Beyond your digital camera and smartphone, there’s one more essential travel tool for Japan: an eSIM. Actually, it lives in your smartphone so you don’t even have to pack it.
From Tokyo’s intricate train network to uncovering hidden ramen spots in Osaka, an eSIM for Japan is a must-have for smooth navigation and easy internet access.
Stay connected, save money, and make unforgettable memories in Japan with high-speed data at your fingertips. Here’s how we used our Ubigi eSIM for Japan travel–stress free!
Note: Some of the links below contain affiliate links. This doesn’t increase the cost of any item to you, but simply means that I’ll receive a small commission of any sales from those links. Thank you!
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Ubigi. I received complimentary eSIMs and compensation in exchange for sharing my honest review. As always, all opinions are my own.
What is an eSIM & Why Use One in Japan?
eSIMs have become a game-changer for international travelers. They’re far more affordable than those international plans your carrier back home offers (some of which can cost $10 a day!) and save you the hassle of hunting down a physical SIM card at the airport.
Basically, an eSIM connects your phone, tablet, or laptop to mobile data without the need for a physical SIM card. It’s fast, flexible, and perfect for avoiding costly roaming charges or endlessly searching for Wi-Fi while you’re on the go.
One of my favorite things about eSIMs is that you can keep multiple profiles active at once. For this trip, I kept my U.S. T-Mobile eSIM active for texting and calls, while using Ubigi for data. I simply turned off roaming on my U.S. line and let Ubigi’s data plan be my primary network.
This is especially important in Japan, where getting around can be a maze of train schedules, language barriers, and cash-only shops. Needless to say, having reliable data is a must!
Because my T-Mobile plan included limited international coverage, I could still text from my U.S. number while enjoying Ubigi’s reliable high-speed data for everything else.
Why We Chose Ubigi eSIM for Japan
We knew we needed something fast and reliable for Japan, and Ubigi fit both of those requirements. They offer global eSIMs with prepaid data plans–perfect for traveling in Asia!
On top of that, I like to track how much data I’ve used so I don’t wind up low on data, and Ubigi has a handy-dandy app that makes it easy to not only keep track of how much data has been used, but also top-up up your plan even if your smartphone is completely out of data. No Wi-Fi required!
The Ubigi eSIMs are data-only, so you won’t get an international phone number or calling minutes—just mobile data. And for most travelers, that’s more than enough. Besides, I personally don’t like getting a random international phone number for short trips abroad.
Plus, you’ll still be able to use FaceTime, iMessage, WhatsApp, and other apps linked to your phone number or email address. You can even keep your regular eSIM active (with roaming turned off to avoid unwanted charges) for emergency calls/texts.
Our Experience Using Ubigi eSIM in Japan
Upon landing at the Tokyo International Airport, we activated the eSIM for use during 10 days in Japan. The process is seamless and easy to set-up before taking flight.
Set-up & Activation
Ubigi’s setup was simple. I’ve used a few other eSIM services before, and this was the first one I used that included a dedicated app to manage data and track usage. I really enjoyed having access to an app!
Here’s what we did to activate the eSIM before travel:
- Download the Ubigi app.
- Create an account.
- Activate your free eSIM within the app.
- Purchase or redeem your data plan.
- For travelers buying a plan directly from the website, you’ll receive a QR code via email with setup instructions. You can then use the app to activate and manage your data from there.
You can activate the eSIM ahead of time if you like or turn it on when you arrive in Japan. Either way, your purchase timeframe won’t begin until the eSIM arrives in a covered area. In this case, we purchased a 30 day eSIM with 25 GB available.
Data Speeds & Coverage
We took the eSIM all around Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka with excellent coverage in every city. Even during train rides through more rural areas and at the Ashikaga Flower Park data speeds were very high with no complaints.
You can expect some coverage issues when underground taking the metro. However, this is to be expected just about anywhere in the world you go. So, I can’t dock Ubigi any points for that.
Overall, pages loaded very quickly when doing quick Google searches, there were no problems uploading stories to Instagram, and Google Maps was smooth and pleasant to use with the Ubigi data eSIM in Japan.
Overall Data Usage in Japan
Our Ubigi data plan gave us 25 GB of data. Of that 25 GB, we used 9.67 GB during 10 days in Japan. Overall, we were relatively conscious about turning on Wi-Fi in cafes and when back in the hotels.
Most of our usage went toward Google Maps, translations, quick Google searches, iMessage conversations, sharing images, and making brief FaceTime calls.
So, if you are wondering how much data you need for Japan, I believe 10 GB is the perfect amount for a week-long trip.
Pros of Using Ubigi eSIM in Japan
- Seamless activation—data kicks in when you arrive
- No physical SIM card required
- Simple, easy-to-use app
- Competitive pricing
- Reliable customer support
- Works with most newer smartphones (iPhones from 2018 onward accept eSIMs)
- Even if you don’t have WiFi or data credits remaining, you can still top up via the app as long as your Ubigi eSIM is installed.
Cons of Ubigi
- Requires an eSIM-compatible phone
- Data-only—no international calls or SMS (which isn’t an issue if your regular plan covers some texting like mine does OR if you iMessage, Whatsapp, Messenger for most of your communications)
Final Thoughts
So, what’s not to love? Ubigi made it incredibly easy to stay connected throughout Japan. Whether you’re traveling solo, working remotely, or just looking for a hassle-free way to avoid expensive roaming fees, I highly recommend it.
The setup is quick, the data plans are budget-friendly, and the service is reliable—no SIM swapping, no stressful hunts for local cards at the airport, and no bill shock from roaming charges.
After trying the eSIM in Japan and Mexico, Ubigi is absolutely going to be my go-to for future trips. I’d confidently give it five stars!
If you would like to get a Ubigi eSIM yourself, also know you can get 10% off on your first purchase with code SPIRITED10 and feel free to browse data plans here.
Thanks for reading this Ubigi eSIM review. Please feel free to comment down below any questions, and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can. Arigato! Happy travels!
Buy me a coffee
