January 2025 – Top eSIMs for Japan Travel & Coupons

The Best eSIM for Japan Travel 2025

Comparison of major eSIM providers for Japan (as of January  2025 )

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 such as 1GB a day or 3GB in a week. The amount of data and length of plans they offer varies, so it can be misleading sometimes.

It’s necessary to simulate how much date you need for your trip, and how much you might use in a day maximum. As for the length of contract, it doesn’t have to always fit into your length of travel as long as it’s not shorter than your trip. Sometimes easier to buy a big plan for weeks or a month. Again, you might want to be careful on daily limit of usage. Another thing to consider is how easy to install on your phone. Some eSIM providers offer apps that you can easily install, and a big plus is that yo can top up the data anytime you use up what you purchased. In case you travel several countries in one trip, haveing an international brand that you can easily switch country is convenient comparison with Japan oriented brand. As of 2024, most of the proviers are coverning major Asian countries. In case you use data sharing from your phone using the eSIM, some eSIM proviers limit data sharing which is good to note.

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

The eSIM for a short stay ) 1- 3 days

Saily eSIM : 1GB 7 Days  $3.99  3GB 30 Days $6.99   (15% discount with coupon code tokyokenchan )　　

Recently emerging eSIM brand that you can use across the world. Being from Nord VPN, it focuses on security of eSIM. You can choose to block ads and protect your privacy on the app.  Blocking ads helps saving data too, so it’s a great option.   It has no limitation to use as hotspot. 15% off with coupon code ” tokyokenchan ”  → Get Saily eSIM

Nomad eSIM : 1GB Daily 1 day $4   /   3GB 30 Days $8

Nomad eSIM offers dayly plan that you can get 500MB/1GB/2GB/3GB daily x 1 day to 7 days.  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 convenient. For Daily 1GB plan, it’s $4 a day, and $6 for 2 days.  Slower connection after using up the 1GB. → Get Nomad eSIM 

Holafly : Unlimited 1 day $6.90   Unlimited 3 Days $12.90

Holafly is a leading eSIM brand across the world. It offers unlimited data that you can watch YouTube and other streaming service. There is no official number, but excessive amount of data usage might get limited. You can get 5% off if you purcahse from the customer service, and 5% points (called Hola Coin) back system after your purchase. You can use up to 1GB a day as a hotspot. → Get Holafly

10GB to 20GB eSIM for 1 week to 2 weeks.

During your travel, you might use more data than the day you are at home. You check maps, you check links, Instagram, and it can be very inconvenient not to have your data. If you are traveling with someone and both have eSIM, 5GB might work. But having 10-20 GB gives you ease of mind. In case you are not sure how much you use, you can purchase smaller GB first and top up the data later in case you use up the data.

→ Buy Japan Wireless eSIM (Coupon Code : 10% off with coupon code: ESIMKENCHAN at checkout)

In addition to international brand above, Japan Wireless offers eSIM for competitive price. Japan Wireless is more known for the portable WiFi device which can be more handy for some travelers. 

Reference: eSIM vs Pocket WiFi

The Best eSIM for 1 month

Mobal has a plan with 50GB for 31 days. 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