Japan SIM card for tourists: local SIM or eSIM?
For a week of everyday use (6 GB), the cheapest prepaid SIM in Japan costs ¥2,980 excl. tax (IIJmio, 6 GB, 30 days), sold at the airport. A travel eSIM for the same week costs from $12.99 (GoMoWorld) and is installed before you leave.
Offers checked on October 21, 2026 on the carriers’ websites
The best travel eSIMs in Japan for a week
For 7 days and 6 GB
- 1Best unlimited
PlanJapan
Japan specialistUnlimited · 7 days
$33.00$4.71 per day- No daily cap announced
- Network: NTT Docomo
- Hotspot up to 10 GB a day
- 2Cheapest
GoMoWorld
14 GB · 30 days
$12.99$0.93 per GB- Lowest total price for 7 days
- Hotspot allowed
- 3Best price per GB
Orange Travel
20 GB · 14 days
€14.99€0.75 per GB- Lowest price per GB for this trip
- Networks: NTT Docomo, KDDI (au), SoftBank, and Rakuten Mobile
- Hotspot allowed
Three steps, three questions: the best unlimited plan, the cheapest and the best price per GB, from three different providers. How we pick the podium · Affiliate links
Local SIM or travel eSIM?
For a week of everyday use (6 GB), at the prices on the carriers’ and providers’ websites.
Local SIM, 7 days
¥2,980 excl. tax
IIJmio · 6 GB · 30 days
- Sold at the airport counter (NRT · HND · KIX), or online for some offers.
- It also comes as an eSIM: your SIM then stays on for calls and texts.
- Passport required for some offers.
Travel eSIM, 7 days
$12.99
with GoMoWorld
- Installed at home before you leave, it works as soon as you land.
- Your SIM stays on for calls and texts.
- ID: our provider pages say who asks for one.
The currencies differ: we convert nothing. · Affiliate links
Japan SIM card: our analysis
From the carriers’ websites, checked on October 21, 2026.
The carriers
- IIJmioJapan Travel SIM 6GB · as an eSIM · at the airport · in stores¥2,980 excl. tax
- povo2.0povo2.0 Japan SIM 10 GB (30 Days) · as an eSIM · online · in stores¥3,280
- Mobal5G Japan eSIM, 7 days of unlimited data · as an eSIM · online¥3,850
- Sakura Mobile3GB/day data eSIM, 7 days · as an eSIM · at the airport · online¥4,620
Unlimited, phone number, eSIM
- The cheapest unlimited SIM: 5G Japan eSIM, 7 days of unlimited data (Mobal), ¥3,850 for 7 days.
- None of the offers we found has a number for calls: data only.
- All 40 offers we found also come as an eSIM (Mobal, Sakura Mobile, povo2.0, and IIJmio): no counter to find.
Where to buy it
- At the airport: Narita (GPA SIM Card Vending Machine); Haneda (AnyFone JAPAN); Kansai (Mobal, Sakura Mobile).
- Online before you leave: 30 of 40 offers (Mobal, Sakura Mobile, and povo2.0).
- In stores in town: povo2.0 and IIJmio.
eSIMs in Japan at a glance
- In Japan, we compare plans from 8 eSIM providers: GigSky, GoMoWorld, Jetpac, Nomad, Orange Travel, PlanJapan, Ubigi, and Yesim.
- The cheapest unlimited plan for a week is from PlanJapan: $33.00 (Unlimited · 7 days).
- A pocket WiFi rents from ¥5,280 a week (eConnect Japan); see pocket WiFi rental in Japan.
The carriers’ prepaid offers
For each carrier, the cheapest offers that cover everyday use (maps, messaging, social media) for a week, two weeks or a month.
We found 40 prepaid offers from 4 carriers in Japan: Mobal, Sakura Mobile, povo2.0, and IIJmio. Prices are those on their websites, in their currency (JPY), not converted. “excl. tax” marks a price before tax.
| Offer | Carrier | Data | Validity | Price | As eSIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5G Japan eSIM, 7 days of unlimited data | Mobal | unlimited data | 7 days | ¥3,850 | Yes |
| 3GB/day data eSIM, 7 days | Sakura Mobile | 3 GB a day | 7 days | ¥4,620 | Yes |
| Unlimited data eSIM, 15 days | Sakura Mobile | unlimited data | 15 days | ¥9,680 | Yes |
| Japan Tourist eSIM 50GB Data 16 Days Data Only | Mobal | 50 GB | 16 days | ¥5,170 | Yes |
| Japan Travel SIM 6GB | IIJmio | 6 GB | 30 days | ¥2,980 excl. tax | Yes |
| povo2.0 Japan SIM 10 GB (30 Days) | povo2.0 | 10 GB | 30 days | ¥3,280 | Yes |
| Japan Travel SIM 15GB | IIJmio | 15 GB | 30 days | ¥3,480 excl. tax | Yes |
| Japan Travel SIM 25GB | IIJmio | 25 GB | 30 days | ¥4,580 excl. tax | Yes |
| povo2.0 Japan SIM 25 GB (30 Days) | povo2.0 | 25 GB | 30 days | ¥4,580 | Yes |
| 3GB/day data eSIM, 30 days | Sakura Mobile | 3 GB a day | 30 days | ¥9,900 | Yes |
| Japan Tourist eSIM 50GB Data 31 Days Data Only | Mobal | 50 GB | 31 days | ¥6,600 | Yes |
Sources: mobal.com, sakuramobile.jp, iij.ad.jp, newsroom.kddi.com
What your trip costs, SIM or eSIM
For each trip length, the cheapest offer that covers everyday use.
| Trip | Local SIM | Travel eSIM | Offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 week · 6 GB | ¥2,980 excl. tax IIJmio | $12.99 GoMoWorld | See the plan |
| 2 weeks · 12 GB | ¥3,480 excl. tax IIJmio | $12.99 GoMoWorld | See the plan |
| 1 month · 24 GB | ¥4,580 excl. tax IIJmio | $24.99 GoMoWorld | See the plan |
The currencies differ: we convert nothing. · Affiliate links
Where to buy it when you land
Carriers and SIM resellers named by the airports’ and carriers’ websites.
| Airport | Where to buy a SIM |
|---|---|
| Narita (NRT) | GPA SIM Card Vending Machine |
| Haneda (HND) | AnyFone JAPAN |
| Kansai (KIX) | Mobal, Sakura Mobile |
Japan SIM card: your questions
Answered from the carriers’ websites and today’s prices.
How much is a SIM card in Japan?
For a week of everyday use, from ¥2,980 excl. tax with IIJmio (6 GB, 30 days), checked on October 21, 2026.
Where can I buy a SIM card in Japan?
At the airport: Narita (GPA SIM Card Vending Machine); Haneda (AnyFone JAPAN); Kansai (Mobal, Sakura Mobile). Carriers also sell their offers in shops or online, depending on the offer.
Do I need a passport for a SIM card in Japan?
It depends on the offer: some ask for your passport, others do not.
Local SIM or eSIM in Japan?
A travel eSIM is installed before you leave and keeps your SIM on for calls and texts; for a week, it costs from $12.99 (GoMoWorld). The cheapest local SIM costs ¥2,980 excl. tax (IIJmio).
How much is a SIM card in Japan for two weeks or a month?
For two weeks, from ¥3,480 excl. tax (Japan Travel SIM 15GB, IIJmio); for a month, from ¥4,580 excl. tax (Japan Travel SIM 25GB, IIJmio).
Is there an unlimited SIM card in Japan?
The cheapest unlimited SIM: 5G Japan eSIM, 7 days of unlimited data (Mobal), ¥3,850 for 7 days.
Does a tourist SIM card in Japan come with a phone number?
None of the offers we found has a number for calls: data only.
Can I buy the SIM card before I leave?
Online before you leave: 30 of 40 offers (Mobal, Sakura Mobile, and povo2.0). All 40 offers we found also come as an eSIM (Mobal, Sakura Mobile, povo2.0, and IIJmio): no counter to find.
Which carrier should I pick in Japan?
For a week of everyday use: IIJmio from ¥2,980 excl. tax, povo2.0 from ¥3,280, Mobal from ¥3,850, and Sakura Mobile from ¥4,620.
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