Tourism in Japan is booming, and you might be considering making the trip. Before going, you’ll likely assemble a thorough packing list of every essential item necessary for a smooth adventure.
But to really be prepared, I think you should consider writing a digital packing list as well. 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 leaving, then you’ll spend less time fiddling with your smartphone after arriving 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 got around using an iPhone 12 as my primary device. Think of this roundup as a helpful starting point for getting your device digitally ready. Plus, many of these smartphone apps are not exclusive to Japan and will be helpful for exploring other countries as well. Also, consider packing a couple power banks in your day bag to ensure you’re never caught far from the hotel room with a depleted battery.
An Active eSIM
Ahead of your Japan trip, setting up an eSIM on your phone is potentially the most important piece of digital preparation you can do. Without a connection to the internet, very few of the other apps on this list will work at all. Do it before you leave. Imagine arriving in Japan only to find out that your phone isn’t unlocked for eSIM access—contacting your carrier to fix the situation will likely be a major headache and timesuck.
Before leaving San Francisco on my flight, I went through the entire setup process other than the final activation. As soon as we touched down in Narita, I was able to connect online while waiting on the tarmac for other passengers to gather their luggage from the overhead bins. Landing in a new country, especially for the very first time, can be quite disorienting, and swiftly connecting to the internet meant I had instant access to any crucial information I needed.
I’ve purchased eSIMs from the Airalo app (Android, iOS) a few times and have been satisfied with the quality of the connection. A quick search in the app store will show you plenty of competitor apps too. I got a package with 20 GB of data for $26 from Airalo, and it ended up being way more than I actually needed. After seven days of actively scrolling around on my phone and navigating through the country, more than half of the data was still leftover.
Digital Suica Card
A Suica card can be used to board many (but not all) of the public transport options in Japan, and the digital wallet version is worth checking out. Unfortunately, this option is only easy for travelers with iPhones to use. So, unless you purchased a phone in Japan, using the digital option is not feasible on Android. But no worries, go ahead and skip down a paragraph to the physical “Welcome Suica” option to prepare for riding the trains.
If you’re taking an iPhone with you to Japan, you can add a Suica card to the smartphone wallet while you’re still at home, preloading a little money to save time. Though its primary purpose is for use at fare gates and boarding zones for transit, it can be used to pay for things beyond transportation. More stores than you might expect accept this form of digital payment. During a couple of late-night snack runs, I used tap-to-pay with the card at convenience stores, like FamilyMart and Lawson. When wandering around the Akihabara ward with its bright billboards, I also used the digital card to play games in mega-arcades—even winning a Mario ghost plushie in some claw machine after a few tries.
Are you using an Android device or not really into digital wallets? I also tried out the Welcome Suica card. It’s a physical option designed for tourists, and the card is valid for around a month. You can buy them in the airport and elsewhere in kiosks. Specifically thinking about how rushed I feel getting in and out of train turnstiles, I almost preferred holding the small card in my hand over tapping a phone.