During a 21-day trip to Japan, many people may wonder, "Is 30GB enough?" "Do I need an unlimited plan for a long stay?"
For a three-week stay, not only will you need data for daily map searches and social media, but also for watching videos, online meetings, and using tethering, which means you'll need more data than for a short trip.
In this article, we will explain in detail the estimated data usage needed for a 21-day trip to Japan, as well as recommended capacities based on different travel styles.
For information on data usage for long stays, How many GB do you need for a 14-day trip to Japan? is also a helpful reference.
How many GB do you need for a 21-day trip to Japan?
| Usage Style | Estimate |
|---|---|
| Google Maps & LINE focused | 30GB |
| SNS & photo posting | 30-50GB |
| Video viewing | 50GB or more |
| Tethering usage | Unlimited or 50GB or more |
For a trip of about three weeks, having around 30GB is reassuring even for sightseeing. If you plan to watch videos or use tethering, consider a plan of 50GB or more, or an unlimited plan.
Estimated data usage by app
| App | Estimated Data Usage |
|---|---|
| Google Maps | About 5-10MB/hour |
| LINE | About 1-5MB/hour |
| About 100-300MB/hour | |
| YouTube (720p) | About 1GB/hour |
| TikTok | About 800MB-1GB/hour |
While the data usage for Google Maps and LINE is relatively low, it will gradually increase over three weeks. Particularly, if you watch a lot of videos, you need to be cautious.
Recommended capacity by travel style
| Travel Style | Recommended Capacity |
|---|---|
| Sightseeing focused | 30GB |
| Workation / Business trip | 30-50GB |
| High video viewing | 50GB or more |
| Daily tethering usage | Unlimited plan |
During a three-week stay, data usage can increase not only from sightseeing but also from work and online meetings. Choose your capacity according to your usage style.
Common scenarios where data usage increases during a three-week stay
- Daily use of Google Maps and transit navigation
- Posting on Instagram and TikTok
- Watching videos on YouTube and Netflix
- Online meetings via Zoom and Google Meet
- Using tethering with a laptop
- Backing up photos and videos to cloud storage
During a long stay of 21 days, even if the daily data usage is low, it accumulates, so it is important to choose a data capacity with some leeway.
How to save data during a 21-day trip to Japan
During a 21-day trip, even if the daily data usage is low, it accumulates, so it is important to be mindful of data usage.
- Use Wi-Fi at hotels, cafes, and airports
- Save Google Maps for offline use
- Watch videos in Wi-Fi environments
- Turn off automatic backup for photos and videos
- Stop background data usage for unnecessary apps
By implementing these practices, you may be able to use around 30GB comfortably.
Which should you choose: 30GB, 50GB, or unlimited?
| Capacity | Recommended Usage |
|---|---|
| 30GB | Sightseeing, Google Maps, LINE, SNS focused |
| 50GB | Business trips, workation, video viewing |
| Unlimited | If using tethering, online meetings, or watching videos daily |
For a three-week stay, if focused on sightseeing, 30GB is sufficient, if work or video usage is high, consider 50GB or more, and if you want to use data without worry, an unlimited plan is recommended.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 30GB enough for 21 days?
If you primarily use Google Maps, LINE, and social media, 30GB can be sufficient in some cases.
How many GB do I need if I watch videos every day?
If you watch YouTube or Netflix daily, 50GB or more or an unlimited plan is recommended.
Can it be used for workation or business trips?
Yes. If you use online meetings or cloud services, choosing a plan of 50GB or more is reassuring.
Does Google Maps use a lot of data?
For regular navigation, data usage is low, and even after 21 days, it won't be a significant burden.
Does using tethering increase data usage?
Yes. If you connect devices like laptops, data usage can significantly increase.
Can I save data by using hotel Wi-Fi?
Yes. By watching videos and updating apps in a Wi-Fi environment, you can reduce mobile data usage.
What should I do if I run out of data?
There are products available for purchasing additional data. For long stays, it is reassuring to check in advance whether additional purchases are possible.
Should I choose an unlimited plan for 21 days?
If you watch videos or use tethering daily, an unlimited plan is recommended, but if focused on sightseeing, 30GB to 50GB may be sufficient in some cases.
Conclusion
During a 21-day trip to Japan, it is important to choose a plan with ample data allowance due to the long stay.
- If focused on Google Maps and LINE, 30GB
- If using SNS or for work, around 50GB
- If focused on video viewing and tethering, unlimited is recommended
- Utilizing Wi-Fi can help save data
Whether for travel, business, or workation, choose the optimal data capacity according to your usage style.
