povo2.0 and Ocean Begin Offering Free eSIM for Foreign Visitors to Japan
KDDI and Ocean will start providing povo2.0's data-only eSIM "Japan SIM" for foreign visitors through the Ocean Tax Refund platform from April 30, 2026. To commemorate the launch, a campaign will also be held, offering a promo code for unlimited data (24 hours). This allows foreign visitors to smoothly prepare both communication methods and tax refund procedures before traveling.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 30, 2026 at 23:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 30, 2026 at 14:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 30, 2026 at 14:48 (17 min after Collected)
KDDI Corporation (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and CEO: Koji Matsuda; hereinafter "KDDI") and Ocean Inc. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Ryo Hoshino; hereinafter "Ocean") will begin offering povo2.0's data-only eSIM "Japan SIM" for foreign visitors to Japan through Ocean's tax refund platform "Ocean Tax Refund" starting April 30, 2026.
To commemorate the launch, a campaign offering a promo code for "unlimited data (24 hours)" (Note) will be implemented from the same day.
"Japan SIM" allows the completion of the data line application and the download of the eSIM (embedded SIM) profile before traveling to Japan, enabling smooth use of povo2.0 communication immediately upon arrival. Toppings are available in a total of 8 types, including plans with fixed data capacity and unlimited plans, allowing customers to choose according to their individual needs.
By collaborating with the tax refund platform, foreign visitors can secure communication access immediately upon arrival in Japan, as well as utilize tax refund related services from an early stage. Through this initiative, Ocean will promote the creation of touchpoints with foreign visitors "before visiting Japan and before visiting stores," in addition to traditional tax refund procedure support "at the time of visit and after the visit," thereby providing a new customer experience throughout the travel journey.
■ Background
In Japan, the tax exemption system is scheduled to shift to a "refund method" from November 2026. There are concerns about the complication of tax refund procedures for foreign visitors, such as the new requirement for refund applications via smartphone, and new responses are also required from retail businesses that handle tax exemptions.
Against this backdrop, KDDI and Ocean are promoting the creation of an environment where foreign visitors can smoothly carry out tax refund procedures in Japan with a stable communication environment by linking mobile communication services with a tax refund platform. This aims to improve convenience for foreign visitors and create a more comfortable shopping and sightseeing experience in Japan.
Furthermore, for Ocean's member stores, providing communication benefits to visiting foreign visitors enhances the added value of the tax exemption experience, which is expected to reduce mid-procedure dropouts and improve completion rates. In addition, through the benefit of "free eSIM usage upon arrival in Japan by pre-registering," touchpoints with foreign visitors are created from the travel preparation stage, and by delivering information about member stores in advance, it also leads to attracting visitors to stores.
■ Campaign Overview
Campaign Name: Ocean Tax Refund × Japan SIM Unlimited Data (24 hours) Present
Target: Foreign visitors using "Ocean Tax Refund"
Benefit: povo2.0 "Japan SIM" Unlimited Data (24 hours) *Free
Terms of Use: New registration for "Ocean Tax Refund" and new registration for povo2.0 "Japan SIM"
*Limited to one per person
■ Usage Procedure for Foreign Visitors
▼ Click here for new member registration for "Ocean Tax Refund"
■ Online "Japan SIM" Toppings
Click here for details
■ About "Ocean Tax Refund"
Provided by Ocean Inc., it is a next-generation tax refund platform fully compatible with the 2026 November tax exemption system revision (refund method). Utilizing advanced DX tax exemption systems including the world's first (according to our research) tax exemption LINE mini-app, AI, OCR, and data infrastructure, it realizes "easy and stress-free tax exemption procedures." Member stores can introduce it with 0 initial fees and monthly fees. It supports various refund methods tailored to foreign visitors.
▼ Click here for the tax refund platform "Ocean Tax Refund"
■ About povo2.0 "Japan SIM"
It is a data-only eSIM service for foreign visitors provided by KDDI's povo2.0. Compatible with au's high-speed 5G network, it can be applied for online from overseas. Since the eSIM (embedded SIM) profile can be downloaded before traveling to Japan, communication can be used smoothly immediately upon arrival in Japan.
(Note) Communication speed may be restricted during network congestion or when using videos, cloud games, etc.
*Campaign contents are subject to change or termination without notice.
*Amounts shown are all tax-inclusive unless otherwise specified.
*The lineup is subject to change in the future.
*The topping lineup differs from the "Japan SIM" sold at Lawson stores.
*Information described in topics is as of the announcement date.
To commemorate the launch, a campaign offering a promo code for "unlimited data (24 hours)" (Note) will be implemented from the same day.
"Japan SIM" allows the completion of the data line application and the download of the eSIM (embedded SIM) profile before traveling to Japan, enabling smooth use of povo2.0 communication immediately upon arrival. Toppings are available in a total of 8 types, including plans with fixed data capacity and unlimited plans, allowing customers to choose according to their individual needs.
By collaborating with the tax refund platform, foreign visitors can secure communication access immediately upon arrival in Japan, as well as utilize tax refund related services from an early stage. Through this initiative, Ocean will promote the creation of touchpoints with foreign visitors "before visiting Japan and before visiting stores," in addition to traditional tax refund procedure support "at the time of visit and after the visit," thereby providing a new customer experience throughout the travel journey.
■ Background
In Japan, the tax exemption system is scheduled to shift to a "refund method" from November 2026. There are concerns about the complication of tax refund procedures for foreign visitors, such as the new requirement for refund applications via smartphone, and new responses are also required from retail businesses that handle tax exemptions.
Against this backdrop, KDDI and Ocean are promoting the creation of an environment where foreign visitors can smoothly carry out tax refund procedures in Japan with a stable communication environment by linking mobile communication services with a tax refund platform. This aims to improve convenience for foreign visitors and create a more comfortable shopping and sightseeing experience in Japan.
Furthermore, for Ocean's member stores, providing communication benefits to visiting foreign visitors enhances the added value of the tax exemption experience, which is expected to reduce mid-procedure dropouts and improve completion rates. In addition, through the benefit of "free eSIM usage upon arrival in Japan by pre-registering," touchpoints with foreign visitors are created from the travel preparation stage, and by delivering information about member stores in advance, it also leads to attracting visitors to stores.
■ Campaign Overview
Campaign Name: Ocean Tax Refund × Japan SIM Unlimited Data (24 hours) Present
Target: Foreign visitors using "Ocean Tax Refund"
Benefit: povo2.0 "Japan SIM" Unlimited Data (24 hours) *Free
Terms of Use: New registration for "Ocean Tax Refund" and new registration for povo2.0 "Japan SIM"
*Limited to one per person
■ Usage Procedure for Foreign Visitors
▼ Click here for new member registration for "Ocean Tax Refund"
■ Online "Japan SIM" Toppings
Click here for details
■ About "Ocean Tax Refund"
Provided by Ocean Inc., it is a next-generation tax refund platform fully compatible with the 2026 November tax exemption system revision (refund method). Utilizing advanced DX tax exemption systems including the world's first (according to our research) tax exemption LINE mini-app, AI, OCR, and data infrastructure, it realizes "easy and stress-free tax exemption procedures." Member stores can introduce it with 0 initial fees and monthly fees. It supports various refund methods tailored to foreign visitors.
▼ Click here for the tax refund platform "Ocean Tax Refund"
■ About povo2.0 "Japan SIM"
It is a data-only eSIM service for foreign visitors provided by KDDI's povo2.0. Compatible with au's high-speed 5G network, it can be applied for online from overseas. Since the eSIM (embedded SIM) profile can be downloaded before traveling to Japan, communication can be used smoothly immediately upon arrival in Japan.
(Note) Communication speed may be restricted during network congestion or when using videos, cloud games, etc.
*Campaign contents are subject to change or termination without notice.
*Amounts shown are all tax-inclusive unless otherwise specified.
*The lineup is subject to change in the future.
*The topping lineup differs from the "Japan SIM" sold at Lawson stores.
*Information described in topics is as of the announcement date.