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One of the first things you'll probably want to sort out when you land in Japan, or even while planning your trip, is the best internet option, and the cheapest one while you're at it. Your carrier back home will no doubt be delighted to sell you a roaming plan at a premium. Or maybe you're telling yourself you can do without, thanks to the wifi wherever you go. Either way, this article is for you.

And let me answer the question of when to look for this right away, because it's the same answer as for exchanging currency. When you arrive. I know, it's counterintuitive, but local options are far better suited and rarely more expensive. Selling you plans or currency in advance mostly plays on the fear of the traveler about to land in an unfamiliar country, at the mercy of the locals, without the language, without any bearings. Except you're landing in Japan. And not only is it one of the safest (and most honest) countries in the world, it's also one of the most visited. Every local option is planned for, well-oiled, and designed with you in mind. Let me walk you through it.

When you step off the plane at Narita or Haneda, you'll find three main options on the spot, without having booked anything. They're not equally good depending on how you travel. And there's a fourth, bolder one, which I'll get to further down.

The eSIM. It's my go-to when I visit a country other than Japan, and it works just as well here. No physical card: you add it to your phone with a simple code (often a QR code), and it activates in a few minutes. You need a recent, unlocked phone (iPhone XR/XS and later, most high-end Androids since 2020). One thing to watch: some providers only offer data, with no Japanese number, which becomes a problem as soon as a local website or app sends you a verification text.

The physical SIM card. Same principle, the classic way: you swap your phone's original SIM for the travel one. Keep the original safe, tucked away somewhere secure, because if you lose it, you'll be in a fix when you get home. You need an unlocked phone and, sometimes, a pin to open the tray. For a stay longer than two weeks or heavy data use (photos, nonstop browsing), it's generally the cheapest option.

Pocket wifi. A small box that shares wifi with several devices. I'm not a fan: when I travel, I like to stay light and keep the number of gadgets in my pockets to a minimum, not to mention a battery to charge every night. But it's handy if you have a laptop to keep connected everywhere on top of your phone, or if you're traveling as a group and want one box for everyone.

A man checking his phone in an izakaya alley decorated with lanterns and maple leaves
A quick look at the phone in an izakaya alley. Photo: Fumiaki Hayashi / Unsplash.

The fourth option: take nothing. It may not win everyone over, but if you feel like using Japan as a chance to disconnect, it's the ideal country for it. When I first came to Japan, in 2005, I didn't even have a phone. Sure, I sometimes ended up in comical situations (like the time I got lost in Kabukicho looking for a go salon), but I never felt truly lost. First, because Japanese people love helping foreigners (and it's an excuse to try out their English). Second, because if you're in Tokyo or another big city, there are signs everywhere: maps, kobans (the small neighborhood police boxes), and so on.

So here's my challenge: spend a day without your phone and without Google Maps, with an itinerary in your pocket, and ask for directions along the way. You're in for surprising encounters, fits of laughter when you end up somewhere unlikely and unplanned, and memories that last. Something a little like what happens to Chihiro might happen to you: a detour you hadn't planned, and the adventure begins. No gods or bathhouse here, but a hokora, a tiny shrine squeezed between two buildings, or a back street where the noise of the city suddenly stops.

A cat sitting on the stone altar of a small neighborhood shrine, in front of an orange torii
A tiny neighborhood shrine, and its keeper. Photo: Connor Gan / Unsplash.

The bottom line. Solo and traveling light: eSIM or SIM, the first if your phone supports it, the second for a long stay. With a laptop or in a group, pocket wifi makes perfect sense. And if adventure tempts you, leave your phone at the hotel for a day. Either way, there's no need to jump at the first offer before you leave: compare once you're there.

For those who'd still rather not take any chances, or want to be ready to whip out their phone the moment they land, there are of course options you can book in advance. Japan Experience, for example, offers SIM cards to pick up at the airport or have delivered to your hotel, starting at around twenty euros. The price is about the same as on the spot: you don't save money, but you land connected. Note that it's data only, with no phone number or SMS.

Japan Experience affiliate link.

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Series — The Traveler's Kit
The Traveler's Kit, one trip-saver at a time
Practical prep for your trip, from someone who actually lives here — passes, cards, apps, and the small logistics nobody puts in a guidebook. No fixed number of parts — new articles added over time.