Mobile networks in Japan

Which networks your eSIM uses in Japan

Your eSIM uses the four main Japanese networks: NTT docomo, au, SoftBank and Rakuten Mobile. The network choice is automatic, so the phone joins the strongest partner network where it is. The eSIM cannot be locked to one carrier, and you do not choose a network when you buy.

This matters for travellers because Japan has several networks with different reach. Automatic selection means the phone moves between partners as you travel, without you changing settings or buying a second plan.

The travel eSIM is a data-only product on a country plan. There is no local phone number. WhatsApp and app calls work over data, and your own SIM stays in for calls and bank texts.

To get connected:

1. Buy the plan and receive the QR code by email in minutes.
2. Install the eSIM on Wi-Fi before your flight.
3. Keep your usual SIM in its slot for calls and bank texts.
4. Turn on data roaming for the eSIM line if data does not start.
5. Use the eSIM data in Japan from the moment it first connects in the country.

Coverage and 5G in Japan

Japan has strong mobile coverage, with 5G available on partner networks and 178 mobile subscriptions per 100 people. About 86 percent of the population uses the internet, based on ITU data via the World Bank. The eSIM uses 5G where the partner network provides it.

Coverage follows the partner networks your phone joins. Cities and main transport routes are well served, and the high subscription rate reflects a market where mobile data is part of daily life.

The 5G label applies to the network generation available from the partners. Your phone shows the network it is on, and the eSIM connects automatically to the strongest partner where you are.

If you need more data during the trip, you can add data to the same eSIM online without a new QR code. That keeps your setup unchanged while you travel.

Will your phone work in Japan

Your phone works in Japan if it supports eSIM and is carrier unlocked. Most recent iPhone, Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel models do. Check both points before you buy, because a locked phone cannot use a travel eSIM even when the hardware supports it.

To check eSIM support, look in your phone settings for the option to add a mobile plan. To check the lock, confirm with your home carrier that the phone is unlocked. If both are in place, the eSIM can be installed and used in Japan.

The eSIM is data only, so calls and texts stay on your own SIM. WhatsApp and app calls work over the eSIM data. Your bank texts continue to arrive on your usual number, which is why the own SIM stays in the phone.

The APN is set automatically on most phones. If data does not start after you arrive, turn on data roaming for the eSIM line. That is the usual fix and does not change your own SIM settings.

Setting up before you fly

Install the eSIM on Wi-Fi before your flight. The QR code arrives by email in minutes after payment. The plan days start when the eSIM first connects in Japan, not when you buy or install it, so early setup does not use up your days.

Payment is by Apple Pay, Google Pay or a card your bank confirms. Prices are in US dollars and shown before payment, with nothing added at checkout. Plans come in sizes such as 1 GB, 2 GB and 3 GB and lengths such as 7, 15 and 30 days.

Once installed, keep the eSIM line ready but off for data until you land, or simply let it connect on arrival. The first connection in Japan starts the clock. If you run low later, add data to the same eSIM online without a new QR code.

Network details on this page were checked on 2026-10-31. Use the four network names and the 5G generation as your guide when comparing what your phone will join in Japan.