Searching for an eSIM on your journey to Japan? I attempted the Journey Japan eSIM throughout Japan, and here’s what I assumed!
Whether or not it’s to remain in contact with individuals at dwelling, navigate your method via cities or just translate a Japanese menu into English, having a secure connection is a should whereas travelling in Japan. Your greatest choices are both an eSIM or a Pocket WiFi.
However with so many eSIM firms sprouting out of the bottom currently, what’s your best option and why? You’ll need to maintain lots of issues in thoughts: value, connectivity, assist, and the way simple it’s to make use of and set up.
As a content material creator, I get emails at the least as soon as per week about eSIM collaborations and partnerships. And up till now, I by no means felt like they had been the appropriate match. The Navigatio barely works with manufacturers via sponsorships; 99% of it’s self-funded. After I do attain out to a model for a collaboration, it’s solely to these I exploit and belief (I’m very choosy!). The standard of our content material is at all times our primary precedence.
I haven’t promoted any eSIMs till now, as a result of I haven’t had the perfect expertise with eSIMs (particularly in rural Japan). The vast majority of eSIMs attempt to be in every single place and aren’t targeted sufficient on Japan for them to supply the perfect service. So once I heard about Journey Japan eSIM, an eSIM that solely focuses on Japan, I used to be keen to present it a go.
Having used the eSIM throughout the nation now, I’m very excited to companion with them and share my expertise with you. They actually have been the perfect eSIM I’ve utilized in Japan (typically even higher than my trusted Pocket WiFi…) and it’s a service I’d fortunately advocate to our readers!
* This text is a part of a collaboration between The Navigatio and Journey Japan eSIM. All views and opinions are my very own.
What’s Journey Japan eSIM?
An eSIM is a digital SIM card which you could set up in your telephone with out having to bodily swap your common SIM card. They’re simple to arrange and use, and don’t require you to hold and cost an additional machine, as you’ll with a Pocket WiFi.
There are numerous eSIM firms obtainable, and the vast majority of them supply connectivity providers worldwide. Personally, I’ve not had the perfect experiences with eSIMs in Japan, because the connectivity wasn’t implausible or the set up course of was tough.
Fortunately, I’ve now come throughout Journey Japan eSIM. The corporate is primarily based in Japan and gives eSIMs in Japan solely, created by Chris Broad from Overseas in Japan. This eSIM was created with the understanding of any connection or travelling ache factors in Japan particularly, not throughout the globe.
Journey Japan eSIM is aware of Japan’s native networks a lot better than eSIMs providing international protection. They use the perfect native Japan networks, like NTT Docomo, guaranteeing nice protection. When utilizing the Journey Japan eSIM whereas travelling throughout rural Kyushu, I had a secure connection in essentially the most rural spots.
As they’re a Japan-based firm, you’ll additionally be sure you get quick assist if mandatory, as they’ll be in the identical time zone as you (and assist is obtainable in English). On high of that, Journey Japan eSIM permits for limitless tethering and hotspotting, in contrast to most different eSIMs.
Do I Actually Want an eSIM?
When travelling throughout Japan, you’ll want a dependable web connection. Not solely to ship photos of your journey to family and friends, but in addition to navigate the practice system, use your pre-saved Google Maps and translate menus or indicators.
Though public WiFi is being launched in additional locations in Japan, it’s typically not ok to totally depend on throughout your journey. On high of that, it is probably not obtainable in every single place. With out a VPN, public WiFi can be unsafe!
Nearly all motels in Japan even have free WiFi, which is nice while you’re within the resort, nevertheless it’s not sufficient that can assist you navigate while you’re not at your resort!
There are a number of methods of getting a dependable web connection in Japan, together with eSIM, Pocket WiFi, a bodily SIM card or utilizing a roaming plan from your house telephone supplier.
We’ve got a devoted information evaluating Pocket WiFi and eSIM for extra info and determining which one is greatest on your journey and group.
Your telephone must be unlocked for it to be eSIM suitable. All the time verify along with your supplier earlier than buying an eSIM.
Methods to Arrange Journey Japan eSIM
Establishing the Journey Japan eSIM was simple and simple. No must obtain any apps or be tech-savvy.
First, you buy your plan on the Journey Japan eSIM web site. All plans final 30 days, masking virtually all journeys to Japan (most journeys are 2–4 weeks), so that you don’t have to fret about working out of time.
The plans at present obtainable embody both 10GB, 20GB, 50GB or limitless GB. I opted for the limitless plan. After paying for the eSIM, you’ll obtain a purchase order affirmation by e mail.
Inside 5 minutes, I acquired the eSIM activation info by e mail. Activating the eSIM may be very simple, and the e-mail features a file with screenshots explaining the best way to set up it on each iOS and Android. Alternatively, you should use this step-by-step information on their web site.
You may go to your telephone settings → cellular providers → add eSIM. I then manually added the codes from the e-mail and activated the eSIM. I made certain my default line stayed linked to my main SIM, and the brand new eSIM could be used for information.
I’m not very tech-savvy, and putting in it took lower than 5 minutes. Particularly with the step-by-step information on the web site, it was no downside in any respect.
Efficiency Throughout Japan
As I beforehand talked about, I’ve had some points with different eSIMs previously, particularly in rural Japan. When testing the Journey Japan eSIM throughout Kyushu, I used to be pleasantly stunned that I stayed linked to the web always – even when our Pocket WiFi couldn’t.
Throughout our go to to Huis Ten Bosch, it was so busy that our Pocket WiFi couldn’t keep linked and left my husband with out web, whereas my Journey Japan eSIM had no points in any way. Even midway up Mount Unzen, when the Pocket WiFi began to battle, the Journey Japan eSIM stayed linked.
Velocity-wise, I’ve additionally been very joyful. We did a couple of velocity assessments in comparison with the resort WiFi and the Pocket WiFi, and the Journey Japan eSIM gained each time.
I’ll proceed testing the eSIM for the rest of our journey, additionally in Tokyo and can replace this accordingly. However seeing how nicely it really works in Kyushu, I’ve no doubts about it working nicely in busier areas like Tokyo.
Journey Japan eSIM Plans & Costs
At the moment, Journey Japan eSIM comes with 4 completely different plans. All plans final 30 days. Because of this you should use the chosen information allowance throughout 30 days. As most journeys to Japan are two or three weeks, having 30 days is greater than sufficient for many guests. In case you are visiting for longer (otherwise you run out of information), you’ll be able to at all times buy a second eSIM to high it up.
Conclusion – Is the Journey Japan eSIM Price It?
After having tried the eSIM myself, I can extremely advocate it to anyone who’s searching for an eSIM in Japan. Understanding you get the perfect of the perfect when it comes to connectivity is a weight off my shoulders, particularly when travelling via rural Japan typically. Plus, speeds have been implausible.
The Limitless Plan additionally provides you additional peace of thoughts figuring out you gained’t run out of information, particularly in the event you’re a heavy consumer like me. I’m wanting ahead to persevering with to make use of it throughout Japan.