Do you need an eSIM for Japan? Yes and no

If you’re reading this article, then you’re almost certainly planning on visiting the incredible country that is Japan – congratulations! Prepare to make your entire personality about it.

When I started planning my honeymoon, one of the key things I thought about was how to keep my phone’s data available without being charged extortionate amounts. After all, it’s a lifesaver for things like directions and Google Translate/Lens that will help you overcome any language barriers.  

The top search results will tell you that an eSIM is the best method to use. However, as my husband can attest, it can be more complicated, and not every eSIM provider covers Japan. Plus, different phones (such as various Android models, like Xiaomi) don’t support eSIM.

Even when you’re set up, the instructions can be tricky to follow to ensure it’s activated. Thankfully, I found a much easier way to use my smartphone in Japan, and it was not much more than what some eSIMs cost.

eSIM vs roaming in Japan

Whether you should use an eSIM or roam when travelling to Japan depends on various factors. 

Most UK phone networks charge quite a lot to roam in Japan, but I managed to luck out with my carrier, as it’s significantly cheaper than what some other UK global phone plans cost.

The plan I used was with Voxi, which is known for its monthly rolling options with free social media usage. Voxi runs on Vodafone’s mobile network, which is commonly used in Japan.  

The global roaming extra cost me just £26.60 for 15 days, which works out as £1.77 per day. That’s significantly cheaper than other UK carriers, many of which charge a flat rate per day, which can add up if you’re going on a longer trip.  

I had decent 4G coverage during my time there, even in rural areas such as the Hida mountains and the Japanese Alps. You won’t get 5G, but that wasn’t an issue. I also got 200 minutes and 200 texts.

Voxi often has discounts available for new customers, so if your phone plan doesn’t offer international roaming in Japan and you’re not tied into a contract, you could consider switching your number over to this provider.  

On my SIM-only contract, I pay just £10 per month for 15GB worth of data and free social media, with a reliable signal across the UK. I’ve been with Voxi for over five years at this point.

For reference, the next cheapest UK provider that offers roaming in Japan is Three, which charges £41.67 for its 14-day Go Roam Around the World Pass, which is around £2.97 per day. Other rivals such as O2, EE and Vodafone charge on an even higher daily rate.  

Think about how much data you’ll use 

The main downside of this plan is that it only offers 4GB of data for the duration of your trip, and the free social media benefit is exclusive to the UK.  

Now, that was fine for me. I mainly used my data for directions, translating and searching for local restaurants and/or attractions – and that included using a lot of it at Universal Studios Japan to try and find things to do as we waited hours for our 7:30pm entry time to Nintendo World in the pouring rain (thankfully, it was worth it). 

That was also helped by Japan’s wide Wi-Fi network, which was often available on public transport like buses and trains, though admittedly, it was spotty. In addition, if your flight includes a stopover somewhere else in the world (such as Singapore), then Voxi’s global roaming plan will also cover you for this, depending on where you land, unlike a dedicated Japanese eSIM.  

However, if you’re planning on streaming Netflix on the go or making plenty of Instagram reels or TikToks, then 4GB may not be enough.  

If that’s you, I’d suggest opting for an eSIM instead – my husband used Mobal, which offers several plans. He went for the 50GB data-only option, which was ¥3,900, which is just under £20. That is cheaper than Voxi’s plan, but there are downsides. 

It wasn’t the easiest to set up, even for the most tech-savvy. You must follow the instructions very carefully. As it covers Japan only, it’s also not useful if you’re flying with a connection elsewhere in the world. Finally, his plan only supported data, not calls and texts. Mobal does offer these sorts of plans, but they’re around double the price.  

Make sure you’re covered for the duration of your trip 

This eSIM plan alternative worked for most of my holiday, as it was a 15-day roaming extra. I say most, because it technically ran out on the final day, but all I did then was travel from the hotel to the airport, places where Wi-Fi was easily accessible.  

Voxi offers two global roaming extras: one for 8 days (£16), and one for 15 days (£26.60). In short, holidays that are either for a week or a fortnight.  

If you’re going to Japan for longer than that, then you could buy these plans twice over. Or you could just bite the bullet and opt for an eSIM that offers a longer plan.  

Should you opt for a global roaming plan or a Japanese eSIM? 

So, to summarise:  

• Some global phone plans are much easier to set up than a Japanese eSIM 
• 4G Vodafone (Voxi) coverage is decent across the country
• Voxi offers competitive plans if you’re travelling for not much longer than two weeks 

If you’re travelling for longer, or you’re locked in with a provider contract that charges extortionate roaming fees for roaming in Japan, then check out our hub to find the best eSIM for you.

Here are the main benefits:

• Likely to be cheaper
• Can automatically activate on arrival
• Wide range of plans

Read our advice on the best eSIM plans for travel.