Japan has achieved 5G population coverage of 98% as of the end of fiscal year 2024. In practice, major cities like Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto offer reliable and fast 5G connectivity. In rural and mountainous areas, 4G LTE remains the standard. For travelers using a PlanJapan eSIM (NTT Docomo network), 5G coverage is the widest in the country — including outside major urban centers.
5G in Japan: Near-Universal Deployment
Japan reached 98.4% 5G population coverage by the end of fiscal year 2024. However, this impressive figure hides a more nuanced reality: being in a "covered" area doesn't guarantee you'll always be connected via 5G.
Japan's three major carriers (NTT Docomo, SoftBank, KDDI/au) have deployed their 5G networks primarily in dense urban areas. Rakuten Mobile, the fourth carrier, fills in coverage in some major cities.
What "5G Coverage" Actually Means
Two distinctions matter here:
- Geographic coverage: the area theoretically covered by 5G signal
- 5G availability: the percentage of time a user is actually connected to 5G
According to Opensignal data (October 2025), NTT Docomo shows a 5G availability of 38.4% — meaning a Docomo user is connected to 5G about one third of the time. SoftBank records 26.5%, despite higher peak speeds in city centers. For a traveler, this difference is meaningful: Docomo provides a more consistent experience across the entire country.
5G Coverage by Carrier
NTT Docomo — Leader in National Coverage
NTT Docomo is Japan's reference carrier for coverage. It is the only one to win both "Coverage Experience" and "5G Coverage Experience" awards according to Opensignal reports. Its 5G network covers:
- All major cities (Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya, Sapporo, Fukuoka)
- Rural and mountainous areas (Japanese Alps, Hokkaido)
- Shinkansen corridors
- Major coastal and island areas
Median download speed: 50.50 Mbps across 5G/4G combined.
SoftBank — Urban Speed Champion
SoftBank excels in major metropolitan areas. In Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya, speeds can exceed 60 Mbps. However, coverage drops significantly as soon as you leave urban centers. SoftBank is not recommended for travelers exploring the Japanese countryside or mountain regions.
KDDI/au — A Good Balance
KDDI offers a well-balanced network between urban and semi-rural areas. Its 5G availability sits between Docomo and SoftBank. It's a solid choice for travelers alternating between city and nature, without reaching Docomo's rural coverage density.
