In a Nutshell
- We honestly wouldn’t travel to Japan without an eSIM anymore. You can buy and install your travel eSIM for Japan at home, and once you land, you simply activate it. That’s it.
- There are lots of eSIM providers out there, but not all of them are worth it. We’ll show you which option we think is the best eSIM for Japan.
- Short on time? Our top pick is the Japan eSIM from Saily. It’s affordable, incredibly easy to set up, and a great choice for a classic trip around Japan.
- With the code 22places, you’ll get 5% off your Japan eSIM from Saily.
What You Should Know About Japan eSIM
You can buy and install your Japan eSIM at home before your trip. Once you land in Japan, just activate it and you’re online right away. It really doesn’t get any easier.
When choosing a travel eSIM for Japan, you usually have two options: plans with unlimited data for a fixed number of days or plans where you pick a set amount of GB in advance.
Most providers offering eSIMs for Japan include both options, so you can decide what fits your travel style best.
Our Recommendation: Saily as an eSIM for Japan
We recommend Saily as your eSIM for Japan.
Saily’s eSIMs for Japan are very affordable and extremely easy to manage via the app (iOS I Android). The eSIM activates automatically once you arrive in Japan, so there’s no need to hunt for airport Wi-Fi first.
With Saily, you can choose between a fixed amount of data or unlimited data, making it a very flexible travel eSIM for Japan.
For a 2-3 week trip, we recommend 20 GB. That’s plenty if you mainly use your data for Google Maps, navigating public transport, checking messages, and posting the occasional photo. On our own two week trip, we used around 15 GB per person.
If 20 GB isn’t enough, you can easily add more data directly in the app. You can also track your usage and see how long your plan is valid at any time.
Buy an eSIM for Japan online from Saily
Use the code 22places to save 5% on your Japan eSIM.
| Data allowance | Valid for | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | 7 days | 4 USD |
| 3 GB | 30 days | 8 USD |
| 5 GB | 30 days | 11 USD |
| 10 GB | 30 days | 15 USD |
| 20 GB our top pick! | 30 days | 20 USD |
| Unlimited data | 5 days | 15 USD |
| Unlimited data | 10 days | 28 USD |
| Unlimited data | 15 days | 39 USD |
| Unlimited data | 20 days | 48 USD |
| Unlimited data | 25 days | 53 USD |
| Unlimited data | 30 days | 58 USD |
eSIMs for Japan in Comparison
Saily isn’t the only option when it comes to eSIMs for Japan. There are several other providers, and depending on how you travel, some of them can be a better fit.
An eSIM for Japan from Saily is ideal for a classic round trip. If you’re coming to Japan as a digital nomad and use a lot of data every day, an unlimited eSIM from Jetpac is the best eSIM for Japan.
For short trips, such as a one week city break in Tokyo, we recommend an eSIM from Airalo. Holafly is interesting if you want unlimited data for a flexible number of days.
To make things easier, we’ve summarized the best eSIMs for Japan in a comparison table. This way, you can quickly see which provider offers what.
| Saily our top pick! | Jetpac | Holafly | Airalo | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Data allowance | 1, 3, 5, 10, 20 GB and unlimited | 1, 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40 GB and unlimited | Unlimited data | 1, 3, 5, 10, 20 GB and unlimited |
| Price for 20 GB | 20 USD | 40 USD | - | 25 USD |
| Price for 21 days of unlimited data | 48 USD | 50 USD | 64 USD | - (only 15 days for 49 USD and 30 days for 74 USD available) |
| Validity period | 7 and 30 days | 1, 4, 7 and 30 days | 1-90 days | 3, 7, 15 and 30 days |
| Hotspot / tethering | Allowed | Allowed | Up to 500 MB per day allowed | Allowed |
| Installation | Via App (iOS I Android) | Via App (iOS I Android) | Via QR-Code | Via App (iOS I Android) oder QR-Code |
| Activation | Automatic in destination country | Manual via settings | Manual via settings | Manual via settings |
| Multi-country eSIM available? | Asia and Oceania | Asia | Asia | Asia |
| Discount code | 22places (5%) | 22PLACES (5%) | ||
| Buy eSIM | Click here | Click here | Click here | Click here |
Our Personal Experience with Japan eSIMs from Saily
We used a Saily eSIM on our trip through Japan and were very happy with it. We’ve relied on Saily many times before and have always had great experiences.
Over 16 days, we used just under 15 GB per person. We initially bought 10 GB before the trip and then added another 5 GB along the way.
In hindsight, it would have been cheaper to book 20 GB right away. There’s no 15 GB option anyway, and with 20 GB you don’t have to worry about running out of data.
Our Conclusion on the Japan eSIM
For most travelers, we clearly recommend a Japan eSIM from Saily. It’s the best eSIM for Japan if you’re planning a classic round trip.
You get great value for money, an easy to use app, and a wide choice between fixed data packages and unlimited data.
We recommend choosing 20 GB. That’s more than enough for a 2 to 3 week trip through Japan.
Buy your Japan eSIM from Saily online
We regularly update this article about eSIMs for Japan. Still, terms and prices can change at short notice. Before booking, always double check the current details with the provider. Thanks!