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Data andinsurance sorted before you fly

Two things people leave until the last day and end up overpaying for — this page compares them side by side so you can see which suits your trip.

Last updated 17 Aug 2026 · By the MjourneyGo team

Which kind of data is best?

Japan does have free Wi-Fi in shops and stations, but most of it needs registration and the signal is patchy On the move, with maps to open, train times to check or a taxi to call, having your own data is well worth it

OptionApproximate priceProsWatch outBest for
eSIM ฿30–70 /day
5–8 day packs run to a few hundred baht		 Buy online, install yourself in 5 minutes, keep your Thai number for SMS at the same time Phone must support eSIM and be network-unlocked Solo or pairs · short to mid-length trips
Physical SIM ฿300–700 /trip Works with any phone, buy in Thailand or from a vending machine at a Japanese airport You must remove your Thai SIM, so you may miss calls and bank SMS · tiny SIMs are easy to lose Phones without eSIM support
Pocket WiFi ฿150–300 /day Shares with 5–10 devices, cheapest per head when split across a group One more thing to carry and charge, must be returned on time, and the group cannot split up Families or groups of 3+ who stay together
Thai carrier roaming ฿250–450 /day Works instantly, keeps your own number, nothing to set up Priciest per day, and some packs cap full-speed data 1–3 day trips, or last-minute travel with no time to prepare
💡 Quick maths A 6-day trip for 2 people — eSIM works out around ฿200–400/person while daily roaming comes to about ฿1,500–2,700/person Nearly 10 times the price for what is, in practice, much the same service

Where to buy

In Thailand there are plenty of sellers: online shops, airport counters and travel platforms The advantage of buying through a platform is that youpay in baht, see real reviews, and can cancel under the stated terms Always compare the price against the full-speed data allowance before you buy

SIM and internet for traveling in Japan Japan eSIM ↗ Buy online, get the QR code by email instantly, install before you fly. Choose from 3–15 days SIM and internet for traveling in Japan Pocket WiFi ↗ Pick up and return at a Japanese airport, share with several devices, good value for groups of 3 or more SIM and internet for traveling in Japan Physical SIM ↗ For phones without eSIM support. Collect at the airport or have it delivered in Thailand before you fly

Links in this box are affiliate links — if you book through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you and it does not affect what we recommend

Where to buy travel insurance

Travel insurance for Japan can be bought direct from Thai insurers or through a comparison broker The key point is tolook at the medical expenses limit first not the premium, and to check that it covers flight delays and the activities you will actually be doing — the details worth checking are in the next section

Install your eSIM at the right moment

  1. Check that your phone supports it — dial *#06# if you see a line reading EID it supports eSIM; the phone must also be network-unlocked
  2. Buy and install while still in Thailand — do it on home Wi-Fi, scan the QR code the seller sends, and name the eSIM “Japan” to avoid confusion
  3. Do not activate it yet — leave this line switched off, and set your Thai number as the primary line for calls and SMS
  4. Switch over once you land in Japan — turn the eSIM line on and set it as your “mobile data” line, andturn off data roaming on your Thai number so you are not billed twice for data
  5. You still get bank SMS — because your Thai number stays connected (receiving SMS while roaming is usually free, but check with your carrier)
⚠️ Good to know before you buy Most eSIMs are single-use, and cannot be restored once deleted Read carefully how many GB an “unlimited” plan gives at full speed before throttling, and whether it covers the rural or mountain areas you are heading to

Travel insurance — why it is better value than you think

Japan does not require Thai visitors to hold insurance to enter, but foreigners pay 100% of medical costs with no access to Japanese health insurance. Typical figures:

SituationApproximate cost
Emergency room visit + medicine (cold or upset stomach)฿3,000–8,000
One night in hospital฿7,000–15,000
Appendix surgery + recovery฿125,000–200,000
Broken bone from a snow or ski fall + surgery฿150,000–400,000
Travel insurance premium, 5–7 days฿300–900 /person

The coverage you should have as a minimum

  • Medical expenses of THB 2–5 million — do not take the cheapest plan with a six-figure limit; real surgery cases blow past it easily
  • Emergency medical evacuation to Thailand — this runs into the millions if you ever need it
  • Flight delay or cancellation — crucial in Sep, when typhoons are frequent, or in winter when snow is heavy
  • Delayed or lost luggage — compensation for essentials while you wait
  • Third-party liability — for accidentally damaging goods in a shop, which Japan takes seriously

Watch out when choosing a plan

  • Pre-existing conditions are usually not covered automatically; you must declare them and may need to buy extra coverage
  • Risky activities such as skiing, snowboarding, diving and climbing — check whether the plan covers them; snow trips especially
  • Must be bought before you depart Policies bought after you have left Thailand mostly do not apply
  • Keep every receipt and medical certificate Originals only, or you cannot claim
  • Some credit cards include travel insurance, but you mustbuy the tickets with that card and the limits are often lower than you would expect
✅ Pre-flight checklist Save the policy as a file on your phone + print one spare copy · note the insurer’s emergency hotline in your notes app · tell someone at home which insurer you are with

Frequently asked questions

Does my phone support eSIM, and how do I check?
iPhone XS and later, Samsung Galaxy S20 and later, Pixel 3 and later, and most recent flagships all support it. The quickest check is to dial *#06# — if an EID line appears, it is supported. Your phone must also be network-unlocked (not tied to an overseas contract).
When should I install my eSIM — before flying or after landing?
Install it while in Thailand where the Wi-Fi is stable but "does not need to be turned on" and then switch to using it when the plane lands in Japan. Because the installation process requires the use of the internet. If you wait to do it at a Japanese airport and cannot connect to Wi-Fi, the installation will not be successful.
Do I need travel insurance for just a few days?
Japan does not require Thai visitors to hold insurance to enter, but medical care there is very expensive and foreigners pay 100%. A single appendix operation runs into six figures in THB, while a 5–7 day policy costs a few hundred THB. Weighed against the risk, it is well worth it.
Pocket WiFi or eSIM — which is better?
Travelling alone or as a pair who stay together, eSIM is easier: no extra device, no charging, nothing to return. For groups of 3–4 or more who stay together nearly all the time, Pocket WiFi works out cheaper per head, but you are responsible for the device and the battery drains fast.
Travel documents and QR code for entering JapanJapan entry documents Visit Japan Web, one QR code + banned items Yen for calculating budget for traveling to JapanTrip budget calculator SIM and insurance costs are already in the total Etiquette and things to know before traveling to JapanEtiquette · plugs · money Small things that make a trip run far more smoothly

Check the latest information 17 Aug 2026 · All prices areapproximate ranges for comparison not guaranteed prices. Please check actual prices with the provider before buying. · Medical costs reflect ranges commonly seen in foreign tourist cases in Japan; actual costs depend on the hospital and the condition