The right fix depends on what actually happened — a temporary dead zone is not the same problem as a broken rental device. Find your situation:
I just need internet right now
You're between hotels, waiting for a fix, or just landed. → Use free wifi below.
My rented pocket wifi or SIM died
It was working, now it isn't. → Troubleshoot it, then call the rental company.
I want something reliable for the rest of the trip
Free wifi isn't cutting it and you're done troubleshooting. → Buy an eSIM now, online.
Situation 1
Free Wi-Fi That Actually Still Works in 2026
A lot of older guides still recommend 7-Eleven or FamilyMart wifi — both were discontinued in 2022. These four are current:
LAWSON_Free_Wi-Fi
Any Lawson convenience store
Five 60-minute sessions per day. The only major convenience store chain still offering this — 7-Eleven's "7SPOT" and FamilyMart's free wifi were both discontinued in 2022.
at_STARBUCKS_Wi2
Any Starbucks in Japan
Connect, open a browser, tap "Connect," accept the terms. Sessions run 60 minutes, reconnect as needed.
JR_EAST_FREE_Wi-Fi
JR East stations (most of eastern Japan, including Tokyo)
Covers platforms and concourses at major stations — useful the moment you step off a train with a dead connection.
Airport Wi-Fi
Narita, Haneda, Kansai, and other major airports
Free, unlimited, no app or account needed — the most reliable option if you've just landed.
The "Japan Connected-free Wi-Fi" app aggregates these and thousands more hotspots (WIFIRE, FREESPOT, and others) into one auto-connecting tool, if you want to stop hunting for network names manually.
Situation 2
Your Pocket Wifi or Rental SIM Died
Full reboot first
Hold the power button for 10–15 seconds until the manufacturer logo appears. This alone fixes most connection drops.
Forget and reconnect
If your phone shows "no internet" but the router's lights look normal, forget the wifi network on your phone and reconnect from scratch.
Check the SIM seating
If it's a physical rental SIM rather than a router, reseat the card — a slightly loose SIM tray is a common, easy-to-miss cause.
Call the rental provider, not the return desk
Most Japan pocket wifi and SIM rental companies run a support line and will ship a free same-day replacement device to your hotel.
Also worth having on you
If the actual problem is a dead phone battery rather than a dead connection, a compact power bank solves it faster than any troubleshooting above — and convenience stores don't reliably stock them.
Shop portable chargers →Situation 3
You Need Something Reliable — Not Just Free Wifi
An eSIM is the fastest fix available mid-trip: no store visit, no physical SIM swap. Buy it from your phone over any free wifi network above, and most Japan eSIMs activate within minutes.
See Japan eSIM options →Common Questions
Does 7-Eleven still have free wifi in Japan?
No — 7-Eleven's "7SPOT" free wifi service and FamilyMart's equivalent were both discontinued in 2022. Lawson is now the only major convenience store chain still offering free wifi (network name: LAWSON_Free_Wi-Fi), so it's worth knowing that guides mentioning 7-Eleven wifi are out of date.
My pocket wifi stopped working — is it broken?
Usually not. Hold the power button for 10–15 seconds for a full reboot, which resolves most connection drops. If your phone shows "no internet" but the router looks online, forget the network on your phone and reconnect. If it's still dead after that, most rental companies will ship a free same-day replacement — contact their support line first, not the return counter.
Can I buy an eSIM after I've already arrived in Japan?
Yes, and it's the fastest fix if you didn't set one up before your trip. Buy it online from your phone using a free wifi network (a Starbucks or your hotel), and most Japan eSIMs activate within minutes — no store visit or physical SIM swap required.