Travelling to Japan as a party of 3, 4 or 8 and keeping internet for the whole family, with no pocket Wi-Fi to pass from hand to hand? The recipe fits on one line: one eSIM per compatible phone, and tethering — included with no limit — for the remaining devices. Here's who takes what, with the exact prices.
Let's be clear: there's no such thing as a "family plan" shared between several phones — one eSIM equips a single device. And that's a good thing: with an eSIM on each compatible phone, everyone has their own NTT docomo 4G/5G network, even when the group splits up. For everything else, tethering is included with no limit on all our plans.
Tethering included with no limitA parent's phone becomes a Wi-Fi hotspot for the devices that don't have an eSIM.
Two parents, a teenager with her own phone, a 9-year-old with a tablet. Here's the setup we recommend, with the exact prices.
Google Maps open all the time, directions, translation: genuinely unlimited with no throttling spares him any arithmetic. He's also the one sharing his connection with the tablet.
Two adults connected separately is the safe play: if the group splits between the park and the shops, each half keeps internet — and a backup hotspot.
TikTok, Instagram and WhatsApp without restriction, on her own phone. 20 GB covers around 14 days of use — and top-ups are available on the site if needed.
No compatible phone? No problem: his tablet connects to Dad's tethering on the train or at the hotel. Nothing to buy for him.
For comparison: renting a pocket Wi-Fi costs roughly €70 to €110 for 2 weeks + a deposit… for a single box the whole family has to keep track of. Here, everyone is self-sufficient, and the price shown is the final price. See all the plans →
Plenty of families consider renting a pocket Wi-Fi for their trip to Japan. In a group, that's exactly where a shared box shows its limits.
With a single box, the group has to stay within Wi-Fi range. With one eSIM per phone, the teenagers head off to the park while you visit a temple — everyone stays connected, and reachable on WhatsApp.
A pocket Wi-Fi needs charging every evening, like a fifth phone. The eSIM is built into each device: no box, no extra cable, no battery panic at 5pm in the middle of Kyoto.
One object for the whole family is an object not to forget, not to lose, and to hand back at the airport — with a deposit, and damage charged at full price. The eSIM: nothing to carry, nothing to return.
Still unsure? We compared the two options criterion by criterion, honestly — eSIM or pocket Wi-Fi in Japan: the full head-to-head →
This is THE habit of well-prepared families: in a group, it only takes one incompatible phone to complicate the plan. Take 2 minutes, phone by phone — not just yours.
It happens, even to organised families — an imported model, a locked version… In that case the rule is simple: if your phone isn't compatible after purchase, we refund you in full. That's our compatibility guarantee.
Like Romain C., whose 2 eSIMs included one that wasn't compatible with his daughter's phone: refunded within days (verified review). The rest of the family travelled connected.
Check our phones →The "one eSIM per compatible phone + hotspot to fill the gaps" setup works for every kind of group — only the profiles change.
Everyone takes the eSIM that matches how much they use: the stories addict goes unlimited, while the one who just checks Google Maps and WhatsApp is fine on a 10 or 20 GB data plan. Nobody pays for anyone else, and nobody waits for anyone's box.
The smart move: order together. Discounts apply automatically to the total — −5% from 2 eSIMs, −10% from 3 or more, up to 10 eSIMs per order. Everyone then gets their own QR code by email and installs it on their phone. See the data plans →
For a supervised group, the standard setup: the group leaders on unlimited — GPS, coordination, a backup hotspot to help out a student — and data eSIMs for the participants who need one, on their own phones.
A big advantage for the organisers: you can buy up to 180 days before activation — the validity period only starts when you activate in Japan. Enough to get everything ready weeks ahead, QR codes handed out and installed before departure. When to order? →
Every eSIM includes the Japan Guide (70+ pages) and the Google Maps map (200+ spots), worth €29.98, added to your order automatically. As a family, it's genuinely practical: ready-to-follow itineraries, tried-and-tested places to eat with children, photo spots — and the map can be shared with the whole group in Google Maps, everyone on their own phone.
Explore the gifts →
4.9/5 from 1,500+ verified reviews — every review is collected after a verified purchase.
The SIM card worked perfectly. You just have to remember to turn on data roaming for your arrival in Japan. It uses the docomo network, one of the best in Japan. I got one for myself and my whole family. Highly recommended.
Trip in April 2026: easy to use, no network trouble, very happy. One of the 2 eSIMs wasn't compatible with my daughter's phone: refunded within days. Excellent. Among the best value for money out there.
The eSIM was recommended to us by friends and we're very happy with the service. The instructions were clear and easy. Internet throughout the trip, a wonderful holiday!
Through tethering, included with no limit on all our plans: a parent's phone broadcasts its data over Wi-Fi, and the child's phone or tablet connects to it just like the router at home. No extra plan to buy for them. How to turn on sharing →
If the tablet is eSIM compatible, yes: it then takes its own eSIM, like a phone. Check the model in our database of 650+ compatible devices, updated every week. Otherwise, the tablet simply connects to the tethering from a phone in the group. Check a device →
No, we don't offer an eSIM for a smartwatch on its own. In practice, your watch keeps working through the phone it's paired with: as long as that phone is connected with its eSIM, the watch follows.
No — one eSIM equips a single device. The right family setup is one eSIM per compatible phone, plus tethering included with no limit to cover the remaining devices. Discounts are automatic: −5% from 2 eSIMs and −10% from 3 or more, applied at checkout with no code to enter. Choose your plans →
The phone sharing its connection all day does work harder, yes. Two simple habits: slip a power bank into the bag, and take turns being the one who shares. That's also why one eSIM per compatible phone remains the most comfortable family setup.
Can't find your answer?Our support team replies within minutes on WhatsApp and by email — 7 days a week, weekends included.
💬 Contact usNTT docomo network, tethering included with no limit, free guide + map with every eSIM and support 7 days a week — the Japan specialist eSIM, activated in 2 minutes.
Choose our plans →Satisfaction guaranteed · −5% from 2 eSIMs, −10% from 3