For holidays, work trips and study. Data from $2.29, QR by email in minutes, your UK number stays on.
Travellers from the UK can get online in Japan with a Slashtel data eSIM from $2.29 (about £1.72), across 20 plans; 5GB for 30 days is $5.39, about £4.05. Buy it in UK, scan the QR at home and the data starts when you land on NTT docomo, Rakuten Mobile, KDDI/au or SoftBank. Your UK SIM stays in the phone for calls, texts and bank OTPs.
| Data | Days | Price (USD) | About, in GBP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1GB | 7 | $2.29 | £1.72 |
| 1GB | 7 | $2.29 | £1.72 |
| 1GB | 7 | $3.09 | £2.32 |
| 3GB | 15 | $3.89 | £2.92 |
| 3GB | 15 | $4.49 | £3.37 |
| 3GB | 30 | $4.69 | £3.52 |
| 3GB | 30 | $4.69 | £3.52 |
| 5GB | 30 | $5.39 | £4.05 |
| 3GB | 15 | $6.89 | £5.18 |
| 3GB | 30 | $7.09 | £5.33 |
| 5GB | 30 | $8.89 | £6.68 |
| 5GB | 30 | $9.29 | £6.98 |
| 10GB | 30 | $9.39 | £7.05 |
| 10GB | 30 | $13.39 | £10.06 |
You pay in US dollars or your card's currency; GBP amounts are a guide at today's rate. Japan is 8 hours ahead of UK.
You don't need one, but it is usually the cheapest way to have data in Japan. Plans start at $2.29, and you avoid roaming charges on your UK number.
Yes. The eSIM is data only and sits next to your UK SIM. Keep your own line switched on for calls, SMS and bank OTPs, and use the eSIM for data.
Install it in UK before you fly, on Wi-Fi. Validity starts when it first connects in Japan, not when you install it.
Yes. Debit and credit cards from the UK and most other countries are accepted, plus Apple Pay and Google Pay. Your bank may ask you to confirm the payment.
Any eSIM-capable phone that is not locked to a network, including iPhone XS and newer, Google Pixel 3 and newer and most recent Samsung Galaxy models. Check yours on our compatibility page. See the full list.
For most trips a 5GB to 10GB data eSIM valid for 30 days is the right size: Slashtel's 5GB plan for Japan is $5.39 on NTT docomo, Rakuten Mobile and KDDI/au. That is about 48% less than the major eSIM brands charge for 10GB over 30 days (around $18.00, checked September 2026). Install it before you fly, keep your home SIM on for calls and bank texts, and top up the same eSIM if you run low.
If your phone supports eSIM, an eSIM is simpler than a local SIM card: nothing to collect at the airport, no passport registration, and your home SIM stays in the phone for calls and OTP texts. A physical SIM only makes sense for long stays where you need a local phone number.