When it comes to obtaining home internet in Japan, there are a few hoops to jump through, but the end result is that you’ll get pretty decent internet for all your browsing, gaming, and streaming needs. Internet in Japan generally has a minimum speed of 50mbps and can go up to 1gbps or even 10gbps, depending on the type, package, and service provider you choose. 

There are three general categories of internet options in Japan:

• Wired (fiber optics)
• Wireless (home router)
• Mobile WI-FI

Unless you’re planning on staying in the country for less than a year, the more economical options are wired and wireless internet for the house. 

Currently, the biggest and most popular Internet Service Providers (ISP) in Japan include:

• SoftBank
• Docomo
• AU
• NTT

That is not to say that this is an exhaustive list; there are other minor ISPs that offer lucrative and attractive packages. If you’re a non-Japanese long-term resident for example, you may want to consider GTN Mobile’s internet services as they provide technical and customer support in 6 different languages, including English, Mandarin, and Korean. 

Wireless

Wireless internet is brought to your home via WI-FI devices, the most common of which is an internet router, which is usually provided by your ISP. Home WI-FI is differentiated from mobile WI-FI in Japan via the name musen for the former. 

If you’re only planning to stay in Japan for less than a year, a more suitable alternative would be to acquire mobile WI-FI, which comes with a small portable router for both indoor and outdoor use. Signing up with mobile WI-FI is an option if you wish to avoid being locked into a contract and paying the necessary connection and installment fees. 

Wired (Fiber Optics)

Known as Hikari in Japanese, fiber optics internet is brought home via a fiber-optic line. It’s also known as fixed-line internet. The biggest draw for this type of internet is its fast connections and ability to support huge amounts of data transmission. The disadvantage of wanting this type of internet is that not all areas and buildings in Japan support this service. 

Internet Service Provider

As previously mentioned, your choice of the type of internet, along with the ISP you prefer, may be restricted to your local Japanese address as some areas and accommodations don’t support all services. When house or apartment hunting, be sure to ask your landlord or real estate agency what kind of internet is available for their properties. At Village House, the agency has over 1,000 locations scattered across all 47 prefectures in Japan, so their properties are bound to be able to cater to different internet needs.

Another thing that you need to contend with when getting home internet in Japan is the fact that it’s common practice for the internet to be unbundled. This means that the telecommunications line will be provided by one company while the actual internet service will be provided by another. 

The telecommunications line is managed by the network operator, who provides all the necessary cables and installations to allow your apartment or house to connect to the internet. In Japan, this service is provided by NTT East, NTT West, KDDI or a variety of cable TV companies. 

The internet service provider or ISP is the operator that will enable the internet connection, either via a router or through the fiber optics installed by the telecommunications operator. 

The biggest headache that comes with unbundled internet is that it can result in you having separate bills, separate contracts and higher installation and connection fees, which is why there are companies now offering bundled packages and promotions. It’s highly encouraged to seek out these bundled packages to minimize issues and paperwork. 

Contract Signing + Prices

Those looking for home internet can apply for a new contract on either the ISP’s official website, by phone, or by going down to one of their branches in the city. Most contracts for home internet are for a minimum of one year, but some ISPs offer contracts for up to 5 years. Be careful which one you choose because cancelation fees tend to be steep.

If you live in an apartment, the internet can cost between ¥4,500 to ¥5,500 yen depending on the ISP you choose, the speed of the internet, the type of internet, and the package you choose. For houses, internet prices linger around ¥5,200 to ¥7,000 yen.

Appointment

Multiple appointments may be needed in order to secure the requested internet services – one to finalize the contract and another to allow for a visit from the network operator to your apartment or house as they need to check and install the necessary cables and wires for the internet. There may also be an installation fee, which can cost anywhere from ¥3,000 up to ¥40,000.