Japan Travel: A Comprehensive Guide to Choosing and Using eSIM for Tourists

We would like to provide a detailed explanation of key points to confirm before purchasing an eSIM that can be used in Japan, specifically for those planning to travel to Japan. Understanding these points will help ensure a smooth introduction of the eSIM and support you in selecting the appropriate plan and setting it up.

Whether your phone supports eSIM in Japan

To use an eSIM in Japan, your smartphone must be compatible with eSIM. Not all devices support eSIM, so it is important to check beforehand whether your smartphone is compatible. While the latest models like iPhone and Google Pixel are often compatible, some models may not be.

Simple steps to check if your phone is eSIM-compatible

Open your phone's dialer.
Dial *#06#.
A screen with information will appear. If your phone is eSIM-compatible, you will see an EID number listed.

Network coverage for eSIM in Japan

In Japan, multiple carriers offer eSIM services, and each provides different plans and services. The major telecom carriers are NTT docomo, au (KDDI), SoftBank, and Rakuten Mobile. Each offers various services based on their respective networks.

For those staying in major cities (Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya)

If you're staying in major cities like Tokyo, Osaka, or Nagoya, any network should work fine without connectivity issues.

For those traveling to rural areas

Popular tourist destinations like Hokkaido and Okinawa are famous for their scenic beauty, but if you venture away from densely populated areas, you may experience a lack of connectivity. Networks like docomo, SoftBank, and KDDI tend to work even in less populated areas. Particularly, docomo's network has wide coverage, so choosing a plan based on the docomo network should ensure reliable connectivity.

An eSIM using the docomo network covers a wide area in Japan.
The docomo network is recommended for those who visit various places.

How much data will you need per day?

As a general guide, using around 1GB per day should be sufficient. However, if you plan on doing a lot of research or watching videos during your trip, you might want to consider a plan with a larger data capacity.