The linguistic challenge in Asia
Traveling to Europe is one thing, but navigating the streets of Tokyo, Seoul or Bangkok without internet and without being able to read street signs is a higher level of difficulty. Having a constant data connection is not a luxury, it is a necessity for real-time translation, hyper-punctual train schedules, and Uber/Grab.
Japan and South Korea: Impeccable Coverage
Both Japan and South Korea are world leaders in 5G infrastructure. By using a travel eSIM there, you will connect to massive networks like Docomo, Softbank or KT. The main recommendation here is an Unlimited Data package. Local apps like Navitime in Japan or Naver Map in Korea, plus Google Translate using the camera in real time, will consume a lot of data.
Southeast Asia: Jumping between countries
If you are backpacking through Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Bali (Indonesia), buying local SIMs at each airport becomes a chaos of plastic and changing numbers.
The ideal solution: A regional "Continental Asia" eSIM that covers 14 or more countries in the area. You pay for a single plan and you forget about it. Regional eSIMs allow you to land at Suvarnabhumi airport, open Grab, request your transportation, and two weeks later cross the border to Vietnam and have a signal the moment you pass immigration.
Internet Censorship (The Great Firewall)
If your trip includes mainland China, be careful. Local Wi-Fi blocks Google, WhatsApp, Facebook and more. A huge advantage of using an international eSIM (using data roaming from a Hong Kong or European provider) is that it often bypasses the Great Firewall, giving you access to your favorite apps without needing to install third-party VPNs.