Best eSIMs for Traveling to Japan 2025

Though eSIM technology makes it easier than ever to buy and install a data plan for traveling, with so many options to trawl through, picking the best eSIM for Japan can feel overwhelming. We tested 10 travel eSIM providers offering a range of plan types, pricing models and features to help you get an idea of which one might be best for your needs. 

Before we get into the providers, we also recommend giving our best VPN guide a once-over. A VPN enhances your security and privacy when traveling abroad and using public WiFi networks, so you might want to consider downloading one before jetting off. 

Cloudwards’ Choice: Airalo

Airalo is the best overall eSIM for Japan in our book. Its Global Discover+ plan comes with a call and text feature, and Japan is one of the countries Airalo covers with its free trial eSIM. This means you can try it out risk-free. I also appreciated how easy Airalo was to use, but its customer support responses were a little slow.

eSIM vs SIM Card vs Wireless Pocket Wifi for Japan

An eSIM is different from a physical SIM in that an eSIM comes built into the device, while a physical SIM is inserted. This means you can buy and manage one or more eSIM plans via an eSIM provider’s app or website.

Pocket WiFi is a physical device that acts as a router, turning phone data into WiFi. Some brands, like the Japanese Ninja WiFi, even rent out pocket WiFi devices to travelers at airports. Here’s an outline of the pros and cons of each service: 

The 5 Best Japan eSIMs Compared

This table represents our top five best Japan eSIM picks. Please note that all information is relative to the standard Japan plans for each provider, not regional plans. In addition, these services support 4G or 5G where possible based on factors like location, time of day and network availability. 

Some plans may support 4G only. To check this, go to the plan details page. For example, Airalo’s Japan plans list 4G support only, while several of its other plans support 5G. 

Provider:	Pricing From (1GB)	4G/5G Support	Min-Max GB	Free Trial/Welcome eSIM	Unlimited Data Plan: Japan	Call & Text Plans: Japan	Notes
	$4.50	4G	1-20GB				Call & texts are available with the Global Discover+ plan. No 5G support on Japan plans.
	$3.99	4G & 5G	1-20GB				N/A
Jetpac	$1 (new users)	4G & 5G	1-50GB				N/A
	$6	4G	1-50GB				Japan support 4G only.
	$6.90 (1 day)	4G & 5G	Unlimited				N/A

1. Airalo – Best Overall Japan eSIM

Airalo is a popular, user-friendly provider ideal for those looking for an eSIM to try out for free. Airalo offers a mix of standard data plans and phone call and text plans, but you can’t get a call and text plan for Japan specifically. You have to get a Global Discover+ plan, which covers Japan and 136 other destinations, if you want this feature along with data. 

Airalo Hands-On Testing

We had a smooth experience using Airalo to browse and stream. However, it took a while for customer support to respond to us via the app’s live chat feature, though we did get a clear response to our question. Learn more about our Airalo experience in our Airalo review.

Airalo Pricing & Value

Airalo’s pricing is standard for the industry — a little pricier than Saily but with better global coverage. You can choose from a standard, regional (18 countries) or global plan (137/138 countries depending on the global plan you choose), and you can get started with 500MB for free (three-day validity). The GB allowance for Japan ranges from 1GB to 20GB. 

2. Saily – Best Data-Only eSIM for Japan

Saily is a new eSIM service from Nord Security, NordVPN’s parent company. You can learn more about NordVPN in our NordVPN review. Saily offers data-only plans for Japan and more than 190 other destinations. You can also buy a regional Asia and Oceania plan covering countries such as Japan, China, India, Australia, Thailand and more. 

Saily Hands-On Testing

Saily was the first eSIM we tested. We appreciated its straightforward and painless installation and the app’s feng shui vibe. When we contacted customer support via the live chat feature we received a fast and personalized response, so Saily gets top marks there. You also get extra security features: virtual location, an ad blocker and web protection. 

Saily Pricing & Value

Saily is one of the more affordable eSIM providers, with plans for Japan starting from $3.99 for 1GB. If you plan to head outside of Asia as well, you might want to try the global plan, which covers 113 countries across Asia, Europe, Africa and the Americas. Plans for Japan range from 1GB to 20GB. Learn more about Saily’s pricing in our full Saily review. 

3. Jetpac – Best Cheap eSIM for Japan 

Jetpac makes our list of the top three travel eSIMs for Japan thanks to its budget-friendly pricing and array of perks. These perks include a free trial with ExpressVPN and SmartDelay, which gives you free airport lounge access if your flight is delayed. Paid add-ons include a lounge access pass and a fast track pass for priority queuing. 

Jetpac Hands-On Testing

Our 5G connection was established right away, and we didn’t experience any buffering or lags during streaming, which is great news. We used Jetpac’s WhatsApp chat feature to contact customer support, and they responded quickly. This is reassuring, as long responses can be especially frustrating when you’re abroad and can’t connect. 

Jetpac Pricing & Value

Though Jetpac eSIM doesn’t offer a free trial, there’s no denying its $1 starter pack is a fair deal. New users get 1GB for $1 with a validity of four days — just right for taking Jetpac for a test drive without spending much. The GB allowance you can get for Japan ranges from 1GB to 50GB. 

The regional Asia plan covers 16 countries, including Japan, and the global plan covers 95 countries. After your new user deal has expired, pricing looks like this: 

4. Nomad – Best Japan eSIM With Flexible Plan Types

Japan is one of more than 200 destinations Nomad covers with its regular plans and day plans. The country is also included in Nomad’s free trial eSIM offering, so you can put it to the test before deciding whether to commit. Find out more in our Nomad review. 

Nomad Hands-On Testing

Everything went swimmingly during our tests. However, our customer support experience, though not the worst, was a bit puzzling at times. 

On one of the occasions we reached out, the response was delivered efficiently and clearly. On the second occasion, the response was confusing. That said, we were handed over to another agent, who was able to answer our question. All the agents we spoke with were helpful and determined to find a solution, which didn’t go unnoticed. 

Nomad Pricing & Value

While some providers offer only up to 20GB for Japan specifically, Nomad has a 50GB pack. Some Japan plans are priced a little higher than some competitors, though. For example, 1GB costs $6, compared to $3.99 with Saily and $4.50 with Airalo. However, some of the other plans are more closely aligned. 

Nomad also offers day plans. With these, you can choose up to seven days, with a high-speed data limit per day, after which your data is throttled. All figures in this table represent the usual pricing and do not take into account limited-time offers. 

5. Holafly – Best Unlimited Data eSIM for Japan

While some providers offer at least a few unlimited plans, most Holafly plans are unlimited. This takes the guesswork out of how much data you’ll need, as you simply select a number of days instead of the gigabyte allowance. However, your speeds may still slow down at certain times due to fair usage policies. This depends on the network provider, not on Holafly. 

Holafly Hands-On Testing

Along with Saily, Holafly’s customer support was the best of all the providers we’ve tested so far. The support team was very thorough and focused on making sure all was well. We had a 4G connection and could use the internet without interruption. Check out our Holafly review to learn more. 

Holafly Pricing & Value

Purchasing an Holafly plan is different in the app than it is on the Holafly website. Unfortunately, the app makes you select a minimum of five days, but if you go to the website instead, it starts from one day. If you need fewer than five days of data, we recommend making your purchase on the website. 

Selecting a higher number of days means a lower daily price. For example, choosing 10 days works out to $3.69 per day. 

6. Roamless – Best Pay-as-You-Go Japan eSIM

If you’re looking for a pay-as-you-go model, Roamless is one of the few travel eSIM providers offering this option. When you add funds, you can use your eSIM in any of the covered destinations, Japan included. There are no regional or global plans. However, there’s no expiry date on your funds, so you can use leftover funds on your next trip abroad. 

Roamless Hands-On Testing

As soon as we installed Roamless and ensured our phone settings were correct for activation, it worked perfectly. On the other hand, its app support options are a bit too traditional for our liking; you get responses to queries via email, and there’s no live chat feature. 

Roamless Pricing & Value

Roamless adds $1.25 to your wallet when you sign up. This gives you an opportunity to try it out risk-free. If you want to continue, go to “add funds” and select a figure or customize by typing in how much you want to add. 

Note that $5 is the minimum purchase you can make when adding funds to your wallet, but you can make a smaller purchase on the website’s plan pricing pages. However, a $0.35 service fee is applied if you spend less than $20. In addition, the cost of data depends on the country. 

7. aloSIM — User-Friendly Japan eSIM

aloSIM sells data-only and unlimited plans for Japan and more than 200 other countries, but you also get a free international Hushed number when you buy an aloSIM plan. The phone number comes with $1 of credits so you can try it out. You can then add more credits to continue using the service. 

aloSIM Hands-On Testing

If you’re a complete beginner, you might like aloSIM’s basic user interface. We had to wait around 10 minutes to get a response from support, but aloSIM was still faster than some of the other providers we contacted. 

aloSIM Pricing & Value

aloSIM users can choose from a single Japan plan or a regional plan covering Asia. Standard Japan plans range from 1GB to 20GB, and the unlimited plan comes with 1.5GB of high-speed data per day. Once you’ve used this up, your speeds are limited to 512 Kbps for the rest of the day. The unlimited plan’s validity period is 10 days. 

8. Ubigi – Japan eSIM With Recurring Data Plans

Ubigi shines in its offering of diverse plan types. You can pick from data-only, unlimited, and monthly or annual recurring data plans. Ubigi also has in-car WiFi plans and business plans covering company devices. If you plan to travel to both the U.S. and Japan, there’s a plan for that too. 

Ubigi Hands-On Testing

We had no issues establishing a strong connection with Ubigi. On the other hand, the app has a few noticeable quirks. For one thing, there’s no in-app customer support — you have to go to the website. 

Ubigi also uses wording that may confuse new users: “Install my free eSIM now.” This may lead new users to believe there is a free trial, but that’s not the case. It just means you can install the eSIM profile for free, then purchase a plan to use that profile. 

Ubigi Pricing & Value

In addition to Japan, Ubigi has “world” plans and plans covering multiple Asian countries. 

The Japan standard plans range from 1GB to 50GB. The validity periods of Ubigi’s Japan plans are quite different from those of many competitors, with the 1GB Japan plan valid for 30 days (as opposed to the usual seven) and the 3GB plan valid for 15 days. There are two 10GB plans: one with seven-day validity (cheaper) and one with 30-day validity. 

9. Yesim – Japan eSIM With a VPN Service 

In addition to data-only Japan plans, Yesim sells virtual phone numbers from the U.S., the Netherlands, Canada and Israel. It also comes with a free VPN service for iOS, but unfortunately, it isn’t available for Android. Japan is also covered in Yesim’s Asia Pacific plan, global plan and “business destinations” package, along with 42 other destinations. 

Yesim Hands-On Testing

Going about our usual internet streaming and browsing activities with Yesim was a breeze. We did note that it took a while for support to get back to us via WhatsApp, but the team was apologetic and the eventual response was clear. 

Yesim Pricing & Value

Straight off the bat, some users may be frustrated by Yesim’s lack of 1GB standard plans, and some of its options are a little pricier than those of competitors. The range is 3GB to 20GB for standard plans.

You can save money by opting for a higher-GB plan, as these break down to the cheapest daily cost. Alternatively, you can opt for a pay-as-you-go international plan. 

10. Sakura eSIM — Local Japan eSIM Service

Well-known local brand Sakura Mobile specializes in physical SIMs, pocket WiFi and eSIM plans for travelers and residents. Unlike the other providers we’ve mentioned, Sakura’s plans are available for purchase via the website rather than an app. Travelers can choose from a fixed data plan or an unlimited plan based on the number of days they’ll be in Japan. 

Sakura Installation & Netizen Reviews 

We purchased and installed a Sakura plan from the website. It was our first time not purchasing from an app, but everything went smoothly and our QR code activation link was emailed to us within seconds. 

Though we couldn’t test the speed due to not being in Japan, Sakura has received largely positive reviews on sites like Trustpilot. Customers seem to appreciate the English-language support, but live chat hours are between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. local time on weekdays only. Otherwise, the website has a submission form. 

Sakura Pricing & Value

Sakura is pricier than many international travel eSIMs, and pricing varies depending on whether the plan is fixed or unlimited. There are also long-term plans for residents. 

Methodology: How We Tested the Best Japan eSIMs for Tourists

Here, we’ll explain the eSIM features we checked for during testing to pick the top eSIMs for travel. This might help you know what to look for when deciding which eSIM you want for Japan. 

• Speed: We had a minimum of 4G and sometimes a 5G connection with the eSIM providers we tested. Note that speed can vary depending on factors such as network availability and how remote your location is. 
• User-friendliness: No traveler has time to deal with fiddly apps, so we checked each provider’s app for user-friendliness. We also tried out the customer support options to see how fast and clear responses were. 
• Plan types: Since every traveler’s needs are different, we included eSIMs with a diverse range of plans and pricing models, including pay-as-you-go, unlimited data, standard plans, and call and text plans. 
• Coverage: For some, Japan isn’t the only destination on the agenda. Most of the plans we include offer regional and global plans. 

Why You Need an eSIM for Japan

An eSIM plan means paying for the data you predict you’ll need in advance, easing concerns about data roaming fees. These plans are also highly convenient in that you can manage them from your phone; this means no more lining up for a local SIM card after touching down in the country. 

eSIMs are also impossible to misplace unless you lose your phone, which adds an extra layer of security and helps make you less vulnerable to SIM-related crimes. 

How to Check If Your Smartphone Is eSIM Compatible

If you have an older phone model, it may not be compatible with eSIM technology. Your phone also needs to be unlocked to install an eSIM plan. 

Does T-Mobile Work In Japan? 

Yes, T-Mobile supports international roaming and works in Japan. At present, unlimited data and texts are supported for Japan on international plans, and calls cost $0.25 per minute. That said, bear in mind that you’ll experience speed throttling after you’ve used up 5GB of high-speed data. T-Mobile isn’t intended for long-term use overseas. 

Some T-Mobile plans support unlimited international texting and unlimited calls in Canada and Mexico, but international call fees apply elsewhere. 

Final Thoughts

Installing a Japan eSIM before leaving your home country could save you a lot of hassle. If you’re not sure which one to go for, consider trying a provider with a free trial. Whether you need an eSIM just for Japan, a regional eSIM or a world eSIM, we hope our guide has been able to point you in the right direction. 

Do you have experience with any of the providers we mentioned? Are there any others you’d recommend? If so, we’d like to hear about it in the comments. Thanks for reading. 

FAQ: Japan eSIM for Tourists

• What Is the Best eSIM to Get for Japan?

  Airalo is the best overall eSIM for Japan.

• Does an eSIM Work in Japan?

  Yes, most travel eSIMs work in Japan.

• Which SIM Card Has the Best Coverage in Japan?

  Many SIM cards and eSIM plans cover Japan. However, your connection may be spotty or slow down in remote areas or during peak times no matter which type of SIM you use.

• Is Japan Wireless eSIM Good?

  We have not used Japan Wireless eSIM. It has average reviews on Trustpilot overall, with almost the same percentage of users saying they had a good experience as those who said their experience was poor.