The 10 cheapest packages per GB in Japan
| # | Provider | Package | Price | per GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Simbye | 50 GB, 180 days | €43.95 | €0.88 |
| 2 | Simbye | 20 GB, 30 days | €19.95 | €1.00 |
| 3 | Saily | 20 GB, 30 days | €21.99 | €1.10 |
| 4 | Ubigi | 50 GB, 30 days | €55.00 | €1.10 |
| 5 | Vodafone Travel eSIM | 20 GB, 30 days | €22.00 | €1.10 |
| 6 | Airalo | 20 GB, 15 days | €22.50 | €1.13 |
| 7 | Airalo | 20 GB, 30 days | €23.50 | €1.18 |
| 8 | Simbye | 10 GB, 30 days | €11.95 | €1.19 |
| 9 | Ubigi | 25 GB, 30 days | €32.00 | €1.28 |
| 10 | Simbye | 5 GB, 30 days | €6.95 | €1.39 |
Other destinations: 🇹🇷 Turkey · 🇺🇸 USA · 🇪🇬 Egypt · 🇹🇭 Thailand
In short: the cheapest eSIM in Japan
On 12 November 2026 the lowest price per GB in Japan was offered by Simbye at €0.88 per GB (package 50 GB, 180 days, €43.95). The cheapest package overall costs €1.95 at Simbye (1 GB, 7 days). 10 GB costs from €11.95 (Simbye).
We checked 9 providers with packages for Japan on the providers' own shop pages. The benchmark is the price per GB of the best-value package; unlimited packages are compared separately by price per day.
Mobile networks in Japan: operators and coverage
Japan has excellent networks: NTT docomo, KDDI (au) and SoftBank, plus Rakuten Mobile. Travel eSIMs mostly use docomo, au or SoftBank. The classic alternative is a rented pocket Wi-Fi router that you pick up and return at the airport. An eSIM is usually cheaper and simpler, as long as your phone supports eSIM and is not locked to a carrier.
How much data do I need?
- Messaging, maps and e-mail only: around 0.5–1 GB per week.
- Plus social media and photo uploads: more like 1–2 GB per week.
- Video streaming or a hotspot for your laptop: easily 1–3 GB per day – a larger or unlimited package pays off here.
These are rough guide values; your actual usage depends on apps and video quality. You can see your own usage in your phone settings under “Mobile data”. Many providers let you top up an eSIM if the data runs out.
Unlimited or a data package?
7 of the 9 providers offer unlimited data packages in Japan. The cheapest per day is Simbye: 7 days for €19.95, i.e. €2.85 per day. Provider note: 2 GB per day at full speed, then throttled. “Unlimited” often means the speed is throttled after a certain amount per day, and hotspot use may be restricted. If you stream little, a fixed package is usually cheaper.
How to set up the eSIM
- Check your phone: it must support eSIM and be unlocked (iPhone XS/XR or later, many current Android devices). Under “Settings → Mobile data” or “Connections → SIM manager” you can see whether “Add eSIM” is offered.
- Buy and install the package: ideally at home on Wi-Fi, via QR code or directly in the provider's app.
- Activate on arrival: switch mobile data to the travel eSIM and enable data roaming for that eSIM. Your home SIM can stay active for calls and texts – turn off data roaming on it to avoid extra charges.
When the validity starts is up to each provider: often only with the first connection in the destination country, sometimes at installation. The package details say which applies.