There is a specific joy in having nothing in your pockets but your phone and your wallet.
I used to be a gear-heavy traveler. I had the camera bag, the portable charger, the cables, the router. I looked like I was going on a tactical mission, not a vacation. But over the years, I have shed the weight. I have embraced the philosophy of "one bag" travel. And the cornerstone of this philosophy is the humble SIM card.
The SIM card (and now, the eSIM) is the invisible solution. It requires no charging. It takes up no space. It has no weight. It lives inside your phone, silently connecting you to the network. It is the closest thing we have to magic.
For the solo traveler, it is the only logical choice. Why carry a separate device that you have to manage? Why worry about returning a rental at the airport when you are already running late for your flight? The SIM card is disposable (or digital). You use it, and then you move on. It is a transaction with no strings attached.
There is a sense of integration that comes with using a local SIM. You are not broadcasting a wifi signal to a group; you are simply a node in the local network. Your phone works just like a local's phone. You can make restaurant reservations (if you have a voice plan). You can receive two-factor authentication codes. You are fully functional.
Of course, there are downsides. You have to ensure your phone is unlocked. You have to deal with the initial setup, which can sometimes be finicky (APN settings are the bane of my existence). And you can't easily share your connection with others without draining your own battery.
But the freedom is worth it. I remember walking through the crowded streets of Harajuku, hands completely free, navigating with a glance at my wrist (smartwatch connected to phone). I felt light. I felt agile. I could slip into a tiny vintage shop without knocking anything over with a bulky backpack.
The eSIM has revolutionized this even further. Now, you don't even need a paperclip. You scan a QR code before you leave home, and by the time the plane wheels touch the tarmac at Haneda, you are connected. It is seamless. It removes the first friction point of the trip—the airport kiosk queue.
In a world that is constantly trying to sell us more gadgets, more accessories, more things to carry, the SIM card is a refreshing step backwards towards simplicity. It is technology that gets out of the way. And isn't that what technology is supposed to do?
So, leave the router at home. Unlock your phone. And travel light. The city is heavy enough on its own.