Bullet Trains, Temples and Tokyo: Your Japan eSIM Guide

Crowds crossing the Shibuya scramble crossing in Tokyo at night

Nigel |

Train timetables, translation apps and maps for Tokyo's subway: in Japan your phone does a lot of the work. With a BeachSIM eSIM for Japan you're online as soon as you land, whether you start in Tokyo, explore the temples of Kyoto or head south to Okinawa.

eSIM or SIM card for Japan?

  • Japan eSIM: arrives by email within minutes and is installed by scanning a QR code. The quickest option if your phone supports eSIM.
  • Japan SIM card: a 3-in-1 SIM card (standard, micro and nano) for any unlocked phone, shipped free worldwide.

Where it works

You get fast 4G LTE mobile data in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Hiroshima, Sapporo and Okinawa. If one network isn't available, it automatically connects to another local network, and you can share your data with a hotspot.

Why you'll want data in Japan

  • Getting around: train connections, platform numbers and transfers on the big rail and subway networks in Tokyo and Osaka.
  • Lost in translation? Translation apps help with menus, signs and ticket machines.
  • Temples and day trips: opening times in Kyoto and Nara, and directions for day trips from Osaka or Hiroshima.

Chureito Pagoda with Mount Fuji in the background

How much data do you need in Japan?

  • 1GB, 7 days: a short stay or stopover with maps and messaging.
  • 5GB, 15 days: a week or two of maps, messaging and social media.
  • 10GB, 15 days: video calls home, photo uploads and music.
  • 15GB, 30 days: longer stays and round trips.
  • 25GB, 30 days: remote working, streaming and sharing via hotspot.

How to get online in Japan

  1. Order your eSIM or SIM card before you travel.
  2. Install the eSIM as soon as it arrives, ideally at home on Wi-Fi, or keep your SIM card ready for the flight.
  3. When you land in Tokyo or Osaka, switch on the eSIM line (or insert the SIM card) and turn on data roaming for it. You're connected.

Japan eSIM: frequently asked questions

Does the eSIM work outside Tokyo?

Yes. It works in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Hiroshima, Sapporo and Okinawa.

Is there a plan for a short stopover in Japan?

Yes. The 1GB plan for 7 days is ideal for a stopover or a short stay with maps and messaging.

Does my phone support eSIM?

Most recent iPhone, Samsung and Google Pixel models support eSIM. Your phone must be unlocked. If it does not support eSIM, choose the Japan SIM card instead.

Travelling on through Asia? Find your next eSIM in our Asia collection. Top up and check your balance anytime in the BeachSIM App.

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