The best eSIM for Japan is a fixed-data plan for most travellers, and a daily-unlimited plan only if you stream or hotspot all day. In our price check, 5 GB for 30 days in Japan cost between $6 and $11 on fixed-data plans, while a week of unlimited data cost $19.99–27.50. Below we compare seven options on price, network and the small print.
ICY SIM is our own product and it’s included here, judged on the same criteria. Competitor prices were checked on 8 October 2026 and ours on 12 October 2026 — they change often, so every figure is dated.
- Most trips: 3–5 GB a week is enough for maps, trains, translation and messaging — a fixed plan is the cheapest way to get it.
- Heavy users: unlimited Japan plans cost about $26.50–27.50 a week (Airalo, Holafly); Maya’s global unlimited was $19.99.
- Japan has four networks — docomo, au, SoftBank and Rakuten Mobile. A plan that can use more than one gives you a fallback.
- Travel eSIMs are data-only: no Japanese phone number. You rarely need one.
- Install at home, switch on when you land — Japan’s airports and trains have good coverage from the start.
Which eSIM is best for Japan? Quick picks
| If you… | Best pick | Price checked |
|---|---|---|
| Want the lowest price for a normal trip | ICY SIM | $6 for 5 GB / 30 days |
| Want a big brand with lots of reviews | Airalo | $11 for 5 GB / 30 days |
| Stream or video-call every day | Holafly or Airalo unlimited | $27.50 / $26.50 for 7 days |
| Visit Japan and other countries on one plan | Maya Mobile (global unlimited) | $19.99 for 7 days |
| Travel as a group of 3+ | A pocket WiFi rental | From ¥329 a day |
For groups, read our eSIM vs pocket WiFi in Japan comparison — a shared router can work out cheaper than an eSIM each.
Japan eSIM prices compared
| Provider | Japan plan | Price | Plan type | Hotspot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ICY SIM | 5 GB / 30 days | $6 | Fixed data | Yes |
| Ubigi | 5 GB / 15 days | $10 | Fixed data | Yes |
| Nomad | 5 GB / 30 days | $10 | Fixed + unlimited | Yes |
| Saily | 5 GB / 30 days | $10.99 | Fixed + unlimited | Yes |
| Airalo | 5 GB / 30 days | $11 | Fixed + unlimited | Yes (inside the daily allowance on unlimited) |
| Maya Mobile | Global unlimited, 7 days | $19.99 | Unlimited (global) | Yes |
| Airalo | Unlimited, 7 days | $26.50 | Unlimited (3 GB/day high speed) | Yes |
| Holafly | Unlimited, 7 days | $27.50 | Unlimited | 1 GB a day |
Competitor prices are from each provider’s site or the esimDB tracker on 8 October 2026 (details and sources in our best eSIM providers comparison). ICY SIM prices are live on the Japan page, checked 12 October 2026.
Which Japanese network is best — docomo, au, SoftBank or Rakuten?
All four are good in cities. In Opensignal’s April 2026 report (data from January to March 2026), au won the most national awards, including Reliability Experience for the fourth time in a row; NTT docomo kept the Coverage Experience award; SoftBank won Download Speed Experience; and Rakuten Mobile led on upload speed. For a traveller, the practical point is simple: a plan that can switch between networks is safer in the countryside than one tied to a single operator.
| ICY SIM Japan plan | Price | Networks it can use |
|---|---|---|
| 1 GB / 7 days | $1.50 | au, SoftBank, Rakuten Mobile, docomo |
| 3 GB / 15 days | $4 | docomo |
| 5 GB / 30 days | $6 | au, SoftBank, Rakuten Mobile, docomo |
| 10 GB / 30 days | $15 | au, SoftBank, Rakuten Mobile, docomo |
| 20 GB / 30 days | $25 | au, SoftBank, Rakuten Mobile, docomo |
Live prices, checked 12 October 2026. When you compare other providers, look for the network list on their Japan page — it tells you more than the brand name.
How much data do you need in Japan?
| Trip | Typical use | Plan size |
|---|---|---|
| Long weekend in Tokyo | Maps, train apps, messaging | 1–3 GB |
| One week, Tokyo + Kyoto + Osaka | + photos, social media, translation | 3–5 GB |
| Two weeks around Japan | + some video, occasional hotspot | 10 GB |
| Two weeks, working remotely or streaming | Video calls, laptop hotspot | 20 GB or unlimited |
Is 20 GB enough for two weeks in Japan? For almost everyone, yes — that’s well over 1 GB a day. Hotels, stations and convenience stores also have free Wi-Fi, which takes the pressure off big downloads. More on daily usage in how much data you need abroad.
Fixed data or unlimited for Japan?
- Fixed data wins for sightseeing trips: a week of maps, trains and messages rarely passes 5 GB, which costs $6–11 — a quarter to half the price of an unlimited week.
- Unlimited wins if you’ll stream, upload video or tether a laptop daily. Check the high-speed allowance: Airalo’s unlimited gives 3 GB a day at full speed; Holafly caps hotspot at 1 GB a day.
- Running low? Most apps (ours included) let you top up instead of buying a new eSIM.
The options, one by one
ICY SIM — cheapest fixed data in our check (our product)
$1.50 for 1 GB up to $25 for 20 GB, with most plans able to use all four Japanese networks. Hotspot is allowed and validity starts on first use. Downsides: no unlimited plan, data-only, a short refund window (unused eSIMs must be reported within 24 hours), and far fewer reviews than the big names.
Airalo — the big name, fixed or unlimited
$11 for 5 GB / 30 days, or $26.50 for 7 days unlimited (3 GB a day at full speed). A safe, familiar choice with a huge review base. Downsides: about twice our fixed-data price; some refunds are paid as app credit.
Holafly — unlimited by the day
$27.50 for 7 days unlimited, and you can choose any number of days. Downsides: expensive if you don’t use much data, and hotspot is capped at 1 GB a day.
Saily, Nomad and Ubigi — mid-priced fixed data
All around $10–11 for 5 GB: Saily (from the makers of NordVPN) $10.99 for 30 days, Nomad $10 for 30 days, Ubigi $10 for 15 days. Good apps and solid reviews; none was the cheapest for Japan in our check.
Maya Mobile — one unlimited plan for many countries
$19.99 for 7 days, covering Japan and many other countries at one price. Good if Japan is one stop on a longer trip. Downside: its terms mention a daily high-speed quota.
Do you need a Japanese phone number?
Rarely. All the eSIMs above are data-only. Keep your home SIM switched on (with its data roaming off) to receive bank and app codes. If you really need a Japanese number — for example for a long stay — Japanese providers aimed at visitors, such as Sakura Mobile, sell voice plans, but they require ID checks and cost much more than a data eSIM.
Will your phone work in Japan?
Any eSIM-compatible, carrier-unlocked phone will work — check your model. Recent iPhones, Google Pixels and Samsung Galaxy S and Z phones support eSIM; some budget Android models don’t.
How to set up a Japan eSIM
- Buy a Japan plan a few days before you fly.
- Install it at home on Wi-Fi — validity starts when you first use data in Japan.
- When you land, set the eSIM as your mobile data line and turn on data roaming for the eSIM only.
- Keep your home line on for calls and texts, with its data roaming off.
Visiting Korea, Taiwan or Southeast Asia on the same trip? Our Asia plan covers Japan and 19 other countries on one eSIM.
Going to Japan?
Japan eSIM from $1.50 on docomo, au, SoftBank and Rakuten Mobile — install before you fly.
See Japan eSIM plans →
