Japan

Staying connected in Japan

Japan draws visitors all year, but the cherry blossom weeks of late March and early April and the autumn colours of October and November are the busiest; summer brings fireworks festivals, and winter sends skiers to Hokkaido and Nagano. The classic first trip is the Golden Route of Tokyo, Mount Fuji, Kyoto and Osaka, travelled mostly by train and Shinkansen.

You will lean on mobile data most when changing lines inside vast stations such as Shinjuku or Umeda, checking train times, translating menus with your camera and finding addresses in neighbourhoods where most streets have no names. Many museums, immersive attractions and popular restaurants take bookings online, so you will often be showing a QR code at the door.

Coverage and networks

There are 2 eSIM options for Japan. Each network belongs to the option it is listed with, so compare them before choosing.

Signal and speed depend on where you are, your device and network conditions, and can differ between plans.

Choosing a data allowance

eSIM plans for Japan currently last 1 to 90 days and come in these types:

• Daily data (500MB to 30GB per day): suits a steady routine. Check when the daily allowance resets and what happens once it is used.
• Total data (3GB to 100GB): one allowance for the whole trip, handy when some days are heavier than others.

Suggestions for this trip

• A 5–7 day Golden Route trip spent on maps, train searches and photo posts: 1GB of daily data is usually enough; if you video call home or post long stories, go for 2GB or 3GB a day.
• Remote work, livestreaming or daily vlogging: consider 5GB or 10GB a day; the 30GB daily option suits people who regularly move large files.
• Prefer flexibility to a daily cap: total data of 10GB or 15GB fits a week-long trip and 20GB–30GB a fortnight, since evenings on hotel Wi-Fi use very little.
• Short courses, internships or long family visits: 45-day and 90-day plans are available; heavy users should look at large total data options such as 50GB or 100GB where offered for that duration.

Count your arrival and departure days. Before paying, check the exact plan for when validity starts, how days are counted, and whether hotspot, calls or SMS are included; these differ between plans.

Before you go

• Public Wi-Fi: Available at airports, many stations and some convenience stores and cafés, but it usually needs an email sign-up and sessions are time-limited, so it is patchy on the move.
• Maps and trains: Google Maps handles Japanese rail well, including departure times and station exits; when switching between lines run by different railway companies, look for the transfer gates.
• IC cards: Suica, ICOCA or PASMO cover trains, buses and convenience store purchases; iPhone users can add Suica to the Wallet app.
• Taxis: The GO app is widely used in Tokyo, Osaka and many other cities; Uber also operates in the larger cities, mainly for booking regular taxis.
• Messaging: LINE is the main messaging app in Japan, and small guesthouses or local guides often contact guests through it.
• Cash: Cards are far more widely accepted than they once were, but temples, small eateries and rural areas still prefer cash, so carry some yen.
• eSIM setup: Before buying, make sure your phone supports eSIM and is not carrier-locked. Install the eSIM before you fly, on a stable Wi-Fi connection, following the instructions sent with your plan.
• On arrival: Set the travel eSIM as your mobile data line and follow its roaming instructions. Turn off data roaming on your home SIM to avoid unexpected charges.