A little preparation. A lot more freedom.

Internet in Japan,
made easy.

Your next train. A place to eat. A little help from Fumi. Let’s get your phone ready for Japan.

Wi-Fi connects you at a place.
Mobile data connects you on the move.

Not sure what you need? Start here
A café break
Your next stop
Japan, here you come.
A simple
connection.
Japan travelON · selected for mobile data
Home lineChoose its settings separately
Maps · messages · moments

Illustration only · these are not your phone’s settings

01 / Find your fit

A connection that
fits your trip.

You do not need to become a phone expert. Start with where you want to use the internet.

At a place

Free Wi-Fi

Good for checking things at an airport, hotel or participating café.

You lose the connection when you leave its range.Find Wi-Fi

Another way

A physical SIM

A small card for an unlocked phone with a compatible SIM tray.

A staffed counter may be able to help with setup.SIMs & shared Wi-Fi
Help me chooseThree quick questions. No personal details.

02 / Land. Connect. Explore.

Just arrived?
Start right here.

Airport Wi-Fi gives you a place to read your instructions, contact your provider and get your bearings.

Free airport Wi-Fi

Haneda · HND

HANEDA-FREE-WIFI

Select the network, open your browser and follow the sign-in instructions.

Terminals 1, 2 and 3. Some shops are excluded and the signal varies by area.

Official airport instructions

Free airport Wi-Fi

Narita · NRT

FreeWiFi-NARITA

Choose the network and complete the browser connection screen.

Airport terminal Wi-Fi areas. Look for the official signs.

Official airport instructions

Free airport Wi-Fi

Kansai · KIX

#AirportFreeWiFi-Kansai
#AirportFreeWiFi-Kansai2.4G

Choose an official airport network and follow its connection screen.

Designated areas in Terminals 1 and 2, Aeroplaza and the airport station; some areas are excluded.

Official airport instructions

Confirm the network name on airport signs. A Wi-Fi symbol alone does not mean the login is complete: try opening a new web page.

Your arrival check

Tick these as you go.

0 of 6 checked

Still stuck? Keep airport Wi-Fi available and open the connection helper. Do not delete your eSIM as a first fix.

03 / Your eSIM, made simple

Four steps.
One connected phone.

Getting the app, buying a plan, installing an eSIM and connecting are four different things.

1

Check your phone

Is your exact model eSIM compatible and unlocked?

2

Choose Japan

Choose a plan for your days away and the data you expect to use.

3

Install on Wi-Fi

Follow your provider’s steps. Check when the validity period starts first.

4

Select Japan data

In Japan, enable the travel line, select it for data and test the connection.

The setting that matters

Japan travel: ON.
Mobile data: Japan.

The name “Primary” is only a label on some phones. Always check which line is actually selected for mobile data.

Travel eSIMON

Mobile dataJapan travel

Automatic data switchingOFF

Travel data roamingFollow your plan

This is a guide, not a live reading of your phone.

What about my home number?

Choose this separately from your Japan data connection.

Turn the Home line off Simplest separation

Switch Home off in SIM settings. Your home line will not receive normal calls or SMS while it is off. Arrange access to banking and other sign-in codes before you travel.

Already-set-up internet messaging apps may still work over Japan data or Wi-Fi.

Keep Home on for calls or texts

Select Japan for data, disable automatic data switching and switch Home data roaming OFF where there is a separate control.

Ask your home carrier about calls, SMS, voicemail and Wi-Fi Calling charges. These settings are not a guarantee of zero home-carrier charges. If unsure, turn Home off.

Read the roaming guidance

Show me the steps for my phone

The words on your screen may vary by model, country and software version.

iPhone

  1. Open Settings → Mobile Service, Mobile Data or Cellular (the name varies by country).
  2. Open the Japan travel line and turn Turn On This Line ON. Then choose Mobile Data / Cellular Data → Japan travel.
  3. Turn Allow Mobile Data Switching / Allow Cellular Data Switching OFF.
  4. For the Japan line, set Data Roaming as your travel provider instructs. For the Home line, turn the line off, or keep it on with its data roaming off after checking your carrier’s charges.

To check unlocking: Settings → General → About → Network Provider Lock / Carrier Lock. Look for “No SIM restrictions”. Exact eSIM support depends on model and country of purchase.

Apple: using two SIMs · Travel eSIM help

Google Pixel

  1. Open Settings → Network & internet → SIMs.
  2. Enable the Japan travel SIM, then choose it for Mobile data.
  3. Turn automatic data switching OFF where it is available. Do not enable the home SIM as a data fallback or “data during calls” route.
  4. Set roaming for the travel SIM as your provider directs. Turn Use this SIM OFF for Home, or keep Home on with its data roaming off after checking charges.

Menu names and dual-SIM features vary with model, Android version and carrier.

Google Pixel: using two SIMs

Samsung Galaxy

  1. Open Settings → Connections → SIM manager and enable the Japan travel eSIM.
  2. Where shown, choose Preferred SIMs → Mobile data → Japan travel. Some models instead use Primary SIM, which can change calls and texts as well as data.
  3. Turn Data switching / backup calling OFF where available.
  4. Check Connections → Mobile networks → Data roaming against the travel provider’s instructions. On some models it is not a separate switch for each SIM. If you are unsure which line it affects, turn Home off before enabling travel roaming.

Samsung layouts vary by country, model, carrier and One UI version. Do not assume “Primary” has the same meaning as on someone else’s phone.

Samsung guidance · Australian Galaxy example

Before you leave

Tick these as you go.

0 of 6 checked

A worked example

Buying with Airalo

Steve found Airalo convenient on his travels in Scotland and Japan. Here is how the process fits together; other providers offer similar options.

  1. On reliable Wi-Fi, open the app and choose a Japan plan.
  2. Check compatibility, data, validity and activation policy before paying.
  3. Open My eSIMs → your plan → View details and follow its installation instructions.
  4. In Japan, follow the connection instructions and test mobile data.

When does it start? Your selected package decides. Some plans start at installation; others at connection to a supported network. Do not assume landing always activates it.

An example, not an exclusive recommendation. Steve’s experience is personal, not a coverage guarantee.

04 / Pause. Connect. Carry on.

Find a little
free Wi-Fi.

Start with your hotel or an airport. Out exploring, use official hotspot guides and check the signs where you are.

A Wi-Fi map shows places,
not blanket coverage.

You need to be within range of a participating hotspot. A login, registration or profile may be needed before it works.

At your hotel

Ask at reception.

Check the network name, password, whether it works in your room, and any charges. Lobby and room Wi-Fi may be different.

Show a Japanese phrase →

9 official guides

City hotspots

Tokyo public hotspots

Participating facilities on the official map, not continuous citywide coverage.

How to connect

OpenRoaming needs an initial profile setup. Follow the official instructions while you have internet.

Official guide & locations · Setup
City hotspots

Osaka Free Wi-Fi

Participating hotspots; conventional and OpenRoaming services vary by location.

How to connect

Use the official guide to find a hotspot and its connection method.

Official guide & locations
City hotspots

Fukuoka City Wi-Fi

Selected public facilities and transport locations shown in the tourism guide.

How to connect

Follow the facility signs and login page. The link here is the tourism guide, not a live coverage map.

Official guide & locations
Stations & trains

JR Central stations

JR-Central_Free

Designated station hotspots, not every platform or train.

How to connect

Follow the official station connection guide.

Official guide & locations
Stations & trains

Selected Shinkansen trains

Shinkansen_Free_Wi-Fi

Trains displaying the Wi-Fi service mark on the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen.

How to connect

Email or social-account registration; reconnect after a 30-minute session. Speed and signal vary.

Official guide & locations
Stations & trains

JR West station hotspots

Use the current official station list to check your stop.

How to connect

Look for the service mark and follow the station's login instructions.

Official guide & locations
Stations & trains

JR East service-mark hotspots

Only the locations displaying the official Wi-Fi service mark.

How to connect

Check the operator's PDF guide and the signs at your station.

Official guide & locations
Cafés

Starbucks cafés

at_STARBUCKS_Wi2

Participating stores. Check the store before relying on it.

How to connect

Select the network and accept the browser terms. Follow the session instructions shown.

Official guide & locations
Shops

Ginza Mitsukoshi

GINZA_MITSUKOSHI_WiFi

The department store's designated service areas.

How to connect

Open the browser connection screen and follow the store's guide.

Official guide & locations
Airport Wi-Fi: Haneda, Narita and Kansai · Optional hotspot app: Japan Wi-Fi auto-connect . An app does not create coverage where no hotspot exists.
Check before relying on these services Service updates

Suspended

Tokyo Metro

The operator currently lists its free Wi-Fi as suspended during equipment upgrades. Do not plan your connection around it.

Official service notice

Service ended

JR West local trains

Free Wi-Fi on the listed Osaka Loop, Hanwa and Kansai-airport local services ended on 31 March 2024. The notice excludes Haruka. Check stations separately.

Official service notice

Coverage changed

Kyoto public Wi-Fi

Subway service ended on 30 September 2024; bus-stop service on 31 March 2025; some public-facility service on 31 August 2025. Use the current city guide.

Official service notice

Official information checked 25 October 2026; not field-tested at each location. Services can change. Use a staff-confirmed network and never ignore a browser security warning.

05 / Know what you are buying

A few plans.
A clearer choice.

Compare the total price, data allowance, days, activation rule and hotspot limits. “Unlimited” can still have speed or fair-use limits.

The worked example

Airalo

Choose your package

Open the current Japan plans to check the exact allowance, duration and checkout currency.

See current plans

A small-data example

Nomad

US$4 / 1 GB

7 days. Compare current allowances and validity periods on the provider’s own page.

Check this plan

A larger-data example

Ubigi

US$16.50 / 10 GB

30 days. This package lists destination-based Smartstart activation and data sharing.

Check this plan

Price snapshots checked 25 October 2026, in US dollars; not Australian dollars. These are different allowances, not a like-for-like ranking. Check the final amount, currency, taxes, fees and terms before purchase. No referral codes or affiliate tracking are added to these links.

How much data will I need?

Mostly checking

Messages, occasional maps and looking up places use less than video. Use hotel Wi-Fi for large downloads.

Out all day

Frequent navigation, browsing and sharing photos need more. Check your usual usage in phone settings and allow a margin.

Video or sharing

Streaming, video calls, backups and tethering can use a lot. Check speed limits, hotspot allowances and top-up options.

Turn off unneeded photo backups and app updates over mobile data. There is no fixed data estimate for using Fumi on this page.

Other ways to get connected

Physical SIMs & airport help

Check that your phone is unlocked, supports the network and has a compatible physical SIM tray. Keep your home SIM in a labelled holder if you remove it.

Compare b-mobile and Mobal , or Kansai’s staffed counters . Ask whether setup help is included; a vending machine cannot do it for you. Use only the provider’s APN settings.

A dated b-mobile example: 5 GB / 10 days ¥1,980, plus delivery of ¥430 or airport delivery of ¥600 (totals ¥2,410 / ¥2,580). Check delivery charges and the current product before buying.

Pocket Wi-Fi for a group

A small rechargeable router shares mobile data with your phones over Wi-Fi. Useful when you stay together; people who split up lose access to that router.

Compare Sakura Mobile and Easygo . Check collection, return, battery life, speed limits, device limits and the total rental price including delivery. Carry a charger.

Use my home provider in Japan

Your home carrier may include Japan or offer a travel pass. Check the included data, fair-use limits, calls and texts, and whether a daily fee is triggered by use.

If you deliberately choose that plan, follow your home carrier’s roaming instructions. The Japan-eSIM settings above apply when using a separate travel eSIM.

I need normal calls or a Japanese number

Most travel data-only plans do not include normal calls, SMS or a Japanese phone number. Already-set-up messaging apps can use data, but they do not replace every local-number requirement.

Check a voice-capable Japan SIM for identity checks, eligibility, fees and cancellation terms. A rental handset alone is not enough: JAL ABC’s rental-phone table lists a smartphone option without internet. Confirm data and the apps you need before renting.

06 / Let’s sort it out

Not connected yet?

Start with the symptom. Keep your eSIM installed while you check these steps.

I can see Wi-Fi, but nothing loads
  1. Confirm the exact network name with the airport, hotel or café.
  2. Open your browser and complete its login or terms screen.
  3. Move nearer the hotspot, then try a fresh web page.
  4. If the login page will not open, ask staff. Do not bypass certificate or security warnings.
My eSIM is installed, but I have no data
  1. Check the Japan line is on and selected for mobile data; turn automatic switching off.
  2. Check the package’s activation, remaining data, expiry and covered destination in your provider account.
  3. Follow its travel-roaming, network and APN instructions exactly.
  4. After those checks, try flight mode on and off, or restart the phone.
  5. Use Wi-Fi to contact the provider. Do not delete the eSIM unless they confirm it can be replaced or reinstalled.
Why reinstalling needs care
My phone says SOS / no service

Move to an area with reception. Check the travel line is enabled and the provider supports your exact model, network and location. Use Wi-Fi to contact support if restarting does not help. Wi-Fi can still work without mobile reception.

I am worried my home SIM is using data

Select the Japan line for mobile data and switch automatic data switching off. Check Home data roaming. If you do not need normal home calls or SMS, turn Home off. Your carrier can confirm any charges already incurred.

My data is slow, or has run out

Check remaining data, fair-use speed limits and expiry. Congestion, tunnels and weak coverage can slow a connection. Pause backups and video, use trusted Wi-Fi, or check your provider’s top-up options.

I am back home. What do I change?

Turn Home on and select it for mobile data. Turn the travel line off when you no longer need it. Check subscription and auto-renewal settings with the provider: switching an eSIM off does not cancel a paid plan.

A little Japanese helps

Show. Ask. Connect.

Open a phrase in large Japanese text to show hotel, café or SIM-counter staff.

Can I use Wi-Fi here?

Wi-Fiは使えますか?

Wi-Fi wa tsukaemasu ka?

Say it why-fy wah tsoo-kah-eh-mah-soo kah?

Could you tell me the Wi-Fi password?

Wi-Fiのパスワードを教えていただけますか?

Wi-Fi no pasuwādo o oshiete itadakemasu ka?

Say it why-fy noh pah-soo-wah—-doh oh oh-shee-eh-teh ee-tah-dah-keh-mah-soo kah?

Can I use Wi-Fi in the room as well?

部屋でもWi-Fiは使えますか?

Heya demo Wi-Fi wa tsukaemasu ka?

Say it heh-yah deh-moh why-fy wah tsoo-kah-eh-mah-soo kah?

Is Wi-Fi free?

Wi-Fiは無料ですか?

Wi-Fi wa muryō desu ka?

Say it why-fy wah moo-ryoh— deh-soo kah?

I can’t connect to the internet.

インターネットにつながりません。

Intānetto ni tsunagarimasen.

Say it een-tah—-neht-toh nee tsoo-nah-gah-ree-mah-sehn.

Do you have a SIM card that works with this phone?

このスマホで使えるSIMカードはありますか?

Kono sumaho de tsukaeru SIM kādo wa arimasu ka?

Say it koh-noh soo-mah-hoh deh tsoo-kah-eh-roo shee-moo kah—-doh wah ah-ree-mah-soo kah?

Is it data only?

データ通信専用ですか?

Dēta tsūshin sen’yō desu ka?

Say it deh—-tah tsoo—-sheen sehn-yoh— deh-soo kah?

Does it include a Japanese phone number?

日本の電話番号は付いていますか?

Nihon no denwa bangō wa tsuite imasu ka?

Say it nee-hohn noh dehn-wah bahn-goh— wah tsoo-ee-teh ee-mah-soo kah?

Could you help me set it up?

設定を手伝っていただけますか?

Settei o tetsudatte itadakemasu ka?

Say it seht-teh-ee oh teh-tsoo-daht-teh ee-tah-dah-keh-mah-soo kah?

A little backup goes a long way

Save it before you need it.

Keep this one-page arrival checklist, your hotel address and your provider’s instructions on your phone. Open the saved files with internet switched off to check they really are available.

A bookmark alone is not an offline copy. Live Fumi help and online pages need a connection; use only downloaded files you have tested.

PDF · one page · no app installation needed · Open PDF in your browser ↗

Sources, dates & a few useful answers

Will I have internet everywhere?

No. Mobile coverage, speed and Wi-Fi availability vary. Save essentials before rural journeys, tunnels or places with weak reception.

Does “data only” include messages?

It supports internet messaging apps over data. It does not, by itself, give you ordinary SMS service or a local phone number.

Can I install before leaving?

Often, but read the selected package’s activation policy first. Installation, network connection, a selected date or a deadline may start validity. A regional plan covering your home country can start sooner than expected.

Can Fumi work offline?

Do not rely on live assistance or an online page without internet. Save and test the individual files you need.

Last editorial check: 25 October 2026. Provider and operator information, not a guarantee of service at a particular place. Check the linked current details before buying or travelling.

Connected? Find your next place · Make sense of the trains · Choose something delicious

“Say it” gives approximate sounds for English speakers. Keep Japanese sounds light and fairly even; follow the Japanese recording when one is available.

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