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Internet provider with good latency to Europe?
I am soon starting my life in Tokyo and I am thinking about what internet provider to go with. I have a hard time picking since my Japanese still has some ways to go so I can only see what the on… Hi,
I am soon starting my life in Tokyo and I am thinking about what internet provider to go with. I have a hard time picking since my Japanese still has some ways to go so I can only see what the ones with English support have to offer.
My hobby is gaming, so I care a lot about my ping. I know I won't have anything bellow 200, but that is still better than some 300 or above because the provider chose to go through the states instead of Asia or something.
Incidentally, a good VPN recommendation for Japan-Europe works too, since I will most probably end up getting one of those also, especially if the company dormitory will already have a contract with a provider and I won't have a say. (considering Nord VPN for now)
Forgot to mention, but since the main focus is gaming, I am mostly interested in Tokyo-Frankfurt(or at least Germany in general). For some reason all my games have the Europe server there.
I am not an expert at those things so sorry if I will sound dumb at times.
tl;dr: I just want low ping for my Europe accounts. Be it with a provider or with a VPN that reroutes the providers mistakes.
Thanks!
honestly the dorm thing is gonna be the biggest factor here, most share houses and company dorms in tokyo use flets hikari collabo which is basically the cheapest bulk deal and it routes everything through the US west coast. i lived in a leopalace for a year and my league ping to frankfurt was 280-300 no matter what i tried.
if you can get your own line, go with nuro. they have direct peering with equinix in frankfurt and you can get around 220-230ms which is about as good as it gets from tokyo. au hikari is second best but their routing can be weird depending on your ward, i had a friend in shibuya who got routed through london for some reason.
for vpn i'd skip nord tbh, mudfish is better for gaming but even better is exitlag. they have specific tokyo-frankfurt routing that actually cuts off like 15-20ms compared to regular vpns. costs like 5 bucks a month and you can try it free for 3 days. just make sure you set it to game mode only or your regular browsing will be slower.
if you're in a dorm and stuck with whoever they use, you can still improve things a bit. get a router that supports qos and set your gaming traffic as priority - it won't fix bad routing but it stops someone else streaming 4k from spiking your ping
for vpn i'd skip nord tbh. try wtfast or mudfish, they let you pick the exact cable path. tokyo to frankfurt on the apg cable usually sits around 180-190ms for me. mudfish is pay per traffic so costs basically nothing for gaming
also check if your building has fiber to the room or just vdsl. i lived in a place in nakano that advertised "fiber" but it was actually vdsl to a closet and the ping was awful. real fiber direct to your unit makes a bigger difference than the provider name on the contract
honestly for gaming to europe in tokyo you want Nuro Hikari if you can get it in your building. they use a direct fiber line and dont route through the US like some others do. ping to frankfurt is usually around 220-240 which is about as good as youre gonna get from here
for VPN skip Nord, its kinda meh for gaming. try WireGuard with a VPS in Frankfurt instead, you can set it up yourself for like 5 bucks a month and itll be way faster than any commercial VPN. just grab a Hetzner or Netcup server
if youre stuck in a dorm with pre-contracted internet you might be out of luck. some of those share connections with like 50 people and ping goes to shit. ask the dorm manager if they have fiber or if its just ADSL, ADSL in tokyo is genuinely painful
Things to Do in Tokyo (2026)
Start your Tokyo journey at the Tokyo Tower (4-2-8 Shibakoen, Minato), which offers panoramic views from its 150-meter observation deck for 1,200 yen. For a more modern perspec… 🗼 Iconic Landmarks
Start your Tokyo journey at the Tokyo Tower (4-2-8 Shibakoen, Minato), which offers panoramic views from its 150-meter observation deck for 1,200 yen. For a more modern perspective, head to the Shibuya Sky observation deck (2-24-12 Shibuya, Shibuya) for 2,000 yen, open until 10 PM. Both spots are less crowded on weekday mornings.
⛩️ Cultural Temples and Shrines
Visit Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa (2-18-9 Kaminarimon, Taito), Tokyo's oldest temple, open daily from 6 AM to 5 PM. For a quieter experience, explore the Meiji Jingu Shrine (1-1 Yoyogikamizonocho, Shibuya), set in a large forested area and free to enter. Arrive early to avoid crowds, especially on weekends.
🍜 Must-Try Food Experiences
Sample authentic ramen at Ichiran Shibuya (1-22-7 Jinnan, Shibuya), where individual booths let you focus on the tonkotsu broth, starting at 1,290 yen. For a unique twist, try conveyor-belt sushi at Uobei Shibuya (1-19-3 Jinnan, Shibuya), with plates from 100 yen. Reservations are not needed, but expect short queues.
🏯 Hidden Neighborhoods
Explore Yanaka, a district that survived WWII bombings, with narrow lanes and traditional shops like Yanaka Ginza shopping street (3-11-1 Yanaka, Taito). For a bohemian vibe, wander Shimokitazawa (Kitazawa, Setagaya), known for vintage stores and indie cafes. Both areas are best explored on foot in the afternoon.
🚇 Getting Around
Use the Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway networks, with a 24-hour pass costing 800 yen for unlimited rides on most lines. The Suica or Pasmo IC cards are rechargeable and work on trains, buses, and even vending machines. Avoid rush hour (7:30-9 AM and 5-7 PM) to travel comfortably.
🌃 Best Evening Spots
Watch the sunset from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building (2-8-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku), where the free observation deck is open until 10 PM. For nightlife, head to Golden Gai in Shinjuku (1-1-6 Kabukicho, Shinjuku), a maze of tiny bars with a cover charge of around 500 yen. Reservations are recommended for popular bars.
🌸 Seasonal Highlights
Cherry blossom season in late March to early April draws crowds to Ueno Park (5-20 Uenokoen, Taito), with over 1,000 cherry trees. For autumn foliage, visit Rikugien Garden (6-16-3 Honkomagome, Bunkyo) in November, lit up at night for 1,000 yen. Check the Japan Meteorological Corporation's forecast for peak dates.
🎁 Unique Souvenirs
Buy traditional crafts at Kappabashi Kitchen Town (3-18-2 Nishiasakusa, Taito), famous for realistic plastic food samples and kitchenware. For quirky gifts, explore Don Quijote stores, like the one in Shibuya (1-16-5 Udagawacho, Shibuya), open 24 hours and offering everything from electronics to snacks. Prices are reasonable, and tax-free shopping is available for tourists.
honestly this is a solid list, you've hit the major spots. one thing i'd add is that the Tsukiji Outer Market is worth a morning even if the inner market moved to Toyosu. the stalls there for tamagoyaki and fresh uni on skewers are unbeatable, and it gets packed by 9am so go early.
for a cheap meal that slaps, try CoCo Ichibanya for curry rice. there's one near basically every station and you can customize the spice level and toppings. it's not fancy but it's a real Tokyo staple that tourists often overlook.
also if you're into temples, the walk from Senso-ji down Nakamise-dori is fun but the side streets in Asakusa have smaller shrines and old-school snack shops that are way less crowded. i stumbled on a tiny place selling matcha soft serve for 350 yen last time and it was better than the touristy ones.