Unprecedented Wi-Fi Rental "WiFiBOX" Service Launched at Shinjuku Tourist Information Center

February 27, 2023

First time at a tourist information center! Unlimited Wi-Fi Available for Immediate Rental Near Train Stations

(Head Office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Yuji Yoshitake), a global provider of cross-border mobile communications solutions, announces the launch of "WiFiBOX," an unprecedented Wi-Fi rental service that allows customers to rent a mobile Wi-Fi router for 840 yen per day (tax included, unlimited/Japan plan). (President: Yuji Yoshitake, hereafter referred to as "the Company") announces that it will launch "WiFiBOX," an unprecedented Wi-Fi rental service, at the Shinjuku Tourist Information Center on February 28, 2023 (Tuesday).

"WiFiBOX" is a new Wi-Fi rental service released on April 1, 2022, and is a sharing type service that allows users to immediately reserve, receive, and start using Wi-Fi without prior reservations. The Japan domestic plan allows unlimited use for 840 yen per day (tax included), and the terminal includes a charging cable and mobile battery function, allowing users to charge their smartphones. The service was awarded the Good Design Award for 2022 in recognition of its service design, which has been highly evaluated for its multiple benefits, including meeting the non-personal needs of the Corona Disaster, eliminating complicated procedures and queues for users, reducing operating costs, and securing extra space at the installation site.

People tend to think that renting a mobile Wi-Fi router is only for use when traveling overseas. However, in Japan, in addition to use by foreign visitors to Japan, demand is expected to increase in a variety of situations, including business trips, telework, sightseeing, hospitalization, moving to a new location, and use as a "sub-line" in emergency situations such as large-scale communication failures.

"WiFiBOX" has already been launched at major airports nationwide, including Narita, Haneda, and Kansai International Airports, as well as at Tokyo Station, and is widely used in Japan and abroad. Now, with the aim of responding to the needs of foreign visitors to Japan as well as domestic travelers for new lifestyles, business, and sightseeing, we are launching the service at the Shinjuku Tourist Information Center as our first citywide installation. In addition to the multiple locations in the Shinjuku area, we will continue to install the service at train stations and airports in Japan, aiming to further improve customer convenience.

Characteristics of the Shinjuku area and the Shinjuku Tourist Information Center

Shinjuku Station is the world's largest terminal station with approximately 3.5 million passengers per day, served by numerous train lines including the JR Line. In addition, Basta Shinjuku, Japan's largest express bus terminal, is located adjacent to the station, making it a hub station not only for the Kanto region but also for the entire country. In addition, Shinjuku City boasts the highest inbound stay rate in Japan, and as a lodging area, Shinjuku Station's West Exit area is lined with high-end hotels, and the East Exit and Seibu Shinjuku Station area is lined with business hotels, making it an area in high demand not only for sightseeing but also for business use.

The Shinjuku Tourist Information Center is conveniently located just a one-minute walk from the southeast exit of JR Shinjuku Station. Especially from around March every year, when the spring holiday season begins, many tourists visit the Shinjuku Gyoen Garden to enjoy the cherry blossoms and sightseeing in the surrounding area.

Source: Yamato Gokoro https://yamatogokoro.jp/inbound_data/39089/
JNTO Japan Tourism Statistics Data (Dynamic Summary by Prefecture/Tokyo) https://statistics.jnto.go.jp/graph/#graph--prefecture--overview--of--dynamics
Kotsu Shimbunsha "Tre-tabi" https://www.toretabi.jp/railway_info/kstu010.html