KDDI Launches Free Unlimited Data Campaign for Shinkansen Passengers

CHIYODA-KU, TOKYO, JAPAN, September 29, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- On September 18, 2026, KDDI, KDDI Digital Life Corporation, and East Japan Railway Company (JR East) launched a campaign to enhance the travel experience on Japan's Shinkansen high-speed trains. The initiative, which runs until the last train on December 17, 2026, offers a unique benefit to passengers using eligible Shinkansen e-tickets.

Under the campaign, customers who board a Shinkansen using an eligible Shinkansen e-ticket reserved through JR East’s online reservation service, eki-net, will automatically receive 3 hours of free unlimited data from KDDI’s online-only plan, povo2.0. This benefit is automatically activated when the customer passes through the Shinkansen ticket gate using their Suica or Mobile Suica card, making smartphone use more convenient during their journey.

To participate, customers must first reserve an eligible Shinkansen e-ticket through eki-net. Reservations can be made from 10:00 a.m. one month before the boarding date. Advance applications can be submitted from 2:00 p.m. one week before the ticket sales start date until 9:54 a.m. one month before the boarding date. Customers must then link the Suica ID associated with their reserved Shinkansen e-ticket to a povo2.0 account through the povo2.0 app, which becomes available for linking on August 18, 2026. The accounts must be linked at least 20 minutes before boarding the Shinkansen. It takes approximately 5 to 10 minutes after passing through the ticket gate for the data benefit to be applied.

The campaign covers 55 Shinkansen stations within the JR East service area, including popular destinations such as Tokyo, Ueno, Sendai, and Morioka. Only Shinkansen e-tickets reserved through eki-net and linked to Suica or Mobile Suica are eligible. The benefit can be received multiple times during the campaign period, but it cannot be applied simultaneously.

Since December 2025, KDDI has also offered "povo Data Oasis" in collaboration with JR East’s "Welcome Suica Mobile" for users of "Japan SIM," a service for international visitors to Japan. At 83 eligible stations, including Shinkansen stations and all stations on the Yamanote Line, users can receive 0.5 GB of smartphone data valid for 24 hours free of charge. However, this service has certain conditions for continued use beyond 180 days. When no paid data is available, the maximum communication speed is 128 kbps at 0 yen and 0 GB.

This campaign is part of a broader effort by KDDI and JR East to enhance the travel experience for passengers, particularly those who rely on their smartphones for navigation, entertainment, and communication during their journeys. By providing free unlimited data, the companies aim to make travel more comfortable and convenient for passengers.