Where is free Wi-Fi reliably available in Japan besides Lawson convenience stores?
I'm back in Japan for the eighth time, but it's five years since I was here and some things are changing.
I've found that every Lawson convenience store now offers free Wi-Fi in one-hour sessions that you can use a certain number of times per day (I think 5 times, but I'll check).
Obviously every accommodation from the level of backpacker hostel up has free Wi-Fi. (Rider Houses often do not.) I'm sure it's common in restaurants and cafes too.
So far the only other place I found free Wi-Fi was at a Michi-no-Eki (road station) in Chitose, Hokkaido. Maybe all Michi-no-Ekis have it. I'll find out and report back.
What I'm looking for is, when you're out and about and suddenly need Wi-Fi to contact a friend or book a hostel, where to head where you know you'll get it?
Many times in many countries I've paid for a coffee I didn't really want, expecting Wi-Fi, and found it wasn't offered, cost extra, or required a local phone to register, etc. In Japan I can just head to the nearest Lawson, but are there other possibilities?
This question is not asking about cheap or convenient Wi-Fi or data plans. There are many such available all around Japan. Please don't answer "just buy this or that card or plan, etc".
Best Answer
I'll work on this answer or I'll change it to an answer wiki if anybody prefers. Please let me know. This is just a rough version so far...
FamilyMart : 3 X 20 minutes per day via email registration. May have seats and power! Look for ????? "eat in". Can be confusing to get working and staff can't help.
Lawson Station : Easiest konbini Wi-Fi to use by far!
7-Eleven : Most confusing konbini Wi-Fi to use by far. Sometimes Facebook might work even if you think you can't get the login to work.
Aeon supermarkets : up to 15 hours per day? Possibly not "my basket" minisupermarkets.
Michi no Ekis (???), the roadside rest areas which are not on expressways may or may not have free Wi-Fi.
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Quick Answer about "Where is free Wi-Fi reliably available in Japan besides Lawson convenience stores?"
- Convenience stores (konbini)
- Cafes and fast-food restaurants.
- Connect to thousands of hotspots with convenient apps.
Where can I get free WiFi in Japan?
Convenience stores are everywhere in Japan. You can't walk more than a few hundred meters in Tokyo without finding one, which makes them the perfect place to host free WiFi. The biggest chains are 7-Eleven, Lawson and Family Mart, all of which have their own WiFi services.Where can I get WiFi in Japan?
Wifi in Japan While you're out, you'll find it in many restaurants, cafes (Starbucks has free wifi in every store), bars and some other public spaces like airports and museums. Some cities are also adding public wifi in major downtown areas.How do tourists get Internet in Japan?
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Answer 2
7-11 and Starbucks also have free Wi-Fi.
(I can't recall if McDonald's has Wi-Fi, but they tend to in most countries)
There is also this "Free Wi-Fi Passport" offered by Softbank: https://www.softbank.jp/en/mobile/special/freewifi/en/
According to the site you only need to provide "mobile phone number, password, gender and age group". For that to work, you need to be able to receive the code via SMS with your foreign mobile number, while you're in Japan and connected to their hotspot. You can/need to renew this setup every two weeks.
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