How to Travel Smart for Japan’s Summer Festivals With Nomad eSIM

Japan’s summer festival season draws massive crowds for good reason. Streets come alive with dancers, fireworks light up the skies, and quiet towns transform into hubs of celebration. From the energy of Aomori’s Nebuta Matsuri to the traditional rhythm of Tokushima’s awa odori (a traditional summer dance), it’s an experience worth planning for.

But it can be a logistical nightmare, especially if you’re relying on unreliable hotel Wi-Fi or juggling multiple SIM cards. But with Nomad eSIM, you can expect smooth travels this summer.

Pro tip: Not sure how much data you’ll need for your trip? Use Nomad’s Data Calculator to choose the right plan for Japan’s summer festival season.

Here’s how to make the most of Japan’s summer festivals without getting lost or disconnected.

Japan’s Best Summer Festivals

Photo by: Pixta genki Japan knows fireworks.

Some of Japan’s best festivals are also the most difficult to reach. That’s part of the appeal. But when the journey involves two trains, a highway bus, and a walk from a station with no English signage, staying connected with a dependable Japan eSIM like Nomad eSIM becomes essential. A reliable eSIM lets you check last-minute transport updates, share your location, or message your guesthouse if you’re running late.

• Sumida River Fireworks Festival (Tokyo): One of the oldest fireworks shows in the country, it is held on the last Saturday of July. Over a million people gather along the Sumida River. Reserve your hotel well in advance. (The last Saturday of July)
• Aomori Nebuta Matsuri (Aomori Prefecture): Massive illuminated floats parade through the streets. Dancers, drums, and chanting fill the city. (Early August)
• Tokushima Awa Odori (Tokushima Prefecture): One of Japan’s most iconic dance festivals. Locals and visitors take to the streets for bon dancing. (August 12-15)
• Hirado Summer Festival (Nagasaki Prefecture): Takes place at Hirado’s central harbour on the first Saturday in August. Stage performances, local food stalls and the main draw—fireworks over the water with Hirado Castle in view. (First Saturday of August)
• Akita Kanto Matsuri (Akita Prefecture): Watch performers balance enormous lantern-topped bamboo poles. Unique to the Tohoku region. (August 3-6)
• Gujo Odori (Gifu Prefecture): A hidden gem known for all-night dancing. Gujo is a scenic mountain town with limited public transport, especially late at night. Buses run infrequently or fill up quickly, so having reliable mobile data helps with checking schedules, alternate routes or contacting your hotel if plans change. (Mid-July to early September)

How Festivals Really Work in Japan

Photo by: Pixta/Macha Beautiful, but getting home is a pain.

Festivals, or matsuri, run across Japan from July through September. Many take place in small cities or towns with limited mobile infrastructure. At large events, mobile networks often slow to a crawl as crowds grow and staying connected in these conditions can be tough. Messaging, maps, and transport apps may stop working just when you need them most.

Japanese festivals are amazing, but getting there—and especially getting home—can be chaos. Trains are jam-packed. Traffic crawls. Network congestion is real. Don’t be surprised if your mobile data crawls to a halt just when you need to look up a map or send a “Where are you?” message.

At Tokyo’s Sumidagawa Fireworks, over a million people pack the riverbanks. The fireworks are dazzling…at least until they end. Then it’s gridlock. Trains stall, police block off stations and platforms are too full to enter. You might walk 30 minutes just to find a working line—if you can load your map.

When everyone’s online, mobile data crawls. Messaging friends, checking train delays, or pulling up your hotel address can become impossible. In rural areas, it’s worse—no signal, no shops, no fallback. That’s why it pays to set yourself up early with a reliable eSIM that actually works when it counts. This ensures smooth navigation, even when mobile data falters for others.

Before You Go: Practical Festival Advice

• Book accommodation early: Rooms disappear fast during festivals
• Bring cash: Many festival stalls do not accept cards
• Check train schedules ahead of time: Some services stop early
• Stay hydrated: Summer heat and crowds in Japan are intense
• Download offline maps: Just in case you lose signal
• Install your eSIM before landing: Avoid airport delays and unnecessary roaming charges

Why Use an eSIM Like Nomad eSIM

Photo by: Pixta/ comzeal

An eSIM installs directly on your phone—no store visit, no physical card. Set it up before you arrive, and it helps connect automatically to local partner networks.

Nomad eSIM is more than data for social media. Use it to check train schedules, translate signage, find directions or book a last-minute bus during Obon (annual Buddhist holiday).

Nomad eSIM offers flexible plans for Japan with reliable performance even in high-traffic areas, plus English-language support and multi-device hotspotting — perfect for travelers heading to events or off-the-beaten-path towns.

How Nomad eSIM Compares

When traveling in Japan, your connection matters. Whether you’re booking a last-minute shinkansen seat, navigating the backstreets of Kyoto, or translating a festival sign in rural Gifu, reliable mobile data keeps your trip on track. Here’s how Nomad eSIM compares to other options for staying connected in Japan:

• Nomad eSIM: A practical choice for international travelers visiting Japan. It offers long-duration plans, English-language setup, and dependable data access—even in high-traffic areas and rural regions. Nomad eSIM’s transfer feature and hotspotting let you share your connection with your family or group during festivals or group trips.
• Pocket Wi-Fi: Common in Japan and great for groups. You’ll find rental counters at airports, but the device needs to be charged and only works within Japan.
• Local SIM: Available at some electronics stores and airports, but buying and setting up can be tricky without Japanese. Not all plans support hotspot sharing or work with all foreign phones.
• Roaming: Convenient if your provider supports it, but often expensive and unreliable in Japan’s more rural regions.

Nomad eSIM removes the hassle. It’s ideal for visitors moving between cities, attending remote festivals, or extending their stay across multiple countries in Asia. With Nomad eSIM, your mobile connection adapts to your journey, without needing a store visit, a rental counter, or daily top-ups.

Who It’s Best For

Nomad is a strong fit for:

• Festival travelers visiting multiple cities
• Friends or families sharing a hotspot
• Long-term visitors who want hassle-free data
• People planning side trips to other countries

You can also send a Nomad plan as a gift via the app—a convenient option for visiting friends or family.

Grab Your Discount

From late-night awa odori to spectacular fireworks, Japan’s summer matsuri are unforgettable, but just as unpredictable. A reliable eSIM like Nomad eSIM helps you navigate crowded stations, rural roads and last-minute changes without missing a beat.

Instead of searching for Wi-Fi or dealing with signal drops in crowded areas, you’ll be able to check schedules, look up directions, message your hosts and adjust plans on the fly. It’s one less thing to worry about, and one more way to make your trip go smoothly.

Even better? GaijinPot readers get 20% off Nomad eSIM plans with code GAIJINPOT20. This offer is valid until August 31, 2025, at 11:59 p.m.

Click HERE to get your eSIM and enjoy everything Japan has to offer this summer.