Best eSIM for Japan: prices, networks and unlimited plans compared

Quick answer: which Japan eSIM to choose

The short answer depends on how you use your phone:

• City trip of a week or less: a fixed-data plan with 3 to 5 GB is enough for maps, messaging and some social media, and it is the cheapest option.
• Two weeks or more, or heavy use: compare a 10 to 20 GB plan with an unlimited plan that keeps at least 2 GB per day at full speed. Above roughly 1.5 GB a day, unlimited usually wins.
• Hiking, remote islands or the countryside: pick a plan that lists more than one Japanese network, so the phone can switch when one of them has no signal.

The tables below are generated from our database each time the page loads, so they always show today’s cheapest options rather than prices from the day this guide was written.

Japan eSIM prices: the cheapest plan for every data amount

How to read the table: each row is the cheapest plan we track for that data amount, among plans valid for at least a week. The price per GB is the fairest way to compare plans of different sizes; larger plans are almost always cheaper per gigabyte, so buying one bigger plan beats topping up a small one several times.

Some of the cheapest rows can be regional plans that cover Japan together with other Asian countries. They work the same way in Japan, but check the country list if you only need Japan: a Japan-only plan sometimes gives you more data for the same money. Prices from providers that sell in US dollars are converted at the daily ECB rate, so the amount on your card can differ by a few cents.

Unlimited data in Japan: what the speed limits mean

Almost every “unlimited” travel eSIM has a fair-use limit: a daily allowance at full speed, after which the connection slows down until the next day. The price alone tells you little; the daily allowance and the speed afterwards decide how usable the plan is.

The left column shows the cheapest unlimited plan for each trip length, whatever its limit. The right column only counts plans that keep at least 2 GB per day at full speed, which is the more realistic comparison if you watch videos, upload photos or use your phone as a hotspot for a laptop.

Docomo, SoftBank or KDDI: which network is best?

Japan has four mobile network operators. NTT Docomo is the largest, followed by KDDI (sold under the au brand) and SoftBank. Rakuten Mobile is the newest; outside its own coverage it relies on a roaming agreement with KDDI. Travel eSIMs do not own a Japanese network: they connect to one or more of these operators as a roaming partner, and the provider decides which ones.

In practice all three large networks are fast in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and along the Shinkansen lines, and most plans offer 5G in the big cities. The differences appear in the mountains, in rural areas and on smaller islands. There, a plan that can use two networks (for example SoftBank and KDDI) is the safest choice, because the phone can switch to whichever has signal. If a plan lists only one network, it will usually be fine in cities, but there is no fallback.

Network names come from the providers and are shown on every plan in our Japan comparison, so you can check them before you buy.

How much data do you need in Japan?

Most travellers use far less data than they expect, as long as the hotel has Wi-Fi. These are rough daily figures for mobile data away from Wi-Fi:

Three habits keep usage down: download the offline map of the cities you visit before you leave, turn off automatic video playback in social apps, and let photo backups wait for hotel Wi-Fi. If you are unsure, choose the next larger plan: running out of data in the middle of a transfer at Shinjuku station costs more time than the extra euros.

eSIM vs pocket Wi-Fi vs roaming

Pocket Wi-Fi rental has long been the classic choice in Japan. It still has a place, but for most travellers an eSIM is simpler:

For a group travelling together all day, a pocket Wi-Fi can be cheaper than several eSIMs. For everyone else, an eSIM is faster to set up and easier on the road.

How to set up your Japan eSIM

1. Check your phone. It needs an eSIM and must be unlocked. Our guide How to check if your phone supports eSIM takes a minute.
2. Buy and install at home. Install the eSIM over Wi-Fi before you fly, by QR code or in the provider’s app. Installing is not the same as activating: with most providers the validity starts only when the eSIM first connects in Japan, but check the plan details.
3. Switch over on landing. Turn on the eSIM line, allow data roaming for it and choose it for mobile data. Keep your home SIM switched on for calls and SMS, with data roaming turned off, so you do not pay your carrier’s roaming rates.
4. No connection? Switch airplane mode on and off, then select a network manually in the settings (one of those listed for your plan). If that does not help, check whether the provider requires an APN setting and contact its support.

Tips for staying connected in Japan

• Free Wi-Fi exists but is patchy. Many stations, convenience stores and hotels offer it, often with a registration page. It is fine for a break, not for navigating.
• A phone number is rarely needed. Most travel eSIMs are data only; calls and messages run over WhatsApp, LINE or FaceTime. A few providers sell Japan plans with a number, and our Japan page lets you filter for calls.
• Hotspot use: most Japan plans in our data allow tethering. It is still worth checking the plan details, and choosing an unlimited plan with a generous daily allowance if a laptop will share the connection.
• Visiting more of Asia? A regional plan can be cheaper than several country plans. Compare with our Asia eSIM plans and check that every country on your route is included; if South Korea is next, see South Korea eSIM plans.
• Look for a discount. Several providers offer codes for first orders; the current ones are on our promo code page.