Experiences · Plan your trip
Internet in Japan: which eSIM to choose?
No connection means no maps, no train times, no translation. Here's how to be online the moment you land.
In Japan, your phone does almost everything: maps, train times, menu translation, bookings. Without internet, you feel lost fast. The easiest fix today is an eSIM: a data plan you install before you leave, which takes over the moment you land.
For my trip, I got mine on MobiMatter, a site that compares plans from several providers, and it worked without a hitch. Here's how to pick yours. Prices checked on November 4, 2026.
What's an eSIM?
It's a virtual SIM card. No tiny chip to slide into your phone: you buy a plan online, get a QR code by email, scan it, and you're set. Your usual SIM stays in place, so you keep your number for calls and texts, and the eSIM handles the internet.
Most travel eSIMs are data only, with no Japanese phone number. To call, you use WhatsApp or FaceTime, like everyone else.
Before you buy: is your phone compatible?
It's the only real requirement.
- A recent phone
- iPhones from the XS and XR onward support eSIM, as do most high-end Android phones from recent years.
- The quick test
- Dial *#06#. If an "EID" line shows up, your phone takes eSIMs in most cases.
- An unlocked phone
- A phone bought with a plan may be locked to its carrier. If so, ask your carrier to unlock it before you leave.
Which plan should you get?
It all depends on how much you'll use. Maps, messages and translation need little data. Videos, stories and sharing the connection with a laptop need a lot more.
If I were leaving tomorrow, I'd go through MobiMatter again: you compare every plan at once, and the network is shown before you buy. Prices are in US dollars on the site.
The safe bet: IIJ, 20 GB for 30 days
MobiMatter · NTT docomo network · 20 GB · 30 days
No daily cap: you use your 20 GB however you like, at full speed, and you can share the connection. Thirty days covers a two- or three-week trip. For a shorter or lighter trip, IIJ also sells 10 GB for $7.99.
$13.99Price checked on 4 November 2026
See the plan on MobiMatter(IIJ Japan 20 GB, 30 days)For heavy users: eSIMPlus "unlimited", 10 days
MobiMatter · NTT docomo network · 10 days
Watch out for the word "unlimited": you actually get 5 GB a day at full speed, then it drops to 200 kbps until the next day. That's still a lot, enough to post your videos every night. The same plan comes in 7 days ($9.99) and 15 days ($17.99): check the daily limit on the listing.
$12.99Price checked on 4 November 2026
See the plan on MobiMatter(eSIMPlus Japan "unlimited", 10 days)If you already book on Klook: their Japan eSIM
Klook · SoftBank 5G or docomo · 4.6/5 from 50,000+ reviews
Handy if you already use the Klook app for activities: the eSIM installs from the app, and its validity only starts when it connects in Japan. You pick your plan on the listing: compare the price per GB with MobiMatter before you pay.
Klook's Japan eSIM
See the plans on Klook(Klook's Japan eSIM)Setting up your eSIM, stress-free
Buy it a few days before you leave
The plans above only start on their first connection in Japan. They do expire, though, if they're not activated within one to two months of purchase.
Install it at home, on Wi-Fi
Scan the QR code you got by email, or use the seller's app. Give the line a clear name, like "Japan", so it's easy to find.
On Android, mind the APN
MobiMatter warns that its Japan plans need a manual APN setting on Android. Follow the instructions that come with the eSIM.
When you land, switch to the eSIM
In your settings, pick the eSIM for mobile data and turn on data roaming for that line. A few seconds later, you're online.
Keep your home line, without its data
Leave it on to get calls and your bank's text messages, but turn off its mobile data to avoid roaming charges.
What about the alternatives?
Pocket Wi-Fi. A small rented hotspot you pick up at the airport or your hotel and return at the end. Good for groups, or if your phone doesn't support eSIM. The downside: one more device to charge and not forget.
Your home plan. Some plans include a bit of data in Japan, but it's rare and often limited: check with your carrier before you go. Otherwise, roaming can get very expensive.
A physical SIM card. You'll find them at the airport, but you often have to take out your usual SIM, and then you stop getting your bank's text messages.
Traps to avoid
Fake unlimited
Many "unlimited" plans slow you down past a daily volume. Read the speed line or the fair use policy before you buy.
A locked phone
A phone locked to its carrier won't take other eSIMs. Check before you leave, not at the airport.
Deleting the eSIM too early
A deleted eSIM often can't be reinstalled. Keep it until the end of the trip, even once the data is used up.
Home data left on
If your home line's mobile data is still on, your phone may use it instead of the eSIM, and roaming charges add up fast.
FAQ
Do I need an eSIM if my hotel has Wi-Fi?
Yes, as soon as you step outside: maps, train times, translation. There's free Wi-Fi in stations and some shops, but not enough to get around with peace of mind.
Do I keep my usual phone number?
Yes. The eSIM is added next to your usual SIM: you still get calls and texts on your number, and the eSIM handles the internet.
Can I share the connection with a friend or a laptop?
Yes with the three plans above, which all support hotspot. Just keep an eye on your usage, which climbs fast.
When should I install the eSIM?
Before you leave, at home on Wi-Fi. For the plans above, the data only starts on the first connection in Japan.
What if my phone isn't compatible?
Get a pocket Wi-Fi, or a physical SIM card if your phone takes two cards.
The essentials
eSIM in Japan
- Networks
- NTT docomo, SoftBank, au (KDDI) and Rakuten
- Type
- Data only, no Japanese phone number
- Setup
- Before you leave, at home on Wi-Fi
- Start
- On the first connection in Japan (plans above)
- Budget
- About $8 to $18 depending on data and duration
Driving while you're there? Read my Driving in Japan page too.