Japan 日本
4 operator(s) with LTE and 4 operator(s) with 5G NR on record for Japan. A band listed here means the operator is recorded as using it — it does not mean nationwide coverage.
Operators & bands
| Operator | LTE bands (frequency · VoLTE · launch) | 5G NR bands (frequency · SA/NSA · launch) |
|---|---|---|
| KDDI (au) | B1 (2100 MHz) — VoLTE: yes; launched Sep 2012 B3 (1800 MHz) — VoLTE: yes B11 (1500 MHz) — VoLTE: yes B18 (850 MHz) — VoLTE: yes; launched Sep 2012 B28 (700 MHz) — VoLTE: yes; launched Oct 2015 B41 (2500 MHz) — VoLTE: yes; launched Oct 2013 B42 (3500 MHz) — VoLTE: yes | — |
| NTT DoCoMo | B1 (2100 MHz) — VoLTE: yes; launched Dec 2010 B3 (1800 MHz) — VoLTE: yes; launched Sep 2013 B19 (850 MHz) — VoLTE: yes; launched Nov 2012 B21 (1500 MHz) — VoLTE: yes; launched Nov 2012 B28 (700 MHz) — VoLTE: yes; launched Jan 2015 B42 (3500 MHz) — VoLTE: yes; launched Jun 2016 | — |
| NTT Docomo | — | n257 (28000 MHz) — SA; launched Dec 2021; NSA since Sep 2020 n78 (3500 MHz) — SA; launched Dec 2021; NSA since Dec 2020 n79 (4900 MHz) — SA; launched Dec 2021; NSA since Oct 2020 |
| Rakuten Mobile | B3 (1800 MHz) — launched Apr 2020 B28 (700 MHz) — launched Oct 2023 | n77 (3700 MHz) — NSA; launched Sep 2020 |
| SoftBank | B1 (2100 MHz) — VoLTE: yes; launched Sep 2012 B3 (1800 MHz) — VoLTE: yes; launched Mar 2012 B8 (900 MHz) — VoLTE: yes; launched Jul 2014 B11 (1500 MHz) — VoLTE: yes; launched Apr 2017 B28 (700 MHz) — VoLTE: yes B41 (2500 MHz) — VoLTE: yes; launched Feb 2012 B42 (3500 MHz) — VoLTE: yes; launched May 2018 | — |
| Softbank | — | n257 (28000 MHz) — SA; launched Oct 2021; NSA since Mar 2021 n77 (3700 MHz) — SA; launched Oct 2021; NSA since Mar 2020 |
| au | — | n257 (28000 MHz) — NSA; launched Sep 2020 n28 (700 MHz) — NSA; launched Mar 2021 n77 (3700 MHz) — NSA; launched Mar 2020 n78 (3500 MHz) — NSA; launched Mar 2020 |
Band numbers link to their definitions. "VoLTE: yes" is shown only where the source records it; blank means not stated in the source. "SA" = standalone 5G, "NSA" = non-standalone (needs LTE).
2G / 3G shutdowns
| Operator | Network | Shutdown date | Status (as of 2026-11-08) |
|---|---|---|---|
| DOCOMO | 2G | 2011-06-30 | Already shut down |
| KDDI | 2G | 2012-07-22 | Already shut down |
| KDDI | 3G | 2022-03-31 | Already shut down |
| DOCOMO | 3G | 2026-03-31 | Already shut down |
Source: Onomondo 2G/3G Sunset. Operators sometimes delay shutdowns, sometimes with only a few months' notice — confirm with the operator.
eSIM options for Japan
| Plan | Provider | Price | Data | Validity | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moshi Moshi 1GB | Airalo | USD 4 | 1 GB | 3 days | 2026-07-18 |
| Moshi Moshi 5GB | Airalo | USD 11 | 5 GB | 30 days | 2026-07-18 |
| Moshi Moshi 10GB | Airalo | USD 18 | 10 GB | 30 days | 2026-07-18 |
| Moshi Moshi 20GB | Airalo | USD 25 | 20 GB | 30 days | 2026-07-18 |
| Moshi Moshi 100GB | Airalo | USD 89 | 100 GB | 180 days | 2026-07-18 |
| Japan 10GB | Ubigi | USD 16.5 | 10 GB | 30 days | 2026-10-22 |
| 1GB | GigSky | USD 2.99 | 1 GB | 7 days | 2026-11-07 |
| Discover 10GB | Airalo | USD 61 | 10 GB | 180 days | 2026-07-18 |
| Global 20GB | Ubigi | USD 44 | 20 GB | 30 days | 2026-10-22 |
Prices as of the check date shown; checkout price prevails. Full comparison, providers and the affiliate disclosure: eSIM comparison.
Will my phone work here?
Compare the bands above with the bands your phone supports. If your phone lacks a band an operator uses, you may get no signal — or no 5G — on that network. Also check whether your phone supports eSIM on the Devices page, and dial *#06# to see whether an EID (eSIM identifier) is shown.
Sources
- List of LTE networks (Wikipedia) — Country–operator LTE deployment table.
- List of 5G NR networks (Wikipedia) — Country–operator 5G deployment table, SA/NSA.
Checked 2026-11-08. Deployment data is adapted from Wikipedia lists (CC BY-SA 4.0); see Sources & updates for the full licence note.