Japan & South Korea eSIM

Yes, as long as you have an eSIM-capable, carrier-unlocked iPhone. That covers the iPhone XS, XR and every model since, including the SE (2020) and newer. After buying you'll get a QR code by email; scan it in Settings to load your travel eSIM, then keep your normal SIM active for calls and texts. Because it's a data-only plan, you get fast mobile internet across both countries while your usual number stays on your primary line. If you're unsure whether your iPhone is unlocked, dial *#06# to find your EID, or ask your carrier. Our 24/7 support team can confirm compatibility before you travel.

It works on most recent eSIM-capable, carrier-unlocked Android phones. That includes the Samsung Galaxy S20 and newer, the Z Fold and Z Flip range, Google Pixel 3 and later, and many other 2019-onward flagships. Older or budget handsets sometimes lack an eSIM chip, so check your model's specifications first. Installing is simple: scan the QR code we email you to add the eSIM, then set it as your data line while keeping your physical SIM for your normal number. You'll have prepaid data ready whether you land at Narita, Haneda, Incheon or Kansai. If you're not certain your phone supports eSIM, our support team can verify it.

In Japan your eSIM connects to KDDI (au), one of the country's three major networks, with excellent 4G/5G from Hokkaido to Okinawa. In South Korea it can use SK Telecom — the market leader — and LG Uplus, giving you two of Korea's three networks in some of the world's fastest mobile territory. Your phone registers automatically in whichever country you're in and switches when you fly between them; there's nothing to configure. Because it's data-only, you'll use WhatsApp, LINE, KakaoTalk or FaceTime for calls while your home number stays on your primary SIM.

Convenience and continuity. The Tokyo–Seoul combination is one of the world's classic two-country itineraries, and with one eSIM you install one QR code, manage one data balance, and your phone just works on both sides of the flight — no swapping plans in the arrivals hall at Incheon. One honest note: if your trip is a single country only, our dedicated Japan or South Korea eSIMs offer bigger data ladders for the same kind of money, so pick this plan when you're genuinely doing both. Unlike wider Asia regional plans, this one also involves no Chinese network routing at any point.

It takes just a few minutes. After purchase we email you a QR code. On your phone, open Settings, choose to add an eSIM or mobile plan, and scan that code to install it. We recommend doing this on Wi-Fi before you fly. The plan won't start counting down yet: your validity and prepaid data only begin when the eSIM first connects to a network after you arrive in Japan or South Korea. Once you land, enable the eSIM as your data line, switch on data roaming for that line, and turn roaming off on your home SIM. Your phone connects automatically. If anything looks off, our 24/7 support can walk you through it.

Yes, and we recommend it. Install the eSIM at home over Wi-Fi as soon as your QR code arrives by email, so everything is ready before you reach the airport. Crucially, installing is not the same as activating: your data allowance and validity period only start when the eSIM first connects to a local network in Japan or Korea, not when you scan the code. You have up to 180 days between purchase and first use, so you can set it up as soon as flights are booked. It doesn't matter which country you visit first — the plan activates in whichever you land in and carries across to the other.

For most travellers, dramatically so. Japan and South Korea both sit outside every free-roaming scheme, so UK, EU, US and Gulf plans typically charge premium per-megabyte rates or daily passes in each country — and a two-country trip doubles the passes. Our plans start at $4, with 10GB for $26 covering both countries on fast local networks. That's a fixed prepaid price with no surprise fees and no bill shock. If you run low mid-trip — easy to do while streaming and navigating two of the world's most online countries — add a top-up at any time.

Yes to all of it. This is a data-only eSIM, so it doesn't make native calls or send SMS, but everything you'd actually use works over the internet: WhatsApp, LINE (essential in Japan), KakaoTalk (essential in Korea), FaceTime and iMessage all run on your prepaid data. Your usual phone number stays active on your physical SIM thanks to dual-SIM, so friends and family can still reach you and apps tied to your number keep working. Set the eSIM as your data line and turn data roaming off on your home SIM to avoid your carrier's charges.

Yes, personal hotspot and tethering are supported, so you can share your eSIM connection with a laptop, tablet or a travel companion's phone. Just switch on the hotspot in your phone's settings as you normally would. Anything connected to your hotspot draws from the same prepaid data allowance — worth remembering on the Shinkansen with a laptop open. Japan and Korea both have plentiful free Wi-Fi in cafés and stations, so lean on that for heavy downloads and keep your eSIM data for the streets. If you run low, add a top-up at any time.

The best eSIM for the Tokyo–Seoul itinerary is one plan that covers both countries on fast local networks with no fiddling in between, which is exactly what the GulfData Japan & South Korea travel eSIM offers. You get KDDI in Japan plus SK Telecom and LG Uplus in Korea, with instant QR activation you can install before you fly. Plans start at $4 with no roaming fees and no surprise charges, and no Chinese network routing at any point. It keeps your normal number active, supports hotspot sharing, offers top-ups, and works on recent eSIM-capable iPhones and Android phones. Backed by 24/7 support before and during your trip.