The 5 best eSIMs for Japan, compared
All five work on an unlocked iPhone or Android phone and leave your US number alone. Find the line that sounds like your trip.
UbigiBest overall
My pickPlan10 GB, 30 dayson Docomo, KDDI
Price$16.50
Per day$1.65
Take it for most trips, cities or countryside. Users report a Japanese IP, so local apps see you in Japan.
What you actually get with Ubigi network, hotspot, refunds
- Full speed per day
- All 10 GB at full speed, no daily cap
- Hotspot
- Allowed, with no separate cap stated
- Connection appears from
- Japan reported by users. Ping is higher than on a local SIM.
- If your trip changes
- Not stated by Ubigi
- Network
- NTT Docomo and KDDI (au). Ubigi's store page also lists SoftBank
- 5G
- On compatible phones. Some users only got 4G
From Ubigi's Japan plan page and blog, and user reviews on esimdb, read Oct 15, 2026.
NomadCheapest 10 GB, and the big plans
Plan10 GB, 30 dayson KDDI, SoftBank
Price$16.00
Per day$1.60
Take it to save 50 cents on 10 GB, or for its 50 GB plan at $35.00 to share with a laptop.
What you actually get with Nomad network, hotspot, refunds
- Full speed per day
- All 10 GB at full speed. On Nomad's unlimited plan, 2 GB a day
- Hotspot
- Allowed
- Connection appears from
- Not stated by Nomad
- If your trip changes
- Not stated by Nomad
- Network
- KDDI (au) and SoftBank. Plans over 10 GB use KDDI only
- 5G
- Yes, where the network has it
From Nomad's Japan page and blog, Oct 15, 2026.
AiraloBest for a short trip
Plan10 GB, 15 dayson SoftBank +1
Price$17.50
Per day$1.75
Take it for three to seven days, from 1 GB for 3 days at $4.00. Refunds come as Airmoney credit.
What you actually get with Airalo network, hotspot, refunds
- Full speed per day
- All 10 GB at full speed. On the unlimited plan, 3 GB a day, then 1 Mbps
- Hotspot
- Not stated by Airalo
- Connection appears from
- Singapore reported by several users, so a non-Japanese IP and a higher ping. One user saw a US IP.
- If your trip changes
- Airmoney, Airalo's in-app credit, not cash
- Network
- SoftBank and one other Japanese network
- 5G
- Conflicting reports
From Airalo's Japan page and help center, and user reviews on esimdb, Oct 15, 2026.
SailyEasiest app
Plan10 GB, 30 dayson KDDI
Price$17.99
Per day$1.80
Take it for the easiest install. One user reported a Hong Kong IP in Japan (August 2025), which blocked ChatGPT.
What you actually get with Saily network, hotspot, refunds
- Full speed per day
- All 10 GB at full speed. On the "unlimited" plan, 5 GB a day
- Hotspot
- Not stated by Saily
- Connection appears from
- Hong Kong one user report, Aug 2025. ChatGPT did not work for that user.
- If your trip changes
- Full refund within 30 days if the plan is not activated.
- Network
- KDDI (au)
- 5G
- Not stated by Saily
From Saily's plan list and terms, and one user review on esimdb, Oct 15, 2026.
HolaflyBest unlimited
PlanUnlimited, 10 dayson KDDI, SoftBank
Price$36.50
Per day$3.65
Take it to stream without counting. Laptop sharing stops at 1 GB a day. Unused plans are refunded for 6 months.
What you actually get with Holafly network, hotspot, refunds
- Full speed per day
- No published daily cap
- Hotspot
- 1 GB a day
- Connection appears from
- Not stated by Holafly
- If your trip changes
- Refund to your card within 6 months, in full if never activated
- Network
- KDDI and SoftBank
- 5G
- Where available
From Holafly's Japan page and refund policy, Oct 15, 2026.
Prices checked Oct 15, 2026, in US dollars. The provider's checkout shows today's price before you pay.
How much data do you need in Japan?
About 10 GB covers two weeks of maps, LINE and Instagram. Hotels and many stations have free Wi-Fi, so the eSIM mostly works in the street and on the train. For your exact trip, try the data calculator.
Maps, train times and messages
about 0.2 GB a dayPlus Instagram and photo backups
about 0.5 to 1 GB a dayAn hour of video calls home
about 1 GBAn hour of HD streaming
about 3 GBUnlimited data eSIM for Japan
Most "unlimited" plans run at full speed for a set amount each day, then slow down until the next day. Here is what each one gives you, and whether you can share it with a laptop.
| Plan | Full speed a day | About 2 weeks | Hotspot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nomad | 2 GB | $41.0014 days | Allowed |
| Airalo | 3 GBthen 1 Mbps | $48.0015 days | Not stated |
| Saily | 5 GB | $48.9915 days | Fixed plans only, users report |
| Holafly | No cap | $50.5015 days | 1 GB a day |
For 10 days the three biggest plans cost within $2 of each other ($34.50, $34.99, $36.50), so the daily amount decides. Holafly lets you stream on the train without a second thought.
Unlimited data and a laptop hotspot? Holafly shares only 1 GB a day. For laptop work, take a big fixed plan: Nomad's 50 GB for 30 days costs $35.00, allows hotspot and runs on KDDI. A laptop uses roughly 100 to 200 MB an hour for browsing and email, and about 1 GB for an hour of video calls.
Best eSIM for Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and beyond
All five plans use Docomo, KDDI or SoftBank, and all three cover the big cities well. Once you leave them, the network matters more than the price.
Where each network is strongest. Before a remote stay, check the network's own coverage map.
TokyoShinjuku, Shibuya, the airports
Strong
Rural Hokkaidoby car or local train
Strong
HakoneLake Ashi, the ropeway
Strong
Japanese AlpsTakayama, Kamikochi
Good
Kyototemples, Arashiyama
Strong
OsakaNamba, Kansai airport
Strong
Kumano Kodothe pilgrim trails
Good
Hiroshimaand Miyajima
Strong
On Docomo: Ubigi.
The country websites and apps think you are in. It matters for ChatGPT, banking apps and Japanese sites.
Ubigi reported by users
You are inTokyo
NetworkDocomo or KDDI
The internet sees you inJapan
What changesNothingApps behave as they do for anyone in Japan
Saily one user report, Aug 2025
You are inTokyo
NetworkKDDI (au)
The internet sees you inHong Kong
What changesChatGPT blockedIt isn't offered in Hong Kong
How to get an eSIM for Japan in 3 steps
Two steps at home, one when you land. About ten minutes in total.
1A week before, at home
Check your phone takes an eSIM
On an iPhone, open Settings > General > About. You need an EID, and Carrier Lock should say No SIM restrictions.
2The day before, on Wi-Fi
Buy and install it at home
Tap Install in the provider's app, or scan the QR code from a second screen. Most plans only start counting days in Japan.
3When you land
Switch your data to the eSIM
In Settings > Cellular, set Cellular Data to the eSIM and turn its Data Roaming on. Keep the US line on, with roaming off.
Turn off Data Roaming on your US line before you land. If it stays on, your carrier can start a $12 day pass the first time an app checks your email. On some carriers a call or a normal text sent from the US line starts it too, so text with iMessage or WhatsApp.
Every screen, one at a time: how to set up an eSIM on iPhone.
Before you go to Japan
Install LINE at home
Most people in Japan message on LINE, and guesthouses will ask for yours. Sign in at home, where the code reaches you easily.
Add Suica to your Wallet
Add a Suica card in Apple Wallet and top it up with Apple Pay. It pays for trains and convenience stores.
Check your phone is unlocked
Phones on a monthly plan are often locked for a while. Ask your carrier a week before you fly.
Taxis run on the GO app
Download GO for taxis in Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto. It needs data, one more reason to land connected.
Japan eSIM with a phone number
The eSIMs on this page give you data only, with no Japanese number. Hotels, restaurants and friends reach you on LINE, WhatsApp or iMessage, and your US number still gets texts. If a booking insists on a Japanese number, give your hotel's.
Japan eSIM questions
Is an eSIM worth it for Japan?
Yes, for almost every trip. A 10 GB eSIM costs about $16.50 for the whole trip, while AT&T and Verizon charge $12 a day, so $120 for 10 days. You keep your US number for texts and there is no pocket wifi to pick up or return.
Which is better for Japan, Ubigi or Airalo?
Ubigi, for most trips. Its 10 GB plan costs about $16.50 for 30 days, against about $17.50 for 15 days at Airalo, and it uses Docomo and KDDI. Airalo is the better buy for a three to seven day trip, with 5 GB for 7 days at about $10.00. More in Saily vs Airalo.
Do I turn off my primary line when using eSIM?
No. Leave your US line on so calls, texts and two-factor codes still reach you, but turn its Data Roaming off. Set the travel eSIM as your Cellular Data line and turn Data Roaming on for that line only.
What is the downside of eSIM?
Most travel eSIMs are data only, so you get no Japanese phone number. Your phone must be unlocked and eSIM compatible, and some eSIMs send your traffic through another country, which can change how a few apps behave. The "what you actually get" sheet under each plan says where.
How much does an Ubigi eSIM cost in Japan?
On October 15, 2026, Ubigi charged $3.50 for 1 GB over 3 days, $16.50 for 10 GB over 30 days, $32.00 for 25 GB over 30 days, and $39.00 for 30 GB over 15 days.
Is Holafly really unlimited data?
Data is unlimited and Holafly publishes no daily full-speed cap for Japan. Sharing it as a hotspot with a laptop is limited to 1 GB a day, so for laptop work a big fixed plan like Nomad 50 GB fits better.