Best Japan eSIM (w/ Discount) – Best eSIM for Japan Compared

Looking for the best eSIM for Japan on an upcoming trip? We give you a detailed comparison of the best Japan eSIM in this guide.

Our top recommendation for the best eSIM for Japan is Ubigi, with aIRALO and Holafly as alternatives.

Related Travel Guides on Japan

• Japan sim card
• Holafly vs Airalo eSim for japan
• Pocket Wifi vs Sim Card in Japan

What Are The Most Popular eSim in Japan (eSIM Japan Tourist)

You can get the most popular eSim providers in Japan: Airalo, Holafly, Nomad, GigSky MTX and Ubigi depending on how much data you need in Japan.

What Is The Cheapest eSim For Japan?

Ubigi Japan eSim has the most affordable data package for $4 USD with 1 GB data valid for 30 days. For $8 USD with 3 GB data valid for 30 days and for $16 USD with 10 GB data valid for 30 days.(USING DISCOUNT CODE GAMINTRAVELER 10%).

Airalo Japan eSim prepaid for $4.5 USD with 1 GB data valid for 7 days (USING DISCOUNT CODE GAMINTRAVELER 10%). For $14 USD with 3 GB data valid for 30 days.

Holafly Japan eSim for less than $60 USD if you use our code GAMINTRAVELER you will have unlimited internet for 30 days eSim in Japan for just $2 USD per day.

Read here how to get from Narita airport to city center, Haneda airport to city center and Osaka airport to city center

What is an eSIM? Best Japanese eSIM Compared and Best Prepaid Japan eSIM

An eSim is a virtual sim card (embedded sim) that can be used to connect to data services while traveling. It is not a physical sim card that you insert into your phone.

Instead, you typically scan a code that gives your phone access to the data plan package associated with that eSim.

An eSim data plan provides an excellent way to obtain a data or internet package outside of your home sim card, or phone carrier service, particularly if you are in Europe.

The advantage of using an eSim is that it eliminates the need to change your phone number for Whatsapp, iMessage, Telegram, or any other messaging apps.

After purchasing an eSim, you will receive a QR code via email. Scanning this code should connect you to data immediately. A few eSims are available in Japan for tourists, along with prepaid eSim data plans.

IIJmio, B Mobile, and Holafly are the main phone operators in Japan. However, Telkomsel, IM3 Ooredoo, Tri, IIJmio, and B Mobile do not offer eSims for tourists in Japan without a subscription plan.

Difference Between an eSim vs Getting a SIM Card Data Plan

Ease of access to a data or internet package is the biggest difference between an eSim over a data plan from Regular mobile data carriers in your country. With an eSim, instead of buying the physical sim, you can buy a package online and activate it wherever you are.

Here’s a full review of SIM Cards vs eSIM, and the pros and cons of each to help you decide better.

Holafly – Better eSIM Japan Tourist for Unlimited Data

Holafly Japan eSim is our favorite since we are always looking for unlimited data options or huge data packages. Holafly Japan eSim for less than $60 USD if you use our code GAMINTRAVELER you will have unlimited internet for 30 days eSim in Japan for just $2 USD per day.

The data plans with Holafly eSim Japan start at $19 USD for 5 days for unlimited data. If you choose 10 days unlimited data $34 USD, for $47 USD 15 days unlimited data and $64 USD unlimited data for 30 days all of them with unlimited data.

Airalo – Better eSIM Japan Tourist for Cheaper Data Allowance

Airalo Japan eSim is a good alternative to have internet in Japan but you won’t be having unlimited internet service with them. Plans with Airalo eSim Japan prepaid start at $14 USD with 3 GB data valid for 30 days.

The cheapest eSim in Japan with Airalo is $6 USD with 1 GB data valid for 7 days (USING DISCOUNT CODE GAMINTRAVELER 10%).

More Prepaid eSIM Japan- Other Japan Travel eSIM Compared

Nomad eSim Japan

Nomad eSim Japan for $6 USD with 1 GB data valid for 7 days can be a great idea if you aren’t planning to use so much data. Nomad eSim Japan isn’t offering huge data packages or unlimited data for eSim in Japan.

Plans with Nomad eSim Japan prepaid start at $15 USD with 3 GB data valid for 30 days. For $17 USD with 5 GB data valid for 30 days. For $50 USD with 10 GB data and for $69 USD with 20 GB data.

MTX Connect eSim Japan

MTX Connect eSim Japan is a small provider offering data plans in Japan. MTX Connect eSim Japan for €60 with 10 GB data valid for 30 days. MTX Connect eSim Japan for €24 with 4 GB data valid for 14 days.

There are unlimited data plans starting from €10 per day and for €15 with 2 GB data valid for 7 days.

UBIGI JAPAN ESIM – BEST OPTION

Ubigi Japan eSim has the most affordable data packages for $4 USD with 1 GB data valid for 30 days. For $8 USD with 3 GB data valid for 30 days and for $16 USD with 10 GB data valid for 30 days. (USING DISCOUNT CODE GAMINTRAVELER 10%).

GIGSKY JAPAN ESIM

GigSky Japan eSim for $5 USD with 1 GB data valid for 7 days. For $20 USD with 5 GB data valid for 30 days.

How to Activate Your Esim Service

You can purchase your Holafly eSim here (in this case with Holafly eSim Japan but there are other providers too). Choose the country you’re going to, and how many days you want to have unlimited data service or any other data packages for data eSim in Japan.

Remember that you’re buying internet data and not credits for sending text messages/SMS, or making phone calls. You can use regular messaging apps for these like Whatsapp, Telegram, Messenger or iMessage.

Once you have your eSim confirmation, you’ll get the code. You can save this code in your phone as an image, and scan it later, or scan it now, and you’ll immediately activate it.

Check if Your Device is Compatible with eSIMs – Japan eSIM Comparison

Before you can get an eSim Japan data package, you need to first make sure that your phone supports the eSim functionality. Unfortunately, this is not available for all phones. It became available in the last year or two, making only the newest phone versions to support this feature.

If you are using an iPhone or iPad running SIM card functionality, these are the models that support the eSim feature for iOS.

iPhone and iPad with Esim Functionality

iPhone XR, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone SE 2 (2020), iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Mini, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Mini, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro,, MaxiPhone SE 3 (2022). On iPhone 13 models you can have two eSIMs activated at the same time.

For iPads, you have the following.

iPad Pro 11″ (model A2068, from 2020), iPad Pro 12.9″ (model A2069, from 2020), iPad Air (model A2123, from 2019), iPad (model A2198, from 2019), iPad Mini (model A2124, from 2019)

Your ipad needs to have the sim functionality to get the esim feature.

This is how you activate an esim with iOS devices.

Android Phones with the Esim Functionality

Samsung Esim Phones

Samsung Galaxy S20, Samsung Galaxy S20+, Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra, Samsung Galaxy S21, Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G, Samsung Galaxy S21+ Ultra 5G, Samsung Galaxy S22, Samsung Galaxy S22+, Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, Samsung Galaxy Note 20, Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G, Samsung Galaxy Fold, Samsung Galaxy Fold 3, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G Fold, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip, Samsung Watch (via Samsung Wearable application)

For Samsung subscribers, you can check the guide here for activating the esim.

Google Pixel Esim Phones

Have a Google Pixel phone, check this guide on how to activate esim. Below are the Google Pixel Phones that support esim:

Google Pixel 2 (only phones bought with Google Fi service), Google Pixel 2 XLGoogle Pixel 3, Google Pixel 3 XL, Google Pixel 3a, Google Pixel 3a XL, Google Pixel 4, Google Pixel 4a, Google Pixel 4 XL, Google Pixel 5, Google Pixel 5a, Google Pixel 6, Google Pixel 6 Pro.

Other Android Handsets that Support the eSim functionality:

Huawei P40, Huawei P40 Pro, Huawei Mate 40 Pro

Oppo Find X3 Pro, Oppo Reno 5A, Oppo Reno6 Pro 5G, Oppo Find X5, Oppo Find X5 Pro, Oppo A55s

Motorola Razr 2019, Motorola Razr 5G, Nuu Mobile X5, Gemini PDA, Rakuten Mini, Rakuten Big-S, Rakuten Big and Sony Xperia 10 III Lite.

There are also Ultrabooks that have the eSim functionality in them.

So check the following ultrabooks and laptops:

Microsoft Surface Pro X, Microsoft Surface Go 2, Microsoft Surface Pro LTE Advanced

Acer Swift 3, Acer Swift 7, Asus Mini Transformer

Asus NovaGo, Asus VivoBook Flip 14, HP Elitebook G5

HP Probook G5, HP Zbook G5, HP Specter Folio 13, Lenovo Yoga C630, Lenovo Miix 630

Lenovo Yoga 520, Lenovo Flex 5G and Samsung Galaxy Book 2

Is your Phone Unlocked for eSIMs?

The idea of having an eSim is to have another carrier providing data service/internet service to your phone. Even if your phone supports the eSim functionality, the phone needs to be open or unlocked to use any data/sim company.

Locked phones are usually the phones you purchased with a data plan with a sim card or carrier service, where you have plans that you pay monthly until your contract expires, and allowed you to get your phone at a discount or for free.

Final Thoughts on Best eSIM for Japan (eSIM Japan Tourist)

Comparing all the eSIM for Japan tourists, Holafly is the option for unlimited data esim in Japan while Ubigi is the more convenient and affordable choice.

Ubigi Japan eSim has the most affordable data package for $4 USD with 1 GB data valid for 30 days. For $8 USD with 3 GB data valid for 30 days and for $16 USD with 10 GB data valid for 30 days.(USING DISCOUNT CODE GAMINTRAVELER 10%).

Airalo Japan eSim prepaid if you are planning to stay short for $4.5 USD with 1 GB data valid for 7 days. For $15 USD with 3 GB data valid for 30 days. For $17 USD with 5 GB data valid for 30 days.

Holafly Japan eSim for less than $60 USD if you use our code GAMINTRAVELER you will have unlimited internet for 30 days eSim in Japan for just $2 USD per day.

Hope we were able to help you decide and feel free to use our links and discount codes to make sure you get the best prices. Til our next guide!