Almost certainly, if it’s a recent phone. Check three things before you buy a Japanese eSIM or SIM: your phone is unlocked, it supports eSIM (if you want one), and it supports 4G, since Japan no longer has any 3G network.
1. Is your phone unlocked?
A locked phone only accepts SIMs from the carrier that sold it, so a Japanese eSIM or SIM won’t work.
- iPhone: go to Settings, General, About, and look for Carrier Lock. “No SIM restrictions” means it’s unlocked.
- Android: there’s no single setting. The surest test is to borrow a friend’s SIM from a different carrier and see if it connects. Otherwise, ask your carrier.
If it’s locked, ask your carrier to unlock it. Many will do this for free once the phone is paid off, but it can take a few days, so don’t leave it until the airport. If it can’t be unlocked, rent a pocket WiFi instead: your phone just joins it over WiFi.
2. Does it support eSIM?
- iPhone: the XS, XR and every model since support eSIM. US models from the iPhone 14 onwards are eSIM only. On iPhone, Settings, then Cellular (or Mobile Data), shows an Add eSIM option if it’s supported.
- Google Pixel: most Pixel models from the Pixel 4 onwards support eSIM.
- Samsung Galaxy: most recent flagship S and Z models support eSIM. Many A-series models don’t, so check yours with the EID test below.
- Any phone: dial *#06#. If you see an EID number, your phone supports eSIM.
No eSIM? A physical tourist SIM or a pocket WiFi works instead.
3. Will it connect to Japanese networks?
Japan’s networks are 4G and 5G only. docomo switched off its 3G service on 31 March 2026, after au and SoftBank had already closed theirs. A phone that only does 3G won’t work for data or calls.
For 4G, the bands that matter most are band 1 and band 3, which all the major networks use. Practically every phone sold in the US, UK, Europe and Australia supports both. Lower-frequency bands improve coverage indoors and in the countryside, and each network uses different ones. If you’re heading somewhere remote, compare your phone’s spec sheet with the network your plan uses.
5G is widely available in Japanese cities. If your phone supports 5G and your plan includes it, you’ll get it, but 4G is plenty fast for travel.
Or just use your home plan’s roaming
If your home carrier includes Japan in a roaming pass, your phone works as soon as you land with no setup. Compare the daily price with an eSIM: for anything more than a few days, an eSIM is usually much cheaper. Check for speed caps and data limits too.
Questions people ask
Does eSIM work in Japan?
Yes. eSIMs connect to the same Japanese networks as physical SIMs. Best eSIMs for Japan
Which iPhones can’t use an eSIM?
iPhone models before the XS and XR (iPhone X, 8 and older) don’t support eSIM.
Is Japan 5G?
Yes. All the major Japanese networks run 5G alongside 4G, with the strongest 5G coverage in cities.
What is pocket WiFi in Japan?
A small rented router that shares a Japanese mobile connection over WiFi. It works with any phone, locked or not. Pocket WiFi rentals
Written by Stephen
Stephen lives in Osaka. fly-jpn is where he compares eSIMs, SIM cards and pocket WiFi for visitors, using what he has learned as a resident. A plan is only described as tested when he has bought it and used it in Japan himself.