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eSIM for Japan (and Korea): what to check before you buy

eSIM for Japan: check your phone is unlocked, data-only or a Japanese number, Japan's device rules, pocket Wi-Fi vs eSIM, and Japan plus Korea trips.

  • 20 min read
  • Published
  • Last reviewed
  • By Voyfaro

For: every passport

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Maps on the train to Kyoto, a translation app at a ramen counter, a ride app in Seoul. For most visitors to Japan and South Korea, mobile data is not optional. An eSIM for Japan is an easy way to get it, but only if your phone is ready and the plan fits your trip.

This guide is a neutral checklist. It covers phone support and unlocking, data-only plans versus a Japanese number, which networks a plan uses, Japan’s rule on foreign devices (the “technical conformity mark”), pocket Wi-Fi versus eSIM, and trips that combine Japan and Korea. We checked each rule on official Japanese and Korean government pages, and on Apple, Google and Samsung support pages, on 7 October 2026. Voyfaro is not affiliated with any government, regulator or mobile operator, and we do not rank providers.

Quick answer

  • Check your phone first. It must support eSIM and be unlocked. On an iPhone, go to Settings > General > About: “No SIM Restrictions” next to Network Provider Lock means it is unlocked. Apple says eSIM works on iPhone XS, XS Max, XR and later, with exceptions for some models sold in China mainland, Hong Kong and Macao.
  • Most travel eSIMs give data, not a phone number. Apple says many local network providers’ prepaid plans come with a local number, while worldwide providers sell data plans. Decide which you need before you buy.
  • Japan has a rule on foreign devices. Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) says radio equipment used in Japan must meet Japanese technical standards, shown by a technical conformity mark. Visitors’ phones without the mark can still be used on international roaming through a Japanese carrier, or with a SIM card from a Japanese carrier. Separately, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth use of devices without the mark is allowed for 90 days after you enter Japan.
  • Do not bring a Wi-Fi router from home unless it has the mark. MIC says a foreign LAN router can only be used in Japan if it has one.
  • Pocket Wi-Fi or eSIM? Japan’s national tourism organisation (JNTO) says you can buy or rent a SIM card, eSIM or pocket Wi-Fi at the airport, or reserve one online and collect it there. It says eSIMs and pocket Wi-Fi are especially convenient for short-term visitors.
  • Japan and Korea on one trip: check that both countries are named on the plan, and that the validity covers both legs.
  • Install before you fly, over Wi-Fi, and turn off data roaming on your home line once you are in Japan. On a Japan eVISA, you need internet at your departure airport check-in (see below).

Who this applies to

  • Short-stay visitors to Japan from anywhere, for example from the US, the UK, Brazil, India, the Philippines, Nigeria, Australia or the Gulf.
  • Travellers combining Japan and South Korea, by air or by ferry.
  • People on longer stays, such as students or working holiday makers, who need to know what happens to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth use after 90 days.
  • Anyone deciding between an eSIM, a pocket Wi-Fi rental, a local SIM card or roaming. Our guide to eSIM vs roaming vs local SIM compares the options in general.

This guide is about connectivity only. For entry rules, start with do I need a visa for Japan?, then see our K-ETA guide for South Korea and our Japan eVISA guides for UAE and Saudi residents and Filipinos.

Step 1: is your phone ready for an eSIM?

You need two things: a phone that supports eSIM, and a phone that is not locked to one network.

iPhone

  • Models: Apple says you need an iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR or later. Apple notes exceptions: in China mainland only certain recent models support eSIM, and some Hong Kong and Macao models use two nano-SIM cards. Check your model before you buy.
  • Unlocked? Open Settings > General > About. If your iPhone is unlocked, “No SIM Restrictions” appears next to Network Provider Lock.
  • Two eSIMs: Apple says iPhone 13 models and later support two active eSIMs. You can keep your home number on one line and use the travel eSIM for data on the other.
  • Wi-Fi to set up: Apple says you need Wi-Fi or a hotspot, although in some countries eSIM-only models can activate without it.

Google Pixel

  • Unlocked? Google says a SIM-unlocked Pixel works with any mobile service provider, and all phones in the Google Store come unlocked. A phone bought from a mobile service provider could be SIM-locked for up to 2 years.
  • Two eSIMs: Google says Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro and later can use two eSIM profiles at once, if your operator allows it.
  • Add an eSIM: go to Settings > Network and internet > SIMs > Add SIM > Set up an eSIM.

Samsung Galaxy

  • Add an eSIM: Samsung says go to Settings > Connections > SIM manager > Add eSIM, then scan the QR code from your provider. Restart the phone to apply the eSIM profile.
  • Not every model or region: Samsung says that, depending on the country of origin, eSIM may not be supported. Its Australian support page suggests checking your model’s specifications for “Embedded-SIM” under SIM size. If you do not see an “Add eSIM” option, check with Samsung for your exact model and region.

Other Android brands use different menus. Check your phone maker’s own support pages.

If your phone is locked

Apple says only your current network provider can unlock your iPhone, and it may take a few days. Google says you can contact your provider to discuss your options. Ask well before your trip, not at the airport.

Step 2: data only, or a Japanese phone number?

There are two broad types of plan:

Plan type What you get Good to know
Data-only travel eSIM Mobile data for a set period. No local number Messaging and internet calling apps work over data. Your home number can stay on as a second line
Prepaid plan from a local network Often includes a local number Apple says that, depending on local regulations, you may be asked for identification, such as your passport, to buy one

Apple says many local network providers’ prepaid plans come with a local phone number, and worldwide service providers offer prepaid data plans covering many countries. It lists, by country, the providers that support eSIM on iPhone, including providers in Japan and South Korea that offer prepaid eSIM plans for international travellers.

A Japanese number matters only if someone in Japan needs to call or text you on a local number. If you only need maps, messaging and bookings, data is usually enough.

Keep your home line for codes. Many banks send one-time codes by text. On a dual-SIM phone you can keep your home line on for texts. Apple warns that if you keep both lines on, you might still incur roaming fees from your home line, so check your home provider’s roaming settings, and turn off data roaming on that line.

Step 3: which network, and where are you going?

A travel eSIM runs on one or more local networks. MIC’s English-language mobile market data (December 2024 release) reports figures for Japan’s mobile network operators: NTT Docomo, the KDDI Group (KDDI, Okinawa Cellular and UQ Communications), SoftBank and Rakuten Mobile. MIC defines a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) as a company that sells mobile service using another operator’s network, without running its own radio stations. MIC has published newer quarterly data since then (most recently on 10 July 2026), but those materials are in Japanese only.

What to do:

  1. Ask which Japanese network (or networks) the plan uses. If the seller does not say, ask before you pay.
  2. Check that network’s own coverage map for every place on your route, not just Tokyo and Osaka. Mountain areas, rural onsen towns and small islands are where gaps are most likely to matter.
  3. Do not rely on hotel Wi-Fi in the countryside. JNTO says most major hotels in Japanese cities offer Wi-Fi, but traditional ryokan and smaller minshuku may not, especially in mountains and rural areas.

Step 4: Japan’s technical conformity mark (“giteki”)

The rule. MIC says radio equipment used in Japan must meet the technical standards in Chapter 3 of the Radio Act. A device that meets them carries a technical conformity mark (often called the “giteki” mark), with a certificate number.

The visitor exception for phones. MIC says that, so tourists can easily use their devices, a phone without the mark may be used if it meets international standards equivalent to Japan’s and either:

  • uses an international roaming service provided by a Japanese mobile carrier, while the phone stays under contract with a foreign carrier that has a roaming agreement with that Japanese carrier, or
  • is a phone brought from overseas that supports international roaming, used with a SIM card from a Japanese mobile carrier.

MIC’s page does not mention eSIMs by name. It says to contact the mobile carrier for details.

Does your phone already have the mark? Check before you worry. Apple says an iPhone shows its regulatory marks under Settings > General > Legal & Regulatory, so look there for Japan’s mark. On other phones, check your phone maker’s support pages for where regulatory information is shown. If your phone does not show the mark and you are unsure, ask the eSIM seller which arrangement its plan uses.

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices: 90 days. This is a separate exception from the one for phones on a mobile network. MIC says foreign Wi-Fi devices (smartphones, tablets, laptops, game consoles) with the Wi-Fi logo can be used for 90 days after entering Japan when they connect to a free public Wi-Fi spot, tether to a smartphone or other device, or connect directly to another device. Bluetooth devices with the Bluetooth logo, such as wireless earphones, are covered too.

Tethering, hotspots and direct connections. MIC limits tethering and direct device-to-device connections to the 2.4 GHz band or 6 GHz “VLP” mode. A direct connection is covered only in 6 GHz VLP mode, and only when one of the two devices is a smartphone. MIC says to check your phone’s tethering frequency with your phone maker or home carrier before you enter Japan. MIC also says the 5.2 GHz and 5.3 GHz bands, and 6 GHz “LPI” mode, are for indoor use only.

Routers. MIC says a LAN router from another country can only be used if it has the technical conformity mark. Its visitor leaflet lists wireless LAN routers as an example of devices that must not be used. So a travel router or pocket Wi-Fi you bring from home is a problem unless it has the mark.

Staying longer than 90 days. MIC says Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices used under the visitor exception cannot be used for longer than 90 days, and you should then use equipment with the technical conformity mark. MIC’s page sets no 90-day limit on the separate exception for using a foreign phone on international roaming or with a Japanese carrier’s SIM card. After 90 days, though, your phone’s own Wi-Fi and Bluetooth need the mark, so check whether your phone already shows it.

Step 5: pocket Wi-Fi or eSIM?

JNTO lists both. Its Wi-Fi page says rental kiosks are at all major airports, and you can reserve online and have a pocket Wi-Fi delivered to your hotel. It recommends renting one if you want a connection everywhere, especially in remote areas. Its FAQ says eSIMs and pocket Wi-Fi are especially convenient for short-term visitors.

Question eSIM Pocket Wi-Fi rental
Phone requirement eSIM-capable and unlocked Any phone with Wi-Fi
Extra device None A router to carry, charge and return
Sharing Only if the plan allows hotspot Built for several devices; ask the rental company how many
Group travel Each person needs a plan One device can serve a group that stays together
Pick-up and return Nothing to collect Collect and return at set places and times
Japan’s device rule Phone has the mark, or uses roaming or a Japanese carrier’s line under MIC’s visitor exception. Ask the seller Ask the rental company to confirm the router is approved for use in Japan

Free Wi-Fi helps as a backup. JNTO says Narita, Haneda, Kansai, New Chitose, Centrair and Fukuoka airports offer free Wi-Fi.

A local physical SIM card is a third option. JNTO says major airports offer data plans and that you can buy a SIM card at electronics megastores such as Bic Camera or Yodobashi Camera. It also says your phone must be unlocked to use a SIM card.

Japan and Korea on one trip

One regional plan or two country plans? Either can work. Check:

  • Both countries are named on the plan’s coverage list. A plan called “Asia” or “East Asia” may not include both.
  • Validity covers your whole trip, and whether the data is shared across both countries or split.
  • Which network it uses in each country.
  • Ferry crossings. If you take a ferry between Korea and Japan, ask whether the plan works at sea and in the ports you use.

What Korea’s official tourism site says. VisitKorea, run by the Korea Tourism Organization, says (page updated 11 September 2026):

  • Korean service providers offer both physical USIM cards and eSIMs. To use an eSIM, you buy it online and scan the QR code. It says to check that your phone is compatible before you buy.
  • Incheon, Gimpo, Gimhae and Jeju international airports have roaming centres run by Korea’s major network carriers (KT, SK Telecom and LG U+). They offer roaming, SIM card sales, Wi-Fi egg (pocket Wi-Fi) rentals and phone rentals.
  • Major convenience store chains sell USIM cards, but stock varies by branch.
  • Free public Wi-Fi is available in most public places, such as airports, subway stations, train stations and some bus stops.

Japan’s device rules above are Japanese rules. They do not set the rules in Korea.

Set up before you fly

  1. Check your phone is unlocked (Step 1) at least a week before you travel.
  2. Buy the plan and read the terms, especially when validity starts: on install, or on first connection in Japan.
  3. Install the eSIM at home over Wi-Fi. Apple and Samsung both describe scanning a QR code from the provider. Some providers use their own app.
  4. Label your lines, for example “Home” and “Japan”, so you can tell them apart.
  5. Set the travel eSIM as your data line and turn off data roaming on your home line. On iPhone, go to Settings > Mobile Data > Mobile Data and choose the line. Apple says that with iOS 26 and later you may see a “Turn On Travel eSIM” prompt when you arrive.
  6. Keep the QR code and activation details private, and save the provider’s support contact somewhere you can reach offline.
  7. Keep the eSIM until you are home. Some travel eSIMs cannot be reinstalled once deleted. Check the provider’s terms.

Travelling on a Japan eVISA? Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) says eVISA travellers must display the “visa issuance notice” at the airport with an internet connection. It does not accept PDFs, screenshots or printed copies. So make sure you have data or airport Wi-Fi at your departure airport. A Japan-only eSIM will not connect there, so keep roaming on your home line or use the airport Wi-Fi for that step. Our Japan eVISA guides for UAE and Saudi residents and Filipinos explain how the notice works.

Questions to ask before you buy

  • Which network does the plan use in Japan, and in Korea if included?
  • Data only, or a local number? If a number is included, can it receive texts from Japanese services?
  • Is hotspot allowed? Apple says Personal Hotspot needs a network provider that supports it, additional fees may apply, and the number of devices that can connect depends on your provider and iPhone model. Some travel plans limit or block it.
  • Is there a fair use limit? Some plans sold as “unlimited” slow your speed after a set amount of data. Ask what the limit is and what speed you get after it.
  • When does validity start, and can you top up?
  • What if your phone is not compatible? Check the refund terms before you pay.
  • Can the eSIM be reinstalled if you delete it by mistake?

Common mistakes and scams

  • Buying before checking the lock. A locked phone cannot use another provider’s eSIM. Only your provider can unlock it.
  • Assuming “Asia” means Japan and Korea. Read the country list line by line.
  • Bringing a travel router from home. MIC says a foreign router needs the technical conformity mark.
  • Using unmarked Wi-Fi or Bluetooth devices beyond 90 days. MIC says long stays need equipment with the mark. Check your phone’s regulatory screen first, as many phones already show it.
  • Arriving at check-in with no data on an eVISA. MOFA says the visa issuance notice must be shown with an internet connection, not as a screenshot or printout.
  • Relying on ryokan Wi-Fi in rural areas. JNTO says smaller and traditional places may not offer it.
  • Buying through links in unsolicited messages or from unknown social media sellers. Buy from a provider’s own website or app, and never share your QR code.

How Voyfaro can help

  • eSIM comparison: we help you compare eSIM plans from partners we reach through the Travelpayouts affiliate network, so you can check country lists, networks, data and validity side by side.
  • The rest of your trip: we can also help you compare flights, hotels and travel insurance.
  • Official rules: we point you to official government pages. We do not apply for or issue visas or travel authorisations. See our visa guidance.
  • You stay in control: you book and pay directly with the partner. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. See our affiliate disclosure.
  • Questions? Contact us with your route, dates and phone model.

FAQ

Do I need an eSIM for Japan?

No. JNTO lists SIM cards, eSIMs and pocket Wi-Fi as common options, and roaming on your home plan is another. It says eSIMs and pocket Wi-Fi are especially convenient for short-term visitors.

Can I use my phone from home in Japan?

Usually, yes. MIC says a phone without Japan’s technical conformity mark can be used if it meets equivalent international standards and is on international roaming through a Japanese carrier, or uses a Japanese carrier’s SIM card. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth use under the visitor exception is limited to 90 days.

Does a Japan eSIM come with a phone number?

Many travel eSIMs are data only. Apple says many local network providers’ prepaid plans come with a local number, while worldwide providers sell data plans. Check the plan before you buy.

Is pocket Wi-Fi or an eSIM better for Japan?

It depends on your group and your phone. An eSIM needs an unlocked, eSIM-capable phone and nothing to carry. Pocket Wi-Fi works with any Wi-Fi device, but you must collect, charge and return it. Do not bring a router from home: MIC says foreign routers need the mark.

Does one eSIM work in both Japan and South Korea?

Only if both countries are on that plan’s coverage list. Also check the validity and the network used in each country. VisitKorea says Korean providers also sell their own USIM cards and eSIMs.

Can I use my phone as a hotspot in Japan?

Only if your plan allows it. Apple says Personal Hotspot needs a provider that supports it, and fees may apply. MIC limits tethering by foreign devices to the 2.4 GHz band or 6 GHz VLP mode, so check your phone’s hotspot frequency with your phone maker or home carrier before you go.

I am staying in Japan for more than 90 days. What changes?

MIC’s 90-day limit applies to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth use of devices without the technical conformity mark. After 90 days, MIC says you should use equipment with the mark. MIC’s page sets no 90-day limit for using a foreign phone on international roaming or with a Japanese carrier’s SIM card, but your phone’s Wi-Fi and Bluetooth then need the mark. Many phones show their regulatory marks on screen; on an iPhone, Apple says to look under Settings > General > Legal & Regulatory.

Does Voyfaro sell eSIMs?

No. We help you compare eSIM plans from partners. You buy directly from the partner, which sets the coverage, price and terms.

Sources

Official pages we checked on 7 October 2026:

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