topic Re: Costs of calls with UK when in Japan and no roaming plan in Roaming

Costs of calls with UK when in Japan and no roaming plan

Luddite7 — Sun, 31 Aug 2025 14:58:36 GMT

Going to Japan for a month soon and need to be able to receive calls from UK and make calls to UK in case of emergency with an elderly relative. Trying to understand the per minute costs of making and receiving such calls.

I know they would be included if I bought a zone 3 roaming pass at £7.50 per day - but that works out at over £200 for my stay. It also would not include the data allowance I need while driving abroad so already decided to get a Japanese e-sim for that.

On ee website I can only find costs of calls from UK phone to Japanese phone, which doesn't seem to be any help to me. Also cannot find the roaming cost calculator. Perhaps that has disappeared with this year's changes to roaming plans?

Grateful for any help and information. Thanks

Re: Costs of calls with UK when in Japan and no roaming plan

Northerner — Sun, 31 Aug 2025 15:42:14 GMT

Hi @Luddite7

I would get a Saily esim for data and just use the per minute charge for any ad-hoc calls. You can call over data on WhatsApp etc just make sure this is the Saily esim.

You'll receive a text with any deals when you arrive.

Text ROAMING to 150 to ensure roaming is activated on your account.

Thanks

Re: Costs of calls with UK when in Japan and no roaming plan

Matt_124 — Sun, 31 Aug 2025 16:02:42 GMT

Roaming Costs calculator can be found here: https://ee.co.uk/help/mobile/roaming/roaming-costs

Call costs without a pass are quoted as this when inserting Japan:

Re: Costs of calls with UK when in Japan and no roaming plan

Luddite7 — Sun, 31 Aug 2025 16:14:12 GMT

Thanks @Northerner - do you, or anyone else, know where I can find charges for making or receiving calls while in Japan?

Re: Costs of calls with UK when in Japan and no roaming plan

bristolian — Sun, 31 Aug 2025 16:32:17 GMT

@Luddite7 wrote:
Thanks @Northerner - do you, or anyone else, know where I can find charges for making or receiving calls while in Japan?

Look at the post above yours in this thread, from Matt_124. That post includes a link to the roaming costs tool.

Bear in mind that "calling over data" refers to using apps such as WhatsApp or Messenger. "Calls" over these apps only work between users of that app.

Direct-dialled calls using your phone's normal dialler do not use data and are charged per-minute as per the online tool linked by Matt_124 at 5.01pm today.

Re: Costs of calls with UK when in Japan and no roaming plan

Luddite7 — Sun, 31 Aug 2025 16:39:34 GMT

Thanks @Matt_124 and @bristolian - I hadn't seen Matt's message when adding my query at 5.14pm. (Page hadn't refreshed). Good job I admitted to being a Luddite when registering with the Community - ha, ha!

Re: Costs of calls with UK when in Japan and no roaming plan

Leanne_T — Mon, 01 Sep 2025 09:04:02 GMT

Morning @Luddite7

Thanks for coming to the community.

I can see you have had some great advice and @Matt_124 has answered your query, but just in case you need it our EE Roaming - Getting ready to use your phone abroad article has all the information you need for travelling abroad 🙂

Hope you have an amazing time.

Leanne.

Re: Costs of calls with UK when in Japan and no roaming plan

hotjambalaya — Mon, 01 Sep 2025 18:20:18 GMT

honestly, I'd just set up a different way of doing this.

have it understood that anyone that needs you urgently, will either give you a missed call or two and you'll call them back. Or let it ring through to voicemail then call them back.

In the meantime download a VOIP phone app (I use mytello), stick a few quid on it from before you go, and then just call them back from that. Think calls to the uk cost 1p a minute.