Planning a trip to Asia? From the high-speed networks of Tokyo to the tropical connectivity of Bangkok, here's everything you need to know about using an eSIM across Asia's most popular destinations.
Why use an eSIM in Asia?
Asia is a dream destination for millions of travelers — but staying connected across multiple countries can be a nightmare. Local SIM cards require visiting a store upon arrival, dealing with language barriers, and buying a new card at every border. An eSIM solves all of this.
🇯🇵 Japan
Japan has excellent 4G and 5G coverage across the country, even in rural areas and on bullet trains. Our Japan-compatible eSIM plans use Docomo and SoftBank networks — the two largest carriers in Japan.
- Coverage: Excellent — cities, countryside, mountains, subway
- Typical speed: 50–200 Mbps in major cities
- Recommended plan: 5–10 GB for a 2-week trip
Download offline Google Maps for Japan before arrival. Many rural temples and natural parks have limited signal, even with excellent national coverage.
🇹🇭 Thailand
Thailand is one of Asia's most popular tourist destinations. 4G coverage is excellent in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket and the major islands. More remote northern areas may have weaker signal.
- Coverage: Very good in tourist areas, patchy in remote regions
- Best networks: AIS and True Move — fastest in Thailand
- Recommended plan: 3–7 GB for a 10-day trip
🇰🇷 South Korea
South Korea has one of the world's best mobile networks. Seoul, Busan and other major cities have near-perfect 5G coverage. Speed tests regularly show 100–400 Mbps download speeds on 5G.
- Coverage: Outstanding — world-class network
- 5G: Available in all major cities
- Recommended plan: 5–10 GB for 2 weeks
Other Asian destinations
| Country | Coverage | Speed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇸🇬 Singapore | Excellent | 100+ Mbps | World-leading 5G |
| 🇻🇳 Vietnam | Good | 20–50 Mbps | Improving rapidly |
| 🇮🇩 Indonesia | Variable | 10–40 Mbps | Bali excellent, remote islands patchy |
| 🇲🇾 Malaysia | Good | 30–80 Mbps | KL and Penang excellent |
| 🇵🇭 Philippines | Variable | 10–30 Mbps | Islands vary significantly |
China blocks many common apps (Google, WhatsApp, Instagram). A standard eSIM works for data, but you'll need a VPN to access these services. Consider a China-specific plan for the best experience.
🌏 Off to Asia?
Get your Asia eSIM and stay connected from Tokyo to Bangkok without hassle.
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