Networks and coverage
Japan has four mobile networks: NTT Docomo, KDDI (au), SoftBank and Rakuten Mobile. A travel eSIM connects through one or more of them as a partner network; which one depends on the plan.
Coverage is very good in cities, along the main rail lines and in most towns. In the mountains and on remote islands the signal can be weaker.
Japan has switched off its 3G networks. Your phone needs 4G (LTE) or 5G, which every recent phone has.
Will your phone work?
- It must support eSIM and be unlocked. Check your phone.
- Phones sold in Europe support 4G bands 1 and 3, which all the main Japanese networks use. Support for lower bands such as 8, 18, 19 and 28 helps in the countryside, so check your phone’s specifications if you are heading far from the cities.
Your options
| Option | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Travel eSIM | Data from the moment you land, on your own phone | Data only, with no Japanese phone number |
| Pocket Wi-Fi rental | Groups sharing one connection | Another device to charge, collect and return |
| Roaming with your operator | Short trips, if your contract includes Japan | Japan is outside Roam like at Home, so prices vary widely |
| Free Wi-Fi | Hotels, some stations and cafés | Patchy coverage and sign-up pages |
How much data you need
Use varies a lot, but as a rough guide:
- Maps and train routes: light use, typically tens of megabytes a day.
- Messaging and email: a few megabytes a day, more if you send many photos and videos.
- Social media with video: hundreds of megabytes an hour.
- Video streaming: about 1 GB an hour in standard quality, and up to about 3 GB an hour in HD.
For a week of maps, messaging and some social media, 5 to 10 GB is usually enough. Video calls and streaming need more.
Tips for the trip
- Install the eSIM at home on Wi-Fi, before you fly.
- Download offline maps and an offline translation pack as a back-up.
- Keep data roaming off on your usual SIM, so it does not use data alongside the eSIM.
- Paying for trains with your phone? Suica in Apple Wallet works on iPhones bought outside Japan, but most Android phones bought outside Japan cannot use it.
See eSIM plans for Japan.