The entire station is my Wi-Fi hotspot: Tokyo Metro sets up free WiFi in 143 stations

▲ Free Wi-Fi coming to Tokyo subway stations too (illustration / from Wikipedia)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

Japan has long been a top travel destination for Taiwanese tourists, but the lack of widespread Wi-Fi hotspots has often forced many to rent portable Wi-Fi routers. In light of the growing number of tourists visiting Japan, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Bureau of Transportation announced on the 25th that starting in December, 143 stations operated by both Tokyo Metropolitan Government Subway and Tokyo Metro will offer free Wi-Fi hotspots.

With the expansion of duty-free items in Japan and the country’s successful bid to host the 2020 Olympics, it is expected that more and more foreign tourists will visit Japan. As most Tokyo buses already offer free Wi-Fi services, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Bureau of Transportation has once again partnered with NTT BP to install wireless Wi-Fi in a total of 143 stations operated by Tokyo Metropolitan Government Subway and Tokyo Metro. Both Japanese and foreign visitors can connect simply by downloading the dedicated app.

% Identify the free Wi-Fi logo (image / from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Bureau of Transportation official website)

The transportation bureau stated that free Wi-Fi can be used for three hours at a time and is available an unlimited number of times. Passengers only need to look for the dedicated Wi-Fi logo at the station to connect via the app. The only difference is that the Wi-Fi networks of the two railway companies have different names: Tokyo Metropolitan Government Subway hotspots are called “Toei_Subway_Free_Wi-Fi,” while Tokyo Metro hotspots are named “Metro_Free_Wi-Fi.”

% List of 143 stations offering free Wi-Fi (image / chart by Tokyo Metropolitan Government Bureau of Transportation)