Which one for you
| Option | Best for | Typical price | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travel eSIM (Airalo, Saily, Yesim) | Phones that support eSIM; most trips | US$8–11 for 3–5GB over 7 days; unlimited from US$26.50 for 7 days | Data only: no Japanese phone number |
| Roaming from your home carrier | No setup; short trips | NT$129–149 a day from Taiwan; ₩11,000 a day with KT | Adds up on long trips; speed drops after the daily allowance |
| Pocket Wi-Fi | Families or groups sharing one connection | Daily rental per device | Collect and return the device; one more battery to charge |
| Free airport Wi-Fi | Arrival day, before your eSIM is on | Free | Only inside the airport |
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Pick by your trip
| Your trip | What to get |
|---|---|
| Travelling alone or as two, phone supports eSIM | A travel eSIM, installed before you fly |
| 3–5 days, light use (maps, messaging, train times) | A 3–5GB plan |
| 1–2 weeks, with photos, translation and video | 10–20GB, or an unlimited plan with a daily full-speed allowance |
| A family sharing, or a phone without eSIM | Pocket Wi-Fi, or a physical SIM card |
| Phone locked to a carrier | Ask your carrier to unlock it first; no travel eSIM works until then |
Japan eSIM prices (US$, checked 30 October 2026)
| Data | Airalo | Saily | Yesim |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1GB | US$4.00 (3 days) | US$3.99 (7 days) | US$4.44 (30 days) |
| 3GB | US$7.50 (3 days), US$8.00 (7 days) | US$7.99 (30 days) | – |
| 5GB | US$10.00 (7 days), US$10.50 (15 days), US$11.00 (30 days) | US$10.99 (30 days) | US$10.56 (30 days) |
| 10GB | US$17.00 (7 days), US$17.50 (15 days), US$18.00 (30 days) | US$17.99 (30 days) | US$19.20 (30 days) |
| 20GB | US$24.00 (15 days), US$25.00 (30 days) | US$24.99 (30 days) | US$29.76 (30 days) |
| Unlimited, 7 days | US$26.50 | US$26.99 | US$29.40 |
| Unlimited, 30 days | US$69.00 | US$71.99 | US$66.00 |
| Network in Japan | SoftBank, plus two other networks | KDDI and SoftBank | KDDI |
Estimate your data
Hours a day on…
Cheapest plan that is big enough and lasts long enough (checked 30 October 2026):
For trips over 30 days, Klook and KKday sell unlimited plans by the day.
Rough use per hour: maps 30 MB, web and messaging 100 MB, social media and standard-quality video 700 MB, video calls 540 MB.
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Choosing a plan
Maps, messaging and translation apps use little data, so 5GB is usually enough for a week unless you stream video or share the connection. “Unlimited” plans slow down after a daily amount: Airalo to 1Mbps after 3GB a day, Saily after 5GB a day.
Compare the network as well as the price, since coverage in the mountains and on trains differs by carrier. Saily and Yesim say hotspot sharing is included; Airalo’s Japan page does not say. Yesim plans must be activated within 90 days of purchase.
Saily and Yesim sell unlimited plans for any number of days from 1 to 30, Airalo for 3, 5, 7, 10, 15 or 30 days. Saily plans start automatically 180 days after purchase if you have not started them yourself.
Buy: Airalo, Saily, Yesim. Klook and KKday also sell Japan eSIMs priced in your own currency, including daily unlimited plans.
Setting up an eSIM
Check your phone
iPhone XS, XR and later models support eSIM, and the phone must not be locked to a carrier: on an iPhone, Settings > General > About shows “No SIM Restrictions” next to Carrier Lock. Some iPhones sold in Hong Kong and Macao take two physical SIM cards instead.
Install it before you fly
Buy the plan and scan its QR code at home over Wi-Fi, so it is ready when you land.
Switch over when you land
Set mobile data to the travel eSIM and turn on data roaming for that line. Keep your home line on for calls and SMS codes, but turn off its data roaming so your carrier does not charge you.
Top up before you run out
Airalo, Saily and Yesim all sell top-ups in their apps, and Saily can top up automatically. Top up on hotel Wi-Fi rather than waiting until the data is gone, and do not delete the eSIM from your phone: most can be installed only once.
Useful before you fly
Airport transfer when you have a lot of shopping bags
Luggage storage in Tokyo for the hours before an evening flight
Roaming from home (checked 28 October 2026)
| Carrier | Japan plan | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Chunghwa Telecom (Taiwan) | Daily plan, 2GB a day at full speed | NT$149 a day |
| Taiwan Mobile | 4–30 days, online price until 30 November 2026 | NT$129 a day |
| FarEasTone (Taiwan) | 4–30 days, 2GB a day at full speed | NT$129 a day |
| SKT baro (Korea) | 3GB for 30 days, 195 countries | ₩29,000 |
| KT (Korea) | Daily roaming basic, 1GB a day | ₩11,000 a day |
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Pocket Wi-Fi and free airport Wi-Fi
A pocket Wi-Fi router shares one connection with several phones, which can work out cheaper for a family. Ninja WiFi rents them by the day, with pick-up counters at Narita, Haneda and Kansai airports.
Narita (FreeWiFi-NARITA) and Haneda (HANEDA-FREE-WIFI) have free Wi-Fi in every terminal: enough to switch on your eSIM or look up the route to your hotel when you land.
Keep data working on your last day
From 1 November 2026, tax-free purchases are refunded after the customs check when you leave, and some refund companies ask you to register a card in an app or on a website. Make sure your plan still covers the day you fly home. At the airport, do the customs kiosk check before you check in any bag: see where the kiosks are at Narita, Haneda and Kansai.
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