Hello all,
I will be traveling to Tokyo in a few days for about a week (arriving in Narita, leaving through Haneda) and I just had a few questions, mainly concerning Internet and IC cards. I have read the [guides on this subreddit](https://new.reddit.com/r/JapanTravelTips/comments/19cfb5s/welcome_to_rjapantraveltips_if_youre_new_to_the/) and watched a few videos on YouTube with travel tips, but I’d definitely be grateful if you could confirm a few details/answer a few lingering questions. Thank you so much in advance.
* A lot of online guides suggest getting one of those Pocket Wi-fi things, which I was going to do, but then I saw people here recommending Ubigi eSims and looking into it, it seems a much better value if it is indeed reliable, considering one would be only carrying a phone around during the day and I assume the wi-fi in hotels would be fast and unlimited? The thing is I have absolutely no idea how much data is consumed by tasks like checking itineraries on Google Maps, translating stuff, etc… I know you can top up the plan, but any help figuring out a good amount of GBs for one week would be greatly appreciated.
* On the IC Cards, I understand they’re all essentially the same. I understand regular Suica and Pasmo are no longer being sold to tourists. From what I gather the only difference Welcome Suica and Pasmo Passport have to the “regular versions” is you can’t get your balance refunded, but then again you don’t pay a 500 yen deposit for those. A website in my country will sell and send me an Icoca card for €39 with 1500 yen loaded in, which makes the card itself about 4850 yen. Am I right that this is completely unnecessary and that Welcome Suica/Pasmo Passport are just fine?
* If yes to the above, if I understand correctly, Welcome Suica is only sold at Haneda which means that since I’m arriving in Narita I have to get the Pasmo Passport? And are these sold in machines or is it at some counter? (Also I’m seeing some people claim that the regular Suica is being sold again?)
* Trying to make sense of what the IC Cards are used for in terms of transportation, it’s not just the metro but trains as a whole? So say one wanted to go to DisneySea or take a day trip to Yokohama, Yokosuka or whatever, it’s just tap the IC Card in and out, and the journey’s taken care off? No need to book tickets on the JR trains? Do they also cover journeys to/from the airports?
* Oh also, I’ve been told to just use ATMs to withdraw Yens rather than bringing Euros to change at a currency exchange. Would you advise the same?
I think that about covers it. Again thank you so much for whatever enlightenment you can provide. And have a wonderful day.
by JeanMorel