Best eSIM for Japan: compare 1,208 plans

Not for a data-only eSIM from the 13 providers that state no ID is needed, among them Nomad, Sakura Mobile, Japan Wireless and povo. GTN Mobile asks for your passport on every plan. A Japanese phone number always needs an ID check under Japanese law, so Mobal checks your passport for its voice plans and Sakura Mobile checks ID before it hands over its Voice+Data eSIM.

Yes, from three providers we compare. GTN Mobile sells 10 GB and 30 GB plans with a number for 30, 60 or 90 days from US$51.66, in its own stores, against your passport and a second document showing your address. Sakura Mobile sells Voice+Data plans with 3 GB a day for 7 to 30 days from US$64.75, collected in Japan after an ID check. aloSIM includes a Hushed internet number with its plans and GlobaleSIM a +1 US or Canada number; neither is Japanese. With a data-only eSIM you call over LINE, WhatsApp or FaceTime.

Yes. povo sells its eSIM as a card with a QR code at about 14,600 Lawson convenience stores, and IIJmio sells its Japan Travel eSIM as a package at Lawson. b-mobile Visitor SIM is made to be installed in Japan over Wi-Fi and is ready within an hour when bought before 8pm Japan time. Sakura Mobile hands over the QR code for its Voice+Data eSIM when you pick it up in Japan.

41 of the 61 providers publish a refund policy. Saily and Nomad refund an eSIM you haven't installed within 30 days of purchase, ESIMJAPAN.com within 3 months, and Sakura Mobile any time before the QR code is shown. Sim Local refunds a change of mind, and Jetpac and aloSIM offer a money-back guarantee. povo and Roamless give no refunds.

Yes, on 556 of the 1,208 plans we track, from 36 providers that state hotspot is allowed. Tick Hotspot allowed in the filters to see only those. Holafly's 7 unlimited plans limit hotspot use to 1 GB a day.

Yes. Sakura Mobile and BambooSIM route every plan's data through Japan, MobiMatter does on its IIJ and eSIMPlus plans, and AeriSIM and abesteSIM sell plans marked Local IP. You need one for Japanese streaming, banking and ticket apps. Tick Japan IP only in the filters.

No. Every one of the 129 places on our map has 4G on at least three networks, so a 4G plan works wherever a 5G plan does. 5G is faster where you get it: Ookla measured SoftBank's own customers at 153.55 Mbps on 5G against 73.78 Mbps across all their connections in H1 2026, and 5G availability ran from 37.4% on Rakuten Mobile to 51.4% on Docomo. 527 plans from 31 providers include 5G.

With 29 of the 61 providers, yes: they sell top-ups for the same eSIM. 8 sell none, among them GTN Mobile, Japan Wireless, CDJapan and MATCHA eSIM, so with them you buy a second plan. Tick Top-up available in the filters to see only plans you can add to.

Any of them. All four networks have good 4G at all 26 places we check in Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto, Narita, Haneda and Kansai airports among them. Pick the cheapest plan with the data you need: US$2.60 for a week with 5 GB today.