Quick picks by trip
Match your trip to a plan size. Prices are Japan plans from the live feed.
All 6 Japan eSIMs compared
Ranked by the 30-day 10 GB price. A named host network breaks ties.
| Provider | 10 GB | Discount code | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
1 NomadKDDI au / SoftBank network | $16from $0.70/GB | 20% off · tap to copy | Get plan → |
2 Sim LocalKDDI au network | $16.25from $1.27/GB | 10% off · tap to copy | Get plan → |
3 UbigiKDDI and NTT Docomo network | $16.50from $1.10/GB | 10% off · tap to copy | Get plan → |
4 GigSkyNetwork not disclosed | $16.79from $1.68/GB | 15% off · tap to copy | Get plan → |
5 SailyKDDI and SoftBank network | $17.99from $1.25/GB | 10% off · tap to copy | Get plan → |
6 AiraloSoftbank + KDDI network | $18from $1.20/GB | No code | Get plan → |
Hotspot rules and unlimited-plan caps are in each review below. Tap a code to copy it, then paste it at checkout. Codes are agreed directly with each provider. All discount codes
These are our 6 picks. See every Japan plan from every provider, sorted by price per GB.All Japan plans →What we found in Japan
NTT Docomo carries the largest share of Japan's mobile contracts, yet Ubigi is the only one of our picks with a confirmed host network that names it; the others run on KDDI's au network, some alongside SoftBank.
We compared 6 travel eSIMs for Japan on the price of a 30-day plan at the size most people buy. Right now Nomad is our top pick at $16, and Nomad works out cheapest per gigabyte ($0.70/GB). Prices update daily from each provider, so the table above always shows the current order.
Japan has four mobile networks: NTT Docomo, KDDI (sold as au), SoftBank and Rakuten Mobile. Docomo is the biggest, with 38.7% of mobile contracts at the end of June 2026 once the lines it supplies to budget brands are counted, according to Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. KDDI follows on 31.8% and SoftBank on 24.7%.
Every eSIM here that names a network uses KDDI's au network. Ubigi is the only one that also names Docomo, while Nomad, Saily and Airalo add SoftBank and Sim Local names au alone. GigSky doesn't say.
In Opensignal's Japan report for April 2026 (data from January to March 2026), au won ten awards outright and shared one, including consistent quality (88.3% of tests) and reliability. SoftBank had the fastest average download speed at 65.1 Mbps, and Docomo scored highest for coverage (9.0 out of 10) and 5G download speed (159.1 Mbps). Docomo switched off its 3G network, FOMA, on 31 March 2026, and nationwide emergency roaming between networks, called JAPAN Roaming, started on 1 April 2026.
A Japan plan covers Japan only. None of the providers here says its Japan plan also works in South Korea or Taiwan, so a multi-country trip needs a regional plan.
Airalo says its Japan eSIM covers the whole country, including Okinawa and Hokkaido. Saily names Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Fukuoka and Sapporo, and warns that rural Hokkaido is patchier on any network. Nomad warns that its coverage may not include overseas territories. Sim Local and Ubigi don't name Okinawa or Hokkaido, so we can't confirm either way.
Buy your eSIM before you leave, but start the plan once you land, or the 30 days begin in the airport queue. You can top up in the app once you're on a Japanese network.
If you already know how long you're going for and how much data you need, skip to the plans. If not, Plan Match asks a few quick questions and picks a size for you.
The 6 Japan eSIMs reviewed
Each review opens with the verdict. Specs, strengths and limitations follow.
Nomad
Our verdict$16 at 10 GB for 30 days is the lowest dest total on the live Japan table, on a shop that prints KDDI au / SoftBank.
- Host network
- KDDI au / SoftBank (shop; 10 GB SKU both; 50 GB SKU KDDI au)
- Coverage
- Overseas territories not claimed. Shop markets Tokyo and Osaka
- Hotspot
- Yes on the Japan shop FAQ
- Code
- Dest prints ATESIM 20% on sale 10/20/50 GB rows. Programme excludes sale, unlimited, Thailand 50 GB, plans under USD 5
- Cheapest 10 GB 30-day dest total among the six ranked picks ($16)
- Dest cheapest 3 GB, 5 GB, 20 GB and 50 GB 30-day country rows
- Shop names KDDI au / SoftBank
- Hotspot supported on the Japan shop FAQ
- 10 GB and 50 GB shop rows are on sale, so programme ATESIM 20% does not apply even where dest prints the code
- 50 GB SKU names KDDI au only
- No 25 GB or 30-day unlimited country row
- Overseas territories not claimed
Nomad's Japan shop names KDDI au / SoftBank. The 10 GB 30-day SKU (Japan 10 GB 30 Days) lists KDDI au and SoftBank on mask_network. The 50 GB 30-day SKU lists KDDI au only. The same shop FAQ prints: Yes, Nomad's eSIMs support tethering / hotspot. Coverage may not include overseas territories. The shop markets Tokyo and Osaka. Okinawa and Hokkaido are not on that shop as coverage.
Live-table 10 GB 30-day is $16, ATESIM 20% where the dest table prints it, matching the shop USD 16 amount (regular_price USD 18, is_on_sale true). That is the cheapest 10 GB dest total among the six. ATESIM 20% does not apply to unlimited, add-ons, business, sale, Thailand 50 GB, or plans under USD 5. Dest still prints ATESIM on this 10 GB sale row, on 20 GB $23, on 50 GB $35 (is_on_sale true), and on unlimited 3/7/14/21-day rows. There is no Nomad 30-day unlimited country row. Shop 1 GB 7 days is USD 4 (under the USD 5 floor). Live-table 3 GB 30-day is $7. Live-table 5 GB 30-day is $10. Live-table 20 GB 30-day is $23. Live-table 50 GB 30-day is $35. No 25 GB 30-day Japan-country row.
Sim Local
Our verdictKDDI au is written on the 5, 10 and 20 GB country SKUs, and the 5 GB dest row is what puts this shop above Ubigi after the $16.50 tie.
- Host network
- KDDI au (5/10/20 GB SKUs)
- Coverage
- Country SKUs print Japan. Okinawa and Hokkaido unnamed
- Hotspot
- Yes on those SKUs
- Code
- ATESIM 10% on the dest row
- Unlimited, 30 days
- $77.50 on dest (KDD-006), 10 GB/day then throttled. Second product line
- 5/10/20 GB SKUs name KDDI au
- Hotspot and tethering yes on those SKUs
- ATESIM 10% where the dest table prints it
- Shop list on 10 GB matches dest at US$16.50
- No dest cheapest-at-size win at 5, 10 or 20 GB (Nomad undercuts all three)
- Country SKUs do not name Okinawa or Hokkaido
- 10 GB dest total ties Ubigi at $16.50
Sim Local's 5 GB, 10 GB and 20 GB country SKUs name KDDI au. The same SKUs print hotspot and tethering: yes. Coverage on those SKUs is Japan. They do not name Okinawa, Hokkaido, Kyushu, Shikoku or Tsushima.
ATESIM is 10% off where the dest table prints it. Live-table 10 GB 30-day is $16.50, tied with Ubigi. Live-table 5 GB 30-day is $11, behind Nomad $10. Live-table 20 GB 30-day is $25.50, behind Nomad $23. Unlimited 30-day is $77.50 on dest (KDD-006-KDDI), with dest printing 10 GB/day then throttled. That au unlimited line is a second product. Orange Holiday World and World 3 GB sit on the same site. They are not Japan-country dest cheapest SKUs.
3Best 1 GB and 25 GB 30-day priceUbigi$16.50TRAVELCITY10 · 10%
Our verdictThe only 25 GB 30-day country row, with KDDI and NTT Docomo written on the 10 GB and 25 GB SKUs, not on the partner list.
- Host network
- KDDI and NTT Docomo (10/25 GB SKUs)
- Coverage
- Islands not named on the SKUs
- Hotspot
- Data sharing allowed on those SKUs
- Unlimited, 30 days
- $65, daily cap not printed
- Code
- TRAVELCITY10 for 10% off
- Cheapest 1 GB and 25 GB 30-day rows on the live Japan table
- 10/25 GB 30-day SKUs name KDDI and NTT Docomo
- Same 10 GB 30-day: Japan $16.50, Asia $42
- Data sharing allowed on those SKUs
- Rates listing page did not name a host this pass
- Unlimited daily cap not printed on the 30-day dest row
- No 5 GB or 20 GB 30-day country row on dest
- 10 GB dest total matches Sim Local at $16.50
Ubigi is the cheapest 30-day Japan-country row at 1 GB ($4) and 25 GB ($32). The 10 GB 30-day SKU names KDDI and NTT Docomo. The 25 GB 30-day SKU prints the same two hosts. Those SKUs say data sharing is allowed. They do not name Okinawa or Hokkaido. The rates listing page did not name the Japan host on the fetched page. The dest host table currently cites the Ubigi partner list; that list is not the cite this pass.
Live-table 10 GB 30-day is $16.50, tied with Sim Local. TRAVELCITY10 is 10% off where the dest table prints it. There is no 5 GB or 20 GB 30-day Japan-country row on the live dest table. Unlimited 30-day is $65 with dest printing no daily cap. The unlimited affiliate SKU path contains FUP60. That is a product code, not a printed daily GB. Do not read 60 GB into that row. Live-table 50 GB 30-day is $55, behind Nomad $35.
Same provider, same 10 GB, 30 days on the live dest table: Japan $16.50, Best Asia $28, Best World $39, Asia $42, World $59. Shop list on the 10 GB SKU is US$16.50.
4Fourth at 10 GB 30-day dest totalGigSky$16.79ATESIM · 15%
Our verdict$16.79 keeps GigSky inside the six on dest 10 GB. The host cell stays empty until the Japan shop names an MNO.
- Host network
- Not publicly disclosed
- Coverage
- Islands unnamed (Japan shop not retrieved)
- Hotspot
- Not stated (Japan shop Cloudflare this pass)
- Unlimited, 30 days
- $65.49, 2.5 GB/day then reduced, not below 100 kbps
- Code
- ATESIM 15% on the dest row
- Fourth-cheapest 10 GB 30-day dest total among the six ($16.79)
- ATESIM 15% where the dest table prints it
- Capped 5 GB and 10 GB 30-day country rows exist on dest
- Japan shop not retrieved this pass; host unpublished
- No dest 50 GB country row
- Not the cheapest 30-day row at 5 GB or 10 GB
- Hotspot line empty on the shop this pass
GigSky's 10 GB 30-day dest country total is $16.79, ATESIM 15% where the dest table prints it. That sits behind Nomad, Sim Local and Ubigi, and ahead of Saily and Airalo. The Japan shop at /country/esim-in-japan did not return a usable page this pass (Cloudflare), so the host stays unpublished. Dest currently cites a GigSky blog for NTT Docomo. Blog is not shop. Policy that names fastest-available is not a carrier.
There is no GigSky 50 GB dest Japan-country row at any duration. Live-table 5 GB 30-day is $10.29, behind Nomad $10. Unlimited 30-day is $65.49 with dest printing 2.5 GB/day, then reduced, not below 100 kbps. Hotspot is empty for this pick because the Japan shop was not retrieved; a GigSky Help Centre article is not the shop.
5Fifth at 10 GB 30-day dest totalSaily$17.99ATESIM · 10%
Our verdictKDDI and SoftBank sit on the Japan product page. At 10 GB, four programme rows still undercut $17.99.
- Host network
- KDDI and SoftBank (shop)
- Coverage
- Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Fukuoka and Sapporo. Rural Hokkaido printed as patchier. Okinawa unnamed
- Hotspot
- Limitless hotspot sharing with friends and family
- Unlimited, 30 days
- $71.99, 5 GB/day then 1 Mbps
- Shop names KDDI and SoftBank
- Shop hotspot line is printed
- Shop coverage line names Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Fukuoka and Sapporo
- Unlimited 30-day exists on the live table with a printed daily cap
- Not the cheapest 30-day row at 3, 5, 10 or 20 GB
- 10 GB dest total is fifth among the six
- Okinawa unnamed on the coverage line
Saily's Japan shop names KDDI and SoftBank on the product page (powered by partnerships with local operators including KDDI and SoftBank). Shop hotspot line: Limitless hotspot sharing with friends and family. Coverage copy names Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Fukuoka and Sapporo. Rural Hokkaido is printed as patchier for any carrier. Okinawa is unnamed on that coverage line.
Saily is not the cheapest 30-day row at 3, 5, 10 or 20 GB. Live-table 10 GB 30-day is $17.99. Live-table 3 GB 30-day is $7.99, behind Nomad $7. Live-table 5 GB 30-day is $10.99, behind Nomad $10. Live-table 20 GB 30-day is $24.99, behind Nomad $23. Unlimited 30-day is $71.99 with dest printing 5 GB/day, then 1 Mbps. Dest prints no promo on Saily this pass.
6Sixth at 10 GB 30-day dest totalAiralo$18
Our verdictSoftbank and KDDI sit on the Moshi Moshi payload, with Okinawa and Hokkaido in other_info. The 10 GB dest total is $18.
- Host network
- Softbank and KDDI (Moshi Moshi 10 GB payload)
- Coverage
- All of Japan, including Okinawa and Hokkaido (Moshi Moshi other_info)
- Hotspot
- Not stated on the Japan shop or Moshi Moshi payload
- Unlimited, 30 days
- $69, 3 GB/day then 1 Mbps
- Moshi Moshi payload names Softbank and KDDI
- Payload names Okinawa and Hokkaido
- Unlimited 30-day exists on the live table with a printed daily cap
- 20 GB 30-day country row exists on dest
- Hotspot not stated on the Japan shop or Moshi Moshi payload
- 10 GB 30-day dest total is the dearest of the six
- Not the cheapest 30-day row at 3, 5, 10 or 20 GB
Airalo's Japan shop UI names Softbank as the primary network. The same-origin package payload for the Moshi Moshi 10 GB 30-day SKU (moshi-moshi-30days-10gb, dest $18) says it operates on the Softbank and KDDI networks in Japan. That payload other_info says coverage includes all of Japan, including Okinawa and Hokkaido. Hotspot is not stated on that shop or payload, so it is omitted.
Airalo is not the cheapest 30-day row at 3, 5, 10 or 20 GB. Live-table 10 GB 30-day is $18, the dearest of the six. Live-table 20 GB 30-day is $25, behind Nomad $23 and Saily $24.99. Live-table 5 GB 30-day is $11. Unlimited 30-day is $69 with dest printing 3 GB/day then 1 Mbps (moshi-moshi-30days-unlimited). Dest prints no promo on Airalo this pass.
The bottom line
Nomad is the cheapest ranked 10 GB 30-day dest total ($16) and the dest cheapest 3 GB, 5 GB, 20 GB and 50 GB 30-day rows. Sim Local and Ubigi meet at $16.50; Sim Local is cheaper at 5 GB. Ubigi wins 1 GB and 25 GB. GigSky is fourth at 10 GB ($16.79) with no dest 50 GB row. Saily is fifth. Airalo is sixth. Yesim's 10 GB dest total is $18.52, so it is not one of the six. Dest unlimited 30-day cheapest is Maya $49.99 (out); among the six, Ubigi $65 is the lowest 30-day unlimited country row. Hosts: Nomad KDDI au / SoftBank on the shop; Sim Local KDDI au on the SKUs; Ubigi KDDI and NTT Docomo on the 10/25 GB SKUs; GigSky unpublished (shop blocked); Saily KDDI and SoftBank on the shop; Airalo Softbank and KDDI on the Moshi Moshi payload. Nomad, Sim Local and Saily print a hotspot line. Ubigi SKU says data sharing allowed. Airalo and GigSky hotspot lines are empty this pass.
Airalo Moshi Moshi names Okinawa and Hokkaido. Nomad prints an overseas-territory hedge and does not name those islands. Saily names rural Hokkaido as patchier. Sim Local country SKUs, Ubigi SKUs and Yesim city list leave Okinawa and Hokkaido empty as coverage. South Korea and Taiwan stay empty on Japan-country SKUs.
The live Japan table is at /japan. Plan Match is /plan-match.
What Japan data actually costs
Price per GB drops from $2.99/GB at 1 GB to $0.70/GB at 50 GB. Buying one size up often costs less per GB than topping up later. Full list on the live Japan plans table.
A 50 GB plan costs 77% less per GB than a 1 GB plan. Source: All Things eSIM live plan feed, 13 November 2026.
The “unlimited” trap
Unlimited 30-day plans run $65 to $71.99, and 2 of the 3 publish a daily cap before speeds drop. Check the cap before you pay for a label.
How we rank Japan eSIMs
We rank by the 30-day 10 GB country-plan price, pulled daily from each provider’s catalog. When two totals match, a host network named on the shop or SKU breaks the tie.
Japan eSIM FAQs
Does a Japan eSIM cover Okinawa or Hokkaido?
Airalo Moshi Moshi 10 GB payload: all of Japan, including Okinawa and Hokkaido. Nomad shop: overseas territories may be excluded; Okinawa and Hokkaido unnamed. Saily shop: rural Hokkaido printed as patchier; Okinawa unnamed on the coverage line. Sim Local 5/10/20 GB SKUs: coverage Japan. Ubigi 10/25 GB SKUs: unnamed. Yesim city list: Sapporo is listed; Hokkaido and Okinawa are not printed as coverage. Do not copy KDDI, SoftBank or Docomo onto an island the shop did not name.
Can I tether or use a hotspot?
Nomad Japan shop FAQ: yes, tethering / hotspot. Sim Local 5/10/20 GB SKUs: yes. Saily shop: Limitless hotspot sharing with friends and family. Ubigi 10/25 GB SKUs: data sharing allowed. Airalo Japan shop and Moshi Moshi payload did not state a tethering line. GigSky Japan shop was not retrieved, so the hotspot cell stays empty.
Which network will I actually use?
Nomad shop: KDDI au / SoftBank (10 GB SKU both; 50 GB SKU KDDI au). Sim Local 5/10/20 GB SKUs: KDDI au. Ubigi 10/25 GB SKUs: KDDI and NTT Docomo. Saily shop: KDDI and SoftBank. Airalo Moshi Moshi payload: Softbank and KDDI. GigSky: unpublished on the shop this pass. Opensignal's April 2026 report is a coverage map for au, NTT docomo, Rakuten Mobile and SoftBank. It does not name a host for these picks.
Does ATESIM 20% apply to Nomad's Japan 10 GB or 50 GB plans?
ATESIM 20% does not apply to unlimited, add-ons, business, sale, Thailand 50 GB, or plans under USD 5. The Japan 10 GB 30-day shop row is_on_sale true (USD 16, regular_price USD 18). The Japan 50 GB 30-day shop row is_on_sale true (USD 35). Dest still prints ATESIM on those rows and on unlimited 3/7/14/21-day rows. Shop 1 GB 7 days is USD 4, under the USD 5 floor.
Does a Japan-country plan latch onto South Korea or Taiwan?
No first-party Japan-country shop named a Korea or Taiwan latch this pass, so those cells stay empty. Ubigi Asia is a separate product. A Japan-only dest row is not a border plan.
About the author
Lee founded all things eSIM after one roaming bill too many, and built the price engine behind it, the one that reduces every travel data plan to a single comparable number: what it actually costs per gigabyte.
