Local eSIM

Japan eSIM plans

Install at home, switch on when you land.

Networks

  • NTT docomo5G
  • Rakuten Mobile5G
  • KDDI/au5G
  • SoftBank5G
From$1.10US dollars, no roaming feesPrices checked 9 November 2026

The cheapest Japan eSIM is $1.10 for 500 MB · 7 days; unlimited data costs $1.38 a day (the first 500 MB each day at high speed, then 384 Kbps under the fair use policy). Plans run on NTT docomo, Rakuten Mobile, KDDI/au and more, with 5G. Prices checked 9 November 2026.

Choose your plan

20 plans

Data a day

At a glance

Japan eSIM at a glance

From
$1.10
54 plans
Unlimited data
$1.38 a day
The first 500 MB each day at high speed, then 384 Kbps under the fair use policy
Data plans
$1.10
500 MB · 7 days
Validity
Up to 180 days
Unlimited: 1–30 days
Networks
5G
NTT docomo, Rakuten Mobile, KDDI/au and 1 more
Top-ups
Up to 9 times
On 40 of 54 plans

Prices

Japan eSIM prices

Against Airalo, Saily and Nomad, checked 4 November 2026

Japan eSIM prices: ONE eSIM against Airalo, Saily and Nomad, each provider's cheapest plan at or above the size, validity in brackets. Checked 4 November 2026.
Data ONE eSIM Our priceAiralo Saily Nomad
1 GB$1.93 (7 days) Cheapest, saves $2.06$4.00 (3 days) $3.99 (7 days) $4.00 (7 days)
5 GB$7.43 (30 days) Cheapest, saves $2.57$10.00 (7 days) $10.99 (30 days) $10.00 (30 days)
10 GB$12.93 (30 days) Cheapest, saves $4.07$17.00 (7 days) $17.99 (30 days) $18.00 (30 days)
Every size and Holafly in the full Japan comparison →

Before you go

Travelling in Japan

Networks and speeds in Japan

Plans here run on NTT docomo (5G), Rakuten Mobile (5G), KDDI/au (5G) and SoftBank (5G); each plan names its operator and its best generation. 5G is included where the operator has it and your phone supports the local bands; elsewhere you get 4G.

How much data do you need in Japan?

Maps, messaging, ride apps and a few photos use about 300 to 500 MB a day, so 1 GB covers a short stay and 3 to 5 GB a week of normal use. The smallest plan is 500 MB · 7 days for $1.10; a longer trip is cheaper per gigabyte on a bigger plan. For video calls, streaming or a hotspot for a laptop, unlimited daily data starts at $1.38 a day. Most plans top up from your order page if you run low.

Where travellers use it

Most of our customers land in Tokyo and Osaka and travel on to Kyoto, Sapporo and Fukuoka. Coverage follows the operator’s network, so a city centre, an airport and a main road are covered everywhere; remote coast and mountains depend on the plan’s operator.

eSIM or a local SIM card in Japan?

Japan sells data-only SIM cards to visitors at airport counters and electronics stores, usually for a fixed number of days and at a higher price per gigabyte than an eSIM. Voice SIMs need a residence card. An eSIM installed before you fly works from the moment you land at Narita, Haneda or Kansai.

Going further?

Need broader coverage?

These multi-country eSIMs include Japan and keep working when you cross a border.

Why an eSIM

Why use an eSIM in Japan?

Landing in Japan with data already working means maps, translation and your ride from the airport are ready before you reach the exit. No kiosk, no passport photocopy, no hunting for Wi-Fi.

Your home SIM stays in the phone for calls and texts. The eSIM handles data on local networks, so you avoid roaming bills without losing your number.

Install on Wi-Fi at home and keep the line switched off until you land. Validity starts the first time it connects abroad, not when you buy.

How our Japan prices compare with Airalo, Holafly, Saily and Nomad →

Good to know

How much does an eSIM for Japan cost?

Plans start at $1.10 for 500 MB · 7 days. Unlimited daily data costs $1.38 a day (the first 500 MB each day at high speed, then 384 Kbps under the fair use policy). Prices are in US dollars and include everything: no roaming fees, no subscription.

When does my Japan plan start?

On nearly every plan, the first time the eSIM connects to a network abroad, not when you buy or install it. A few plans start on installation; each plan says which. Install within 180 days of purchase.

Do I need to change any settings?

Turn the travel line on, enable data roaming for that line only, and set it as your mobile data line. Keep data roaming off on your home line. Most phones set the APN automatically. If you are connected but have no data, enter the APN shown on your order page or eSIM page (none shown means the phone sets it itself), or reply to your order email and we will help.

How fast is it?

Each Japan plan lists its operators and whether they run 3G, 4G or 5G; each plan card shows its best generation. Daily unlimited plans slow to the fair-use speed shown on the plan once the day's full-speed data is used.

Can I top up or buy again?

Most plans can be topped up from your order page, with more data for the same area or more days. Plans marked non-reloadable cannot; buy a new one and it installs the same way.

Is tethering allowed?

Yes, personal hotspot works on every plan.

Will my eSIM work on the Shinkansen and in the countryside?

Yes on the main rail corridors and in every city. Coverage in mountain areas depends on the operator: NTT docomo reaches furthest, so pick a docomo plan if you are heading into rural Japan or onto hiking trails.

Can I use Suica, maps and translation apps with it?

Yes. The eSIM is ordinary mobile data, so Google Maps, Google Translate, Suica and PASMO in your phone wallet, and LINE all work as at home. Download offline maps for Kyoto temples and the Japanese Alps, where signal drops between valleys.

Does the eSIM give me a Japanese phone number?

No, it is data only. Keep your home SIM active for calls and texts, or use WhatsApp, LINE and FaceTime over the data plan. Restaurant and hotel bookings that need a number accept your home number.

Read next

Japan guides