Back in Japan: How To Purchase Train Tickets and eSIM for Japan

Step by step instructions to get you on all trains and to set up internet for your smart phone before arriving to Japan.

Before leaving for Japan

Purchase an eSIM

Sakura Mobile is a good site for this. They have service almost everywhere you go in Japan.

1. Unlock your phone. Contact your service provider (eg. AT&T) to do this.

2. Go to sakuramobile.jp and purchase and unlimited data plan. My eSIM for 15 days was $48.07.

3. You will receive an email with a QR code. Use this to activate your eSIM. Takes just a few minutes. I recommend doing this before you get to Japan. You can choose when you would like it to start.

4. Now you can access the internet with your phone from anywhere. You will need this to use Google Maps or Apple Maps (ideal for navigating trains) and you can make phone calls using an app like WhatsApp.

Purchase your train passes

If you are going to be traveling across Japan (for example from Tokyo to Kyoto and back) you will want to purchase a Japan Rail Pass (JR pass), before leaving for Japan. I live in Honolulu, so I purchased mine from HIS Hawaii inside Ala Moana Center. It’s located in the basement by the stage and food court.

HIS will give you a voucher to redeem at the airport in Japan. The cost for a 7-day JR Pass was $358 USD. The woman who sold me my pass told me to not use the QR code for Japan Web to fill out my immigration form before arriving to Japan. She said I’d need to get my passport stamped in order to get my voucher redeemed.

To ride local local trains in cities like Tokyo and Osaka, purchase a Suica Card. Before you leave for Japan, you can set-up your Suica Card on your Iphone (I’m not sure how it works on other types of phones). To do this, open Apple Wallet, click “Get” (“Find Apps for Wallet”), select Japan, select Suica. Then, add money to your card. I added 3,000 yen, which is a good place to start.

---

When you arrive in Japan

When you arrive at Immigration, get your passport stamped by an agent. After you walk through Customs stay to your left. You will see the JR East office near the Monorail. Go to this office to redeem your JR Pass. Tell them which dates you’d like to use your pass for.

Exit the office and walk to the other side of the airport where it says Keikyu. Use either your JR Pass or Suica Card (you can use this even without internet service on your phone - just open the card in your Apple Wallet and tap it at the entrance) and board the Keikyu line going toward Center City (if you are going to Tokyo).

If you do not have a JR Pass or Suica Card on your iPhone, go to the machines located along the wall across from the Keikyu Station’s entrance.

Look at the sign on the wall to find out how much it costs to travel to your destination and purchase a ticket for that amount. For example, if you are going to Shinagawa Station, purchase a 300 yen ticket to get there.

When you get on the train, look at the monitor. Make sure you see your station , if you don’t you are likely going in the wrong direction and will need to get off and course correct.

Once you get to your destination, purchase a Suica Card. Load it with 3000-5000 yen. Now, you don’t have to worry about purchasing a train ticket whenever you get on the train. It works with all local trains. You can even use it on vending machines. At the end of your trip bring it to the JR East ticket office at the train station where you purchased your card and they will refund the remaining balance on the card.

Now you can easily navigate Japan’s complex train system! You just need internet on your phone, Google or Apple Maps, your JR Pass and your Suica Card!