Traveling to Japan with Family? eSIMs are a Game Changer! Multi-Person Usage & Recommended Plans

Hello everyone who's planning a family trip to Japan!

A family trip to Japan, with its beautiful scenery, delicious food, and rich culture, is sure to create unforgettable memories. A stable internet connection is essential for getting around and gathering information in Japan. Smooth communication greatly influences the success of your trip, whether you're navigating with map apps, searching for restaurants, connecting with family and friends, or letting your kids enjoy videos on the go.

While traditional SIM cards and rental Wi-Fi are options, eSIMs are gaining particular attention for family travelers.

This article will explain why eSIMs are ideal for family trips, key points for choosing one, and a thorough comparison of recommended services.

Why eSIMs Are Optimal for Family Trips

If you're traveling Japan with your whole family, an eSIM is truly the ideal communication method. Let's look at why.

Easy Multi-Device Use with Tethering

On a family trip, there are many situations where you'll want to connect multiple smartphones and tablets to the internet simultaneously. With an eSIM, parents can use the tethering function on their smartphone with an activated eSIM to connect multiple devices like children's tablets, another smartphone, or even a PC to the internet.

Of course, you could install an eSIM on each device individually, but utilizing tethering makes managing everyone's communication much easier with just one eSIM plan.

Smooth Trip Preparation Without Physical SIM Hassle

Traditional physical SIM cards required the hassle of purchasing them upon arrival in Japan or receiving them by mail beforehand. Plus, there was always the worry of losing those tiny cards when swapping them out.

With an eSIM, all that hassle is gone. You can purchase and set it up online before you even depart, meaning you can start using the internet immediately upon arrival in Japan. This allows you to start your trip smoothly without any frantic moments at the airport.

Cost-Effectiveness and Peace of Mind in Emergencies

Rental Wi-Fi often comes with the inconvenience of pickup and return, as well as the risk of additional charges for loss or damage. eSIMs eliminate these worries, and many plans are available at more affordable prices compared to rental Wi-Fi. There's also a wide range of data capacity options, so you can secure the right amount of communication data without waste, tailored to your family's usage.

Furthermore, being able to connect to the internet on your smartphone is crucial in the event of a disaster or emergency. With an eSIM, you can always access the latest information and maintain communication with family and friends, allowing you to enjoy your trip with peace of mind.

Choosing an eSIM Plan for Families: Key Points!

When choosing an eSIM for your family trip to Japan, here are some particularly important points to consider.

Opt for More Data Capacity

It's important to understand how much data each family member will use beforehand.

• If your usage is mainly map apps and social media, a small to medium capacity (e.g., 5GB-20GB) might be sufficient.
• If your children frequently watch videos or play online games, consider a large capacity plan (e.g., 50GB or more) or an unlimited plan.
• If you plan to use tethering frequently, you'll need more data capacity.

While unlimited plans are attractive, most have FUP (Fair Usage Policy) conditions (e.g., speed reduction after exceeding a certain data amount).

Tethering Availability and Restrictions

When sharing an eSIM with your family, the tethering function is paramount. Tethering is a feature that allows your smartphone to act as a Wi-Fi hotspot, connecting other devices like game consoles, laptops, or even old smartphones to the internet using its cellular data.

Make sure the eSIM plan you purchase supports tethering and that your smartphone also has tethering capability.

It's also essential to check for any speed or data capacity restrictions when using tethering.

Some plans may have separate data allowances specifically for tethering. Travel Mobile's eSIMs support tethering and have no data capacity restrictions for tethering.

Carrier and Coverage Area

Japan has four major mobile carriers: NTT Docomo, au, SoftBank, and Rakuten Mobile. Most eSIMs for communication in Japan utilize the networks of these major carriers, so stable communication can be expected.

However, each carrier has its characteristics, and Docomo offers the most stable and widespread coverage in Japan. It's a good idea to research which carrier has better signal strength in the areas you plan to visit.

Especially if you're planning a trip to rural areas, an eSIM that uses Docomo's network would be preferable.

Usage Period and Price

Choose a plan that matches your family's length of stay.

Compare the cost per day and select a plan that fits your family's budget.

Ease of Setup

For first-time eSIM users or in case of any issues, Japanese language support offers great peace of mind.

• Check if the eSIM installation steps are easy to understand and if the website supports Japanese.
• Man’ichi no toraburu-ji ni, chatto ya me-ru, denwa nado de nihongo de no sapo-to ga uke rareru ka dō kamo jūyōna pointo desu. (In case of trouble, it's also important to check if Japanese support can be received via chat, email, or phone.)

Reference Data from Travel Mobile

According to data from eSIMs purchased through Travel Mobile, in May 2025, the most common usage period for eSIMs was 14 days, and many users consumed around 1GB of data per day.

Even heavy users consumed about 2.5GB per day.

More data capacity is always better for peace of mind, and considering tethering, about 2.5GB per day should be plenty.

For a 14-day stay, having about 40GB of data should provide significant peace of mind.

Recommended eSIM Providers for Family Travel Comparison

Here are some recommended eSIM services for traveling in Japan. These services provide reliable connectivity not only in Tokyo but also in rural areas and offer ample data capacity. Additionally, since they connect to Japan’s local networks, their connection speeds are more stable and reliable compared to roaming services.

Tips for Making Your Family Trip to Japan Even More Enjoyable

Here are some tips to maximize your eSIM and make your family trip even more comfortable.

Data Saving Tips

   
• Make active use of free Wi-Fi at hotels and cafes.
   
• Turn off background data communication for apps you're not using.
   
• If watching videos, download them beforehand in a Wi-Fi environment.
• Utilize offline map apps: If you download maps in advance (e.g., Google Maps), you can check routes even without an internet connection.
• Prepare content for children: To prevent boredom during travel, it's a good idea to download your children's favorite videos and games beforehand.

Planning a family trip to Japan is exciting from the start! By choosing an eSIM for your communication needs, you can avoid the hassle of swapping physical SIM cards or picking up and returning rental Wi-Fi, leading to a smoother, more stress-free trip.

Especially by utilizing the tethering function, you can cover your entire family's communication with just one eSIM. Consider data capacity, tethering availability, and support systems to find the perfect eSIM plan for your family.

We hope that by smartly using an eSIM, your family trip to Japan will be filled with the best memories!