Destinations
Roaming in Japan: what it costs and how to avoid a shock
Japan is outside the European Union, so your plan does not travel with you. How the charging works, where to check yours and what the alternatives are.
Irene Salazar 7 min Photo by Erik Eastman on Unsplash The first thing to be clear about before flying to Japan is that European roaming does not reach that far. Inside the European Union your gigabytes travel with you because a regulation requires it; in Japan there is nothing of the kind, and what you pay is decided solely by your carrier.
How roaming is charged outside the Union
Plans almost always use one of these three schemes, and it helps to know which one you are on before landing.
| Scheme | What it means |
|---|---|
| Daily pass | You pay a fixed amount for each day you use the phone and draw on your home plan |
| Data pack | You buy a bundle of megabytes valid for a few days in that zone |
| Pay as you use | Charged by the megabyte or the minute, and this is where the bills people talk about come from |
The third one is the dangerous one, because nothing unusual is needed to set it off: it is enough for the phone to connect on landing and start syncing mail, backups and updates.
Where to check exactly what applies to you
- Go into your account area or your carrier's app and find the roaming section.
- Locate which zone Japan is in. It usually appears as zone 2, zone 3 or rest of the world, depending on the company.
- See whether your plan includes anything in that zone or whether it is charged by use.
- Check the spending limit you have set and whether the SMS alert is enabled.
Do it before leaving home. The welcome text that arrives on landing states the rates, but it arrives when the phone is already connected, which is exactly what you wanted to avoid.
The spending limit helps but does not save you
Carriers apply a monthly spending cap on roaming data by default and warn you by message as you approach it. It is a reasonable safety net, but do not leave everything to it: outside the Union the warnings can lag, and the data goes in minutes.
What you can turn off and what is best left alone
- Turn off DATA roaming on your usual line. That is the switch that prevents surprises, and it is in the mobile data settings.
- Leave the line on for calls and texts. That is what keeps people able to reach you on your number and lets the bank's codes come through.
- Do not put the whole phone in airplane mode for the entire trip: you receive nothing and cannot call in an emergency.
Receiving calls outside the Union can also cost money depending on your plan. If you want to avoid that entirely, the way out is to tell whoever needs to reach you to write via a messaging app.
The alternatives, in two lines
A data eSIM for Japan is installed before you leave, lives alongside your usual line and fixes the price before take-off. A Japanese local SIM is possible but awkward for a tourist, because many contracts require a residential address. A rented pocket router is popular there and is one more device to charge and return.
The comparison of all three, with the cases where each one wins, is in eSIM, pocket wi-fi or local SIM.
Frequently asked questions
Is roaming free in Japan?
No. The roaming included by regulation is the European Union and European Economic Area one. Japan falls outside it, so what you pay depends entirely on your plan.
How much does roaming cost in Japan?
It depends on your carrier and your plan. It can be a daily pass, a data pack for that zone, or pay-as-you-use, which is the expensive case. Check it in your account area before travelling.
How do I avoid roaming in Japan?
By turning off data roaming on your usual line and using a data eSIM for the destination. The usual line stays active for calls and texts.
Am I charged for receiving calls in Japan?
It can cost money depending on your plan, because included roaming does not apply outside the European Union. Check your plan before travelling.
Does the spending limit protect me?
It helps, because there is a default cap and SMS warnings, but outside the Union the warnings can arrive late. It is a safety net, not a plan.
