Japan trips have a specific data shape: heavy maps usage, lots of train station lookups, and the occasional video call home. Here's what we see in the data.
Typical 14-day Japan usage
- Light user (no streaming, no calls): 4–5 GB
- Average user (some Instagram, occasional FaceTime): 8–10 GB
- Heavy user (streaming, daily video calls): 15+ GB
Recommended Simline plan
Most Japan travellers do well on the 10 GB / 30 days plan. It covers two weeks of typical use plus buffer for the unexpected — Google Translate at restaurants burns more data than you'd think.
Network tip
KDDI is the strongest network across rural Japan. Look for plans listing KDDI or SoftBank as the underlying carrier. NTT Docomo is great in cities but spotty in mountains.