaps with the five |
| Kashimo WiMAX | Runner-up (75/100) | The score is high enough, but its character overlaps with the five |
| au Home Router 5G | Runner-up | First for speed and stability in Oricon 2026 at 69.7, but the device and network are the same KDDI ones as WiMAX, and BIGLOBE WiMAX’s two-year total is lower. Leaving within a year carries an exit fee. |
| UQ WiMAX | Runner-up | Sells the device outright, so there is no balance to pay if you leave — but the highest two-year total of the KDDI-network options on the same L13 hardware. |
| Kashimo WiMAX | Runner-up | A flat price from the second month onwards, which is appealing, but the same network and device as BIGLOBE WiMAX at a higher two-year total. |
| GMO Tokutoku BB WiMAX | Runner-up | The same company, network and device as the Home Wi-Fi we chose; we took the one with cash back for everyone. |
| Broad WiMAX | Runner-up | No term and no exit fee, but the same KDDI network and L13 device as the others, and its cash back requires paying for the handset up front. |
| J:COM WiMAX +5G S | Held back | A highly-rated company, but we could not confirm whether its prices change in October 2026. |
| NURO Wireless 5G | Failed a condition | Stopped taking new customers on 31 March 2026. |
Questions visitors ask
Will it still work when I move?
Usually only after you update the registration. Docomo home 5G lets you change the address in My docomo once a month. SoftBank Air and Rakuten Turbo work only at the registered address, and SoftBank Air can be suspended if it detects use elsewhere. Tokutoku BB Home Wi-Fi states on its own site that it can be used away from the registered address — which is why it is first here.
How soon can I use it?
There is nothing to install: it works the day the box arrives. Tokutoku BB Home Wi-Fi and Kashimo WiMAX dispatch the same day at the earliest, BIGLOBE WiMAX the next day, Rakuten Turbo in about two days.
What does it cost to leave after two years?
None of these five charges an exit fee — but you are buying the device in instalments, and the balance falls due. At two years that is about ¥37,000 on Docomo home 5G, ¥48,000 on SoftBank Air, ¥21,000 on Rakuten Turbo and ¥11,000 on Tokutoku BB. UQ WiMAX, which we did not select, avoids this by selling the device outright.
Is it much slower than fibre?
Slower, but not by as much as you would think: 207, 175, 153 and 83 Mbps down for the four networks here, against 578–946 for the fibre services. That is comfortably enough for video calls and streaming, and it varies with the hour and where in the flat you put the box. For online gaming, where latency decides everything, take fibre.
Is the data really unlimited?
There is no monthly cap on any of these. All of them reserve the right to slow you when the network is congested, and Docomo notes that unusually heavy use over three days can be managed. In practice, streaming and calls are not what triggers it.
Is this a good option for a short stay in Japan?
For a few months, yes — there is nothing to install and no fibre engineer to book, and two of these have no minimum term at all. For a few weeks, rent a pocket Wi-Fi instead; we have a separate guide. Note that these are contracts, so you will need a Japanese address and payment method.
Changes
- 2026-10-25 First published. Scored from 12 candidates.