Is 5G actually available in Japan on a travel eSIM, or just 4G?

Question

I'm heading to Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka next month and my phone supports 5G. Will I actually get 5G speeds on a travel eSIM in Japan, or should I expect it to fall back to 4G most of the time? I mainly care about maps, messaging and the occasional video call.

Sara (GotoeSIM) · Accepted Answer

Yes, 5G is widely available in Japan, and our plans connect to local 5G networks where your device supports the bands and coverage exists. In practice you'll see 5G in most city centres and along major transport routes, with automatic fallback to 4G elsewhere.

Marcus T. · Answer

Just got back from two weeks there and had 5G almost everywhere in Tokyo and Osaka. Kyoto was a bit more mixed in the older districts, but 4G was still plenty fast for everything I needed.

Priya N. · Answer

Worth checking your phone's 5G bands before you go. My older handset only picked up 4G, but honestly it didn't matter, maps and video calls worked fine the whole trip.

Daniel (GotoeSIM) · Answer

A quick tip: install and activate the eSIM before you fly so it's ready the moment you land. You can watch your data use live in the app, which helps if you're streaming or doing lots of video calls on 5G.

Hannah R. · Answer

I was surprised how good it was on the Shinkansen between cities. There were a few tunnels with no signal, but that happens anywhere.

Kenji L. · Answer

If you're mostly doing maps and messaging, you honestly won't notice whether it says 5G or 4G. Both felt instant to me.

Sofia M. · Answer

Turn off auto network selection and let it pick 5G automatically, mine kept grabbing a weaker signal until I left it on default.

Tom B. · Answer

Used mine in Sapporo and it was 4G mostly, still fast enough for video calls. 5G seems more of a big-city thing up north.

Is 5G actually available in Japan on a travel eSIM, or just 4G?

Related questions

Please confirm