500 MB
Valid for 7 days
- Data only (no phone number)
- Starts on first use at your destination
- Network: Softbank, KDDI
- Manual APN: wbdata · How to
€3.99
Buy
Japan eSIM
13 data plans from €3.99 · instant delivery by email
The Japan eSIM runs on local networks at a fixed plan price – much cheaper than roaming and without a contract. Choose from 13 data plans from 500 MB to 20 GB or with unlimited data, valid for 3 to 30 days. You use the networks of Softbank, KDDI.
Japan eSIM data plans
1 GB
Valid for 7 days
- Data only (no phone number)
- Starts on first use at your destination
- Network: Softbank, KDDI
- Manual APN: wbdata · How to
€4.99
Buy
2 GB
Valid for 15 days
- Data only (no phone number)
- Starts on first use at your destination
- Network: Softbank, KDDI
- Manual APN: wbdata · How to
€5.99
Buy
3 GB
Valid for 30 days
- Data only (no phone number)
- Starts on first use at your destination
- Network: Softbank, KDDI
- Manual APN: wbdata · How to
€6.99
Buy
5 GB
Valid for 30 days
- Data only (no phone number)
- Starts on first use at your destination
- Network: Softbank, KDDI
- Manual APN: wbdata · How to
€7.99
Buy
10 GB
Valid for 30 days
- Data only (no phone number)
- Starts on first use at your destination
- Network: Softbank, KDDI
- Manual APN: wbdata · How to
€8.99
Buy
20 GB
Valid for 30 days
- Data only (no phone number)
- Starts on first use at your destination
- Network: Softbank, KDDI
- Manual APN: wbdata · How to
€11.99
Buy
Unlimited
Valid for 3 days
- Data only (no phone number)
- Starts on first use at your destination
- Network: Softbank, KDDI
- Manual APN: wbdata · How to
- Fair use: full speed up to 3 GB per day, then 1 Mbps
€6.99
Buy
Unlimited
Valid for 5 days
- Data only (no phone number)
- Starts on first use at your destination
- Network: Softbank, KDDI
- Manual APN: wbdata · How to
- Fair use: full speed up to 3 GB per day, then 1 Mbps
€9.99
Buy
Unlimited
Valid for 7 days
- Data only (no phone number)
- Starts on first use at your destination
- Network: Softbank, KDDI
- Manual APN: wbdata · How to
- Fair use: full speed up to 3 GB per day, then 1 Mbps
€11.99
Buy
Unlimited
Valid for 10 days
- Data only (no phone number)
- Starts on first use at your destination
- Network: Softbank, KDDI
- Manual APN: wbdata · How to
- Fair use: full speed up to 3 GB per day, then 1 Mbps
€14.99
Buy
Unlimited
Valid for 15 days
- Data only (no phone number)
- Starts on first use at your destination
- Network: Softbank, KDDI
- Manual APN: wbdata · How to
- Fair use: full speed up to 3 GB per day, then 1 Mbps
€27.99
Buy
Unlimited
Valid for 30 days
- Data only (no phone number)
- Starts on first use at your destination
- Network: Softbank, KDDI
- Manual APN: wbdata · How to
- Fair use: full speed up to 3 GB per day, then 1 Mbps
€38.99
Buy
Travel guide: Japan
Few countries in Asia are as full of contrasts as Japan: in the morning you wander through a moss-covered Zen garden, at noon the Shinkansen whisks you across the country at 300 km/h, and in the evening you squeeze into a tiny izakaya between office workers. Japan is safe, punctual and well organised – but a lot of signage is in Japanese only. That is exactly why mobile data pays off from the moment you arrive.
At a glance
- Currency
- Japanese Yen (JPY)
- Power sockets
- Type A, B · 100 V
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Ambulance 119 · Fire 119
- Country code
- +81
- Time zone
- UTC+9
- Driving
- Drive on the left
- Tipping
- Not customary
- Tap water
- Safe to drink
- Best time to travel
- Mar–May, Oct–Nov
Mobile internet in Japan
The three big networks – NTT Docomo, au (KDDI) and SoftBank – cover almost the entire country, including mountain areas, islands such as Okinawa and railway tunnels. In cities you get 5G, in the countryside usually fast 4G. Most travel data plans run on one of these networks, so you have signal practically everywhere.
Public Wi-Fi in Japan is patchy: stations, airports and chains such as 7-Eleven offer hotspots, but they usually require an email sign-up and disconnect after 30 to 60 minutes. Wi-Fi in rural ryokan is often slow. An eSIM is the more convenient alternative to a pocket Wi-Fi device you have to pick up and return at the airport.
These apps make everyday life much easier: Google Maps or Japan Travel (Navitime) for connections with platform and exit, Google Lens or DeepL for menus and ticket machines, Tabelog for restaurant ratings, and the rail operator’s app for Shinkansen seat reservations.
Highlights in Japan
Tokyo beyond Shibuya
Old Asakusa with Sensō-ji temple, the lanes of Yanaka, Akihabara for electronics and anime, and the view from the Tokyo Skytree.
Kyoto and Nara
Kyoto’s Higashiyama and Gion districts early in the morning, then a day trip to Nara with its free-roaming deer and the Great Buddha.
Osaka
Japan’s street-food capital: takoyaki and okonomiyaki in Dōtonbori, plus Osaka Castle and a lively nightlife.
Japanese Alps
Takayama’s old town, the thatched farmhouses of Shirakawa-gō and hikes around Kamikōchi.
Okinawa
Subtropical beaches, coral reefs for snorkelling and a culture of its own, distinct from the mainland.
Hokkaidō
Powder snow in winter, lavender fields in summer and the country’s freshest seafood at Sapporo’s markets.
Practical travel tips
- The “takkyubin” luggage delivery service sends your suitcase from hotel to hotel for little money – handy, since large luggage needs a reservation on the Shinkansen.
- Convenience stores (konbini) are supermarket, snack bar and ATM in one, and open around the clock.
- An IC card such as Suica or ICOCA works nationwide on trains, buses, vending machines and in many shops. On iPhone and many Android phones you can add it straight to your wallet.
- At lunchtime many restaurants offer good-value set meals (“teishoku”) that cost noticeably more in the evening.
- Typhoon season runs roughly from August to October: keep an eye on weather apps and allow buffer days for island trips.
- Station lockers in big cities are ideal for storing luggage between check-out and your onward journey.
Do’s
- Take off your shoes when entering a ryokan or temple and use the slippers provided – there are often separate ones for the toilet.
- Shower thoroughly at your seat before entering an onsen, and keep the small towel out of the water.
- Queue in the marked lines on the platform and let passengers get off first.
- Follow photography rules at shrines and temples, and keep your voice down.
- Small gestures such as a slight bow and an “arigatō” are much appreciated.
Don’ts
- Don’t talk loudly on the phone or play music without headphones – trains are quiet zones.
- Don’t offer tips, not even in taxis or hotels.
- Don’t crowd geisha or maiko in Kyoto or photograph them without permission; photography is banned in private lanes in parts of Gion.
- Don’t pass food from chopsticks to chopsticks – it recalls a funeral ritual.
- Smoke only in designated areas: many cities ban smoking on the street.
Entry, visa and safety: please check your government’s current travel advice before you go. Last updated: October 2026.
Japan eSIM – frequently asked questions
Which Japan eSIM plan do I need?
That depends on how much data you use: for navigation, messaging and occasional browsing 1–3 GB per week is usually enough; for social media, video calls or hotspot rather 5 GB or more. The plans cost between €3.99 and €38.99.
When does the validity of my eSIM start?
Validity only starts when the eSIM connects to a network at your destination for the first time. So you can safely install it before your trip.
Will my normal phone number stay reachable?
Yes. This is a data-only eSIM installed in addition to your SIM card. Calls and SMS still use your normal number – mind your provider’s roaming prices.
Does the eSIM work with my phone?
Your phone must support eSIM and be carrier-unlocked. This includes all iPhones from XS/XR, Samsung Galaxy from S20 and Google Pixel from 3. See “Compatible devices” for the full list.
How do I set up the eSIM?
After purchase you receive a QR code by email. Scan it in your phone’s mobile network settings, select the eSIM for mobile data and switch on data roaming for the eSIM at your destination.
Do I need to set an APN?
Yes. After installation, enter the APN wbdata in the eSIM’s mobile network settings. We show you how, step by step, after your purchase.
Do WhatsApp, Google and Instagram work with the eSIM?
In most Asian countries, yes, without restrictions. In some countries (e.g. China) certain services are blocked on local networks; travel eSIMs usually route data abroad, so these services generally remain available. We cannot guarantee this, though.
Is an eSIM cheaper than a SIM card at the airport?
Often, yes – mainly because you do not lose time at the airport, do not need to show your passport and know the exact price in advance. Your normal SIM also stays in your phone.