With unlimited data and fast 5G speeds, Ubigi is a popular Japan eSIM among travelers. Pronounced as you-bee-gee, Ubigi is a subsidiary of the leading Japanese telco NTT Docomo. What this means is that you can have the same internet experience that locals enjoy. Purchase Ubigi’s eSIM for Japan here using our 10% promo code TRAVLISTS, or check out SoftBank’s equally notable digital SIM card here.
In a nutshell
- What are the bestselling eSIMs on Klook? There are two: Softbank and this super affordable Japan eSIM with unlimited data.
- Is there a Japan eSIM with phone number? Getting a Japanese number typically requires that you show your passport at the shop, so it may be difficult to find an eSIM that comes with local digits. However, if you only need an international phone number (not necessarily issued in Japan), you can also consider getting an eSIM from BNESIM. They have an optional international phone number with affordable voice plans.
- Need a Japan eSIM with calls? Get Roamless, which offers in-app calls to over 200+ destinations starting from $0.01 a minute. Use promo code TRAVLISTS here to get a $5 credit.
- Airalo vs. Ubigi. Our team at Travlists has tested both eSIMs in Japan, and both of these providers offered top-notch internet connections. However, Ubigi’s data plans are slightly cheaper than Airalo’s, making it more popular among our readers. Whether you choose Ubigi or Airalo for your Japan eSIM, you can use our promo code TRAVLISTS on Ubigi here or Airalo here to get 10% off.
Quick eSIM Search
- In a nutshell
- Quick eSIM Search
- Using a prepaid eSIM in Japan
- Award-winning eSIM brands for Tourists 👑
- Bestselling Travel eSIM on Klook
- Japan eSIM with unlimited data ♾️
- Japan eSIM with Phone Number & Voice 📞
- Japan eSIM with Free Trial 🎁
- Prepaid eSIM for Japan with VPN 🔒
- Regional eSIM: Japan, Korea, & China
- Top 10 Japan eSIM Providers
- Airalo vs. Ubigi: The Battle of the Most Popular Japan eSIMs
Using a prepaid eSIM in Japan
Over the years, tourists bound for Japan either purchase a physical SIM card or rent a pocket WiFi from Ninja WiFi. However, many travelers have switched to using an eSIM (short for embedded SIM) for convenience and cheaper pricing. Personally, I have used several eSIMs in Japan, and they all worked just like my go-to SIM card except that I did not have to pick it up at the airport. All I had to was buy an eSIM online, install it, and activate the eSIM to start browsing.
Nowadays there are so many Japan travel eSIMs to choose from, and I guess you can say that this is the only problem about purchasing one. To help you, my partner and I created this shortlist of various providers to highlight their best features. We hope this guide helps with your trip planning.
Award-winning eSIM brands for Tourists 👑
Let’s begin with BNESIM, which has been awarded the World’s Leading Travel Communications Provider for four years now. Having sold millions of products including pocket WiFi, travel SIM cards, international phone numbers, and VPN, BNESIM was one of the first to launch prepaid eSIMs for tourists. Their Japan data plans are among the cheapest in the market (just a little over $2), which is perfect for budget-conscious travelers. They also have an intuitive app and a referral program, which will help you save on your future trips. If this sounds good to you, you can book an eSIM from BNESIM here with our 30% coupon code TRAVLISTS.
Another recognized provider is Ubigi. This brand was awarded Consumer Champion of 2023 at Mobile Europe for their innovative virtual SIM cards. Ubigi has also been selected by BMW and Ultra X as their official eSIM partner, which shows the brand’s trustworthiness and credibility. Their Japan eSIM data plans are also well-reviewed on Reddit and TrustPilot, making it a true consumer choice. Check out Ubigi’s eSIM here starting at only $4.
Bestselling Travel eSIM on Klook
If you usually book your trip on Klook, Asia’s beloved activity booking platform with the best variety of travel deals, here are the links to their top-selling Japan eSIMs:
- 4G/5G Japan eSIM by SoftBank (Booked more than 100,000 times)
- 4G/5G Japan eSIM by Klook (Purchased over 100,000 times)
- 4G Japan eSIM by Sakura Mobile (Bought more than 10,000 times)
The first option, SoftBank, is the official prepaid eSIM of the telco, while the third option is from a reputable Japanese company. The second option is Klook’s own Japan eSIM, which comes with unlimited data and a very simple one-click installation that is perfect for first-time digital SIM card users.
As an alternative, you can get BNESIM’s Japan eSIM here and purchase an add-on phone number with a voice plan (available on the app). You will get an international phone number (US or Canada), which you can use for your trip.
Japan eSIM with unlimited data ♾️
When it comes to uncapped data plans for Japan, there are a couple of options to choose from. These include World eSIM (from the same company as Ninja WiFi), Nomad, Yesim, Softbank, Ubigi, and Klook. All of these providers have plans designed for heavy internet users, digital nomads, and travelers. Check out our table below for a quick comparison:
PROVIDER | PRICE | PROMO CODE |
---|---|---|
Ubigi | 7-30 days from $28 | 10% off code with code TRAVLISTS ➜ |
Nomad | 1-7 days from $2.5 | 5% off code with code TRAVLISTS ➜ |
Klook eSIM | 3-15 days from $7.7 | 5% off code with code BETTERONAPP ➜ |
World eSIM (by Ninja WiFi) | 5-15 days from $29.95 | 5% off with our exclusive link ➜ |
SoftBank | 5-15 days from $15.05 | 5% off with code BETTERONAPP ➜ |
Yesim | 1-30 days from $11 | Get €3 with code TRAVLISTS ➜ |
Airhub | 4-10 days from $9.92 | 5% off with code TRAVLISTS ➜ |
The most popular Japan eSIM with no data limit comes from SoftBank, which our team at Travlists and Tripcky has used several times when we went to Tokyo, Osaka, and Fukuoka. View top things to do in Tokyo ➜
Japan eSIM with Phone Number & Voice 📞
If you need to get a Japanese mobile number, you will have to visit a local telco shop and present your passport for registration. This is why there are not a lot of eSIMs with a Japanese phone number that are readily bookable online.
If you only need to make calls, you can also get Roamless’ eSIM for Japan. Like Skype, they offer in-app calls to 200+ destinations starting at only $0.01 per minute.
Japan eSIM with Free Trial 🎁
If you are on the fence about getting a digital SIM card, how about getting one that comes with a free trial? Providers that offers Japan eSIMs with free trial include GigSky (free 100MB) and Roamless (free 500MB). GigSky’s eSIM with free data comes with no strings attached, so feel free to take advantage of their offer!
Prepaid eSIM for Japan with VPN 🔒
When it comes to Japan eSIMs with VPN, travelers have two options: BNESIM and Yesim. Yesim offers travel virtual SIM cards for iPhone users, while BNESIM has military-grade VPN that you can purchase at a minimal fee (If you subscribe to BNESIM’s monthly plans, the VPN comes for free.).
I have personally tried BNESIM’s eSIM with VPN, though for a different country. However, I am able to say that I was able to bypass all restricted sites and felt confident that my personal information remains secure while connected to a public WiFi.
View internet with VPN plans from BNESIM here, or check out Yesim’s data packs with VPN below:
Regional eSIM: Japan, Korea, & China
If you are traveling to East Asia, including Japan, China, and South Korea, you will be better off purchasing 1 eSIM data plan instead of multiple. As of writing, only Nomad eSIM has this three-country plan, which starts at only $4.
Top 10 Japan eSIM Providers
Get to know about these exciting eSIM operators for Japan — look out for the option that comes from Japan’s leading WiFi brand Ninja WiFI!
1. Jetpac
Japan eSIM with free airport lounge access
Jetpac is an offering of Circles.Life, the best telecommunications company in Singapore. This eSIM provider offers affordable data plans for Japan, which is actually one of their bestselling countries. With their eSIM, you can enjoy a stable internet connection from KDDI and even get free airport lounge access in case your flight gets delayed. Find out more about this perk that our team at Travlists love!
- PRICE: Book here starting at $4!
- COMPATIBLE DEVICES: iPhones, iPad Mini, Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel, and other Android phones. View the full list here.
- NETWORK: KDDI
- HOW TO USE
- Install the eSIM on the Jetpac app.
- Turn on data roaming.
- Connect instantly upon arrival.
- BEST REVIEW: “This is our [first] time using Jetpac Travel eSIM on our recent vacation to Japan and it was amazing… It was very convenient and [the network was so smooth],” reads a review for Jetpac on TrustPilot.
2. Ubigi
Best overall eSIM for Japan
Ubigi is Travlists’ team most preferred eSIM for Japan. The company is part of the Japanese telco NTT Docomo, so you can expect top-notch internet speeds that locals enjoy. Plus, their eSIMs can be reused for future trips (no need to install another eSIM in the future) and they offer a 10% discount with our code TRAVLISTS.
- PRICE: Book here starting at $2.5.
- PROMO CODE: Get 10% off with code TRAVLISTS
- COMPATIBLE DEVICES: iPhones, iPads, Android smartphones, and select Windows laptops.
- HOW TO USE:
- Create an Ubigi account here.
- Choose your data plan.
- Install your eSIM and activate via QR code or the app upon arrival.
- BEST REVIEW: “I’m using Ubigi in Japan right now and can confirm it is excellent…great coverage and good speeds. You can also download the Ubigi app and buy and activate an eSIM before or as you arrive in Japan, I bought mine through the app when I arrived in Tokyo and you didn’t need to use a QR code at all, the app did it all for you,” reads a review for Ubigi’s eSIM for Japan on Reddit.
3. BNESIM
Japan eSIM with Phone Number (International)
BNESIM shot to fame after winning the World’s Best Travel SIM Provider award for 4 years. After hearing about them, I tried it out for my Japan trip last year. Here’s what I love about it: data plans for around $2, easy top-up, single-click install, and the BNESIM referral program. What’s more, their Japan eSIM connects to the local network KDDI, so you can expect to have seamless, consistent, and fast data connection whether you’re staying in a city or exploring the countryside.
For those who need an international phone number or VPN, you can purchase these options on the BNESIM app as well. Download BNESIM app.
- PRICE: Book here starting at $2.4!
- PROMO CODE: Get 30% off with our BNESIM promo code TRAVLISTS
- COMPATIBLE DEVICES: iPhones, Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel, Huawei, Oppo, Sony, Motorola, Gemini, Rakuten, Honor, Hammer, Nokia, Vivo, and more.
- HOW TO USE:
- Download the app here.
- Buy your data plan.
- Install your eSIM in a single click and activate it upon arrival in Japan.
- BEST REVIEW: “BNESIM is absolutely phenomenal! I have been using them since 2023 and I have not had a single incident where I had no data. As soon as I land and turn on my phone, it connects automatically to the best available network,” a review for BNESIM eSIM reads on TrustPilot.
4. Airalo
Most popular
With over 10 million users, Airalo is not only the world’s first eSIM store but also the largest eSIM marketplace. Their eSIMs for Japan connect to 2 Japanese telcos: KDDI and SoftBank. This means you can always get the best internet connection whether you are discovering Tokyo or chilling in Okinawa.
From my conversations with friends who are avid users of Airalo, I learned that the company has a rewarding cashback program for users, which enables them to save some bucks for their future holidays.
- PRICE: Book here starting at $4.5!
- PROMO CODE: 10% discount with Airalo promo code TRAVLISTS
- COMPATIBLE DEVICES: iPhones, iPads, Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel, Hammer, Honor, Huawei, Motorola, Nokia, Oneplus, Oppo, Rakuten, Sharp, Sony, Vivo, Xiaomi, Windows Laptops, and more.
- HOW TO USE: Get a data plan here and install the eSIM on the Airalo app.
- BEST REVIEW: “Airalo eSIM is a great way to travel the world. I have been hesitant toward [eSIMs,] but all my worries have been answered… it is a reliable company… very helpful and prompt to answer any questions by email. Easy to [activate, and] can check usage anytime on [the] app. Works well and convenient,” reads a review for Airalo eSIM.
5. Klook
Cheapest eSIM for Japan from $1.5
Our next Japan eSIM recommendation is for budget-conscious travelers. With unlimited and fixed data plans starting at $1.5, you have plenty of affordable options to choose from. My partner and I used Klook’s eSIM for Japan the last time we went to Osaka, and we were impressed by the service. We got the unlimited data plan, so we did not have to worry about running out of data in the middle of the trip. We were also able to connect to NTT Docomo’s signal, which was consistently fast. Unlike other eSIMs, Klook’s digital SIM card can also be installed on the app, so we did not have to scan a QR code. Before purchasing this eSIM we read these reviews from other travelers, and we were glad we chose the perfect eSIM.
- PRICE: Book here starting at $1.5
- COMPATIBLE DEVICES: iPhones, Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel, Huawei, Oppo, Sony, Xiaomi, Motorola, Sharp, Rakuten, Honor, Vivo, and Nokia. See the full list of devices ➜
- HOW TO USE: Purchase a data plan and install on the Klook app.
- BEST REVIEW: “This [eSIM] was easy to install and had stable…connection! Take note…that it cannot be used for sharing via hotspot, so if you’re like me who had to work remotely while traveling and needed the hotspot, this may not be the correct [Japan eSIM] for you. Otherwise, it served its purpose well!”
6. Nomad
24/7 Customer Support
If you have used another eSIM before and didn’t like your experience, switch to Nomad. Another notable virtual SIM card provider, Nomad boasts round-the-clock customer service that you can count on if you need assistance with installation, activation, or troubleshooting. They also offer unlimited data plans at a very competitive price starting at $2.5.
- PRICE: Book here from $2.5!
- PROMO CODE: 5% off with Nomad eSIM promo code TRAVLISTS
- COMPATIBLE DEVICES: iPhones, Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel, Huawei, Oppo, Sony, Motorola, Gemini, Rakuten, Honor, Hammer, Nokia, and other smartphones. Their eSIM can also be used in tablets (iPads & Samsung Galaxy Tab) and laptops (Acer, Asus, Samsung Galaxy Book, etc.).
- HOW TO USE:
- Purchase a regular or day plan here.
- Install the eSIM with a single click or by scanning a QR code.
- Turn on your eSIM at your destination.
- BEST REVIEW: “I saved a substantial amount of money by using Nomad for my [three-week] trip over using my current plan’s overseas plan.” a review on TrustPilot reads.
7. SoftBank
Best Japan eSIM on Klook
SoftBank is one of Japan’s largest networks, trusted by millions of locals. Like me, you can choose to get their prepaid eSIM for your trip, which comes with fixed or unlimited data. It is also worth noting that this is one of the most booked eSIMs on Klook with over 100k purchases and counting.
- PRICE: Book here starting at $9.4.
- COUPON CODE: 5% off with code BETTERONAPP.
- COMPATIBLE DEVICES: Japan eSIM for iPhones, Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel, and other Android smartphones.
- HOW TO USE:
- Purchase your data plan here.
- Install the eSIM and turn it on upon arrival.
- BEST REVIEW: “Travelled across the country (Tokyo, Nagato, Matsumoto, Takayama, Osaka, Kyoto, Okayama, etc.) and had [a fantastic] reception…”
8. World eSIM
Japan eSIM from Ninja WiFi
What is World eSIM, you ask? The same company that operates Ninja WiFi in Japan brings this eSIM brand with strong coverage in Japan. What I love about it is their simple platform and no-fuss activation — recommended for first-time eSIM users. While their price is on the expensive side, you can be assured that you will have a strong internet connection as if you were renting Ninja WiFi.
- PRICE: Book here starting at $8.5.
- COUPON CODE: Discount applied automatically using our partner link.
- COMPATIBLE DEVICES: iPhones, Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel, and more.
- HOW TO USE
- Choose your data plan here. (Our exclusive partner link automatically shows reduced data plan rates in Japan.)
- Install your eSIM and activate upon arrival.
- BEST REVIEW: “I was curious about world [eSIM] since I typically rent a pocket WiFi… after trying their unlimited data, I was sold. Will buy this again in the future.”
9. Yesim
Japan eSIM with VPN
An eSIM provider with VPN, Yesim is popular among iPhone users who need a fast and secure data connection. By purchasing a data plan (unlimited or fixed), you can get free access to their premium VPN service. This will allow you to bypass any restricted websites in Japan and keep your personal data away from prying eyes if connected to a public WiFi.
- PRICE: Book here starting at $11!
- PROMO CODE: Get €3 off with Yesim promo code TRAVLISTS
- COMPATIBLE DEVICES: iPhones, iPads, Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel, Xiaomi, Huawei, Sony, Motorola, Nokia, One Plus, Nuu, Oppo, Microsoft Surface, Honor, myPhone, Hammer, Rakuten, Nokia, Motorola, and more.
- HOW TO USE:
- Download Yesim here.
- Select your data plan.
- Follow the instructions to install and activate your eSIM.
- BEST REVIEW: “I was very satisfied with using the Yesim app. I had excellent coverage… When I had a question to the Customer Service team, I was helped quickly and kindly. I can recommend Yesim to everyone.”
10. Roamless: Japan eSIM with Calls
Japan eSIM with Calls
As of this post’s writing time, there is no travel eSIM for Japan that comes with voice plans or a local phone number. However, if you need to dial numbers in Japan or another country (over 200+ destinations), you can get Roamless eSIM. All of their users enjoy in-app calls for only $0.01 per minute and they also have flexible data plans starting at less than $3.45.
- PRICE: Book here starting at $6!
- PROMO CODE: Get $5% credit with Roamless promo code TRAVLISTS
- COMPATIBLE DEVICES: iPhones, Google Pixel, Samsung Galaxy, and more.
Airalo vs. Ubigi: The Battle of the Most Popular Japan eSIMs
Before you go, take a look at one of the most popular queries related to eSIMs: Ubigi or Airalo? Take time to read on Reddit and reviews on TrustPilot, and you’ll see comparisons for these providers. I have personally tried Ubigi in Japan and was very happy with my experience. Their app was easy to use, and the 5G connection was consistent. Moreover, I have read that they are part of NTT Docomo. Hence, it’s logical that they can provide the 5G internet experience that locals enjoy. (You can book Ubigi eSIMs here with a 10% discount using our code TRAVLISTS).
However, this is not to say that Airalo is the lesser choice. With more than 10 million users, they are a trusted brand in the eSIM space. Plus, their eSIMs for Japan are powered by leading telcos like SoftBank and KDDI. This ensures that travelers get a superior online connection. Book here and get 10% off Airalo eSIMs with our promo code TRAVLISTS.