Japan Guides
Install, airport fixes, honest comparisons and Japan month by month.
eSIM guides
Install guideHow to Install Your Japan eSIM, Step by Step
Two minutes on home Wi-Fi, exact iPhone and Android taps, and the fix list.
Fair use, stated up frontJapan eSIM Fair Use Policy, Explained in One Sentence
One flat 10 Mbps cap, no daily ceiling, stated before you pay.
Airport rescueeSIM No Signal at the Airport? The 5-Step Fix Checklist
The five-step no-signal fix, free airport Wi-Fi names, and a printable card.
Ski seasonThe Best eSIM for a Japan Ski Trip
Niseko to Hakuba: real mountain signal talk and the plan that fits a ski week.
Business travelJapan eSIM for Business Travel: the Complete Setup
Dual SIM setup, honest hotspot math and receipts: the work-trip data playbook.
eSIM or pocket WiFiJapan eSIM vs Pocket WiFi: Which One Should You Get?
Counters, batteries and per-day math: when the rental still wins and when it does not.
iPhone setupHow to Set Up a Japan eSIM on Your iPhone
XS or newer, dual SIM settings, US eSIM-only models and the no-data checklist.
Data mathHow Much Data Do You Need in Japan?
Maps, translate, trains and video, added up into three honest traveler profiles.
The network, namedJapan eSIM on the KDDI Network: What You Actually Get
What the au network covers, where 5G lives, and how the three Japanese carriers differ.
TroubleshootingJapan eSIM Not Working? How to Fix It in 5 Minutes
The settings-order fix list that revives most dead travel eSIMs, whoever sold them.
Narita arrivalsHow to Get Online at Narita Airport
Counters vs a QR code at home: the Narita arrivals play, terminal by terminal.
Haneda arrivalsHow to Get Online at Haneda Airport
Late arrivals, shut counters, fast trains: why Haneda rewards installing at home.
Kansai arrivalsHow to Get Online at Kansai Airport (KIX)
The Kansai arrivals play for Osaka, Kyoto and Nara trips, counters included.
One weekThe Best Japan eSIM for a 7 Day Trip
3GB, 5GB, 10GB or unlimited for the classic first week, priced from the live catalog.
Two weeksThe Best Japan eSIM for a 2 Week Trip
The 15 day shelf sized for the golden route: 5GB to unlimited, priced live.
One monthThe Best Japan eSIM for a 30 Day Stay
The 30 day shelf for slow travel and long stays, from 5GB to unlimited.
Arrival paperworkVisit Japan Web: one QR for immigration and customs
The official arrival QR: setup steps, what it covers, and the JESTA scam to skip.
Tax-free shoppingTax-free shopping changes on November 1, 2026
Pay full price, refund at departure: the November 2026 tax-free switch, explained.
Roaming vs eSIMVerizon in Japan: $12 a day, or one eSIM
TravelPass $12 a day with a 5GB daily cliff, priced against one eSIM.
Roaming vs eSIMT-Mobile roams free in Japan. Here is the catch.
Included roaming with a 256 kbps tail: when free is enough and when it is not.
Roaming vs eSIMAT&T in Japan: $12 a day, capped, still beatable
Day Pass $12 a day with a 10-day fee cap, priced against one eSIM.
Roaming vs eSIMTelstra in Japan: A$10 a day, 2GB that dies nightly
A$10 a day, 2GB expiring nightly, auto-activation: the Telstra math for Japan.
Roaming vs eSIMOptus in Japan: A$5 a day is honestly decent
A$5 per 24h with 5GB: the fairest carrier pass, and its fine print.
Roaming vs eSIMSingtel ReadyRoam vs a Japan eSIM, line by line
S$18 for 6GB in 30 days vs the KDDI shelf: a genuinely close call, called honestly.
Android setupHow to set up a Japan eSIM on Android
Samsung and Pixel steps, the EID check, and the three switches for landing.
Family travelJapan eSIM for families: one each, or one to share?
One eSIM each, one shared plan, or pocket Wi-Fi: the family math, honestly.Compare eSIMs
CompareTravel eSIMs compared: networks and speed rules in 7 destinations
Which network you land on, and what happens to unlimited speed after a few GB.
GuideThe best Japan eSIM in 2026 depends on your trip
Airalo, Holafly, Ubigi, Saily, Nomad, Sakura Mobile, Mobal and ESIM KIMONO compared on network, speed rule, hotspot, s
GuideIs a cheap Japan eSIM worth it?
What a low-priced Japan eSIM costs you when it fails at the airport or slows mid-day, and how to judge value by networ
GuideUnlimited data in Japan: what "unlimited" really means
What \"unlimited\" really means on a Japan eSIM: daily caps, total caps, or a flat 10 Mbps on KDDI with no daily data
City guideKyoto eSIM
A Kyoto eSIM for bus routing, temple days and Fushimi Inari's upper trail, on KDDI 4G/5G. Which plan fits a Kyoto stay
City guideOsaka eSIM
An Osaka eSIM that works when you land at Kansai Airport, on KDDI 4G/5G. Plans for USJ days, Dotonbori nights, Nara an
City guideTokyo eSIM
A Tokyo eSIM on KDDI 4G/5G: install at home, online when you land at Narita or Haneda. Which plan fits a Tokyo week, t
CompareAiralo vs ESIM KIMONO for Japan
Airalo or ESIM KIMONO for Japan? Network, unlimited speed rule, hotspot, refunds and support compared, every Airalo fa
CompareHolafly vs ESIM KIMONO for Japan
Holafly or ESIM KIMONO for unlimited data in Japan? Network, speed rule, hotspot cap, refunds and real Japan reviews s
CompareMobal vs ESIM KIMONO in Japan: do you need a phone number?
Mobal gives a real Japanese number on Docomo, with an ID check. ESIM KIMONO is data only on KDDI, QR by email in minut
CompareNomad vs ESIM KIMONO in Japan: network, speed rules and support
Nomad vs ESIM KIMONO for Japan: Nomad's unlimited slows to 512 kbps after a daily allowance; ours is a flat 10 Mbps on
CompareSaily vs ESIM KIMONO in Japan: network, speed rules and support
Saily vs ESIM KIMONO for Japan: networks, how each unlimited plan slows, hotspot, support and what happens when an eSI
CompareSakura Mobile vs ESIM KIMONO in Japan
Sakura Mobile and ESIM KIMONO both run on KDDI (au) in Japan. Speed rules, hotspot limits, support and what happens if
CompareUbigi vs ESIM KIMONO in Japan: which one keeps you online?
Ubigi offers Docomo and KDDI with app top-ups. ESIM KIMONO runs on KDDI with a flat 10 Mbps unlimited plan, no app and
AlternativeAn Airalo alternative for Japan, and how to tell if you need one
Airalo slow or showing No Service in Japan? Five-minute checks first, then how to switch tonight over hotel Wi-Fi. Alt
AlternativeA Holafly alternative for Japan: what "unlimited" really means on each plan
Holafly slowing down in Japan? What unlimited really means on Holafly, Airalo, Saily, Ubigi, Nomad and ESIM KIMONO: ne
AlternativeA Japan Wireless eSIM alternative
Japan Wireless and ESIM KIMONO both sell KDDI eSIMs for Japan. Compare the speed floor, the unlimited rule, support ch
AlternativeA Jetpac alternative for Japan
Jetpac's Japan unlimited runs at normal speed for 3GB a day, then up to 1 Mbps. Compare network, speed rule, refunds a
AlternativeA KKday eSIM alternative for Japan
KKday's top Japan unlimited eSIM is 4G only, gives no number for its fair-use rule and does not refund completed order
AlternativeA Klook eSIM alternative for Japan
Klook sells many merchants' Japan eSIMs, so fixes go through the merchant. How its flagship listing compares with ESIM
AlternativeMobal alternative for Japan: data on landing, no ID check
Flying soon and your Mobal code or ID check isn't sorted? ESIM KIMONO is data only on KDDI, needs no ID, and the QR co
AlternativeA MobiMatter alternative for Japan
MobiMatter is a marketplace: its Japan unlimited is a resold Airalo plan at 3GB a day, then 1 Mbps. Compare network, s
AlternativeNomad alternative for Japan: no daily throttle
Nomad Japan unlimited down to 512 kbps by afternoon, or not connecting? What to check first, and a KDDI alternative at
AlternativeSaily alternative for Japan: short unlimited, KDDI, no app
Saily's Japan unlimited starts at 15 days and slows after 5GB a day. ESIM KIMONO: unlimited from 3 days at a flat 10 M
AlternativeA Sakura Mobile alternative for Japan
Sakura Mobile caps hotspot by plan length. If your family shares one phone's data with iPads, compare network, hotspot
AlternativeUbigi alternative for Japan: fix it tonight, or switch
Ubigi not connecting in Japan, or unlimited slowed to 2 Mbps? Four checks to try first, then a KDDI eSIM with no app yJapan, month by month
一月Japan in January: powder, onsen and quiet temples
What January in Japan is really like: Hokkaido powder, hatsumode, New Year sales, onsen towns, and how much da
二月Japan in February: snow festivals and the first plum blossoms
February in Japan: the Sapporo Snow Festival, Otaru's canal lights, Setsubun bean-throwing and the start of pl
三月Japan in March: the sakura forecast begins
March in Japan: where the cherry blossom front starts, when Tokyo blooms, plus White Day and graduation season
四月Japan in April: full bloom moves north
April in Japan: hanami picnics, the Takayama Spring Festival, and where to catch the cherry blossoms after Tok
五月Japan in May: green season, minus one week
May in Japan: fresh green mountains, the Aoi Matsuri, Kamikochi opening, and why to avoid Golden Week.
六月Japan in June: rain, hydrangeas and fireflies
June in Japan: what the rainy season actually means, hydrangea temples in Kamakura, firefly evenings, and dry
七月Japan in July: Gion Matsuri and the mountain opens
July in Japan: Kyoto's Gion Matsuri, Tanabata wishes, the Mount Fuji climbing season and the first fireworks.
八月Japan in August: Obon, Nebuta and fireworks
August in Japan: the Nebuta and Awa Odori festivals, Obon travel, summer fireworks and where to find cool air.
九月Japan in September: the shoulder season nobody books
September in Japan: typhoon odds, thinning crowds, red spider lilies and why prices drop while the weather oft
十月Japan in October: autumn starts at the top
October in Japan: where the first autumn colours arrive, the Takayama Autumn Festival, and comfortable travel
十一月Japan in November: peak momiji, almost everywhere
November in Japan: the month the maples burn. Foliage dates for Tokyo and Kyoto, temple light-ups and Shichi-G
十二月