The best eSIM for Japan is a data plan sized to your days there and installed before you fly. A SimOptions Japan eSIM does that. It runs on the NTT Docomo and SoftBank networks with 4G/5G speed, activates automatically when you arrive in Japan and comes in sizes from 1 GB for 3 days to 60 GB for 90 days. It is data only, with no Japanese phone number, so you call and message through apps. Going on to South Korea or China too? An Asia eSIM covers Japan and both of them.
Which is the best eSIM for Japan?
Short on time? These Japan plans are data only with 4G/5G speed. Pick the size from the days you stay.
Japan 5GB (7 days) · 10GB (7 days) · 20GB (15 days) · data only · 4G/5G · See all eSIMs for Japan · All destinations
What to look for in an eSIM for Japan
- Coverage: check that Japan is on the country list. A Japan plan covers Japan only. Our Asia plans list Japan too, for a trip that takes in more countries.
- Data and days: both are on the plan page. A small plan fits a weekend in Tokyo. For two weeks of maps, train times, translation and photos from Tokyo to Kyoto and Osaka, look at a bigger one.
- Network and speed: the plan details list the networks and the speed. Our Japan plans use NTT Docomo and SoftBank at 4G/5G speed.
- Calls: most travel eSIMs are data only. You call and message through apps over data.
- Setup before you fly: you get a QR code by email and install it on Wi-Fi at home. Your phone must support eSIM and be unlocked (see how to check eSIM compatibility).
Japan's national tourism organisation, JNTO, says visitors commonly buy or rent a SIM card, eSIM or pocket Wi-Fi at the airport, or reserve one online and pick it up there, and that eSIMs and pocket Wi-Fi are especially convenient for short-term visitors (JNTO: Japan travel FAQ). With an eSIM there is nothing to pick up or return: it is on your phone before you land.
Our eSIMs for Japan: the details
Here is what the plan details on our Japan eSIM page say:
- Sizes: 1 GB or 3 GB for 3 days, 5 GB or 10 GB for 7 days, 20 GB for 15 days, 50 GB for 30 days and 60 GB for 90 days.
- Networks and speed: NTT Docomo and SoftBank, at 4G/5G speed.
- Phone number: no. The plans are data only, with no calls or SMS.
- Activation: once installed, the eSIM activates automatically when you arrive in Japan. Your days start then.
- Settings: turn data roaming on for the eSIM and leave network selection on automatic. The plan details give the APN if your phone asks for it.
- Top-ups: available, so you can add data instead of buying a new eSIM.
- Expiry: if you don't use the eSIM within a year, it becomes invalid.
Every plan is prepaid with no contract.
How much data do you need in Japan?
It depends on how long you stay and how you use your phone. As a rough guide:
- 1 to 3 days: Japan 1GB or 3GB, both for 3 days. Enough for maps, messages and the train from the airport.
- Up to a week: Japan 5GB or 10GB, both for 7 days. Maps, train times, translation, social media and photos.
- Two weeks: Japan 20GB, for 15 days. Room for some video and sharing your connection.
- A month or more: Japan 50GB for 30 days, or Japan 60GB for 90 days.
Not sure how much you need? Pick the bigger size. Our guide to eSIM data plans shows how to estimate it, and how to reduce data usage abroad helps you stretch it.
Is there an eSIM for a short trip to Japan?
Yes. For a stopover, a weekend in Tokyo or a few days in Osaka, the smallest plans last 3 days. You get data for maps, messages and tickets without paying for a week.
Is there an eSIM for a month or longer in Japan?
Yes. For slow travel, a long stay or work from your phone, Japan 50GB lasts 30 days and Japan 60GB lasts 90 days. Both are data only and can be topped up.
Local SIM or travel eSIM?
You can also get a line from a Japanese operator. Apple lists povo as the carrier in Japan that offers eSIM on prepaid plans for international travelers (Apple: carriers that offer eSIM on iPhone). povo says it runs on the au network, including 5G, and that its Data Only plan activates without identification documents, for new contracts only (povo). SoftBank sells a Prepaid SIM for Travel, a physical data-only SIM for foreign visitors, at SoftBank shops, electronics stores and its airport rental counters. You need a SIM-lock-free phone and a photo of your original passport, and you must be 18 or older (SoftBank: Prepaid SIM for Travel). Plans and rules change, so check them with the operator.
A travel eSIM is different: you buy it online, scan a QR code at home and don't visit a shop or counter. Our guide to eSIM providers in Japan compares the local operators.
Choose a local line if you want a plan from a Japanese operator and don't mind setting it up there. Choose a travel eSIM if you want data the moment you land, and a plan you can compare and pay for before the trip. Your home SIM can stay on your phone next to it, so you keep getting texts and bank codes on your usual number, see how to set up a dual eSIM. More on calls with a data-only plan: phone calls with a data-only eSIM.
Which eSIM for Tokyo, Kyoto or Osaka?
You don't need a different eSIM for each city. A Japan plan works across the country, from Tokyo to Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima and Hokkaido. In the cities, the usual data uses are maps, train times, translation and booking apps. These need little data, so a 5 GB or 10 GB plan may be enough for a week. Video calls and streaming use much more.
Data also helps you stay safe. The UK Foreign Office says Japan is in a major earthquake zone. It points to a list of disaster apps and websites from the Japan Meteorological Agency, and asks you to note the instructions in hotel rooms and at train stations and follow the advice of local authorities (FCDO: Japan safety and security).
The Japan Visitor Hotline answers at 050-3816-2787 (+81-50-3816-2787 from abroad), 24 hours a day, in English, Chinese and Korean, for emergencies, natural disasters and tourist information. In an emergency, call 110 for the police or 119 for fire and ambulance (JNTO: Japan Visitor Hotline).
Before you travel: entry rules
The UK Foreign Office says British visitors can get a visa on arrival in Japan for tourism or business for up to 90 days, without applying before they travel, and that the passport must be valid for the length of the stay (FCDO: Japan entry requirements). Rules differ by nationality, so check your own government's advice before you book, and again before you fly. Planning the rest of the trip? See our Japan trip guide.
Going to Japan and South Korea, or more of Asia?
Is Japan one stop on a longer trip? Our Asia plans list Japan, South Korea, China, Thailand, Singapore and more countries on one eSIM. They run at 4G speed and last 30 days for most sizes. When we checked, Taiwan and Hong Kong were not on the Asia plans' country list, so use a separate eSIM there. Check the country list of any plan before you buy.
Asia 5GB · 10GB · 20GB (30 days) · data only · 4G · See all eSIMs for Asia
See our guides to the best eSIM for South Korea, China, Taiwan and Asia, or browse all plans on our destinations page.
How do you get an eSIM for Japan?
- Check your phone: it must support eSIM and be carrier unlocked. On iPhone, go to Settings > General > About and look for "No SIM restrictions" next to Carrier Lock (Apple: Unlock your iPhone).
- Buy and install on Wi-Fi: you get a QR code by email (Apple: Set up eSIM on iPhone). On a Google Pixel, open Settings > Network & internet > SIMs > Add SIM and set up an eSIM (Google: Use dual SIMs on Pixel). Our install guide walks you through it on iPhone and Android.
- When you land, use the travel eSIM for data: Apple notes that you might still pay roaming fees on your home line, so turn off data roaming on it (Apple: Use eSIM while traveling).
No signal after you land? Our guide on what to do when your eSIM is not activating covers the usual causes. New to buying one? Read how to buy an eSIM online. Not sure what an eSIM is? See what is an eSIM.
FAQ
What is the best eSIM for Japan?
It depends on your trip. For data, a Japan eSIM sized to your days is a simple choice: 3 GB for a short trip, 5 GB or 10 GB for a week, 20 GB for two weeks, 50 GB or 60 GB for a month or more. If Japan is one of several countries, an Asia eSIM may fit better.
What is the best eSIM for a short trip to Japan?
For up to 3 days, Japan 1GB or Japan 3GB. For a week, Japan 5GB or Japan 10GB. Pick by days first, then by how much you use maps, video and social media.
Can I get an eSIM for Japan before I travel?
Yes. Buy it online, install the QR code on Wi-Fi at home, and it activates when you arrive in Japan.
Does a Japan eSIM work on Android?
Yes, if your Android phone supports eSIM and is unlocked. On a Google Pixel you add it under Settings, Network & internet, SIMs. Our install guide covers other Android phones.
Does a Japan eSIM work on iPhone?
Yes, on an iPhone that supports eSIM and shows "No SIM restrictions" next to Carrier Lock. You scan the QR code with the Camera app, or on iOS 17.4 or later you tap and hold the QR code in your email and tap Add eSIM.
Does a travel eSIM for Japan include a phone number?
No. Our Japan plans are data only, with no calls or SMS. Use calling and messaging apps over data. Your home SIM can stay on your phone for texts and calls on your usual number.
Does the Japan eSIM have 5G?
Yes. Our Japan plans support 4G/5G speed on the NTT Docomo and SoftBank networks. Our Asia plans are 4G.
Is there one eSIM for Japan and South Korea?
Yes. Our Asia plans list both Japan and South Korea, as well as China, Thailand and more. Check the country list before you buy.
Does my phone need to be unlocked?
Yes. A carrier-locked phone may not accept an eSIM from another provider. Ask your carrier to unlock it before you travel.
