Short answer
A travel eSIM is the simplest way to stay online in Japan: no pocket Wi-Fi to collect and return, no SIM counter at the airport. Install it before you fly and you're connected when you land at Narita, Haneda or Kansai. Around 1 GB per day covers maps, train apps and messaging; heavy users should pick an unlimited day pass.
Live prices for Japan
These plans and prices come straight from our catalog and update automatically.
3 GB
15 days
- Speed: 3G/4G/5G
- Hotspot supported
- Top-up available
$3.99
$1.33/GB
10 GB
30 days
- Speed: 3G/4G/5G
- Hotspot supported
- Top-up available
$7.99
$0.80/GB
100 MB
7 days
- Speed: 3G/4G/5G
- Hotspot supported
- Top-up available
$1.99
500 MB/day
Choose days
- Unlimited: 512 Kbps after daily data
- Speed: 3G/4G/5G
- Hotspot supported
$2.99 for 1 day
Lower price per day on longer trips
eSIM or pocket Wi-Fi?
| Travel eSIM | Pocket Wi-Fi rental | |
|---|---|---|
| Pick-up and return | Nothing to collect | Collect at the airport or hotel, return before you leave |
| Battery | Uses your phone only | One more device to charge |
| Sharing | Hotspot from your phone | Built for several devices |
| Best for | Solo travellers and couples | Groups with many devices |
Coverage in Japan
Japan's networks are NTT docomo, KDDI (au), SoftBank and Rakuten Mobile. Coverage is excellent in cities, on the Shinkansen lines and in most rural tourist areas, including Tokyo's subway stations.
Each plan card shows the partner network it uses. Signal can drop in remote mountains and some long tunnels, which is normal on every network.
How much data for Japan?
- Tokyo city trip, 5 days: 3–5 GB (Google Maps transit directions, translation, messaging).
- Golden Route Tokyo–Kyoto–Osaka, 10 days: 10 GB.
- Video, social media all day or hotspot for a laptop: an unlimited day pass.
Japan travel tips
- Add a Suica or PASMO card to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet for trains, buses and convenience stores.
- Google Maps shows platforms, exits and train times for almost every line.
- Download Google Translate's Japanese pack for offline camera translation of menus and signs.
- Free public Wi-Fi exists but often needs registration; your eSIM avoids that.
Frequently asked questions
Do I get a Japanese phone number?
No, travel eSIMs are data-only. You keep your own number on your home SIM, and messaging apps work as usual.
Does the eSIM work on the Shinkansen?
Yes, coverage along the bullet-train lines is very good, with short gaps in some tunnels.
When does the plan start?
When the eSIM first connects in Japan, so you can install it days before your flight.
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