eSIM for Tokyo

Tokyo: what to know before you go

From the airports

Haneda (HND) is close to the centre and Narita (NRT) is about an hour away by train. Transit directions are the first thing you will need after immigration.

Transit and the card

Trains and the metro are the way to move, and a map app that shows platforms and line colours is essential. Suica and Pasmo transit cards can be added to Apple Wallet on a recent iPhone.

Coverage

Coverage is excellent across the city and most of the subway. Dense areas like Shibuya and Shinjuku at rush hour can slow, but it stays usable.

Booking on the phone

Sights such as Shibuya Sky, teamLab and many restaurants take online bookings with a QR code. Walk-ins are often impossible in busy months.

Free wifi is patchy

Public wifi exists in stations and shops but usually needs a registration step and drops often. An eSIM is more reliable.

How much data you need

A week of maps, translation, bookings and photos takes about 4 to 6 GB. Constant navigation by train is what uses it up.

Written 24 October 2026. Opening rules, fees, prices at attractions and event dates change, so check the official site before you rely on them.

Tokyo: when people go

29 December 2026 to 4 January 2027: New Year holidays

The year's biggest travel rush leaves the big cities between 29 and 31 December and returns between 2 and 4 January, so trains and airports are crowded. Shops usually close on 1 January and many restaurants close for a day or more, so check opening hours on the map and keep reserved train seats saved on your phone.

Late March to early April 2027: cherry blossom season

The first flowers in Tokyo usually open in the last week of March and the full bloom is around 31 March, though in 2026 they opened early, on 21 March. Forecasts for 2027 start to appear in December 2026, and parks and riverbanks are crowded at the peak, so a live map helps you choose where to go and when.

29 April to 5 May 2027: Golden Week

Four national holidays fall on 29 April and 3, 4 and 5 May 2027, and the days between them make a long break for many people, so trains, airports and big sights are at their fullest. In 2026 the fastest bullet trains between Tokyo and Hakata ran with reserved seats only from 24 April to 6 May, so book seats early and keep the tickets on your phone.

Early June to mid-July 2027: rainy season

The rainy season usually runs from early June to mid-July in Tokyo, with humid, on and off rain rather than constant downpours, and typhoon season lasts to October with the most activity in August and September. Keep a rain radar and the train status page handy, because a typhoon can disrupt trains and flights at short notice.

Japan eSIM 2026: prices, network and coverage

10 plans, from $2.49 (1 GB, 7 days) to $23.99 (50 GB, 30 days). Networks: KDDI/au 5G, SoftBank 5G, NTT docomo 5G, and Rakuten Mobile 5G.

Network

KDDI/au 5G, SoftBank 5G, NTT docomo 5G, Rakuten Mobile 5G

Top-up

Yes, from the app, on the same eSIM

Validity starts

At the first connection at your destination

Install by

Shown on your order. An eSIM that is never installed expires

Your number

Stays active, plans are data only

Hotspot

Uses the same plan data, no separate charge

After the daily allowance

Day passes slow down to 1 Mbps

Updated November 12, 2026

Questions about Tokyo

Can I use the eSIM for Google Maps and the train apps?

Yes. A data plan works for any app, and Google Maps or a dedicated transit app is how most visitors find the right platform. Download offline maps as a backup for the subway.

Do I need a Japanese phone number?

Not for the trip. A travel eSIM gives you data only, and apps like WhatsApp, LINE and your usual messaging work as normal. Some restaurant bookings may ask for a number, which is why many visitors book online instead.

How much does an eSIM for Tokyo cost?

Tokyo uses the Japan plans, because an eSIM belongs to a country and not to a city. Plans start at $2.49 for 1 GB, valid for 7 days. There are 10 plans, from 1 GB to 50 GB, plus unlimited day passes.

Do I need a local SIM card in Tokyo?

No. The eSIM is a SIM card in digital form: you install it from a QR code before you leave, and there is nothing to buy at the airport or swap in your phone.

How is it different from roaming in Tokyo?

With roaming, your own carrier bills the data you use abroad, usually by the day or by the megabyte, at the prices of your plan. The eSIM is prepaid: you know the cost before you leave and nothing is added later. Keep data roaming off on your usual line, so it cannot charge you.

Which networks does the Tokyo eSIM use?

Wigoo connects to KDDI/au, SoftBank, NTT docomo, and Rakuten Mobile, with 5G where it is available. Each plan lists the operators it uses.

Can I add more data?

Yes. You top up the same eSIM from the app, without installing a new one.

Do I keep my phone number?

Yes. Plans are data only, so your usual line stays active for calls and texts, and WhatsApp keeps working as always.

When do the validity days start?

Not when you buy and not when you install: the days start counting when the eSIM connects to a network at your destination for the first time. A 30 day plan gives you 30 days from that first connection.

How long do I have to install the eSIM?

An eSIM that is never installed expires. The "Install by" date is shown on your order, on the site and in the app, so you can buy ahead of your trip. Install it before that date, on Wi-Fi.

Can I use the eSIM as a hotspot?

Data used through a personal hotspot comes out of the same plan, and Wigoo does not charge it separately. A laptop uses far more data than a phone, so for work a day pass or a bigger plan is safer.

What happens when the data runs out?

Plans are prepaid, so there are no extra charges: when the data is used up, the connection stops until you add more from the app. Day passes give a daily allowance at full speed, then continue at reduced speed (1 Mbps) until the next day.

When should I install the eSIM?

Before you leave, on Wi-Fi. When you land, set the Wigoo line for mobile data and turn on data roaming for it.