Are you planning to stroll through the streets of Tokyo, admire the majesty of Mount Fuji, enjoy the beauty of the sakura cherry blossoms or taste the best Japanese cuisine? You’ll surely want to share your experiences with friends and family. To do that anywhere and instantly, an eSIM Japan will come in handy.
Let’s take a look at the options available from different providers. And if you prefer the traditional SIM card, you’ll find out what options you have in that regard as well.
eSIM Japan: how to choose the best one
When choosing an eSIM, you need to consider several factors. Among them, of course, is the amount of data and how long you’ll be in Japan. Keep in mind that you will usually use more data on a sightseeing vacation than at home.
If you want to use some local mobile apps, we recommend choosing an eSIM that also offers a Japanese phone number. These include PayPay, Mobile Suica, and Mercari. However, you most likely won’t need these apps. Personally, I didn’t use them during my month in Japan.
As for coverage, all operators are doing very well. You shouldn’t have a problem in most areas.
The best data eSIM for Japan
Let’s see how much you can get the most used data packages for.
Cheapest packages
If 1 GB of data is sufficient for your needs, the cheapest option is Jetpac, which offers this eSIM for $1. However, its validity is limited to just 4 days, making it suitable only for a layover or a short city tour.
For a week-long validity, eSIM4Travel offers a great deal at $2.54. Currently, you can also get a 1 GB eSIM from Global YO on sale for $2.18. The market staple, Airalo, offers 1 GB for $4.5.
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Average data usage (5 GB)
If you frequently use Wi-Fi but still want enough data for maps, social media, etc., 5 GB might be sufficient. The best offer is again from eSIM4Travel, at $6.65 for 30 days. You’ll pay a bit more with Jetpac, where the same offer is $8.5.
You can also check out Global YO, which currently has this eSIM on sale for $7.6.
Large data usage (10 GB)
Do you want to stay online and be active on social media? You might be interested in the offer of a 10 GB eSIM. MobiMatter offers 10 GB for 30 days at $20.99.You can also find 12 GB for $12.99 (TSimTech), which is great, but this eSIM is not compatible with Google Pixel and Android phones. Therefore, only buy it if you are using an iPhone.
Global YO currently has a good offer as well, with 10 GB for 30 days at $11.79.
The absolute cheapest 10 GB eSIM can be found at Airhub, where it costs $9.7 including tax.
Unlimited data
Do you need to be online all the time for work and have a high data consumption? Unlimited data could be the solution.
The best offer is from eTravelSIM. You can get an eSIM with unlimited data starting at $19.99 for 7 days, up to $59.99 for a whole month. The most popular holiday option is the 15-day eSIM priced at $39.99. However, this provider does not support hotspot usage.
Even with the popular Holafly, sharing data is not ideal since you can only share 0.5 GB per day via hotspot. However, you might like the fact that you can set the exact number of days you’ll be in Japan, which can save you a bit of money.
For the option to share data, consider Maya Mobile, where a 15-day eSIM with this option will cost you $52.
💡 If you don’t necessarily need an unlimited plan, several providers offer eSIMs ranging from 20 to 50 GB at quite reasonable prices. For example, you can get a 50 GB eSIM from eTravelSIM for $35.99 for a month.
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A summary of the best eSIM packages
| Provider | GB | Price | Payment |
| Jetpac | 1GB | $1 | 4 days |
| eSIM4Travel | 5 GB | $6.65 | 30 days |
| Airhub | 10 GB | $9.70 | 30 days |
| eTravelSIM | unlimited | $39.99 | 15 days |
Classic SIM card in Japan
Japan has four main operators: SoftBank, Rakuten, DoCoMo and AU Japan. Only the former offers the possibility to buy a SIM card for tourists. All the others have an offer for residents. However, we still have offers from 8 other virtual operators. Among the most significant are Mobal and Sakura.
As far as purchasing is concerned, you have the option of buying directly at the airport kiosks, in the city in the operators’ shops or in electrical supplies. Or you can order a SIM card in advance and either have it sent to your home or waiting for you at the airport or hotel.
Like eSIMs, with traditional SIM cards, you can only buy data packages for the most part.. Probably only Mobal also offers a calling option. You get 7GB for 30 days with calls and SMS for ¥7920 ($55.9). If you don’t need a local phone number, I recommend the data-only package, which works out to the same amount, but you get 50 GB of data with it.
Nippon offers unlimited dates for 16 days for ¥4980. You can use a maximum of 2GB per day, which isn’t bad. For the same price, you can also get an unlimited SIM card for 33 days, where the limit is 10 GB for 3 days.
There are a lot of mixes of offers and it is not easy to find them on the internet. In any case, it is good to have at least a basic overview so that you can tell if it is a good deal.
Summary
When I went to Japan I knew little about connectivity. I suspected that they offered big data packages and the prices were in the thousands. I figured I’d pick the best deal right at the airport. However, there I was charmed by a typical vending machine that offered to buy SIM cards instead of drinks and snacks. Happily, I chose unlimited data for about 60 USD per month. I had no idea that it would take me something like an hour to install and activate without help. I was slowly giving up, but the signal finally kicked in and I was online.
Now I would definitely solve everything by buying an eSIM from the comfort of my home and I would be connected immediately upon arrival. Given the cost and convenience, I would also skip the offer of local operators. With those, you have the advantage over buying from a vending machine that they’ll hook you up right at the kiosk. But with eSIM Japan everything is still quicker and more convenient.
So do a little research to get an overview. And choose the best option for you.
