Recently, we went to Japan to cover Tokyo Game Show 2024, and during the trip, Globe’s GoRoam offer in Japan helped us with what was no doubt an incredible trip.
While our entire Tokyo Game Show (TGS) team used Globe’s GoRoam for our mobile internet needs, I’m going to talk about my personal experience with it given that I have the most experience when it comes to internet options in Japan.
In previous trips, I’ve used local SIMs, pocket Wi-Fis, and even Globe’s previous international data roaming offers. A few years back, I typically get a local SIM or a pocket Wi-Fi alongside a Globe roaming offer as this serves as insurance of sorts in the event the local SIM or Wi-Fi device fails (which has happened to me before).
For this trip though, I used only Globe’s new GoRoam offer in Japan. That’s because this new GoRoam for prepaid and postpaid costs only PHP 1,600 and has 10GB of data for 30 days – a great deal compared to most other internet options in Japan.
While my previous experience with Globe’s roaming offers in Japan was positive, the fact that this TGS coverage was a work trip meant that having a reliable internet connection was a must. In that regard, GoRoam did not disappoint!
Covering Tokyo Game Show 2024 Thanks to GoRoam
On previous trips, I had to book a local SIM or pocket Wi-Fi through third-party apps. As I only used GoRoam for this trip, I instead pre-booked the promo via the GlobeOne app a day before my flight (and guess what: Globe has a new feature on GlobeOne where you can book your data promos up to 1 year ahead).
According to the app, the GoRoam offer will activate instantly as soon as your phone connects to the network in Japan. In my case, once I landed, I turned off Airplane Mode and waited a bit for my phone to latch onto Japan’s network (in this case, Softbank).
Soon after landing, my phone successfully got connected, and I soon got a notification that my GoRoam Japan subscription had been activated. Upon checking my GlobeOne app, I saw that I had a 10GB allocation, and it also showed how much data I’ve consumed.
Since I got connected after deplaning, Globe’s GoRoam promo ensured I had a steady and reliable internet connection throughout my trip. Aside from helping me navigate my way out of the airport and into my first hotel for the trip, it also proved to be invaluable during TGS itself.
During TGS, my job was to ensure articles and social media posts were scheduled and published. I had to do this while running around the TGS venue of Makuhari Messe for various coverage engagements. Even with the sheer number of people at the venue, my mobile data connection did not drop one bit. In fact, I tested the speed multiple times and I always got a download speed of over 100Mbps.
This was also a big help for me when I needed to work on my laptop. While there was free Wi-Fi in the TGS media room and the Airbnb that I stayed in during the second half of the trip, these connections were woefully slow. Thus, I had to rely on using my phone as a hotspot to get my laptop connected. Again, Globe GoRoam was invaluable for my work.
What’s more, the 10GB allocation was also great. Even if I wrote many articles and had to upload lots of images, I still ended the week-long trip with 2GB remaining. Not bad for a week of heavy use.
Exploring Tokyo with Globe
While covering Tokyo Game Show was the focus of the trip, I still got to take some time after to visit various museums and cafes in Tokyo. For this, Globe was once again clutch as I couldn’t have made the best of my free day without a reliable internet connection.
I had my free day planned out, though that meant it was a pretty packed day where I needed to be efficient in navigating subways and walking paths. To be exact, I started my day at a specialty café before going on a whirlwind trip to three museums. This meant I had to take multiple subway trips.
Even on the subway, I had a fast and reliable internet connection – important given my packed schedule and the fact that Japan’s train system can be overwhelming at times. Thanks to this steady connection, I did not miss a single stop. I even squeezed in a few more sights in between.
I had the opposite experience in a previous Japan trip when I had trouble with a local SIM. While it had a good connection, there were times that the connection got lost and I had to restart my phone to get it working again. For this recent trip, I did not restart my phone at any point as the connection held steady throughout the week.
Why Globe GoRoam is a Better Choice Over Local SIM or Pocket Wi-Fi
Speaking of the local SIM, there are some disadvantages to getting one now that I have experienced the new GoRoam offer. For starters, local SIMs often have a daily data cap that’s not explicitly mentioned. Thus, if you hit this cap (often just 2GB or so), your connection slows down dramatically, even if the SIM is promoted as having “unlimited” data.
There’s also the fact that price-wise, local SIM offers are often much more expensive than the GoRoam Japan promo, especially for 30 days. While local SIMs can be good deals for shorter trips, they’re often too expensive for month-long trips.
Perhaps the biggest knock on local SIMs is actually getting them. As I typically grab a SIM from a third-party app, I always need to visit an airport counter to claim it. Aside from the risk of the SIM not working, there’s the fact that airport counters often close early. For instance, there was a time that I landed late in Nagoya some years ago (to cover a Rainbow Six Siege tournament), and that meant I had to return to the airport to claim the SIM the following day which added unnecessary time wasted.
The same can be said for Pocket Wi-Fi options. Not only is the data often capped, but the claiming counters at the airport also close early. This happened to me again around two years ago. At the time, Japan had only opened up again, so my only internet option was a Pocket Wi-Fi device at Hakata Airport. Again, my flight landed late, so I had to return to the airport the following day to get it.
One thing about Pocket Wi-Fi devices that’s also worth noting is battery life. Over a day, you’ll likely see the device run out of juice, meaning you have to carry a dedicated power bank for it. In my experience, a device like that is only good for around 8 hours. This is an issue for many, especially as many travelers have long days when visiting other countries.
Get GoRoam Japan Now Exclusively on the GlobeOne App
For this TGS coverage in Tokyo, I only had the Globe GoRoam Japan offer as my internet solution, and it turned out to be a great choice.
Aside from giving me a reliable and fast internet connection for my work and leisure needs, it was also incredibly easy to book and activate. Plus, it is an even better deal than SIM or Pocket Wi-Fi options, all while having none of their drawbacks.
GoRoam is available now exclusively through GlobeOne. Besides Japan, the offer is also available with country-exclusive offers in Canada, Australia, and Vietnam. The service is also available in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Thailand, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States.
Download the GlobeOne app, which can be downloaded for free on the Apple Store and the Google Play Store. Check out this LINK to start enjoying its features.
Interested in getting the promo for your Japan trip? Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to get it:
Globe’s GoRoam is a Must-Have for Your Next Japan Trip: Here’s How to Get it