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Japan eSIM
6 data plans · from $4.99 · one-tap install by email
Choose your plan
Travelling as a group? Buy everyone an eSIM in one checkout and the discount is applied automatically — no code needed. See group pricing
6 data plans · from $4.99 · one-tap install by email
Travelling as a group? Buy everyone an eSIM in one checkout and the discount is applied automatically — no code needed. See group pricing
10 GB
30 days
Streaming, sharing, heavy use
$13.99
$1.40/GB
Buy →
Connects automatically to the strongest signal across NTT docomo, Rakuten Mobile, KDDI/au, SoftBank.
Setup
Set up your eSIM before you travel — it takes about a minute. Scan once, switch it on when you arrive, and you’re online.
On iPhone (iOS)
On Android
31 plans for Japan, from 3 to 50 GB. Validity runs from 1 day to 180 days. 25 of them run on 5G where the local network has it.
18 plans can be topped up without installing a second eSIM. Plans run on NTT docomo, Rakuten Mobile, KDDI/au, SoftBank.
Counted from our live catalogue, not a marketing figure — the plan list above this section is the same data.
6 regional plans include Japan. The widest covers 2 countries — worth it if Japan is one stop of several, rather than the whole trip.
Regional coverage starts at $3.99 for 1 GB over 1 day.
A travel eSIM for Japan is a digital SIM your phone downloads — no plastic card, no airport pickup counter. You buy online, tap the install link we email you (a QR code is included too), and it installs a second line alongside your existing SIM. It stays dormant until you arrive in Japan, then connects automatically to NTT docomo, Rakuten Mobile, KDDI/au on 5G where available and LTE everywhere else. Your home number keeps working for calls and texts; the eSIM simply carries your data.
Maps, messaging and rideshare apps are light — roughly 300–500 MB a day. Add photos, social and the occasional video and you’re closer to 1 GB a day. For a one-week trip a 5 GB plan is comfortable; for two weeks, sharing, or heavy use, choose 10 GB or more, or a reloadable plan you can top up on the go. Japan plans start at $4.99 across 6 sizes, with the per-GB price shown on every one so the right choice is obvious.
No. A travel eSIM for Japan is a local data plan, not international roaming — you pay the price you see up front, with no per-megabyte bill from your home carrier. Set the eSIM as your data line and switch data roaming off on your home SIM, and there are no surprises when you get home. Full refund any time before you install, so there’s no risk in buying ahead.
Ramen
Wheat noodles served in a meat or fish-based broth, flavored with soy sauce, miso, or salt.
Ramen Street in Tokyo Station or street stalls in Fukuoka (Hakata ramen).
Sushi
Vinegared rice topped with fresh, often raw, seafood.
Tsukiji Outer Market in Tokyo or upscale Omakese restaurants in Ginza.
Okonomiyaki
A savory cabbage pancake cooked on a griddle with various meats, seafood, and sauces.
Dotonbori area in Osaka or Okonomimura in Hiroshima.
Japan connectivity guide
Japan is one of the easiest countries in the world to stay connected in and one of the easiest to misjudge. Coverage is excellent almost everywhere a traveller goes, including underground, but the country runs on apps that assume you are online — transit routing, IC card top-ups, restaurant queues, translation — and the moments you need them most are the moments you are furthest from wifi. This guide covers which networks you actually get, where the signal genuinely drops, what the arrival at each major airport looks like, and how much data a Japan trip really consumes.
Read the full Japan guide →Takoyaki
Ball-shaped snacks made of a wheat flour-based batter and cooked in a special molded pan, filled with diced octopus.
Street vendors across Osaka.
Tempura
Seafood or vegetables that have been battered and deep-fried.
Specialty tempura houses in Kyoto or Tokyo.
Kaiseki
A traditional multi-course Japanese dinner that balances the taste, texture, appearance, and colors of food.
Traditional ryokans in Kyoto or Hakone.
Yakitori
Grilled chicken skewers typically cooked over charcoal.
Omoide Yokocho in Shinjuku, Tokyo.
Matcha Sweets
Desserts ranging from ice cream to parfaits flavored with finely ground green tea powder.
Uji, near Kyoto, or traditional teahouses in Kyoto.
Wagyu Beef
Highly marbled, premium Japanese beef known for its melt-in-the-mouth texture.
Kobe for Kobe beef, or Takayama for Hida beef.
Udon
Thick wheat noodles served hot in broth or cold with dipping sauce.
Kagawa Prefecture (Sanuki Udon) or specialized noodle shops nationwide.
Fushimi Inari TaishaKyoto
Famous for its thousands of vibrant vermilion torii gates winding up the mountain.
2-3 hours
Senso-jiTokyo
Tokyo's oldest and most significant Buddhist temple, featuring the iconic Kaminarimon gate.
1-2 hours
Shibuya CrossingTokyo
The busiest pedestrian intersection in the world, surrounded by neon lights and towering screens.
30 minutes
Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)Kyoto
A stunning Zen Buddhist temple whose top two floors are completely covered in gold leaf.
1 hour
Osaka CastleOsaka
A beautifully reconstructed historical castle surrounded by moats and a vast park famous for cherry blossoms.
2 hours
Arashiyama Bamboo GroveKyoto
Walk through towering, infinitely rising bamboo stalks in a tranquil setting.
1-2 hours
Nara ParkNara
Home to hundreds of freely roaming deer and the magnificent Todai-ji temple.
3-4 hours
Miyajima (Itsukushima Shrine)Hiroshima
Famous for the 'floating' torii gate that appears to be resting on the water during high tide.
Half day
teamLab PlanetsTokyo
An immersive digital art museum where you walk through water and interact with mesmerizing light installations.
2 hours · book ahead
Hiroshima Peace Memorial ParkHiroshima
A solemn and powerful tribute to the victims of the 1945 atomic bombing.
2-3 hours
Shinkansen (Bullet Train)
High-speed rail connecting major cities across the country with extreme punctuality.
$100-$150 per long distance trip
Local Trains & Subways
Extensive networks covering nearly every corner of major cities. Use an IC card (Suica/Pasmo) to tap in and out.
$1.50-$3.00 per ride
Local Buses
Board at the rear, take a numbered ticket (or tap IC card), and pay at the front when exiting.
$1.50-$2.50 per ride
Taxis
Spotless and reliable, but generally expensive. Doors open and close automatically.
$5-$10 starting fare
Ride-hailing
Uber, GO, DiDi, S.RIDE
Ride-hailing apps in Japan generally dispatch licensed local taxis rather than private drivers.
Paying for things
Basics
| New Year's Day | January 1 | Many businesses and attractions close for the first 3 days of the year. |
| Coming of Age Day | Second Monday in January | Minor impact, you will see young adults in traditional kimonos. |
| Showa Day | April 29 | Start of Golden Week; extremely heavy domestic travel. |
| Constitution Memorial Day | May 3 | Middle of Golden Week; expect huge crowds and fully booked transport. |
| Greenery Day | May 4 | Middle of Golden Week; heavy crowds. |
| Children's Day | May 5 | End of Golden Week; carp streamers (koinobori) are flown. |
| Respect for the Aged Day | Third Monday in September | Part of the occasional 'Silver Week'; moderate domestic travel. |
| Culture Day | November 3 | Museums may have free entry and special events. |
Recurring dates — the day these fall on moves year to year.