Best eSIM for Japan in 2026

Japan eSIMs compared

	Saily	Ubigi	Holafly	Sakura Mobile
Popular plan	10 GB, 30 days, $17.99	10 GB, 30 days, $16.50	Unlimited, 10 days, $36.50	Unlimited, 7 days, $37.95
Networks	KDDI (au) and SoftBank	KDDI, NTT Docomo, and SoftBank		NTT Docomo and au (KDDI)
5G	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Hotspot	Allowed	Allowed, unrestricted	Allowed, 1 GB per day	Allowed, capped on Unlimited plans
Top-ups
Phone number	Data only, optional US number add-on	Data only, no Japanese number	Data only, no Japanese number	Data only, Japanese number on separate Voice+Data eSIM
Plans	12 plans	12 plans	6 plans	8 plans

Japan coverage map

The networks' own figures are the better guide to how much of Japan has signal:

Sources: NTT Docomo (2026), KDDI (au) (2026), SoftBank (2026), Rakuten Mobile (2026)

1. Saily: best all-round eSIM

Our pick

Japan

10 GB for 30 days, $17.99

• 10 GB for 30 days at $17.99
• 5G and hotspot allowed on KDDI and SoftBank

• No Japanese number, data only
• Unlimited 30-day plan costs $71.99

See Saily plans

For most trips to Japan, Saily covers the widest range of needs without a high price. Its best plan gives you 10 GB for 30 days at $17.99, which covers maps and messages on a normal trip.

A smaller 1 GB plan lasts 7 days at $3.99 for a short stay. Saily connects through KDDI and SoftBank, supports 5G, and allows hotspot use. The plan starts on arrival, and the mix of fixed and unlimited plans keeps Saily first for most travellers.

Check today's Saily prices for Japan

Installation

Install Saily in the app before you leave home, using Wi-Fi for the download. No QR code is needed for app purchases, while a QR code arrives by email for website purchases. The plan activates on arrival, when it first connects to a supported network in Japan. Install and activate within 180 days of purchase.

Coverage

Saily connects to KDDI, also called au, and SoftBank in Japan, giving you two large networks for city use and travel between cities.

Both networks support 5G, so speeds stay strong where 5G is live. Hotspot use is allowed, and Saily is data only, with no Japanese number, although an optional US number add-on is listed.

2. Ubigi: the budget option

Japan

10 GB for 30 days, $16.50

• 10 GB for 30 days at $16.50
• Three Japan networks, 5G, and hotspot allowed

• No Japanese number, data only
• Unlimited 30-day plan costs $65.00

See Ubigi plans

If price per GB is your main test, Ubigi is hard to beat for a trip of two weeks or more. Its best plan gives you 10 GB for 30 days at $16.50, which works out to $1.65 per GB. A 5 GB plan lasts 15 days at $10.00 for a lighter trip.

Ubigi connects through KDDI, NTT Docomo, and SoftBank, supports 5G, and allows hotspot use without restriction. That mix of low price and three networks makes Ubigi the budget pick.

Check today's Ubigi prices for Japan

Installation

Buy Ubigi on its website or in its app, and a QR code arrives by email after purchase. Scan the code to install the eSIM, then activate the plan before the trip.

SmartStart starts the plan on arrival at the destination, so it does not run down while you are still at home. An unactivated plan expires 6 months after purchase.

Coverage

Ubigi uses KDDI, NTT Docomo, and SoftBank in Japan, which puts three networks in one plan. It supports 5G, and hotspot use is allowed without restriction. The plan is data only, with no Japanese number. The wide network list helps outside large cities, where one carrier can be stronger than the others.

3. Holafly: best for unlimited data

Japan

Unlimited for 10 days, $36.50

• Unlimited data from 3 to 30 days
• 5G support and a clear price ladder

• Hotspot limited to 1 GB per day
• No Japanese number, data only

See Holafly plans

Unlimited data suits people who stream video all day. Holafly gives you that freedom, with a 10-day unlimited plan at $36.50. A 30-day unlimited plan costs $73.90 for a longer stay.

The full ladder runs from 3 to 30 days on one official page, so the choice is clear for a trip of any length. Hotspot use is limited to 1 GB per day, and Holafly is data only.

Check today's Holafly prices for Japan

Installation

Install Holafly in its app or by QR code, with one-button install in the app on iOS and iPadOS 17.4 and later. A QR code and emailed guide are also listed for other phones. Turn on the eSIM at arrival, and the plan connects at once, ready for maps and messaging.

Coverage

Holafly supports 5G in Japan, so data stays fast where 5G is live. Hotspot use is allowed at 1 GB per day, which covers a laptop for short sessions. The plan is data only, with no Japanese number. Unlimited data is the main strength here.

4. Sakura Mobile: the local carrier option

Japan

Unlimited for 7 days, $37.95

• Japan-based provider on Docomo and au
• Real Japanese number option on a separate eSIM

• Unlimited 30-day plan costs $95.79
• Japanese number needs an in-person ID check

See Sakura Mobile plans

A Japan-based provider feels closer to a local SIM, and Sakura Mobile is that option in this guide. Its best plan gives you unlimited data for 7 days at $37.95, on au, also called KDDI. A 7-day plan with 3 GB per day costs $30.36, on NTT Docomo.

A real Japanese number is listed on a separate Voice and Data eSIM, although that eSIM needs an in-person ID check. Sakura Mobile also sells at Kansai International Airport Terminal 1 and Fukuoka International Airport. That local base makes it a useful pick for longer stays and for travellers who want a Japanese number.

Check today's Sakura Mobile prices for Japan

Installation

A QR code arrives by email after purchase, and no app is required. Scan the code to install the eSIM, then turn it on when you land.

Unlimited use begins on arrival in Japan, while the 3 GB per day plan counts the install day as day one, so install after arrival for that plan. Sakura Mobile is also sold at Kansai International Airport Terminal 1 and Fukuoka International Airport.

Coverage

Sakura Mobile uses NTT Docomo for its 3 GB per day plan, and au, also called KDDI, for its Unlimited plan. Both plans support 5G, and hotspot use is allowed.

The Unlimited plan has a hotspot cap by length, at 2 GB for 1 day, 2 GB for 3 days, 6 GB for 7 days, and 30 GB for 30 days. The 3 GB per day plan allows hotspot use.

What is an eSIM and does your phone support it?

An eSIM is a SIM card built into your phone. You buy a plan online, load it with a QR code or a code you type in, and your phone gets a second line. Your home SIM stays where it is, so calls and texts from home still reach you.

Most iPhones from the XS onward support eSIM, as do most Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel phones from the last few years. Your phone also has to be unlocked. A phone bought on a contract may still be locked to its carrier, so ask your carrier before you buy.

On an iPhone, go to Settings, General, About and look for a Digital SIM or EID line. On Android, search Settings for eSIM. If either shows up, your phone can take a travel eSIM.

Best eSIM for a short trip in Japan

For a week or less, Saily's 1 GB plan costs $3.99 and lasts 7 days from the day you land. That is enough for maps, messaging and a few photo posts on a city break.

For three days or less, Ubigi's 1 GB plan at $3.50 is the cheapest plan in this guide. Airalo and Nomad sell 1 GB for 7 days at $4. Holafly only sells unlimited data, and its 5 day plan costs $20.50, five times the price of 1 GB elsewhere.

Best eSIM for a long trip in Japan

For two weeks or more, take Saily's 10 GB plan at $17.99 for 30 days. Thirty days leaves room for a late flight home, and 10 GB covers two to three weeks of maps, messaging and photo uploads.

Nomad sells 10 GB for $16 and Ubigi for $16.50, both over 30 days. Saily stays our pick for its unlimited hotspot sharing and auto top-up.

If you stream video or work from a laptop, Saily's 20 GB plan costs $24.99 and Nomad's costs $23. Ubigi's 50 GB plan at $55 suits a month of heavy use.

Best eSIM for families and groups

Saily is the best pick for a family that shares data. Its hotspot sharing has no extra limit, so one parent's phone can keep a partner's phone or a laptop online. Ubigi and Nomad allow hotspot use too.

Holafly caps hotspot sharing at 1 GB a day, which a family uses up quickly. Airalo does not state its hotspot rules for Japan. For four people, one eSIM each usually costs less than a pocket Wi-Fi rental, and nobody depends on one device's battery.

Best unlimited data eSIM for Japan

Holafly is the best unlimited eSIM for Japan. Ten days cost $36.50, 15 days $50.50 and 30 days $73.90, and Holafly adds 1 GB a month of backup data that keeps working after the plan ends.

Airalo's 10 day unlimited plan costs $34.50 and Saily's 30 day plan $71.99. Ubigi's 30 day unlimited plan costs $65 and runs at full speed up to 60 GB. Avoid Nomad's unlimited plans for video: they slow to 512 kbps after 2 GB a day.

Unlimited only pays off if you stream video daily. Most travellers use less than 10 GB in two weeks and pay half as much on a fixed plan.

Cheapest Japan eSIMs under $10

The lowest price per GB under $10 is Nomad's 5 GB plan at $10 for 30 days, or $2 per GB. Ubigi also sells 5 GB for $10, but it only lasts 15 days. Nomad's 3 GB plan costs $7 and Saily's $7.99, both for 30 days.

The cheapest plan overall is Ubigi's 1 GB for 3 days at $3.50. Bigger plans cost less per GB, so 3 GB for 30 days is the better buy for anything longer than a weekend.

Japan eSIM vs pocket Wi-Fi vs SIM card

A travel eSIM is set up before you leave home and has nothing to collect or return. For one or two travellers it is the cheapest option and adds nothing to your bag.

Pocket Wi-Fi is a small router you rent and pick up at the airport. It can connect several phones at once, but it needs charging every night and has to go back before your flight home.

A physical SIM card means a queue at the airport counter and your home SIM in a pocket for the whole trip.

Pick a physical SIM only if your phone does not support eSIM. Pick pocket Wi-Fi if a group wants one shared connection and someone is happy to carry it.

How much data do you need in Japan?

Navigation in Google Maps uses 5 to 8 MB an hour, so maps barely touch your plan. Video is what uses data: an hour of YouTube at 480p takes about 500 MB. A day of maps, messaging and photo posts with a little video at night comes to about 300 to 500 MB.

That makes 3 GB enough for a long weekend and 10 GB right for two to three weeks. Take 20 GB or unlimited if you watch video every day or share data with a laptop. The travel data calculator works out your own number.

Coverage in Japan: cities, ski resorts and the Shinkansen

Japan has three big networks, NTT Docomo, KDDI au and SoftBank, and a smaller fourth, Rakuten Mobile. In Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and the other big cities all three big networks are strong, so any eSIM in this guide works well there.

Differences show up in the mountains, on smaller islands and at ski resorts in Hokkaido and Nagano. Docomo has the most masts outside the cities, which is why Ubigi, the only pick that also uses Docomo, suits hikers, skiers and road trips. Use the coverage map above to check the places on your route.

On the Shinkansen the signal can drop in long tunnels on any network. Subway stations in Tokyo and Osaka have mobile coverage on all three big networks.

5G in Japan

Saily, Holafly, Nomad and Ubigi state 5G for Japan. Airalo does not state it on its Japan page. Your phone needs to support 5G as well.

5G covers the centres of the big cities. Elsewhere your phone uses 4G, which is fast enough for video calls and HD video.

How to install an eSIM on iPhone

Install the eSIM at home on Wi-Fi a few days before you fly. Open Settings, tap Mobile Service (Cellular in the US), then Add eSIM, and scan the QR code the provider sent you. Name the new line Japan.

When you land, go back to Mobile Service, turn on the Japan line and set it as Mobile Data. Turn on Data Roaming for the Japan line. Leave your home line on for calls and texts, with its own data roaming off.

How to install an eSIM on Android

On a Pixel, open Settings, Network and internet, SIMs, then Add SIM and choose to download a SIM. On a Samsung, open Settings, Connections, SIM manager, then Add eSIM. Scan the QR code from the provider.

After you land, set the Japan eSIM as the SIM for mobile data and turn on roaming for it. Keep your home SIM for calls and texts.

How to scan the QR code with only one phone

You cannot scan a QR code shown on the same phone. The easiest fix is the provider's app: Saily, Airalo, Holafly, Nomad and Ubigi all let you install the eSIM inside their app with one tap.

Without the app, choose Enter details manually on the Add eSIM screen and type in the SM-DP+ address and activation code from the provider's email. You can also print the QR code or open it on a laptop and scan it from there.

When your Japan eSIM plan starts

Saily, Ubigi, Airalo and Holafly start counting days when your phone first connects in Japan, so installing early costs you nothing. Nomad also starts on your first connection in Japan, and you have 60 days from purchase before it starts by itself.

Data roaming must be on for the eSIM line. A travel eSIM is a roaming SIM on a Japanese network, and with roaming off it will not connect.

Topping up and changing plans during your trip

Saily adds data in its app, and auto top-up can buy more before you reach zero. Airalo and Ubigi top up in their apps. Nomad sells add-on plans that start when your current one runs out.

Holafly needs no top-ups, since all its plans are unlimited. You keep the same eSIM when you top up, so there is nothing to reinstall.

Calls and texts in Japan

All five eSIMs in this guide are data only, with no Japanese phone number. Use LINE, WhatsApp or FaceTime for calls and messages over data. LINE is the app most people in Japan use, so install it before you fly.

Hotels and restaurants that ask for a phone number accept your home number in most cases. Keep your home SIM on to receive texts from your bank, with data roaming on that line turned off to avoid charges from your carrier.

What to do when your eSIM has no signal

Check that the Japan line is switched on, set as the mobile data line, and has Data Roaming on. Then turn Airplane Mode on and off and wait a minute for your phone to find a network. Most problems end there.

If there is still no signal, restart the phone and check in the provider's app that your plan has started and has data left.

In the mountains or on a small island, look at the coverage map: your eSIM's networks may have no masts there. If nothing works, contact the provider's support chat in the app.

Fair use rules on unlimited plans

Unlimited plans can slow you down after a set amount. Nomad drops to 512 kbps after 2 GB a day, which loads messages but stutters on video. Ubigi's 30 day plan runs at full speed up to 60 GB, then slows to 2 Mbps for the rest of the month.

Saily, Holafly and Airalo do not state a speed limit for their Japan unlimited plans. Read the plan page before you buy if you plan to stream a lot.

How we compare Japan eSIMs

We checked the prices and plans on each provider's own site in November 2026. Prices are in US dollars and can change, so check the provider's page before you buy.

The networks for each eSIM come from the providers. The coverage map counts 4G and 5G masts from OpenCelliD, an open database of mobile masts.

We do not run speed tests, so this guide makes no claims about measured speeds. Where a provider does not state a detail, such as 5G or hotspot use, we say so.