November 2024 – The Best eSIM for Japan Travel & Coupons

November 2024 – The Best eSIM for Japan Travel

Comparison of major eSIM carrier for Japan Travel as of November 2024

The best eSIM for you depending on how many days and how much data you need. Each company offers plan in different ways, some offer unlimited with daily data limitation, some limited data, and lenth of plans they offer are also different. I hope you can find the best eSIM that matches your phone use during your travel.

The Cheapest eSIM for Your Usage

Let’s break down quickly for the best eSIM for your length of stay. (Price wise)

The price may change during the month especially because of currency exchange rate, so please check the site for the most updated price.

The Best eSIM for a short stay ) 1- 3 days

Nomad eSIM shines in short term usage. In case you go out to the town for half a short time for transfering planes, the option to purchase from a day is very kind. It’s $4 a day, and $6 for 2 days. You get 1GB fast date daily, plus slower connection after using up the 1GB.

→ Get Nomad eSIM 

The Best eSIM for 1 week trip.

→ Buy Japan Wireless eSIM (Coupon Code : ESIMKENCHAN at checkout)

The Best eSIM for 10 days trip.

The Best eSIM for 14 days trip.

If your hotel has good WiFi and you are traveling with someone (ou are not the only one has eSIM during the trip ) 10GB can be enough. Otherwise, having 20GB might gives ease of mind. For 20 GB option, Nomad eSim 20GB for 45 days $25, which is about 3650 Yen can be also competitive. You can choose from your favorite provider.

→ Buy Japan Wireless eSIM (Coupon Code : ESIMKENCHAN at checkout)

The Best eSIM for 1 month

You also have option of Nomad eSim 20GB for 45 days $25, which is about 3650 Yen. In case you like to be anxiety free about using up the data after a month, it might be a good idea to go for Mobal.

→ Buy Mobal eSIM

eSIM with Japanese phone number

Usually, eSIM doesn’t come with phone number. But you can have a Japanese phone number with Mobal. The price can be a little costly for a short term stay, as you pay per month.

Mobal offers eSIM with Japanese phone number that comes with 7GB fast data plans per month. This is offered for 7920 Yen (30 days), 17820 Yen (90 days).

→ See eSIM plans with Japanese Phone number at Mobal.

Detailed Price comparison

I checked the major eSIM providers that I hear name often, and compared pricing. Number is in Japanese Yen. (1000 Yen = 7 USD  as of October 1, 2024)

Fixed data plans (means, not unlimited data)

→ no plans set. See longer plans which might be a better option.

Mobal offers eSIM with Japanese phone number that comes with 7GB fast data plans per month. This is offered for 7920 Yen (30 days), 17820 Yen (90 days). Purchase eSIM with Japanese Phone number at Mobal.

Unlimited data plans

* For Japan Wireless, the price is after the coupon code redeemed. Please make sure to use coupon code “ESIMKENCHAN” (doesn’t have to be uppercase) to get 10% off.

* There are lots of eSIM providers, and I only list something widely known. There might be other providers or campaign which is cheaper than these. The price is from the official site of the each services.

What is eSIM? How different from physical SIM card?

Smart phone can be connected with Internet only when you purchase a plan the Internet providers. One way to connect with the provider you purchased is to insert physical small chips (SIM, micro SIM, nano SIM) into the phone from the provideder. But now you can just input the information from the provier on the smart phone and you can connect to data plans. That is eSIM.

eSIM works for your daily life in your country in most cases as a monthly plan, but also you can get prepaid eSIM when you travel other countries.

eSIM is usually safer than physical SIM card

eSIM completes in the setting on the screen, so you don’t need to touch your physical SIM slot. So you don’t have to worry about forgetting pin to open your SIM slot, and the worst losing your SIM card. If eSIM works with your phone, eSIM is recommended.

Is my phone eSIM compatible ?

eSIM is not compatible with all smart phones, especially with old one. To find out if your phone is eSIM compatible, each eSIM providers have pages.

→ The easiest page I found to check was this “List of eSIM compatible phones and tablets” by a travel portable site Klook.

→ Japan Wireless also has compatiblity check page on the top page

For iPhone, any models after XS, followed by iPhone 11 to current 15, including SE 2nd generation are eSIM compatible.

*  This is common no matter which eSIM provider you use.

Where to Get eSIM

You can get eSIM at local electric shop and convenience store too. If you need Internet connection from the airport to the town, you might want to get it in advance. Also, it’s time consuming to look for something essential during your trip when you like to spend more time to explore the city.

What happens to my SIM/eSIM from my phone provider

If you have your carrier on your physical SIM card, your eSIM slot is open, so you can have both your usual number and the travel eSIM. Same for eSIMs.

For example for iPhone, physical SIM is shifting to eSIM.

1. Physical SIM only (X (10) and before)

2. Physical SIM + eSIM (for iPhone, XS / XR and after)

3. Physical SIM + eSIM (Dual eSIM) (iPhone 13 and after)

How to install eSIM

It can be different depending on eSIM provider, but usually you can easily activate it by reading QR code you receive through the email. Some provider let you set up though app. Some eSIM ask for manual set up for Android phone.

iPhone (iOS 17.4 ~)

For iPhone, you can open the link with Safari and show your QR code on your screen, then long press the QR code and the “add eSIM” botton comes up to the bottom.

Just make sure not to read the QR code with the phone you don’t set up the eSIM. You might want to make sure to read the QR code with the phone you actually like to have eSIM data on.

Is eSIM the best solution for Japan trip?

We know the merit of eSIM already, but is there any other options for your travel data? There are two other options. That is (1) rental pocket WiFi (portable WiFi devide) and (2) use your phone career’s International roaming plan. In case you like to share with your family or in your group, you might be able to consider using pocket WiFI that allows to connect with multple smart phones and PCs. The major con of pocket WiFi is that  you need to receive the device, carry it around during your trip, charge it during night, and return before you leave.

That being said, it’s good to know that the eSIM is not the perfect option for everyone. It’s easy to install and hustle free from carrying and charging devices like pocket WiFI, but the setting eSIM can be something stressful for travelers who are not used to do setting smart phones. In case your phone career in your home country has international data usage included in your monthly plan, eSIM is not necessary.

I hope you found a great option for your Internet in Japan. 🙂

Other articles:

How to Stay Connected in Japan