While visiting another country, it is important to stay connected, make & receive calls, send & receive texts.
Photo by Su San Lee on UnsplashTo avoid getting lost in gigantic Tokyo or any other city in Japan, regardless of the length of your stay, there is an excellent option: purchase a local eSIM card from Mobal and conveniently enjoy affordable internet and voice service.
Why Connectivity Matters
Importance for travelers and remote workers
Japanese culture is unique in that you will find relatively few translations into other world languages (yes, this applies to English too!), so be prepared for the fact that you will see in Japanese:
- Road signs & maps, including the complex Tokyo subway system
- Menus in restaurants, bars, cafes
- Informational messages
- Documentation and more.
At nearly every step, tourists or long-stayers who do not speak Japanese need to translate everything around them with the help of online translators, which, as we know, do not work without Internet.
Differences between local SIMs and eSIMs
It is important to obtain a local Japanese eSIM with Japanese phone number starting with 070, 080, or 090, since many establishments are reluctant to call or send texts to non-Japanese numbers. This practice may be followed by hotels, employers, schools, food and document delivery companies, lawyers, and, generally, many sellers of goods and services.
Virtual SIMs usually DO NOT provide such local numbers, and they may be either international or begin with other digits, which may not be welcomed in Japan while in travel connectivity Japan. Mobal gives you a truly local number that will work without issues across all mobile networks in the country and will be subject to local rates for calls, data transfer, and text messages. You will also have no problems registering with various local services that strictly require a genuine Japanese number.
What is a Japanese eSIM?
Features & benefits of eSIM
A Mobal eSIM card is a piece of software (an app) installed on a phone or tablet that supports eSIM technology. You can check support on your device, for example, by finding the 32-digit EID on your device or dialing *#06#. However, if your phone is no more than 2-3 years old, it very likely supports this technology. Also, in order to connect to Japanese mobile networks, your phone must be unlocked, meaning it is not restricted by the seller to only one specific mobile provider.
How it differs from a physical SIM
The main difference with an eSIM is that you will not have a physical card in your phone—an instant SIM Japan is added purely through software.
How to Get a Japanese eSIM with a Japanese Phone Number
Step-by-step activation process
You can order and purchase from Mobal the type of card you need, choosing from two main options: voice only or voice + mobile data. They differ in price and whether Internet functionality is included.
After that, you have three options:
- Upon arrival in Japan, visit one of our card pickup offices and, by presenting your ID, identify yourself and activate your card.
- Receive your access-and-activation code by physical mail, which we will send after receiving your personal information for identification.
- Collect your physical activation code from one of our offices in your country, whenever available.
Each process serves the purpose of verifying your identity to comply with Japanese laws, which we neither will nor want to bypass, ensuring fully legal operations both for us and for you as a user of a Japanese eSIM. As a result, your card will work across all Japanese mobile networks: Mobal, NNT Docomo, KDDI, Rakuten, and SoftBank. It is also very likely (though not guaranteed) to function properly on smaller provider networks such as IIJmio and Y!mobile.
Advantages of Using a Japanese eSIM
Convenience and instant activation
Using the eSIM Japan card you purchased is very simple. After receiving the activation code, log in to your account with your username and password and complete the activation. While in Japan, your phone will immediately connect to the local mobile network and stay connected automatically for the duration of your subscription plan.
Cost-effectiveness for short and long-term stays
Getting an eSIM in Japan makes sense for both short and long periods if you want to avoid being without service. This will be useful whether you are a tourist, on a business trip, studying, visiting friends or relatives, or taking a retreat. Based on your data needs, choose the plan that suits you best and plan your usage according to the length of your stay in Japan. Mobal offers a wide range of options for all categories of visitors to the country.
Tips for Choosing the Right eSIM Plan
Data limits and validity period
The simplest way is to choose the right plan for your Japanese phone number based on your regular Internet habits. For bloggers running channels and for multi-user devices, the need for data will be entirely different from someone here purely for leisure, relaxation, and taking beautiful photos as memories. The same, a business traveler working with documents and staying in touch may consume far less traffic than a remote worker who constantly needs to share videos, photos, and large amounts of data with clients and colleagues.
Coverage and roaming considerations
Japan is a country with strong mobile coverage, even in remote areas with small populations. An eSIM will work perfectly in all populated areas where mobile coverage exists.
Conclusion: Stay Connected Stress-Free in Japan
Japan is a beautiful country with many opportunities for leisure, business, and entertainment. Beautiful people and places of Japan attract millions of tourists from around the world every year. Whatever the reason for your visit, Mobal is ready to provide you with quality mobile and Internet service via a Japanese eSIM so that your connection is as convenient as it is at your home, without the need to overpay for roaming.
