If you didn’t already know, I am currently living in Japan so I am going to be posting TONS of Japan related content. If you’re planning on visiting Japan in the near future, you might be wondering what SIM card you should get or whether you even need one or not. In this article I’m going to break down a few different SIM options and their pricing, and share my personal favorite method.

Let’s start with whether you really need a SIM card or not. I personally have never stayed at a hotel in Japan without wifi and they even have wifi on lots of the trains. However, the wifi in hotels is not always the most reliable and sometimes I end up just using my data instead. Also, if you’re out exploring and need directions or want to look something up then data is obviously very helpful. I wouldn’t say you need a SIM card, but I do think they are super helpful and will probably make your trip more enjoyable. Japan is very ahead on a lot of things, but wifi is not one of them. That being said, I’m going to break down a few options for getting a SIM card in Japan.

Pre-order a SIM card and pick it up at the airport.

You are able to pre-order a SIM card and pick it up at the airport when you arrive so you will have data straight away. It’s important to note that if you take the train into Tokyo center from the airport you might want to have data. Tokyo’s transit system is incredible, but it is also huge, confusing and in Japanese. For me, having data on the train gives me some comfort in case I get lost or need help. I’m directionally challenged so having data just makes my life simpler. You can take a taxi but it can get pretty expensive, so the train is definitely the more affordable option. (Side note: The trains in Japan are amazing and you should 100% use them when you can. You will save so much money.)

This option will be a bit more expensive, as anything purchased at the airport is always more expensive. You will have the choice of how much data you purchase, which ranges from 1 GB to 200 GB. You will also choose the amount of days the SIM is valid, ranging from 3 – 90 days. Obviously the price will differ depending on the length of your trip and the amount of data you need. You can find the options online and place your order before you arrive.

Purchase a SIM card once you arrive in Japan.

There are loads of stores where you can purchase a SIM card once you arrive in Japan. These are similar to the airport pick up option, as you choose the amount of data and the number of days it is valid. This will be slightly cheaper than the airport option, but you also won’t have data until you actually make it to a shop in Japan. Definitely not the end of the world, but depends on your personal preference.

A few things to consider about both of the above two options.

There are two important points to note: You cannot get a local phone number as a foreigner and there is no option for unlimited data with the above two options.

Unfortunately, if you’re a tourist in Japan it isn’t possible to get a Japanese number (at least not easily, there are ways but it won’t be cheap or easy). For most people it isn’t a big problem, as you really don’t need it for many things in Japan.

Data is not unlimited and there are a few things to know about how the SIM cards work. These SIM cards have a validity period (the amount of time you can use the SIM card) and of course a data allowance. If you use up all the data before the validity period ends, you will have to purchase another SIM card. If there happens to be data on the SIM card when the validity period ends you will lose that data and again have to buy another SIM card. They’re great if you know exactly how much data you’ll need, but for most of us (or at least me) it’s hard to estimate.

Now, if you’re someone like me who prefers to have unlimited data, don’t worry. There is still one more option! This is also the option I personally use and love.

Purchase an eSIM.

In my opinion, an eSIM in Japan is the easiest and most convenient option. You can purchase it before you arrive and activate it as soon as you land. eSIMs are also the only way to get unlimited data in Japan (that I’m aware of at least) which I personally love. When the wifi isn’t good, which is often, I can just switch it off and use my data without concern.

There are lots of different companies that offer eSIMs for Japan. Holafly and Airalo are super common among travellers and I know lots of people (including myself) that use these companies. You can purchase an eSIM for so many different countries to be connected right away and make life easier. You can check out this website to see eSIM options for countries all over the world! Or you can use this link to get a 5% discount on your next Holafly SIM Card!

To summarize, I would recommend a SIM card of some sort for your Japan trip. The most convenient and hassle-free option would be an eSIM in my opinion! If you have any questions about SIM cards in Japan let me know in the comments!