eSIM For U

eSIM Japan

5G · KDDI/au, NTT docomo, Rakuten Mobile +1

Good to know

Starts when you first connect

Top-up available

7 days

30 days

180 days

Good to know

Starts when you first connect

Top-up available

Before you go

Japan eSIM: what to expect.

Plans for Japan range from 1 to 50 GB and 7 to 180 days, plus day plans with a fixed daily allowance. You pay once. No contract, no roaming bill.

Networks and speed

  • NetworksKDDI/au, NTT docomo, Rakuten Mobile and SoftBank
  • SpeedUp to 5G on all four networks. Where there is no 5G, you connect over 4G/LTE.
  • Internet runs viaSingaporeDepending on the plan. Banking or streaming apps may treat you as being there.

Which plan for your trip

Our pick · 1 week5 GB · 30 days$9.49About 0.7 GB a day: enough for maps, messages, social media and some video.Choose this planOur pick · 2 weeks10 GB · 30 days$15.19About 0.7 GB a day: enough for maps, messages, social media and some video.Choose this plan

Prefer a daily allowance? 1 GB per day · 7 days for $10.69: full speed up to 1 GB a day, then 1 Mbps until the next day.

Picked like in our shop: the cheapest plan with about 0.7 GB a day. Live prices for Japan.

Tips for Japan

  • Free Wi‑Fi is common in stations, convenience stores and cafés, but it usually needs a sign-up. Good as a backup, not as your main connection.
  • Google Maps shows train and subway connections with fares, which makes the rail network in Tokyo and Osaka much easier to use.
  • Pocket Wi‑Fi routers have to be collected, charged and returned. An eSIM is simply on your phone.
Travel guideBest eSIM for Japan 2026Travel guideHokkaido eSIM guideTravel guideOsaka and Kyoto eSIM guide

Questions

Which networks does the Japan eSIM use?

KDDI/au (5G), NTT docomo (5G), Rakuten Mobile (5G) and SoftBank (5G). Which one your phone uses depends on the plan and on where you are.

Does the Japan eSIM work on 5G?

Yes, 5G on KDDI/au, NTT docomo, Rakuten Mobile and SoftBank. Your phone needs to support 5G; where there is no 5G signal, it uses 4G/LTE.

Will my phone work with the Japan eSIM?

Yes, if your phone supports eSIM and is not locked to one carrier. Most iPhones from the XS and XR onwards do, as do recent Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel models. Check yours in our list of eSIM phones.

Does the Japan eSIM come with a phone number?

No. It is data only: no phone number, no calls or SMS. Your own SIM stays in your phone, so WhatsApp and iMessage keep working with your usual number.

How much data do I need for a week in Japan?

About 0.7 GB a day covers maps, messages, social media and some video, so around 5 GB for a week. Our pick for one week: 5 GB · 30 days for $9.49.

What is the cheapest Japan eSIM?

1 GB · 7 days for $3.69 is the lowest-priced plan. The lowest price per GB is 50 GB · 30 days at $0.69 per GB. A single day with 0.49 GB costs $2.29.

How long is the Japan eSIM valid?

Plans run for 7, 30 or 180 days. Day plans can be booked for 1 to 30 days.

When does my plan start?

When your phone first connects to a network in Japan, not when you buy or install the eSIM. So you can install it at home before you travel.

Is there an unlimited Japan eSIM?

Not at full speed. Day plans come closest: up to 10 GB a day at full speed, then 384 Kbps until the next day.

Can I use the Japan eSIM as a hotspot?

Yes, your phone can share the connection with a laptop or a second phone. Everything you share counts against your plan. Whether a network limits sharing depends on the plan, so ask us before you buy if it matters. More in our hotspot guide.

Can I top up my Japan eSIM?

Yes, on plans marked “Top-up possible”: add data under My eSIMs while the plan is still valid. No new eSIM needed.

What happens when I use up my daily data?

On day plans you get full speed up to the daily allowance. After that, the speed drops to between 256 Kbps and 1 Mbps, depending on the plan, until the next day.

Why do some apps think I am in Singapore?

Depending on the plan, your connection runs via Singapore. Websites and apps, such as banking or streaming services, may then treat you as being there.

Can I get a refund?

eSIM purchases are final. If something isn’t right, write to us in Help and we’ll take care of it.

Japan in detail: networks, speed and Wi‑Fi

Networks and 5G

4 networks · 5G

Your eSIM uses KDDI/au, NTT docomo, Rakuten Mobile and SoftBank.

  • 5G where the network offers itOtherwise 4G/LTE on the same plan.
  • Older phonesConnect over 4G/LTE, nothing to change.

Updated 24 Oct 2026 · checked against our live catalogue

Speed in Osaka and Tokyo

118 Mbps

Japan measures below the world median of 110 Mbps, and Tokyo is slower than Osaka, so expect modest speeds in the countryside.

DownloadGlobal rank
Japan68 Mbps71 of 100
Osaka118 Mbps87 of 151
Tokyo85 Mbps108 of 151

Sources: Ookla Speedtest Global Index (September 2026)

Free Wi‑Fi in Japan

6 airports free

Major airports and most city hotels have free Wi‑Fi, while ryokan in the countryside often do not.

  • Airports with free Wi‑Fi: Narita, Haneda, Kansai, New Chitose, Centrair and Fukuoka.
  • Stations, cafés, convenience stores: usually need a sign-up and can be slow.
  • Paid hotspots: services such as Wi2 sell access, some in English.

Sources: JNTO: Wi‑Fi and connectivity in Japan

Pocket Wi‑Fi, SIM card or eSIM

Nothing to return

A pocket router suits a group that stays together all day, and our pocket Wi‑Fi comparison shows when the eSIM is simpler.

Pocket Wi‑FiLocal SIMeSIM
WhereAirport or hotelAirport, electronics storeOnline, at home
Extra deviceCarry and chargeNoNo
ReturnYesNoNo
Home SIMStays inUsually comes outStays in
SharingSeveral devicesPhone hotspotPhone hotspot

Sources: JNTO: Wi‑Fi and connectivity in Japan

How much data for Japan

0.7 GB a day

Our shop suggests about 0.7 GB a day, enough for maps, messages, social media and some video, and our data guide shows what each app uses.

1 week2 weeks
Maps, messagesabout 2 GBabout 4 GB
Plus social mediaabout 5 GBabout 10 GB
Plus videoabout 10 GBabout 20 GB
Plan for
Tokyo, 5 daysabout 4 GB
Kyoto, 10 daysabout 7 GB
Tour, 3 weeksabout 15 GB

Updated 24 Oct 2026 · checked against our live catalogue

Set up before you fly

4 steps

Four steps at home make sure you are online when you land.

  1. Check that your phone supports eSIM and is unlocked: list of eSIM phones.
  2. Install the eSIM at home over Wi‑Fi, on iPhone or Android.
  3. On arrival, use the eSIM for mobile data and turn on its data roaming.
  4. Keep data roaming off for your home line, so your operator does not charge you.

Updated 24 Oct 2026 · checked against our live catalogue

Plan types and more countries

Data only

The eSIM is data only, so WhatsApp and FaceTime keep your usual number, as our WhatsApp guide explains.

  • Data plans: a total amount for a set number of days, unused data carries over to the next day.
  • Day plans: a fixed amount per day at full speed, after that as each plan states.
  • Top up: on plans marked “Top-up possible”, add data under My eSIMs without a new eSIM.
  • South Korea: the regional plan below covers both countries.
RG-JPKR-2 eSIM200+ destinations, ready in minutesCharged only when your eSIM is ready
Get your RG-JPKR-2 eSIM

Updated 24 Oct 2026 · checked against our live catalogue

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