Getting an eSIM for Japan is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to stay connected while travelling. An eSIM allows you to access local mobile data without a physical SIM card, helping you avoid expensive roaming charges from your UK provider.
Here, we look at the best eSIMs for travel to Japan, including Revolut, which offers a sign-up bonus of £20.
Buying an eSIM for Japan works much like buying a physical SIM – you can usually purchase it online or via a provider’s app. The difference is that the process is generally quicker, provided you’ve confirmed your device supports eSIM.
If you organise everything in advance, you can start using your data the moment you arrive in Japan. However, you’ll need to think carefully about how much data you’re likely to use on your trip as different providers offer different data plans, so it pays to have an idea before you start your research.
| Provider | Key features | Data options | Coverage duration | Price range | Offers/bonuses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revolut | Data-only plans. £20 cashback bonus when you sign-up. | 1 GB – 100 GB | 7 – 30 day plans | £2.50 – £19.50 | £20 sign-up bonus |
| Holafly | Data-only, customisable plans. | Unlimited | 1 – 90 day plans | £3.79 – £116 | No bonus |
| Nomad | Offers both data-only eSIMs and plans with calls. Free trial eSIM for new users. | 1 GB – Unlimted | 5 – 45 day plans | £4.51 – £42.84 | No bonus |
| Saily | Data-only plans. New security features and 115+ virtual locations you can choose from. | 1 GB – Unlimited | 7 – 30 day plans | £3.01 – £54.29 | No bonus |
| Maya Mobile | Data-only plans. Offers plans up to 180 days, plus a money-back guarantee if it doesn’t work. | 3 GB – Unlimited | 5 – 180 day plans | £3.99 – £128.99 | No bonus |
| Jetpac | Data-only plans. Free access to Whatsapp Chat, Uber, Grab and Google Maps when your data runs out. | 1 GB – Unlimited | 1 – 30 day plans | £1 – £54.50 | No bonus |
| Airalo | Offers both data-only eSIMs and plans with calls and texts. | 1 GB – Unlimited | 3 – 30 day plans | £3.50 – £57.50 | No bonus |
Think of Revolut as your all-in-one travel companion for Japan. Alongside fee-free spending abroad with your Revolut card, the app offers eSIM data plans that keep you connected from the moment you land.
You can choose from a range of plans – from 1GB for short stays to 100GB for longer trips – all available to buy directly through the Revolut app. It’s easy to monitor your data use in real time and even redeem your existing RevPoints towards your plan.
Revolut eSIMs use the 1GLOBAL network in Japan.
And if you’re new to Revolut, you’ll get a £20 welcome bonus to kickstart your travels.
Holafly offers unlimited data plans for more than 160 countries, including Japan. There’s also the option of a Japan and Korea eSIM if you’re planning to travel further afield. Simply select how many eSIMs you require and how many days you need them for. If you want to travel for more than 30 days, you’ll save money by choosing a monthly plan.
Once you’ve installed and activated your eSIM you can connect to speeds of 4G and 5G as you travel around.
Holafly eSIMs use the KDDI, SoftBank networks in Japan.
Nomad offers eSIM plans that range from 7 to 30 days and some plans come with unlimited data. You also have the choice of a data-only plan or one that includes text and calls.
Some plans work in other countries too, making them ideal if you’re travelling around. Choose from plans that cover Japan, China and Korea, or a global plan if you’re off on even bigger adventures.
Nomad eSIMs use the SoftBank, KDDI networks in Japan.
There’s a variety of eSIM plans to choose from with Saily. Plans range from 7 to 30 days, with options including Japan only, Asia and Oceana, or a global plan that covers more than 110 countries. Saily’s Ultra plan provides unlimited data across the globe and comes with a range of other benefits.
However, Saily’s main selling point is that it offers a variety of security features to help you stay connected while you’re travelling.
Saily eSIMs use the KDDI, NTT Docomo networks in Japan.
If you’re hoping to travel for several months, take a look at Maya Mobile’s eSIMs. Unlike a lot of its competitors, you can choose plans that last for up to 180 days, plus you’ll have the option of extending cover if that’s not enough.
Depending on how extensively you’re travelling, you can choose from plans that cover Japan only, an Asia eSIM to offer 4G and 5G coverage throughout Southeast Asia, or a global eSIM to help you stay connected in 119 countries. What’s more, if you change your mind or your eSIM doesn’t work, Maya Mobile offers a 180-day money-back guarantee.
Maya Mobile eSIMs use the KDDI, Rakuten networks in Japan.
There are several data plans available with Jetpac, with unlimited plans starting from 3 days and going up to 30 days. You will also benefit from free access to WhatsApp Chat, Uber, Grab and Google Maps, even when your data runs out. You can select from Japan eSIMs as well as those that cover southeast Asia.
Jetpac eSIMs use the SoftBank, KDDI networks in Japan.
With Airalo, you have the option of choosing a Japan eSIM, an Asia eSIM or a global eSIM, depending on how far you’re travelling. Plans range from 7 to 30 days and offer data, calls and texts, or you can select a data-only plan if that’s more suitable. Unlimited data plans are also available but cost more.
Airalo eSIMs use the SoftBank, KDDI networks in Japan.
If you’re heading to Japan for a week, it’s likely you’ll be looking for a 7-day Japan eSIM. Here’s a comparison of the main options:
| Provider | Plan | Price | Data (largest package) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revolut | 7 days | £2.50 | 1 GB |
| Holafly | 7 days | £24 | Unlimited |
| Nomad | 7 days | £17.28 | Unlimited |
| Saily | 7 days | £3.01 | 1 GB |
| Jetpac | 7 days | £6 | 3 GB |
| Airalo | 7 days | £23 | Unlimited |
If you’re going to Japan for a month, it’s likely you’ll be looking for a 30 day Japan eSIM. As most providers now offer multiple 30-day plans, we’ve chosen to compare each provider’s largest data package. Check out our comparison of the main options below:
| Provider | Plan | Price | Data (largest package) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revolut | 30 days | £19.50 | 20 GB |
| Holafly | 30 days | £60 | Unlimited |
| Nomad | 30 days | £12.78 | 10 GB |
| Saily | 30 days | £54.29 | Unlimited |
| Maya Mobile | 30 days | £40.99 | Unlimited |
| Jetpac | 30 days | £54.50 | Unlimited |
| Airalo | 30 days | £57.50 | Unlimited |
If you’d rather buy your eSIM from a provider based in Japan instead of a global eSIM provider, our 4 top picks are as follows:
Sakura Mobile operates under the NTT Docomo and KDDI (au) networks. Its Travel eSIM is designed for visitors to Japan who are staying for up to 90 days. It offers unlimited data, but note that as this is a data-only plan, it won’t come with a phone number. However, you can still use apps like WhatsApp and Zoom to make calls and send messages over the internet using the data connection.
Japan Wireless offers travel-related services to those visiting Japan, including eSIMs. Select how many days cover you require (up to 30 days) and then choose from a 5G unlimited plan, a 4G unlimited plan or a fixed plan offering between 1GB and 50GB of data, depending on how much you need. Again, these are data-only plans and use the NTT Docomo and KDDI (au) networks.
eSIM Japan offers a more comprehensive range of eSIMs for travellers, and they are all powered by KDDI or SoftBank. Its 5G unlimited max plan offers unlimited data for 3 to 31 days with maximum speed, while its unlimited data plan comes with unlimited data for 3 to 30 days. You can also select plans with data ranging from 3GB to 50GB for 7 to 30 days, as well as a variety of multi-country plans if you’re also planning to visit Korea, China, Taiwan, Australia and so on.
NipponSIM offers an unlimited prepaid data-only eSIM for use in Japan, for 4, 7, 10 or 15 days. It offers 4G and 5G coverage and uses the KDDI mobile network.
If you don’t want to buy an eSIM online, it’s possible to buy them in person, but your options will be more limited. Your best bet is to keep an eye out for carrier kiosks at the airport when you arrive, as you may be able to buy a prepaid eSIM there.
Alternatively, you might be able to find eSIMs at large retailers such as Bic Camera and Yodobashi Camera, or in convenience stores like 7-Eleven. But there are no guarantees and your safest option is to buy one online.
Before you buy an eSIM, make sure you check whether your mobile device is compatible. If you have a modern smartphone, such an iPhone, Samsung Galaxy or Google Pixel model, it should support eSIMs. Older handsets, on the other hand, are unlikely to.
Buying an eSIM is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to stay connected while travelling in Japan. It allows you to access local mobile networks without racking up the high roaming fees your UK provider would charge. However, before buying, take the time to compare plans, thinking about how much data you’ll need while you’re away, and pick the option that offers the best value.
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