Posted on
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By
Clay Thomas
Airalo offers eSIMs across more than 200 destinations, which makes it convenient if you are moving between countries, but if your trip is focused specifically on Japan, there are better options for local coverage, data allowance, and overall value.
While many travelers use Airalo without problems in Japan, others have reported slow or unreliable connections on trains, inside stations, and in parts of Tokyo, as well as APN and connection issues that required manual troubleshooting.
In fact, if you plan to visit Mt. Fuji, travel through smaller towns and rural parts of Japan, spend a lot of time on trains, or rely on maps and transit apps in busy stations, you'll have a much better experience from a local eSIM provider built specifically for travel in Japan.
In this guide, we'll compare the best Airalo alternatives for Japan, starting with our Journey Japan eSIM and how we address common issues travelers face with data and connectivity. We'll also cover several other options that may be a better fit depending on your trip, how much data you need, and where in Japan you plan to travel.
1. Journey Japan eSIM
Journey Japan eSIM is a Japan-only eSIM founded by Chris Broad, creator of the Abroad in Japan YouTube channel.
Our service connects travelers through KDDI (au) and NTT Docomo, two of Japan's major mobile networks.
JJ eSIM offers plans ranging from 10GB for lighter trips to True Unlimited 5G data plans for travelers who expect to use a lot of data. All of our plans support hotspot and tethering, so you can also share your connection with a laptop, tablet, or another device during your trip.
Because we built Journey Japan specifically for travel in Japan, we have designed the plans around how visitors actually use mobile data while moving between cities, taking trains, visiting rural areas, and relying on their phones for navigation, translation, bookings, and communication.
Reliable coverage in cities and rural Japan
Journey Japan eSIM connects directly to KDDI (au) and NTT Docomo, two of the strongest networks in the country. You can expect reliable coverage on a local network, rather than 3rd party, reselling access through an overseas roaming agreement.
City coverage is straightforward for almost any provider. It's the mountain towns, the coastal routes, and the stretches between prefectures where the differences show up. This is where a local network tends to hold while a global one starts dropping out.
If your itinerary includes Hakone, the Mt. Fuji area, Kyushu, the Nagano ski regions, or smaller islands and rural parts of Japan, it is worth choosing an eSIM that gives you access to strong Japanese mobile networks throughout the trip.
Fast 5G, 4G and LTE data
Japan is home to some of the fastest internet speeds available. Journey Japan eSIM connects to Japanese mobile networks and supports 5G, 4G, and LTE wherever the local network and your device support them.
Your actual speed will still depend on your location, signal strength, network congestion, and the device you are using.
A good way to check how your connection is performing is with a speed test, which shows your current download speed, upload speed, and latency.
Fixed and unlimited data plans
Journey Japan offers fixed-data plans with 10GB, 20GB, and 50GB, all valid for 30 days, along with True Unlimited 5G plans for travelers who expect to use much more data.
The fixed plans have no daily allowance, so you can use your data at whatever pace your trip requires, whether that means light use for most of the week or several days of heavier navigation, uploads, and browsing.
The True Unlimited 5G plans do not have a daily data cap, fair usage policy, or scheduled speed throttling.
If you are streaming, working remotely, making video calls, or using mobile data heavily throughout the day, you don't have to track how much high-speed data you have left before your connection slows down.
Hotspot and tethering support
Journey Japan supports hotspot and tethering with laptops, tablets, and other devices, so you can share your connection when you need it.
On fixed-data plans, hotspot use comes from your regular data allowance, with no separate tethering cap.
The True Unlimited plans include a hotspot allowance that matches the number of days in the plan, so a 7-day plan includes 7GB of hotspot data, a 15-day plan includes 15GB, and a 30-day plan includes 30GB.
Simple setup before your trip
Journey Japan eSIM does not require you to download an app or create an account before you can use the service.
After you buy a plan, the QR code and installation instructions arrive by email, so you can install the eSIM before you leave home and have it ready for your arrival in Japan.
You do not need to keep another travel app installed or log in to manage the eSIM during your trip. That also means you can handle the setup before flying instead of depending on airport Wi-Fi after you land.
24/7 English-language support
Journey Japan provides support around the clock, with a chatbot for quick questions and a real support team available when you need more help.
The support team is based in Japan, so assistance is available in the same time zone while you are traveling. That can be especially helpful if you have trouble installing the eSIM, activating your plan, or getting connected after you arrive.
Troubleshooting an eSIM is much harder when you have just landed and cannot get online, so having support available at any hour can save you from relying on airport Wi-Fi or trying to solve connection issues on your own.
Travel perks you can actually use
Most eSIMs only offer cashback as in-app credit, not focused on the actual travel experience. That's store credit, and you can only ever spend it back with them.
Journey Japan eSIM customers get discounts at places you'd genuinely go while travelling to improve your travel experience:
¥500 off a first cocktail or mocktail at LOST Bar Shibuya
¥500 off karaoke per person at Big Echo
Plus further discounts on food, drinks, entertainment, storage and local experiences, with more partners added regularly.
Plans designed around Japan trips
Plan | Validity | Current price | Best suited for |
|---|---|---|---|
5GB | 30 days | $9 | Short trips, light use, maps and messaging with wifi most of the time |
10GB | 30 days | $19 | Maps, messaging, translation, email, and light browsing |
20GB | 30 days | $29 | Regular social media, music, uploads, browsing, and occasional video calls |
50GB | 30 days | $49 | Heavy use, remote work, streaming, larger uploads, and hotspot sharing |
True Unlimited 5G | 7 days | $29 | Shorter trips for worry free connection |
True Unlimited 5G | 15 days | $49 | Medium length trips where you can use heavy data |
True Unlimited 5G | 30 days | $79 | Longer trips where you do not want to monitor a fixed data balance |
Most travelers land on either the 20GB plan or one of the unlimited options. The fixed plans suit anyone who wants to know exactly what they're spending, and the unlimited plans suit anyone who would rather stop thinking about data altogether.
2. Saily
Saily is the travel eSIM from the team behind NordVPN, with fixed-data plans for lighter use as well as an unlimited option. You manage the service through the Saily app.
Network: Not published. Saily does not state which Japanese carrier its plans use
Data: Fixed data from 1GB, plus an unlimited option
Speed policy: Unlimited plans reduce speeds after 5GB of high-speed data per day
Hotspot: Supported
Plan length: 7 to 30 days
Support: Global, through the app
Calls and texts: Data only
Fixed-data plans start at around $3.99 for 1GB. This can work well if you only need mobile data for maps, messaging and occasional browsing.
Saily performs well in major cities, but the connection can become less consistent farther outside the main urban areas. This is something to keep in mind if your itinerary includes rural areas, mountain regions, or smaller towns.
Saily does not publish which Japanese network its plans run on, so it is harder to know what coverage you can expect before buying, particularly if you plan to visit rural areas, mountain regions or smaller towns.
We also checked where the connection was routing traffic. While the phone itself was being used in Kyoto, the servers handling the connection appeared in Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong, and Singapore.
This doesn't necessarily mean the connection will be slow, but the extra routing can affect latency, especially for video calls, remote work, and other activities that need a faster response.
The unlimited plan also includes 5GB of high-speed data per day. Once you reach that amount, Saily reduces the connection speed for the remainder of the day.
3. Mobal
Mobal offers tourist data eSIMs as well as plans that include a real Japanese phone number. The phone-number plans can be useful if you need to make local calls, receive SMS messages, book restaurants, or use Japanese services that do not accept an overseas number.
Network: NTT Docomo on fixed-data tourist plans (4G only), au (KDDI) on unlimited plans (5G)
Data: Fixed data from 3GB up to 100GB, plus unlimited options
Speed policy: Fixed-data plans stop at the cap, unlimited plans reduce speed after a high usage threshold
Hotspot: Capped at 15GB per plan, then switched off for the rest of the plan
Plan length: 8, 16 and 31 days on tourist plans, monthly on number-carrying plans
Support: Japan-based
Calls and texts: Available on number-carrying plans
Mobal's tourist fixed-data plans start at around $16 for 3GB over 8 days, with 10GB at roughly $21. Unlimited plans start at about $10.50 for 3 days.
The fixed-data tourist plans use Docomo 4G rather than 5G, and some plans only last 8 or 16 days. If you are staying in Japan for several weeks, check the plan length carefully so you don't have to buy another plan partway through your trip.
The main reason to consider Mobal is the option to get a Japanese phone number. Most travel eSIMs only provide data, so Mobal can make more sense if you know you will need local calls, SMS, or access to services that require a Japanese number.
Getting one of these plans involves more setup than buying a standard tourist eSIM. Depending on the plan, you may need to provide additional information or documentation, and the phone-number plans use monthly billing rather than short tourist validity periods. For a short trip, that can mean paying for more service than you actually use.
4. Holafly
Holafly is a well-known travel eSIM provider that focuses mainly on unlimited-data plans. You choose the number of days you need rather than buying a fixed amount of data.
Network: KDDI and SoftBank
Data: Unlimited only, with no fixed-data option
Speed policy: A fair usage policy applies during congestion (undisclosed amount), reducing speeds for up to a day
Hotspot: Capped at 1GB per day
Plan length: Day-based, from 3 days upward
Support: Global, with an in-app chatbot
Calls and texts: Data only
Holafly works well for travelers who want to avoid watching a fixed data balance throughout the day. The day-based pricing also makes it easy to match the plan to the exact length of your stay.
The main limitation is hotspot use. Holafly limits tethering to 1GB per day, so it may not suit you if you plan to work from a laptop, share your connection regularly, or use another device for streaming.
Holafly also applies a fair usage policy to its unlimited plans, which means speeds can be reduced after heavier use. The company does not publish a simple daily threshold for Japan, so keep this in mind if you expect to use large amounts of data every day.
Support is available through the app, and the in-app chat can handle setup and connection issues if you run into problems during your trip.
5. Ubigi
Ubigi has a large selection of Japan eSIM plans and connects through KDDI and NTT Docomo. It offers small fixed-data plans for lighter trips, larger 30-day packages, and unlimited plans for heavier use.
Network: KDDI and NTT Docomo
Data: Fixed data from 1GB up to 50GB, plus unlimited plans
Speed policy: Unlimited plans include 30GB of full-speed data before speeds are reduced to 2 Mbps
Hotspot: Supported
Plan length: Varies by plan, with many fixed-data plans valid for 30 days
Support: Global
Calls and texts: Data only
Their current fixed-data options include 1GB for $4, 10GB for $16.50, and 50GB for $55. Ubigi also offers a 15-day unlimited plan for $39 and a 30-day unlimited plan for $65.
Ubigi's access to both KDDI and NTT Docomo gives it a strong network setup for traveling around Japan, including trips that extend beyond Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto.
The fixed-data plans also work well if you already know how much data you will use. Once your data runs out, you can top up the same eSIM rather than installing another one.
With the unlimited data plans, you receive 30GB at full speed for the plan period, and Ubigi reduces the connection to 2 Mbps after you reach that amount. You can still use maps, messaging, email, and general browsing at the reduced speed, but large downloads, high-quality streaming, and video calls may feel noticeably slower.
Ubigi also lets you reuse the same eSIM in more than 200 destinations, which can be convenient if Japan is one stop on a longer international trip.
6. Nomad
Nomad is another global travel eSIM provider with a large selection of plans for Japan. Its Japan eSIM connects through KDDI au and SoftBank and supports 4G and 5G where available.
Network: KDDI au and SoftBank
Data: Fixed-data and unlimited plans
Speed policy: Day-based plans reduce speeds to 512 Kbps after the daily high-speed allowance is used
Hotspot: Supported on most plans
Plan length: 7 to 30 days for most fixed plans, with shorter and longer unlimited options
Support: Global, through app and website chat
Calls and texts: Data only
Nomad's fixed-data plans currently start at $4 for 1GB over 7 days. Larger options include 5GB for $10, 10GB for $17, 20GB for $23, and 50GB for $35.
There are also unlimited plans for trips of different lengths, including 3, 7, 14, and 21 days.
Nomad gives you access to KDDI au and SoftBank, so its Japan plans support more than one Japanese network. That can help as you move between different parts of the country where coverage from each carrier may vary.
Pay attention to the high-speed allowance when choosing a day-based plan. Once you use the included high-speed data for that day, Nomad reduces the connection to 512 Kbps until the allowance resets 24 hours after activation.
You can add more data to an active eSIM without installing a new one. Nomad also supports hotspot use on most eSIMs, although the company notes that device and local network conditions can sometimes affect tethering.
The service uses an app and account to manage your eSIM, check usage, buy add-ons, and contact support.
7. Sakura Mobile
Sakura Mobile is a Japan-based provider that offers eSIMs, physical SIM cards, pocket Wi-Fi, and longer-term mobile services. Its travel eSIMs are available for stays of up to 90 days and include both daily-data and unlimited options.
Network: NTT Docomo on the 3GB/day eSIM; KDDI au on the unlimited eSIM
Data: 3GB of high-speed data per day or unlimited data, with fixed-data eSIMs also available
Speed policy: 3GB/day eSIM slows to 200 Kbps after 3GB; unlimited eSIM has no phone-data FUP or speed throttle
Hotspot: Supported, with limits on unlimited plans
Plan length: Available from 1 day up to 90 days
Support: Japan-based
Calls and texts: Data only on travel eSIMs
Sakura Mobile gives travelers several ways to get connected, so you can choose between an eSIM, physical SIM, or pocket Wi-Fi depending on your device and trip.
The 3GB/day eSIM uses NTT Docomo and gives you 3GB of high-speed data every day. Once you use the daily allowance, speeds fall to 200 Kbps until the allowance resets at midnight.
Its unlimited eSIM uses KDDI au and does not apply a daily fair usage limit to phone data. Hotspot use has a separate allowance based on the plan length, so check the tethering limit if you expect to connect a laptop regularly.
Sakura also publishes unusually detailed information about the network bands its plans use. Its Docomo service uses Band 19 in many rural areas, mountains, lakes, islands, and parts of Hokkaido, Kyoto, and Nara, while its KDDI service uses Band 18 to support coverage in some rural and mountainous areas.
That information is useful if you are bringing a phone purchased outside Japan because your device needs to support the relevant Japanese frequency bands. Sakura provides a compatibility checker before purchase.
Setup can require a few more steps depending on the plan. Some Sakura eSIMs need APN configuration, and the company recommends checking the installation instructions for the specific product you purchase. You can install the unlimited eSIM before your trip, and its usage period begins once it first connects to the network in Japan.
Other things to review when considering alternatives
Data amount for your trip: Think about how you will actually use your phone in Japan before choosing a plan. Maps and messaging use relatively little data, but navigation, translation apps, social media, video, uploads, and hotspot use can add up quickly. If you expect heavier use, a larger fixed-data plan or an unlimited option can save you from topping up halfway through the trip.
Where your data is routed: Some international eSIM providers route traffic through servers outside Japan even though your phone connects to a Japanese mobile network. We saw this with some of the providers above, where traffic appeared to route through places such as Hong Kong or Singapore. Longer routing can increase latency, which matters more for video calls, remote work, and other time-sensitive applications.
Support: Check how you can reach support and when someone will actually be available. Connection problems are much harder to troubleshoot after you land if your only option is email or an automated chatbot. Japan-based support can also help when the team is familiar with the local networks and available during the hours you are traveling.
Refund policy: Read the refund terms before buying, especially what happens if the eSIM cannot connect or you never activate it. Some providers offer refunds for technical failures, while others apply stricter conditions once an eSIM has been installed or activated.
Keeping your home number: With dual SIM, you can keep your regular SIM active for calls and verification codes, turn off data roaming on that line, and use the Japan eSIM for mobile data. Your phone needs to support dual SIM or simultaneous SIM and eSIM use for this setup.
Device compatibility: Check that your phone supports eSIM and is not carrier-locked before you buy. You should also check whether your device supports the network bands used in Japan, especially if you plan to travel through rural or mountainous areas. It is much easier to resolve a compatibility or carrier-lock issue before you leave home.
Choose Journey Japan eSIM for your trip to Japan
Airalo can work well for international trips, but if Japan is your main destination, a Japan-focused eSIM can give you more control over the network, data allowance, and support you rely on during the trip.
Journey Japan eSIM connects through KDDI and NTT Docomo, offers fixed-data and True Unlimited 5G plans, supports hotspot use, and provides 24/7 support from a team based in Japan. You also get travel discounts at selected restaurants, entertainment venues, luggage storage services, and other businesses around the country.
If you are planning your next trip to Japan, you can review the current fixed-data and unlimited options and choose the plan that fits how long you are staying and how much data you expect to use.
