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Japan eSIM
6 data plans · from £4.10 · instant QR code 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 £4.10 · instant QR code 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, tethering and heavy use
£11.50
£1.11/GB
Buy →
Connects automatically to the strongest signal across NTT docomo, Rakuten Mobile, KDDI/au, SoftBank.
Setup
It takes about a minute. Tap the install link we email you, leave the line switched off, then switch it on when you land — and you're online.
On iPhone (iOS)
On Android
Japan: 31 plans, 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 carry Japan cover. The widest spans 2 countries — worth it if this is one stop of several rather than the whole trip.
Regional coverage starts at £3.30 for 1 GB over 1 day.
A Japan travel eSIM is a digital SIM that downloads straight to your phone — no plastic card, no queuing at an airport counter. You buy online, tap the install link we email you (the QR code is in there too), and your phone adds a second line alongside your normal SIM. It stays dormant until your trip begins, then connects automatically to NTT docomo, Rakuten Mobile, KDDI/au on 5G where available, LTE everywhere else. Your normal number carries on working for calls and texts while the eSIM handles the data.
Maps, messaging and taxi apps use very little data — roughly 300–500 MB a day. If you add photos, social media and the occasional video, expect to use closer to 1 GB a day. For a one-week trip, a 5 GB plan is usually plenty; for two weeks, tethering, or heavy use, opt for 10 GB or more, or choose a top-up plan you can reload as you go. Japan plans start at £4.10 across 6 sizes, with the per-GB price clearly shown so you can easily spot the best value.
Yes. A Japan travel eSIM is a local data plan rather than international roaming — you pay the price you saw online, and there are no per-megabyte charges from your home network provider. Set the eSIM as your mobile data line, switch data roaming off on your normal SIM, and nothing unexpected turns up on your next bill. Full refund at any time before installation, so buying ahead costs you nothing.
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.