Short answer
An eSIM is a digital SIM on the device, a pocket WiFi is a router you pick up and return, and a physical SIM is a removable card. NINJA WiFi says its router connects up to five devices, Narita Airport lists SIM-card vending machines and Wi-Fi rental counters, and SoftBank Prepaid SIM for Travel is a data-only card that needs a SIM-lock-free phone and a photo of your passport.
Fact table
As of 2026-10-20
Each claim names its source. The full source list, with the date each page was read, is below.
| Claim | Source |
|---|---|
| Apple says an eSIM is an industry-standard digital SIM that lets you use a cellular plan from your carrier without a physical SIM. You do not have to obtain, carry, and swap physical SIM cards, or wait for a card to arrive by mail. | Apple Support, about eSIM |
| Apple says an eSIM is more secure than a physical SIM because it cannot be removed if the iPhone or iPad is lost or stolen. | Apple Support, about eSIM |
| Apple lists some iPhone models as eSIM only. The list includes iPhone Air. It also includes iPhone 14, iPhone 15, and iPhone 16 models purchased in the United States, and iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, iPhone 17e, iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max purchased in Japan. A separate list on that page has an eSIM and a nano-SIM. | Apple Support, SIM type by model |
| The GSMA describes a SIM card as a removable secure element that can be moved between mobile devices, and an eSIM as a SIM that can be downloaded into a secure element that can be permanently embedded in a device. | GSMA, what is an eSIM |
| NINJA WiFi rents mobile Wi-Fi routers that connect smartphones, tablets, and computers. NINJA WiFi says up to five devices can connect to each router. | NINJA WiFi, about |
| NINJA WiFi pickup and return can be an airport counter, the Shinjuku counter, or delivery, and the methods can be mixed. Smart Pickup is a pickup-only locker at Haneda, Narita, Kansai, and other airports. A delivery return goes by mail from a convenience store, a Yamato Transport counter, or a hotel. A Shinjuku return is only for a router picked up in Japan. | NINJA WiFi, pickup and return |
| NINJA WiFi says you can pick the router up the next day at Narita Terminal 1, Narita Terminal 2, Haneda Terminal 2, Haneda Terminal 3, Kansai Terminal 1, Kansai Terminal 2, Naha Airport, and Fukuoka International Airport if you reserve by 16:00 JST the day before. You can return it at a different airport counter, and you change that counter on My Page. | NINJA WiFi, FAQ |
| NINJA WiFi locker pickup is only for an order of one router and one mobile battery. If you miss the reserved time slot, you cannot pick the device up from the locker. | NINJA WiFi, Smart Pickup |
| NINJA WiFi lists a portable spare battery as an optional add-on to the router rental. | NINJA WiFi, plans |
| Narita International Airport lists cellular-phone rental, Wi-Fi rental, and SIM-card sales, including GPA SIM card vending machines before the security check in Terminals 1, 2, and 3. The airport says mobile-phone and Wi-Fi rental counters and SIM-card sales counters are only in areas before departure passport control. | Narita Airport, rental and SIM sales |
| Narita Airport provides Wi-Fi throughout every terminal and on terminal shuttle buses. The network to select is FreeWiFi-NARITA. That page does not describe Wi-Fi outside the airport. | Narita Airport, Wi-Fi |
| SoftBank Prepaid SIM for Travel is a data-only prepaid SIM for visitors to Japan, on the SoftBank network, and it does not include voice calls. SoftBank requires a SIM-lock-free phone, a photo of the original passport taken with a phone that has a camera, and a contractor aged 18 or older. SoftBank does not accept anything other than the original passport. | SoftBank, Prepaid SIM for Travel |
| SoftBank names SoftBank shops, electronics retailers, and airport SoftBank rental counters among the places that sell Prepaid SIM for Travel. The steps begin by inserting the SIM and changing settings on the phone. | SoftBank, Prepaid SIM for Travel |
FAQ
What is an eSIM, and how is it different from a physical SIM?
Apple says an eSIM is an industry-standard digital SIM that lets you use a cellular plan from your carrier without a physical SIM. The GSMA describes a SIM card as a removable secure element that can be moved between mobile devices, and an eSIM as a SIM that can be downloaded into a secure element that can be permanently embedded in a device.
Can several people share one NINJA WiFi router?
NINJA WiFi says up to five devices can connect to each router, including smartphones, tablets, and computers.
How do NINJA WiFi pickup and return work?
NINJA WiFi pickup and return can be an airport counter, the Shinjuku counter, or delivery, and the methods can be mixed. A next-day counter pickup at Narita Terminal 1, Narita Terminal 2, Haneda Terminal 2, Haneda Terminal 3, Kansai Terminal 1, Kansai Terminal 2, Naha Airport, and Fukuoka International Airport needs a reservation by 16:00 JST the day before. You can return the router at a different airport counter by changing that counter on My Page.
Can I add a spare battery, and can the locker hand it over?
NINJA WiFi lists a portable spare battery as an optional add-on to the router rental. Locker pickup is only for an order of one router and one mobile battery, and missing the reserved time slot means you cannot pick the device up from the locker.
Can I buy a physical SIM at Narita Airport?
Narita International Airport lists GPA SIM card vending machines before the security check in Terminals 1, 2, and 3, along with cellular-phone rental, Wi-Fi rental, and SIM-card sales. The airport says mobile-phone and Wi-Fi rental counters and SIM-card sales counters are only in areas before departure passport control.
Will a physical SIM work in every iPhone?
No. Apple lists some iPhone models as eSIM only. The list includes iPhone Air. It also includes iPhone 14, iPhone 15, and iPhone 16 models purchased in the United States, and iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, iPhone 17e, iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max purchased in Japan. A separate list on that page has an eSIM and a nano-SIM.
What does SoftBank require for its visitor SIM?
SoftBank Prepaid SIM for Travel is data only, with no voice calls, and it uses the SoftBank network. SoftBank requires a SIM-lock-free phone, a photo of the original passport taken with a phone that has a camera, and a contractor aged 18 or older. SoftBank names SoftBank shops, electronics retailers, and airport SoftBank rental counters among the places that sell it, and the steps begin by inserting the SIM.
Does Narita Airport Wi-Fi cover the rest of a Japan trip?
Narita Airport provides Wi-Fi throughout every terminal and on terminal shuttle buses, on the network named FreeWiFi-NARITA. That page does not describe Wi-Fi outside the airport.
Sources
Apple Support, about eSIMsupport.apple.com
An eSIM is an industry-standard digital SIM. You can use a carrier plan without a physical SIM, and you do not have to obtain, carry, and swap physical SIM cards or wait for one by mail. Apple says an eSIM cannot be removed if the iPhone or iPad is lost or stolen.
Accessed 2026-10-20.
Apple Support, SIM type by modelsupport.apple.com
Which iPhone models are eSIM only, and which have an eSIM and a nano-SIM. iPhone Air is eSIM only. iPhone 14, 15, and 16 models purchased in the United States are eSIM only. Named iPhone 17 and iPhone 18 models purchased in Japan are eSIM only.
Accessed 2026-10-20.
GSMA, what is an eSIMgsma.com
A SIM card authenticates a device from a removable secure element that can be moved between mobile devices. An eSIM can be downloaded into a secure element that can be permanently embedded in a device.
Accessed 2026-10-20.
NINJA WiFi, aboutninjawifi.com
NINJA WiFi rents mobile Wi-Fi routers that connect smartphones, tablets, and computers. Up to five devices can connect to each router.
Accessed 2026-10-20.
NINJA WiFi, pickup and returnninjawifi.com
Airport-counter, Shinjuku-counter, and delivery pickup and return, which can be mixed. Smart Pickup is a pickup-only locker at Haneda, Narita, Kansai, and other airports. Delivery return is by mail. Shinjuku return requires pickup in Japan.
Accessed 2026-10-20.
NINJA WiFi, FAQninjawifi.com
Next-day counter pickup at the airports NINJA WiFi lists, if reserved by 16:00 JST the day before. Return at a different airport counter by changing the location on My Page.
Accessed 2026-10-20.
NINJA WiFi, Smart Pickupninjawifi.com
Locker pickup is only for one router and one mobile battery. Missing the reserved time slot means the locker cannot hand over the device.
Accessed 2026-10-20.
NINJA WiFi, plansninjawifi.com
A portable spare battery is listed as an optional add-on to the router rental.
Accessed 2026-10-20.
Narita Airport, rental and SIM salesnarita-airport.jp
Cellular-phone rental, Wi-Fi rental, and SIM-card sales, including GPA SIM card vending machines before the security check in Terminals 1, 2, and 3. Those counters are only before departure passport control.
Accessed 2026-10-20.
Narita Airport, Wi-Finarita-airport.jp
Wi-Fi throughout every terminal and on terminal shuttle buses. The network name is FreeWiFi-NARITA. The page is about the airport.
Accessed 2026-10-20.
SoftBank, Prepaid SIM for Travelsoftbank.jp
A data-only prepaid SIM for visitors, on the SoftBank network, with no voice calls. SIM-lock-free phone, a photo of the original passport, and age 18 or older. Sold at SoftBank shops, electronics retailers, and airport SoftBank rental counters, among other places. Setup starts by inserting the SIM.
Accessed 2026-10-20.