7 Best Tourist eSIMs in Japan

Best eSIM Services for Travelers in Japan

When planning your travel abroad, securing an internet connection is often a top concern. Fortunately, there are multiple options available for getting connected. While some options may be free but inconvenient, others offer convenience at a higher cost.

One of the latest and most reliable methods to ensure a good internet connection is through the use of eSIM services. In this article, we present our top picks for the six best eSIMs for travelers in Japan. By considering these options, you can easily obtain an eSIM for your next trip to Japan.

What is eSIM?

Before diving into the list of the best eSIM services, it’s important to understand what eSIM is. This relatively new technology has gained attention in recent years.

The term “eSIM” refers to “Embedded SIM.” Introduced in 2016, most modern mobile phones now support this feature. The eSIM eliminates the need for a physical SIM card, making it cheaper and easier to install. Users only need to scan a QR code or install an app on their mobile phone.

While eSIM technology has been available for some time, it gained significant attention when Apple announced that the iPhone 14 would solely utilize eSIM. Consequently, companies that haven’t supported eSIM will now start embracing it as the standard, gradually replacing physical SIM cards.

Now that we are familiar with eSIM, let’s explore five of the best eSIM services in Japan. Please note that while most mobile phones are compatible with eSIM, it’s advisable to check compatibility before making any purchases.

1. eSim Japan

eSIMJapan offers cost-effective data-only plans for tourists visiting Japan. They have two types of plans: a general Japan plan, and city-specific plans for Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, and other cities. Although they are priced the same, all plans work nationwide and are essentially identical to the general plans. Ordering an eSIM is convenient as you receive a QR code within 2 minutes via email, allowing you to pick it up while waiting for your luggage at the airport. The plan starts immediately after scanning the code and installing the eSIM. Plans have different durations (3, 5, 7, 12, 15, or 20 days) and data limits (3GB, 5GB, 10GB, or unlimited), so you can choose one that suits your trip length. Prices range from ¥569 for a basic 3-day plan to ¥3,279 for an unlimited 12-day plan. While eSIM Japan is provided by China Mobile Hong Kong, it roams on Japan’s SoftBank network. Despite roaming, it performed well in our tests, with an average download speed of 33.9Mbps. Webpages loaded quickly, and video playback and streaming were smooth without any buffering. In case of any issues, support is available through email and web forms.

2. Japan Wireless

Japan Wireless offers affordable prices, delivering excellent value for money in terms of data allowance. Notably, they provide a wide range of package options, allowing users to select between 2GB/day, 1GB/day, or 500MB/day. Additionally, customers can choose the desired number of days (ranging from 1 day up to 30 days).

Purchase and Installation Made Simple

The process of purchasing and installing your wireless plan is straightforward and easy to comprehend. For more information, visit the official page. Presented below are some options you can consider:

Japan Wireless’ Lineup:

• 2GB/Day for 7 days
• 2GB/Day for 30 days
• 1GB/Day for 7 days
• 1GB/Day for 30 days
• 500MB/Day for 7 days
• 500MB/Day for 30 days

Prices:

• $20.99 (equivalent to $1.49/GB)
• $73.49 (equivalent to $1.22/GB)
• $15.13 (equivalent to $2.16/GB)
• $56.25 (equivalent to $1.88/GB)
• $10.33 (equivalent to $2.95/GB)
• $31.63 (equivalent to $2.11/GB)

All options require a one-time fee.

3. Ubigi

Ubigi, © 2023, Ltd., offers eSIM data plans for over 190 destinations. In Japan alone, they provide eight different plans suitable for short-term and long-term travelers. These prepaid plans are easily set up by downloading their app.

Ubigi’s Lineup:

• 1 day / 500 MB
• 30 days / 1 GB
• 30 days / 3 GB
• 30 days / 5 GB
• 30 days / 10 GB
• 1 year / 24 GB (2 GB per month)
• 30 days / 50 GB

Prices:

• $2.50 ($5.00/GB)
• $4.00 ($5.00/GB)
• $8.00 ($5.00/GB)
• $10.00/month ($5.00/GB)
• $17.00 ($5.00/GB)
• $38.00 ($5.00/GB)
• $69.00 ($5.00/GB)

Some options have a one-time fee, while others require a monthly or yearly fee.

4. SimOptions

SimOptions is a platform offering SIM cards and eSIM data services for over 200 countries. They boast 24/7 customer service and claim to have the best eSIM prices available. For eSIM plans in Japan, they provide six different options from various providers. Visit their website for more details.

SimOptions Lineup:

• 10 days / 6 GB
• 12 days / 6 GB
• 8 days / 6 GB
• 15 days / 6 GB
• 30 days / 4 GB
• 30 days / 8 GB

5. Maya Mobile

Maya Mobile provides eSIM plans for Japan, offering a range of options for your trip. Activation is simple through a QR code. They have 5 plans specifically for Japan and one plan covering 14 countries, including Japan.

Maya Mobile lineup:

• 30 days / 1GB ($6.00/GB)
• 30 days / 3GB ($4.00/GB)
• 30 days / 5GB ($3.20/GB)
• 30 days / 10GB ($2.80/GB)
• 30 days / Unlimited data (Japan only)
• 30 days / Unlimited data (14 countries)

One-time fees apply for all plans. Data allowances range from 1GB to unlimited, with durations of 30 days.

6. Nomad

Nomad is another eSIM provider offering various plans for Japan and other countries within a month. The prices may vary as the plans are sourced from different providers. For more details, visit their website.

Nomad lineup:

• 7 days / 1GB ($5.00/GB)
• 30 days / 3GB ($3.00/GB)
• 30 days / 5GB ($2.00/GB)
• 30 days / 10GB ($1.90/GB)
• 30 days / 15GB ($1.80/GB)
• 30 days / 10GB ($5.00/GB)
• 30 days / 20GB ($3.45/GB)

One-time fees apply for all plans. Data allowances range from 1GB to 20GB, with durations of 7 days or 30 days.

7. DHA Mobile

DHA Mobile is the last eSIM service provider on our list, offering a variety of plans with longer durations and even unlimited data options.

DHA Mobile lineup:

Rate calculations: $1 = 130 yen.

As you can see, various eSIM data plans are available to meet different needs. For more information about internet in Japan or other travel tips, please check out our articles below.