Guide - Plan the trip
Wi-Fi, SIMs and eSIMs for remote work in Japan
povo's data-only eSIM: 20 GB for 30 days at $17 (¥2,700) in the 2025 listing, activated without ID documents. Wi-Fi equipment rules for a 6-month stay.
A data-only eSIM from povo is the one option here with a published price list: 20 GB valid for 30 days cost $17 (¥2,700) in the 2025 listing, and activation needs no ID documents, per povo. The 2026-27 lineup is unclear right now, so treat the prices below as last known and check povo’s page before you buy.
Dollar figures use about ¥155 to US$1 and are rounded; you pay in yen, so check the rate.
What does povo’s Japan eSIM sell?
povo, a mobile brand of the au group (KDDI), sells a data-only eSIM for foreign visitors, online since 28 Aug 2025. Prices include tax. This is the 2025 listing, and povo says the lineup is subject to change.
| Data | Days | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | 3 | $2 (¥300) |
| 3 GB | 3 | $4 (¥600) |
| 5 GB | 5 | $6 (¥900) |
| 10 GB | 7 | $9 (¥1,430) |
| 10 GB | 15 | $11 (¥1,750) |
| 20 GB | 30 | $17 (¥2,700) |
| Unlimited | 1 | $4 (¥660) |
| Unlimited | 3 | $10 (¥1,540) |
Which plan fits remote work?
For a working month, the 20 GB plan for 30 days is the largest 30-day option, so heavier use means topping up with a further plan. The unlimited plans suit short bursts of heavy use, but they run for 24 hours or 3 days only.
On the 2025 listing, the capped plans cost about $1 (¥90 to ¥204) a day, and the 20 GB plan is the lowest, at $1 (¥90). The unlimited plans cost $3 to $4 (¥513 to ¥660) a day. These are arithmetic on last year’s prices.
The nomad status allows up to 6 months, covered in Japan’s digital nomad visa.
What are the limits of the eSIM?
It carries data only, speeds can drop and no plan lasts longer than 30 days.
- A phone number. There is none.
- Guaranteed speed. povo says speeds may be limited when the network is congested.
- A long plan. The longest validity is 30 days, so a longer stay means buying again.
How do you buy and activate it?
You can buy online, through a link inside the Welcome Suica Mobile app, or in person at LAWSON stores. About 14,600 LAWSON shops sell it for cash, with a different lineup from the online one. You can download the eSIM profile before you arrive.
povo’s release says activation for the Data Only plans needs no identification documents. No official page on Japanese SIM identity rules was read, and some secondary reports describe stricter checks for data-only SIMs from 1 Apr 2026, which conflicts with povo’s statement. Confirm the no-ID line on povo’s page before you rely on it.
How does povo compare with other travel eSIMs?
povo’s 20 GB for 30 days at $17 (¥2,700) in the 2025 listing is below the general range. A secondary travel guide puts travel eSIMs at about 20 to 30 GB for 30 days at roughly $25 to $30, data only and with no Japanese number. The comparison is rough, because one is a 2025 operator price and the other a guide figure.
What would a 6-month stay cost in data?
Six purchases of the 20 GB plan at the 2025 price would total $105 (¥16,200). That is last year’s arithmetic, not a quote, and povo’s release does not say how repeat purchases work.
What about pocket Wi-Fi and long-stay plans?
Neither has confirmed prices here. No pocket Wi-Fi rental price or data limit is available, and the main carriers’ long-stay monthly plans are not found. SoftBank’s tourist prepaid page is outdated: its 500 MB add-on ended on 18 Feb 2025.
Can you bring your own Wi-Fi equipment?
For up to 90 days, yes, if it meets the standards. The Immigration Services Agency’s nomad Q&A says foreign Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices can be used for 90 days when they are standards-compliant, and longer use needs a technical conformity mark. A 6-month stay is longer than that window, so ask the agency about routers and other radio equipment before you pack them.
Which IC card suits a longer stay?
Two tourist cards are documented, and both are short-lived:
- TOURIST PASMO, sold from May 2026 near international airports, lasts 28 days from purchase, has no deposit and does not refund unused stored value, even after expiry.
- Welcome Suica Mobile, an app for iPhone and Apple Watch launched in March 2025, is valid 180 days from issue with no deposit, and the remaining balance is not refunded. A Samsung Galaxy version is planned for the first half of 2027.
Prices, sale points and top-up limits are in Cash, IC cards and eSIM. The cost and validity of a regular Suica or PASMO for a longer stay are not found on an official page.
Where next?
- Where to work from: Japan coworking prices
- Status and limits for a long stay: Japan’s digital nomad visa
- Housing: Renting in Japan: upfront costs
- The whole section: the Plan hub
Quick answers
Can I get a Japan data eSIM without showing ID?
povo says its data-only eSIM for visitors activates without identification documents. Secondary reports describe stricter checks for data-only SIMs from 1 Apr 2026, so confirm on povo's page before you rely on it.
How much is a Japan eSIM for a month?
In povo's 2025 listing, 20 GB valid for 30 days cost $17 (¥2,700), the largest 30-day option. The 2026-27 lineup and prices are unclear right now, so check povo's page before you buy.
Do I get a Japanese phone number with a travel eSIM?
Not with povo's visitor eSIM. It is data only and has no phone number. For calls and messages you need an app over the data connection.
Is pocket Wi-Fi cheaper than an eSIM in Japan?
Unconfirmed. No pocket Wi-Fi rental price is available to compare with the eSIM table.
Can I buy a Japan SIM after I land?
Yes, from LAWSON stores. povo says about 14,600 shops sell its visitor plans for cash, with a different lineup from the online one. The online eSIM can also be set up before you arrive.