Destination guide
Japan travel guide: what to sort out before you go
A calm pre-departure checklist for a trip to Japan — from paperwork to staying online the moment you land.
4 min read
Japan rewards travellers who plan a little. Trains run to the minute, reservations matter, and almost every practical detail — tickets, maps, translation — now lives on your phone. That makes connectivity part of your packing list rather than an afterthought.
Sort your connectivity before you fly
Install your eSIM while you still have Wi-Fi at home. Installation needs an internet connection; using the plan does not. Once the profile is on your phone you can switch it on after landing without hunting for airport Wi-Fi.
Check the plan's activation policy on its details page before you buy. Plans differ: some start when the eSIM first connects to a supported network, others on a fixed date.
What you will actually use data for
Navigation and rail apps, restaurant bookings, translation and mobile payments account for most day-to-day usage. Downloading offline maps of the cities you will visit reduces how much you need while you are out.
If you plan to share a connection with a travelling companion, confirm hotspot support on the plan page before purchase — it is listed per plan, not assumed.
Keep your usual number
An eSIM is an additional data line, so your normal SIM and phone number stay in the phone. Keep your home line on for calls and messages if you need it, and set the eSIM as the line used for mobile data.
