Best eSIMs for Japan (2025)

Wondering how to stay connected while traveling in Japan? An eSIM is all you need. Embedded SIM cards, or eSIMs, eliminate the need for a physical SIM. They work like regular SIM cards, providing internet connection and allowing you to make calls and send SMS.

With an eSIM, you can avoid paying expensive roaming fees and skip the hassle of switching physical SIM cards. Several eSIM providers offer local eSIM plans for Japan. However, choosing the best eSIM for Japan can be tricky, given the many providers available.

To simplify your decision-making process, I’ve conducted tests to find the best eSIMs for Japan. Keep reading to see which eSIMs made the cut and why I picked them.

5 best eSIM providers for Japan

1. Saily – the best travel eSIM for Japan
2. Airalo – easy-to-use Japan eSIM
3. JetPac – Japan eSIM with affordable pricing
4. aloSIM – secure and affordable virtual SIM card for Japan
5. GigSky – user-friendly eSIM for Japan

What to consider when choosing eSIM for traveling in Japan?

Whether you're traveling to Japan for leisure, business, or any other reason, having the right eSIM card is crucial. Here are some things to consider when getting an eSIM for Japan:

• Compatibility: To ensure seamless activation and usage, ensure the eSIM is compatible with your device. While eSIMs are compatible with smartphones, tablets, wearable devices, and cars, not every device model supports eSIMs.
• Country coverage: Check if the eSIM provider has coverage in the specific region of Japan you're traveling to. Some providers also offer regional plans. For instance, you can find plans covering Japan and Korea together or even the entire Asia.
• Call support: Many eSIMs offer only data, but others provide a phone number, too, allowing you to make calls and send messages. While some eSIMs provide phone numbers, they are only for receiving calls and SMS. If you’d like to make and receive calls, ensure the eSIM you choose supports this.
• Amount of data: Many eSIM providers offer fixed plans, but some have pay-as-you-go options. If you’re getting a fixed plan, confirm that the eSIM provider allows topping up so you can buy more data if needed.
• Length of your trip: eSIM plans have different validity periods, representing the number of days the eSIM will remain active from the moment it's activated. Ensure the eSIM’s validity aligns with your travel duration.
• Tethering: Check if the eSIM allows tethering, i.e., sharing your data via mobile hotspot. This is important if you need occasional web access on other devices.
• Price: Compare the prices of different eSIM plans before selecting one. Ensure there are no hidden costs, such as activation fees or charges for voice calls and SMS.

The best eSIMs for Japan travel – detailed list

During my tests to find the best eSIMs for Japan, I assessed different eSIMs, looking at their regional plans, network coverage, plan options, price, and ease of activation. Based on these criteria, here are the best eSIM cards for Japan!

1. Saily – the best travel eSIM for Japan

Supports 5G networks:	Yes
Starting price:	$3.99
Local/regional plans:	Yes

Visit Saily

Saily is an excellent choice if you prioritize safety while traveling abroad. Developed by the same team behind the renowned NordVPN, this eSIM offers five different plans for Japan. You can also choose a regional plan if you are planning your trip around Asia.

Saily eSIM has an eSIM plan for every traveler. Once you choose your preferred plan, download the Saily app to purchase it and install the eSIM on your device. If you encounter any issues during the installation process, you can get instant help from Saily’s knowledgeable customer support staff.

Saily’s coverage in 150+ countries makes it the perfect companion for globetrotters. You can choose a country-specific or a regional plan.

If you’re visiting Japan for only a few days, you can opt for Saily’s 7-day plan, which gives you 1GB of data for $3.99. For longer travels in the country, Saily has 30-day plans that give you 3GB, 5GB, 10GB, or 20GB of data.

2. Airalo – easy-to-use Japan eSIM

Supports 5G networks:	Yes
Starting price:	$4.50
Local/regional plans:	Yes

Visit Airalo

If you are looking for a budget-friendly, easy-to-use eSIM, Airalo is a good pick. This eSIM has extensive coverage in Japan and 200+ other countries worldwide.

With Airalo, your plan kicks in once your eSIM connects to a supported network. This means you can set everything up before heading to Japan. You won't need to provide any personal identification to use this eSIM, making the setup process even quicker.

Airalo provides flexible eSIM data plans with no contracts. You can choose from affordable short-term and long-term plans, offering excellent speeds in Japan. Airalo also has regional plans covering Korea and over a dozen other Asian countries. In total, this eSIM has plans for 200+ countries and regions across the world.

Airalo’s local data plans for Japan offer varying amounts of data (1GB, 2GB, 3GB, 5GB, 10GB, and 30GB) and have different validity periods (7, 15, and 30 days). Keep in mind that Airalo’s Japanese eSIM doesn’t come with a phone number, but you can go for its Discover+ global eSIM, which supports calls and SMS.

Currently, the most affordable Airlo eSIM plan for Japan, which costs $4.50, gives you 1GB for 7 days. If you plan to stay in Japan longer, you can choose a more extensive plan.

3. JetPac – Japan eSIM with affordable pricing

Supports 5G networks:	Yes
Starting price:	$1
Local/regional plans:	Yes

Visit JetPac

JetPac is an excellent eSIM for travelers on a tight budget. It offers cheap data-only plans that allow you to browse the Internet in Japan without worrying about costly roaming fees.

You can install and activate your Jetpac eSIM before traveling to Japan, but it won’t start working until you don’t arrive in the country and connect to a local network.

JetPac has local, regional, and global plans covering Japan. This eSIM provider has 8 different local data plans for Japan with varying amounts of data (1GB, 3GB, 5GB, 10GB, 15GB, 20GB, 30GB, or 40GB) and different validity periods (4, 7, or 30 days).

JetPac eSIM doesn’t come with a phone number, so you can’t make calls or receive text messages via your eSIM. However, JetPac makes up for this with extended validity — the eSIM is valid for a year from the date of purchase. In other words, you don’t need to worry about your eSIM expiring before you travel to Japan.

The most affordable JetPac plan is its 1GB, 4-day deal, which costs only $1.

4. aloSIM – secure and affordable virtual SIM card for Japan

Supports 5G networks:	Yes
Starting price:	$4.50
Local/regional plans:	Yes

Visit aloSIM

aloSIM is the best option if you’d like to make calls and send SMS messages using your eSIM while traveling in Japan.

aloSIM has 7 local data plans for Japan, with varying amounts of allocated data (1GB. 2GB, 3GB, 5GB, 10GB, 50GB, and 100GB) and different validity periods (7, 15, and 30 days). aloSIM also has regional plans that cover 13 Asian countries, including Japan.

One of the biggest perks of choosing aloSIM is that it comes with a phone number, and you get 30 minutes for calling and 50 texts with your eSIM. You can purchase more credits to make calls and send text messages. However, you need to download another app called Hushed to make calls and send SMS.

aloSIM boasts fast browsing speeds and an affordable price tag. Its cheapest plan for Japan, which costs $4.50, gives you 1GB for 7 days.

5. GigSky – affordable Japan eSIM with regional plans

Supports 5G networks:	Yes
Starting price:	$4.49
Local/regional plans:	Yes

Visit GigSky

GigSky is one of the best eSIM providers for Japan. It has local and regional offerings and provides everything an eSIM should include. Here’s what you’ll receive!

Regarding network coverage, GigSky doesn’t disappoint. You can use this eSIM in more than 200 countries and regions worldwide, including Japan. There are local and regional plans, and the best part is you can connect as soon as you land.

GigSky’s local eSIM plans range from seven to 90 days of validity, allowing you to pick the best option to suit your travel. Therefore, regardless of whether you spend a few days or longer in this beautiful country, you’ll be covered with 1GB to 50GB of data.

Speaking of this, you can go for the regular 1GB, 3GB, 5GB, 10GB and 50GB of data plans, or try out GigSky first with its free 100 MB data plan. Also, if you don’t want to worry about running out of data or topping up your plan, you can pick one of the two available unlimited offers.

GigSky’s prices for their Japan eSIM range from $4.49 for 1GB of data for seven days to $99.99 for 50GB for 90 days. Overall, GigSky is a pretty affordable option.

6. Nomad – eSIM for Japan with flexible data plans

Supports 5G networks:	Yes
Starting price:	$6.00
Local/regional plans:	Yes

Visit Nomad

With a presence in 170+ countries and superb speeds, Nomad is another incredible eSIM for Japan.

Nomad has various local eSIM plans for Japan, but you can also opt for its regional or global plan, which allows you to use the eSIM in over 100 countries, including Japan. Your Nomad eSIM will start working automatically as soon as you connect to a Japanese network.

Unlike other eSIMs, Nomad offers Day Plans and Regular Plans. If you’re in Japan for only a few days, its Day Plan is a good idea. Nomad’s Day Plans give you 500MB or 1GB per day, and you can select the number of days you’ll be in Japan — up to 7 days. The good thing about these plans is that you can continue browsing at a throttled speed (512Kbps) if you exhaust the daily allocated data.

Nomad’s Regular eSIM plans for Japan come with different amounts of data (1GB, 3GB, 5GB, 10GB, 20GB, 30GB, 40GB, and 50GB) and validity periods (7, 30, and 45 days). The cheapest plan is only valid for 7 days, and it gives you 1GB for $6. Nomad is a data-only eSIM; it doesn’t support calling or texting in Japan.

7. Instabridge – Japan eSIM with pay-as-you-go plans

Supports 5G networks:	Yes
Starting price:	$4.00
Local/regional plans:	Yes

Visit Instabridge

Instabridge offers high-speed internet via local, regional, and global data plans covering 190+ countries. However, it doesn’t support calls and text messages.

Travelers to Japan have 4 Instabridge local data plans: 1GB, 3GB, 10GB, and 20GB, which are valid for 7 to 30 days.

Instabridge also has pay-as-you-go plans for Japan, starting at $7 per GB. While expensive, this is a good option if you can’t accurately guess how much data you’ll use up while in Japan.

Instabridge’s cheapest fixed data plan for Japan, which costs $4, gives you 1GB for 7 days.

Comparison of the best eSIM providers for Japan

The table below shows key features of the top eSIMs for Japan so you can compare them at a glance:

Brand	Plan options	Compatibility	Networks	Calls	Texts	Price from
Saily	7 and 30 days	All iPhone and Android devices that support eSIM	3G, 4G, and 5G	No	No	$1.99
Airalo	7, 15, 30, 60, 180, 365 days	All iPhone and Android devices that support eSIM	LTE, 3G, 4G, and 5G	Yes (only on Discover+ global plan)	Yes (only on Discover+ Global plan)	$4.50
Jetpac	4, 7, and 30 days	All iPhone and Android devices that support eSIM	LTE, 3G, 4G, and 5G	No	No	$1.00
GigSky	7, 15, 30 days	All iPhone and Android devices that support eSIM	LTE, 3G, 4G, 5G	No	No	$4.49
aloSIM	7, 15, 30	All iPhone and Android devices that support eSIM	LTE and 4G	No	No	$4.50
Nomad	1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 30. 45 and 60 days	All iPhone and Android devices that support eSIM	LTE, 3G, 4G, and 5G	No	No	$4.00
Instabridge	7, 13, and 30 days + pay-as-you-go plans	All iPhone and Android devices that support eSIM	LTE, 3G, 4G, and 5G	No	No	$3.00

Still trying to decide which eSIM to choose? I recommend making a list of all the features you’d like your ideal eSIM to have and considering your budget. Then, look through the eSIMs we’ve listed above and choose one that best meets your needs.

How I tested these eSIMs for Japan

I conducted tests and in-depth research to find the best eSIMs for Japan, paying particular attention to the coverage, network, compatibility, and price of each eSIM. Here’s a quick glimpse at the criteria I used to pick the select the best Japan eSIMs:

• Coverage in Japan: I assessed the coverage of different eSIMs in Japan and selected those with the widest nationwide coverage in the country. I also chose some eSIMs offering Asian regional plans that cover Japan.
• Network connection: I checked the type of network connection each eSIM offers in Japan and picked eSIMs that support 4G and 5G for the fastest speeds. I tested the connection speeds and scoured through reviews from other travelers in Japan to see their experience with each eSIM in the country.
• Data plans: I reviewed each eSIM's data plans and checked their suitability for short-term and long-term travelers. The eSIMs I selected have plans for everyone, whether you’re visiting Japan for only a few days, a month, or longer.
• Compatibility: I checked the list of devices each eSIM is compatible with and picked eSIMs that work with a wide range of iPhone and Android smartphones.
• Price: I analyzed the price of the data plans for Japan that different eSIMs offer and picked eSIM providers with the most affordable plans and a wide array of useful features.
• Customer support: I checked the customer support channels each eSIM has available and contacted them to see their response times. The eSIMs I picked have multiple customer service channels and quick response times.

Does my phone support eSIM

The majority of the new smartphones work with eSIMs. Some new smartphones, like the Apple iPhone 15 (US version), are even sold without a SIM card holder, so they only work with eSIMs.

Most phones released before 2018 aren’t compatible with eSIMs. The best way to confirm if your phone works with eSIMs is to check the specifications on the official website of your smartphone’s manufacturer.

Also, your phone needs to be unlocked to work with eSIMs. You can’t install an eSIM on a carrier-locked phone. Luckily, phones sold in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East are unlocked. Unfortunately, Americans may face this issue. You can contact your internet service provider or check the settings on your phone to confirm if your device is carrier-locked.

Here’s how to check if your iPhone or Android smartphone works with eSIMs:

• iPhones: You can check if your device supports eSIMs by going to Settings > General > About. Scroll down to Available SIM. If you see this option and a 15-digit IMEI number, your iPhone supports eSIM. Newer iPhone models like the XR, XS, 11, 12, and above are eSIM-compatible.
• Android phones: The process may vary slightly depending on your phone manufacturer and model. Generally, go to Settings, select Network & Internet or a similar option, and look for SIM card or Mobile network. If you find an option to add an eSIM or mobile plan, your Android phone supports eSIM.

How to buy eSIM in Japan

You can purchase an eSIM via the website of your preferred eSIM provider. It’s best to purchase and activate your eSIM plan before heading to Japan so you get internet access once you arrive in the country.

Depending on the eSIM service, you may receive a QR code via email that you’ll be directed to scan to install the eSIM. Some providers may require you to download their apps to purchase and install your eSIM. eSIM providers usually accept different payment methods, including debit/credit cards, PayPal, Google Pay, and PayPal.

Benefits of using an eSIM in Japan

There are numerous benefits of using an eSIM in Japan. Here are some of the biggest advantages:

• You’ll get data as soon as you arrive in Japan. You can activate your eSIM upon arrival, ensuring instant access to data services.
• You can activate your eSIM easily and skip the hassle of visiting a store to purchase and register a physical SIM card. It takes only a few clicks to activate an eSIM, and that’s it.
• You get to keep your usual phone number. When using an eSIM card, you can retain your regular phone number while using the eSIM to access the Internet.
• There is no need to buy a physical SIM card. Thus, you avoid the inconvenience of removing your regular SIM card or searching for a store to purchase a new one while traveling.
• You don’t have to pay expensive roaming fees. Using an eSIM allows you to avoid costly and sluggish roaming data.
• You can easily top up your data online. Most eSIMs allow you to top up your data as needed, so you can travel freely across Japan and top up your data as needed.

Things to know about using an eSIM card in Japan

Now that you’re aware of the perks of using an eSIM, here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Be sure your phone is unlocked. Carrier-locked phones are tied to specific mobile service providers, restricting your ability to use eSIM cards. Confirm that your phone is free of such limitations before purchasing an eSIM.
• Make sure your phone supports eSIMs. Unfortunately, not all mobile phones support eSIMs. Newer phone models are likely to be eSIM-compatible, while phones released before 2018 generally don’t work with eSIMs.
• Not all eSIM plans allow you to make calls. Even if your eSIM card provider gives you a number, it may be only for receiving calls and SMS, not for calling or sending messages.
• Check the validity of your eSIM card. While the validity of some eSIM cards begins after installation, others start upon connecting to a supported network for the first time. Regardless, be mindful not to activate your eSIM card too early to maximize its validity period. Also, eSIM providers usually indicate how long you can keep an eSIM card without activating it. Usually, you should activate your eSIM 1 to 3 months after purchasing it, or it may expire.
• Find out how to activate your eSIM card. You need to know how to activate your Japanese eSIM. The options are generally activating your eSIM via an app, scanning a QR code, or manually.

Final thoughts on eSIMs for Japan

Consider getting an eSIM for your trip to Japan to avoid paying expensive roaming charges or the hassle of switching physical cards and searching for Wi-Fi. There are Japan eSIM plans for short-term and long-term travelers. Even if you’re traveling across Asia, there are eSIM plans that cover the entire region.

Based on my tests, Saily is the best eSIM for Japan overall. It offers a wide range of plans for Japan and is available in over 150 countries worldwide. Saily partners with local network providers to ensure smooth and uninterrupted connectivity wherever you are.

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Best eSIM for Japan - FAQs