Internet
Yes
Calls
No
SMS
No
4G
Yes
Works only on unlocked eSIM-supported devices — check your phone compatibility before purchase
Most packages do not include calls or SMS
Choose one of three methods:
Scan QR code
Install via 'Quick Install' button
Manual setup through phone settings
Use the package within 3 months from purchase
Local (one country), Regional (multiple countries), Global (many countries)
Not available for Sicily
Japan is a country where it is hard to manage without internet: signs, menus and timetables are often in Japanese only, and the Tokyo and Osaka subways consist of dozens of lines with transfers. An eSIM is installed on your phone at home and connects as soon as you land, with no rental counter to find and no device to return. Below is everything worth knowing before you buy: where connectivity matters most, which apps come in handy, which everyday details to keep in mind, and how to set up the eSIM properly.
You can buy an eSIM for Japan online right on this page from 3 500 ₸: choose a data plan, pay by card and get the QR code within minutes. An eSIM is a digital SIM card — it installs on your phone with no plastic card and no visit to a phone shop.
The eSIM connects to local mobile networks, so you have data wherever they have coverage — Tokyo and Kyoto and the rest of the country.
Roaming in Japan with a Kazakh carrier is usually far more expensive, and roaming data runs out fast. With a Funsim eSIM you pay a fixed price for a data package and keep your home SIM in the phone for calls and bank SMS — roaming on it can stay off.
If your phone does not support eSIM, you can buy a regular physical SIM card with data for Japan at a Funsim point of sale: at Almaty and Shymkent airports, or at our offices in Almaty — 130/1 Abay St and 1 Pozharsky St. Handy if you remember about the internet right before departure.
For a tourist in Japan, getting a local SIM card is not always simple: airports offer few options, and some are sold only by advance order or in large electronics stores. Roaming from Kazakh operators is usually noticeably more expensive than any travel data plan, so it is best to check your own operator's rates in advance.
An eSIM solves the task differently: you pick a plan above, pay online by card, install the profile by QR code and fly out with connectivity already prepared. Your main SIM stays in the phone, so bank texts and calls to your Kazakh number keep arriving. Most plans are data-only, and you can make calls through messengers. Local, regional and global plans exist, so for a trip covering, say, Japan and neighboring Asian countries you can pick a suitable option.
Convenience on the road matters too. Japanese cities are organized so that a lot is solved through the smartphone: train timetable, platform number, museum entry with an e-ticket, a restaurant table. When internet works from the first minute after landing, you do not have to hunt for Wi-Fi in a cafe or at a station, and the first ride from the airport to the city goes more calmly.
| Criterion | eSIM Funsim | Roaming | Local SIM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Getting it | Online, before departure, no queues | Already there, but a package must be added | Counter or shop, often by advance order |
| Cost | Fixed package, see the plans above | Usually much more expensive | Depends on operator and package |
| Documents | No passport needed at purchase | Not needed | May be required at handover |
| Internet after landing | Switches on right away | Switches on right away | After pickup and setup |
| Calls and bank texts | Main SIM stays in the phone | Work as usual | You swap SIMs or need two |
| Sharing with others | Hotspot on most plans | Often limited | Depends on the terms |
Connectivity in Japan is generally good, but internet needs differ from region to region. Here are the main destinations where we advise planning your connection in advance.
In Tokyo you need internet almost constantly: subway routes with transfers between different line operators, finding the right station and exit, booking tables and exhibition tickets. There are many maze-like stations such as Shinjuku and Shibuya, where maps with online navigation save a lot of time. At main stations and in big shopping centers the signal is usually confident. It helps to bookmark your hotel address and the nearest station name in Latin letters.
Osaka is good for food walks around Dotonbori and Shinsekai. Menus and signs there are often in Japanese, and queues at popular places are best judged from reviews on maps. The subway and suburban lines also call for online navigation, and an eSIM spares you from looking for free Wi-Fi between stops. It is handy to mark the stations you need on the map in advance so you do not lose time finding an exit.
The temples and historic quarters of Kyoto are spread across a large area, and bus routes in tourist season can be unpredictable. Internet helps you check timetables and choose between bus, subway and taxi. In Nara the deer park and temples are near the station, but an online map is useful for walks around the area. In the morning and evening many tourists head back to their hotels at the same time, and an online map helps find a way around the crowds.
In the north, distances between cities are large, and trips are often by train or rental car. You need internet for navigation, weather and, in winter, road conditions, when routes can change. In Sapporo itself the connection is stable, while in the mountains and on coasts far from towns the signal is weaker. If you rent a car, check the rules for international driving permits in advance.
On Okinawa, connectivity matters for car rental, coastal navigation and booking a snorkeling or diving tour. In Naha and around the big resorts coverage is good. On small islands and in remote bays the network can be weaker, so download an offline map of the island and save addresses in advance.
This popular day route from Tokyo includes cable cars, a boat on the lake and viewpoints. Transport schedules depend on the weather, and how well you see the mountain changes through the day. Internet helps you quickly check the cable car status and the weather at the top, but on some mountain stretches the signal can vanish.
From Hiroshima a ferry runs to Miyajima island, and the tide schedule affects the impression of the famous torii gate. Internet is useful for checking tide times, the ferry timetable and finding restaurants on the island. Note that you will walk a lot on the island roads, so save your phone battery. When heading back to the mainland, check the time of the last ferry.
Fukuoka is a convenient base for trips around Kyushu island: hot springs, castles and local markets. Routes between towns are best planned online, because the timetables of local trains and buses differ from the major lines. In the cities the connection is stable, while in the mountain areas of Kyushu it is worth downloading maps in advance. For trips to small stations, save the terminal stop name in Japanese.
Nagoya lies on the Shinkansen route between Tokyo and Osaka and works as a base for trips to castles, museums and small towns of the region. Here internet is needed to check local line timetables and book tickets. Closer to the mountains of central Japan the signal can fluctuate, so it is better to save the route in advance.
This is a route along the west coast and mountain villages with traditional houses. Buses between towns run less often than trains in the megacities, and timetables often change with the season. Internet lets you check the current departure, but in valleys and on bus stretches coverage can be uneven.
Most familiar services work in Japan too, but locals have their own apps that make a trip much easier.
The main tool for tourists: it shows subway and train routes with the platform and transfer time. It works on online data, so internet is needed all the time.
A trip planner for trains, including the Shinkansen, with timetables and transfer options. Handy for comparing several routes between cities.
One of the most widespread public transport route planners in Japan. It shows time, fare and transfer stations.
A popular app for calling a taxi in Japan's big cities. It lets you call a car without explaining in Japanese and see the route beforehand. Availability and terms depend on the city.
The most popular messenger in Japan. Hotels, restaurants and tour organizers often talk to customers through it, so it is useful to install the app in advance.
Camera text translation, voice translation and conversation mode. Camera translation needs stable internet, and the Japanese offline pack is worth downloading in advance.
A Japanese restaurant rating with reviews from locals. It helps find a good place in the area and judge its level when the menu is in Japanese.
Top-up cards for the subway, trains, buses and small purchases. Whether they can go in a mobile wallet depends on the phone and region, so check in advance; at the airport or a station you can buy a physical card.
In some big cities in Japan it is connected to local taxi fleets. It can be convenient if you are used to this app and want to see the route in advance, but the terms depend on the city.
Check that your phone supports eSIM and is not locked to a carrier. You can see the list of compatible models on the plan page.
Choose a plan above, pay online by card and get a QR code. No passport is needed to buy.
Install the profile at home while you have stable Wi-Fi: scan the QR code, press the quick-install button or enter the details manually. Give the line a clear name, for example Japan.
While at home, download offline maps of Tokyo, Kyoto and other places on your route, and the Japanese pack for your translator. This protects you if the signal weakens.
After landing at Narita, Haneda, Kansai or another airport, select the eSIM as the line for mobile data and allow data roaming for that line.
Leave the main SIM on for calls and texts, but turn off mobile data on it so you do not pay for roaming.
If data runs out in the middle of the trip, buy an extra package in your account. And offline maps of areas with poor coverage are best downloaded in advance over home Wi-Fi.
