Unlimited eSIM
Japan
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AU
Duration
4 Days
Plan
Data
Speed
4G / 5G
Price
US$13.00
More Info
Best Value
Language
Currency
Best eSIM for Japan: unlimited and fixed-data plans compared
In this post...
An eSIM is a digital SIM card built into your phone, no physical chip to swap, no airport kiosk queue. You install it by scanning a QR code before you fly, and it sits alongside your existing SIM, so your home number stays active while the eSIM handles your data in Japan.
The best eSIM is one that adapts to your specific needs, whether you're traveling for work, school, or because you're a traveler or a digital nomad. Your data, call, and text needs can vary greatly. The good news is that SIM Local has plenty of options that can be tailored to you.
Whether you're staying for just a few days or for several weeks, choosing the right eSIM for Japan can make your travel stress-free. From quick business trips to ski holidays, we have a plan for every traveller.
Stay connected with all the data you need, and reliable coverage on fast networks like AU by KDDI.
We only partner with the most trusted networks like AU Japan to give you that ‘just like home’ connection, wherever you are.
Why choose an eSIM?
- You can activate one instantly, anywhere: eSIMs can be activated as soon as you land, saving you the hassle of finding a local SIM card or dealing with physical cards.
- Stop worrying about roaming charges: With a few taps of your phone settings, you make the quick switch to a pay-as-you-go plan during your trip and stop relying on your home plan's data roaming.
- Your phone probably supports eSIM: Most smartphones are compatible with eSIM technology nowadays. So it makes it easier to travel.
What to consider when choosing the best eSIM for Japan
- Coverage and reliability: does it run on a network with strong coverage outside major cities, not just in Tokyo and Osaka?
- Data plans and pricing: unlimited plans cost more but remove the guesswork; fixed-data plans are cheaper if you know roughly how much you'll use.
- Compatibility: your phone needs to support eSIM and be unlocked from your home carrier.
- Ease of activation: look for instant QR-code setup rather than a multi-day shipping wait.
- Customer support: real human support matters if something goes wrong with activation, not just a help-centre article.
Best eSIMs for Japan
Sim Local partners with AU by KDDI,, one of Japan's largest and most reliable networks, for unlimited data plans, and also offers fixed-data plans on NTT Docomo for travellers who don't need (or want to pay for) unlimited data. That combination covers most trip types better than a single one-size-fits-all plan, and works out far better value than what you'd typically pay with online-only providers like Holafly or Ubigi.
For short stays (3-4 days)
If you're just passing through, or visiting a single city like Tokyo or Osak on a business trip, you don't need a huge data allowance, just reliable coverage for maps, messaging and the odd video call.
4-Day eSIM, AU by KDDI, unlimited data, 4G/5G, 3GB tethering included. Price: $13.00. Best Value.
Japan Unlimited: 4-Day eSIM
Stay online during your short visit to Japan with this 4-day eSIM plan from au by KDDI, priced at $13 USD. Enjoy unlimited data on one of Japan's most popular networks, plus 3GB for data tethering if you need to share your connection.
For a week
A week to ten days is enough for a first-time visitor to properly cover Tokyo's neighbourhoods and a few days in Kyoto's temples, enough ground that you'll want data every day, not just in one city.
For $26, this 10-day eSIM from au by KDDI gives you unlimited smartphone data while you explore Japan. It also allows tethering up to 3GB on the KDDI network.
Japan Unlimited: 10-Day eSIM
For 10-15 days
Longer trips open up regional destinations beyond the main Tokyo-Kyoto-Osaka route, and that means more days relying on maps and translation apps away from hotel Wi-Fi.
Stay connected in Japan with this $39 eSIM plan. It gives you unlimited data for 15 days and uses the KDDI network. You can also share up to 3GB as a hotspot, making it easy to stay online during your trip.
Japan Unlimited: 15-Day eSIM
For a month or longer
For stays of a month, a longer holiday, a work trip, or a study exchange, the 30-day AU by KDDI unlimited plan covers a full stay without needing to renew partway through.
30-Day eSIM, AU by KDDI, unlimited data, 4G/5G, 3GB tethering included. Price: $77.50.
Unlimited eSIM plans from Sim Local include up to 10GB of full-speed data per day before any throttling.
Not sure about unlimited data? Watch our Head of Product, Georgia Brivida, explain everything in the video below.
Best eSIM for tourists in Japan who don't need unlimited data
Not every trip needs an unlimited plan. If you're mostly on hotel Wi-Fi in the evenings and just need maps and messaging during the day, Sim Local's own NTT Docomo fixed-data plans cost less than the unlimited tier:
These run on NTT Docomo, Japan's original and one of its largest networks. Check current pricing at selection plans
Best eSIM for Japan and Korea
Sim Local doesn't sell a single combined Japan-and-Korea eSIM, but that's less of a problem than it sounds, most eSIM-capable phones can store multiple eSIM profiles at once. Buy a Japan eSIM (the AU by KDDI plans above) and a separate South Korea eSIM, install both before you fly, and simply switch your active data line when you cross the border. No need to find a new SIM in either country.
Sim Local's South Korea plans run on the SK Telecom network, from $4.00 for a short trip. See 5 best eSIMs for South Korea for the full breakdown, or browse plans directly at simlocal.com/plan-selection/south-korea.
How to activate your Japan eSIM
- Check your phone supports eSIM, most iPhones from XR onward, and Pixel 3+, Samsung Galaxy S20/S21/S22 and newer, all support it. Always check your specific model before buying.
- Buy your plan on simlocal.com and you'll get a QR code (or a DOWNLOAD button in-app) within minutes.
- Install it before you fly, on Wi-Fi, tap DOWNLOAD or scan the QR code, follow the prompts in your phone's settings, and select the new eSIM profile as your data line. Activation takes about three minutes.
- Turn off data roaming on your home SIM so your usage stays on the Japan eSIM without incurring extra charges.
If you run into connectivity issues once you land: check the eSIM is active, restart your device, manually select the "au" or "KDDI" network if it hasn't picked up automatically, and confirm your APN settings are correct. Still stuck? Reach out on WhatsApp, a real person will help.
Frequently asked questions
Which devices support eSIMs for Japan?
Most modern smartphones, iPhone XR and newer, Pixel 3 and newer, and Samsung Galaxy S20/S21/S22 series, support eSIMs. Always check your phone's specifications before purchase.
How do I activate my Japan eSIM once I arrive?
Tap DOWNLOAD or scan the QR code you receive after purchase, follow the prompts in your mobile settings, and select the new eSIM profile as your data line. Activation takes just three minutes.
Will I be charged roaming fees on my home plan while using the eSIM?
No. As long as you disable your home SIM's data roaming and select your eSIM as the active data line, your usage stays on the Japan eSIM without incurring roaming fees.
Do these eSIMs include hotspot tethering?
Yes. The AU by KDDI plans include up to 3GB of tethering data, so you can share your connection with a laptop or other devices.
What should I do if I have connectivity issues?
Check that your eSIM is active, restart your device, manually select the "au" or "KDDI" network if needed, and ensure APN settings are correct. Still stuck? Speak to someone on WhatsApp.
What is the cheapest way to use my phone in Japan?
The cheapest way to use your phone in Japan is to get a local eSIM. You can use data and make calls without paying high roaming fees, and buy it online before you go so you're connected as soon as you land. If you don't need unlimited data, Sim Local's fixed-data NTT Docomo plans (from $4.00) are cheaper than the unlimited tier.
Will WhatsApp work with eSIM?
Yes. As long as your eSIM has data or you're connected to Wi-Fi, WhatsApp works just like normal, message, call, and share without any issues.
Can I use the same eSIM for both Japan and Korea?
Not as a single plan through Sim Local, but you can install a Japan eSIM and a separate South Korea eSIM on the same phone and switch between them as you cross the border, without needing a new physical SIM in either country.
How does eSIM coverage in Japan compare to physical SIM cards?
Sim Local's eSIMs run on the same real Japanese networks (AU by KDDI, NTT Docomo) that a physical SIM from the same carrier would use, so coverage is identical. The difference is convenience: no airport counter, no physical card to lose, and you can install it before you even leave home.
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Read MoreStay Connected in Japan with an Unlimited AU Japan eSIM
Stay Connected in Japan with an Unlimited AU Japan eSIM
