Tourism in Japan is booming and you may be thinking about making the trip. Before you set out, you’ll probably need to prepare a detailed list of all the essential items needed for a smooth adventure.
But to really be prepared, I think you should also consider writing a digital packing list. And no, I’m not just talking about downloading a bunch of WIRED podcasts to stream on the plane. If you take the time to download essential apps before you leave, you’ll spend less time playing with your smartphone after you arrive and more time focused on exploring the country.
These picks for useful smartphone apps are based on my experience traveling to Tokyo and Osaka in early November, where I used an iPhone 12 as my primary device. Think of this overview as a helpful starting point to prepare your device digitally. Additionally, many of these smartphone apps are not exclusive to Japan and will be useful when exploring other countries as well. Also, consider packing a couple of power banks in your day bag to ensure you’re never caught away from the hotel room with a dead battery.
An active eSIM
Before your trip to Japan, setting up an eSIM on your phone is potentially the most important piece of digital preparation you can do. Without an Internet connection, very few of the other apps on this list will work. Do it before you leave. Imagine arriving in Japan and discovering that your phone is not unlocked to access eSIM; Contacting your provider to resolve the situation will probably be a huge headache and a waste of time.
Before leaving San Francisco on my flight, I went through the entire setup process as well as final activation. As soon as we landed in Narita, I was able to go online while waiting on the tarmac for other passengers to collect their luggage from the overhead bins. Landing in a new country, especially for the first time, can be quite disorienting, and quickly connecting to the internet meant I had instant access to any crucial information I needed.
I bought eSIM from the Airalo app (Android, iOS) several times and I am satisfied with the quality of the connection. A quick search in the app store will also show you many competing apps. I received a package with 20GB of data for $26 from Airalo, and it ended up being a lot more than I really needed. After seven days of actively scrolling on my phone and browsing the country, there was still more than half of the data left.
Suica Digital Card
TO Swiss card It can be used to board many (but not all) public transportation options in Japan, and the digital wallet version is worth checking out. Unfortunately, this option is only easy to use for travelers with iPhones. So unless you bought a phone in Japan, using the digital option is not feasible on Android. But don’t worry, go ahead and skip a paragraph to the physical option “Welcome Suica” to prepare yourself for riding the trains.
If you take an iPhone to Japan, you can add a Suica card to the smartphone wallet while you’re still at home, preloading some money to save time. Although its primary purpose is for use at gates and transit loading docks, it can be used to pay for things beyond transportation. More stores than you would expect accept this form of digital payment. During a couple of late night snacks, I used the card payment system at convenience stores such as FamilyMart and Lawson. While wandering around the Akihabara neighborhood with its bright posters, he also used the digital card to play in mega-arcades, even winning a mario ghost stuffed animal into some claw machine after a few tries.
Are you using an Android device or don’t like digital wallets much? I also tried the Suica welcome card. It is a physical option designed for tourists and the card is valid for approximately one month. You can buy them at the airport and other places at kiosks. Thinking specifically about how rushed I feel getting in and out of train turnstiles, I almost preferred holding the little card in my hand to touching a phone.