eSIM for Tokyo

Tokyo: what to know before you go

Arriving by air

Haneda (HND) sits near the centre, while Narita (NRT) is roughly an hour out by train. Once you clear immigration, the first thing you will look up is how to get into town.

Trains, metro and Suica

You will get around by rail, so a map app that shows platforms and line colours is a must. On a recent iPhone you can keep a Suica or Pasmo card in Apple Wallet.

Signal

Expect excellent reception citywide and through most of the subway. Shibuya and Shinjuku can feel slower at rush hour, though it never stops being usable.

Reservations

In busy months you often cannot just turn up. Shibuya Sky, teamLab and plenty of restaurants sell slots online and scan a QR code at the door.

Public wifi

Stations and shops do offer wifi, but you usually have to sign up first and the connection tends to drop. Your own data is the steadier option.

How much data you need

Plan on roughly 4 to 6 GB for a week of navigation, translation, bookings and photos. Riding trains with the map open all day is the main drain.

Written 23 October 2026. Opening rules, fees and prices at attractions change, so check the official site before you rely on them.

Japan eSIM in 2026: plans, prices and networks

Prices run from $3.49 (1 GB, 7 days) up to $28.99 (50 GB, 30 days) across 10 plans. Operators: KDDI/au 5G, NTT docomo 5G, SoftBank 5G, and Rakuten Mobile 5G.

Operators

KDDI/au 5G, NTT docomo 5G, SoftBank 5G, Rakuten Mobile 5G

Adding data

Top up the same eSIM from its page

Days start counting

When the eSIM first connects at your destination

Install before

The date is on your order. After it, an eSIM that was never installed expires

Your phone number

Unchanged, every plan is data only

Personal hotspot

Allowed, it draws on your plan data at no extra cost

Speed after the daily allowance

Day passes drop to 1 Mbps

Last confirmed November 1, 2026

Questions about Tokyo

Will Google Maps and the train apps work on this eSIM?

They will, like any other app on a data plan. Most visitors rely on Google Maps or a transit app to pick the right platform, and an offline map is a good fallback underground.

Is a Japanese phone number required?

Not for travelling. The eSIM is data only, so WhatsApp, LINE and the rest of your messaging carry on as usual. A few restaurants ask for a number when you book, which is one reason visitors tend to reserve online.

What is the cheapest Tokyo eSIM plan?

Tokyo uses the Japan plans, because an eSIM belongs to a country and not to a city. $3.49 gets you 1 GB for 7 days. Data sizes range from 1 GB to 50 GB across 10 plans, and there are unlimited day passes too.

Which mobile networks does the Tokyo eSIM connect to?

You get KDDI/au, NTT docomo, SoftBank, and Rakuten Mobile, on 5G wherever it is available. The operators are listed on every plan, so you can check before you buy.

Is there an unlimited data plan for Japan?

Yes, the day passes. Each day starts with a full speed allowance, and after it you stay online at a reduced speed of 1 Mbps.

Will my phone number still work?

Yes. Every plan is data only, so your regular line stays active for calls and texts, and WhatsApp carries on as usual.

Should I buy a local SIM card in Tokyo?

There is no need. An eSIM is a digital SIM card that you install from a QR code before the trip, so you skip the airport kiosk and never open the SIM tray.

How does it compare with roaming in Tokyo?

The eSIM is prepaid, so you know the full cost before you go and no charges appear later. Roaming is billed afterwards by your own carrier at its own rates, usually per day or per megabyte. Leave data roaming off on your regular line so it cannot bill you.

When is the best time to install the eSIM?

At home, on Wi-Fi, before you leave. Once you arrive, pick the Fizztrip line for mobile data and switch data roaming on for that line.

When does the plan start counting days?

At the first connection at your destination. Buying the eSIM or installing it does not start the clock, so a 30 day plan runs for 30 days from the moment it first joins a network there.

Can I buy the eSIM weeks before my trip?

Yes. Validity only starts at the first connection at your destination, so buying or installing early does not use up any days. Install it before the "Install by" date on your order.

Is there a deadline to install the eSIM?

Yes. Your order and the site show an "Install by" date, and an eSIM that is still not installed after that date expires. Buying early is fine: just install it on Wi-Fi before then.

What happens when my data runs out?

The connection pauses and nothing extra is charged, since every plan is prepaid. Top up from the eSIM page and you are back online on the same eSIM, with nothing to reinstall. On a day pass you get a full speed allowance each day. Once it is used, you stay connected at a lower speed (1 Mbps) until the next day begins.

Can I add data later?

Yes, straight from the eSIM page. The extra data goes onto the eSIM you already have, so there is nothing new to install.

Can I share data with a hotspot?

Yes. Hotspot traffic uses the same plan data and Fizztrip adds no fee for it. Keep in mind that a laptop burns through data much faster than a phone, so for remote work a day pass or a larger plan is the safer pick.