Best SIM Card for Japan: Which Brand and Plan Should You Buy?
Quick Answer: Choose Based on Your Situation
Choosing the best Japan SIM card depends on your travel needs. There is no single option that is perfect for everyone.
For most tourists, an eSIM is the easiest choice because you can install it before your flight and connect to the internet as soon as you arrive in Japan.
Here is the quick recommendation:
Compare the Recommended Japan SIM Cards
The best Japan SIM card depends on how you plan to use your phone. The table below compares the main options for tourists.
For most visitors, the choice is simple:
- Choose esimNB if you only need mobile data for maps, translation, messaging, and social media.
- Choose Sakura Mobile if you want a physical SIM card and prefer a traditional SIM setup.
- Choose Mobal if having a Japanese phone number is important.
- Choose IIJmio if you are already in Japan and need to buy a SIM locally.
Most tourists do not need a Japanese phone number. Apps like WhatsApp, LINE, Google Maps, and online bookings work with a data-only SIM. A Japanese number is mainly useful for longer stays or services that require local calls.
Which Plan Should You Buy?
Choose your plan based on trip length and how much data you expect to use.
The 3GB esimNB plan is enough for Google Maps, train searches, translation, messaging, and light browsing. Avoid watching long videos on mobile data.
For a one- or two-week trip, the 10GB plan gives you more room for Instagram, short videos, photo uploads, and daily browsing.
Choose the 50GB plan if you plan to watch videos often, work online, or share data through a hotspot. esimNB supports hotspot use on its Japan eSIMs.
Choose Mobal’s 30-day Voice + Data SIM only when you need a real Japanese phone number. It includes 7GB of data, calls, and SMS. You pay ¥4,950 when ordering and another ¥4,950 when activating it.
*****Prices were checked in July 2026 and may change before checkout.
How to Buy It
Before Arriving in Japan
esimNB: Buy the Japan eSIM online. Install it by scanning the QR code before your flight, but turn on the eSIM line and mobile data only after you arrive in Japan. Do not delete the eSIM after installation because the QR code may only work once.
Sakura Mobile: Order the physical SIM online and choose airport, hotel, or address delivery. Airport pickup is available at Narita, Haneda Terminal 3, Kansai Terminal 1, and Fukuoka International Airport. Order several days early when possible.
Mobal: Order the SIM online and select an available collection point during checkout. Airport pickup is available at selected locations, including Narita Airport Terminal 2. You can also choose delivery where offered.
After Arriving in Japan
You can buy a tourist SIM from:
- Airport SIM counters and vending machines
- Bic Camera
- Yodobashi Camera
- Selected IIJmio retail partners
Airport counters are convenient when you need data immediately, but prices can be higher and the choice of plans may be limited. Narita Airport has SIM sales counters and vending machines in its terminals.
For IIJmio, Bic Camera is one of the easiest places to check. Its Japan Travel SIM products are sold through Bic Camera, Kojima, and Sofmap stores. Some Yodobashi Camera branches and other electronics stores may also sell IIJ products, but models and stock can differ by location.
Buying before your trip is usually easier. It lets you check compatibility, install or reserve the SIM, and connect soon after landing.
Check These Before Paying
Before buying a Japan SIM, check these five points:
- Phone unlocked: A carrier-locked phone may reject the new SIM or eSIM.
- eSIM compatibility: Check your phone model and confirm that eSIM is enabled in your country.
- Data-only or Japanese number: Most tourists only need data. Choose Mobal only when a local phone number is necessary.
- Activation date: Check whether the plan starts after installation, after connecting in Japan, or on a date selected during purchase.
- Hotspot allowance: Confirm tethering support if you plan to share data with a laptop or another phone.
Also check the plan validity. A 10GB plan valid for 30 days is different from 10GB that must be used within 7 days.
Final Recommendation
For most tourists, esimNB is the best overall choice. You can buy it online, install it before departure, and connect after landing in Japan.
Choose based on your situation:
- Best overall for most tourists: esimNB
- Best physical SIM: Sakura Mobile
- Best with a Japanese phone number: Mobal
- Best last-minute in-store option: IIJmio
Most travelers only need mobile data for maps, train routes, translation, messaging, and bookings. In that case, an eSIM is usually the simplest option.
Choose a physical SIM only if your phone does not support eSIM. Choose Mobal only when you truly need a Japanese phone number.
FAQ
Which Japan SIM Card Is Best for a 7-Day Trip?
For most 7-day trips, choose the esimNB 3GB plan valid for 15 days. It costs US$4.50 and is enough for maps, translation, train searches, messaging, and light browsing.
Choose 10GB if you plan to use social media often, upload videos, or share data with another device.
How Much Does a Tourist SIM Card Cost in Japan?
A Japan tourist eSIM can start from about US$4.50 for 3GB. Larger esimNB plans include 10GB for US$12 and 20GB for US$20.50.
Sakura Mobile physical travel SIM cards start from ¥3,850 including tax. Physical SIM cards are usually more expensive than small data-only eSIM plans.
Is esimNB Suitable for Japan Travel?
Yes. esimNB is suitable for tourists with an unlocked, eSIM-compatible phone who mainly need mobile data. In Japan, it connects to major local networks, including NTT Docomo, Rakuten Mobile, KDDI au, and SoftBank, with 5G support where available.
You can install it before departure. The plan starts when it first connects to a supported network in Japan. It is data-only, so it does not include a Japanese phone number.
Can I Buy a Japan SIM Card at Narita or Haneda Airport?
Yes. Narita Airport has SIM sales counters, while Haneda Airport has SIM shops and prepaid SIM vending machines.
Airport SIM cards are convenient, but the available brands, prices, and plans depend on the terminal. Mobal also offers advance ordering with pickup at selected Narita and Haneda locations.
Which Japan SIM Card Provides a Japanese Phone Number?
Choose Mobal if you need a real Japanese phone number.
Its voice SIM and eSIM plans support Japanese calls and SMS. This can be useful for receiving verification messages or contacting services that require a local number. Most tourist eSIMs, including esimNB, are data-only.
Should I Buy My Japan SIM Before Arriving?
Yes, buying before your trip is usually easier.
You can install an eSIM at home or reserve a physical SIM for airport pickup. This means you do not need to compare plans or search for a shop after landing.
Do not activate your travel eSIM too early. Install it before departure, but select it for mobile data and enable data roaming only after arriving in Japan.
Can I Use Hotspot with a Japan Tourist SIM?
Yes, but check the plan before paying.
esimNB Japan plans support hotspot sharing. Sakura Mobile also allows tethering, although some plans limit how much data you can share. Heavy hotspot users should choose a larger data plan.
Why Does My Japan SIM Show Signal but No Internet?
Try these steps:
- Select the Japan SIM as your mobile data line.
- Turn on mobile data and data roaming.
- Turn airplane mode on and off.
- Restart your phone.
- Check that the correct APN is installed.
- Confirm that the plan is active and still has data.
A phone can show signal even when its mobile data line or APN is set incorrectly. Follow the provider’s setup guide rather than guessing the APN details.
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RRuiwen
She is emotionally reserved, independent in daily life, and dreams of traveling the world. She possesses a quality rare among today's youth: courage. Her favorite anime character is Jolyne Cujoh.
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