This post may contain affiliate links. If you book or purchase through these links, Tokyo Undone may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Read our Affiliate Disclosure for details.
You’ve just landed in Tokyo after a long flight.
You want to check which train will take you to your hotel. You need Google Maps to find the station. Maybe you want to message someone to say you’ve arrived.
And then you realize: you don’t have mobile data yet.
Tokyo is an incredibly easy city to travel around once you can use your phone. Without it, even something as simple as finding the right station exit can suddenly become complicated.
That’s why mobile data is one of those things I’d sort out before leaving home.
Not because setting up an eSIM is exciting.
Because when you land in Tokyo, you want to open Google Maps and go.
Get your mobile data sorted before you fly
You can buy a physical SIM card after arriving in Japan, and there’s Wi-Fi at the airport.
But after a long flight, I personally wouldn’t want another thing to figure out before heading to my hotel.
An eSIM lets you set up your mobile data before your trip, without picking up or swapping a physical SIM card.
Do it at home while you have Wi-Fi, and that’s one less thing on your arrival-day list.
Why I chose Ubigi
There are lots of eSIM providers, and I don’t think everyone needs to use the same one.
But when I traveled to France, I used Ubigi myself.
My reasons were pretty simple: it was inexpensive, there were plenty of plans to choose from, and it was easy to use.
Those are also the three things I’d care about when choosing an eSIM for a trip to Japan.
It was inexpensive
I didn’t want to spend much on something I only needed while traveling.
Ubigi had an affordable option that worked for my trip, so there wasn’t much reason for me to pay more.
For Japan, I’d do the same: look at the current plans and choose one that fits your trip rather than automatically paying for the biggest data allowance.
There are plenty of Japan plans
How much data you need depends on how you travel.
If you’re spending a week in Tokyo and mainly using Google Maps, train routes, restaurant searches and messaging, your needs are very different from someone staying for a month, streaming video and tethering a laptop.
Having several options means you can choose a plan based on your trip, rather than paying for data you probably won’t use.
It’s simple
This was probably the most important part for me.
Travel already involves enough planning. I don’t want my mobile connection to become another project.
My experience using Ubigi in France was straightforward, and that’s exactly what I want from an eSIM.
Set it up. Use it. Forget about it.
Why mobile data makes such a difference in Tokyo
If this is your first trip to Tokyo, you may be surprised by how often you reach for your phone.
Google Maps is especially useful here.
Tokyo’s train system is fantastic, but large stations can have many exits — and taking the wrong one can put you surprisingly far from where you wanted to be.
Then there are restaurant reservations, opening hours, translations, digital tickets and QR codes.
You don’t need to spend your trip thinking about mobile data.
You just need it to work when you need it.
That’s the real reason I’d arrange an eSIM before coming to Japan.
How to set up Ubigi for Japan
You don’t need to wait until you arrive.
Before your trip, check that your phone supports eSIM and is unlocked. Then install your Ubigi eSIM while you have a reliable Wi-Fi connection and choose a Japan data plan that suits your trip.
Once you arrive in Japan, you can switch to the Ubigi eSIM for mobile data.
The exact settings vary slightly by phone, so follow Ubigi’s current setup instructions for your device.
The goal is simple:
Haneda or Narita → phone on → mobile data → Google Maps → go.
Not:
Haneda or Narita → find Wi-Fi → figure out SIM cards → troubleshoot phone → finally leave the airport.
How much data do you need in Japan?
Don’t automatically buy the biggest plan.
Think about how you use your phone.
If you mainly need Google Maps, train directions, web searches and messaging, you may be fine with a relatively small amount of data.
If you watch video, upload lots of photos, spend a lot of time on social media or use your phone as a hotspot, choose more.
Ubigi offers different Japan plans with different data allowances and validity periods, which is one of the reasons I like having it as an option.
Prices and plans can change, so I’d check what’s available for the dates of your trip rather than putting a fixed price here.
One thing to know before you buy
Ubigi is primarily a data eSIM.
That means you shouldn’t buy it expecting a Japanese phone number for standard calls and SMS.
For many visitors, that isn’t a problem. With mobile data, you can still use internet-based apps such as WhatsApp and FaceTime.
But if having a local Japanese phone number is important for your trip, a data-only eSIM may not be the right solution for you.
Is Ubigi a good eSIM for Japan?
I wouldn’t tell you that Ubigi is the “best eSIM for Japan” because I haven’t tried every eSIM provider — and what’s best depends on your trip.
What I can tell you is why I chose Ubigi for my own trip to France.
It was inexpensive.
I could choose a plan that suited my trip.
And, most importantly, it was easy.
If you’re preparing for a trip to Tokyo and want to have mobile data sorted before you arrive, those are good reasons to consider it.
Because the best part isn’t the eSIM itself.
It’s landing in Tokyo, taking out your phone, opening Google Maps and heading straight into the city without having to think about how you’re going to get online.
Set it up before you fly, and it’s one less thing to think about when you arrive.