Best eSIM for Japan in 2026: prices compared
A 5 GB, 30-day Japan eSIM from eSIMology costs £6.99 on KDDI/au and NTT docomo with 5G. The same 5 GB for 30 days costs £8.50 at Airalo and £8.49 at Saily; Holafly sells unlimited plans only, from £10.00 for 3 days. Prices checked 7 November 2026.
The right Japan eSIM depends on four things: the networks it runs on, whether it supports 5G, how much data you need, and the speed you get once a daily allowance runs out. eSIMology's plans run on KDDI/au, NTT docomo, Rakuten Mobile and SoftBank.
Japan eSIM prices compared
| Trip | eSIMology | Airalo | Holafly | Saily | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 GB · 30 days | £4.99 | – | Unlimited only | £5.99 | Buy |
| 5 GB · 30 days | £6.99 | £8.50 | Unlimited only | £8.49 | Buy |
| 10 GB · 30 days | £10.99 | £14.00 | Unlimited only | £13.99 | Buy |
| 20 GB · 30 days | £18.99 | £19.50 | Unlimited only | £19.49 | Buy |
Rival prices from each provider's own Japan page, as shown to a UK visitor (GBP, VAT included), read 7 November 2026. Our prices are live; pay in pounds, euros or dollars.
What you get from each
| What you get | eSIMology | Airalo | Holafly | Saily |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buy without an account | Yes: guest checkout, no app | Account needed before checkout | Yes: guest checkout | App sign-in needed to install |
| Refunds on unused eSIMs | Full refund to your card within 30 days | In the app as Airmoney credit; card refunds by request | Full if not activated, within 6 months; $3.50 fee on partial refunds | Full within 30 days if not installed |
| Speed after a daily cap | Printed on every plan | “Slows”, no speed given | No speed given | 1 Mbps, in its terms |
| Fixed-GB data plans | Yes, with the price per GB | Yes | No: unlimited by the day only | Yes |
| Data left and top-up | On a web page, no app | In the app | In the app | In the app |
| Phone check before paying | Checks the phone you're on at checkout | A list of phones | *#06# test and a list | A list by brand |
| Install | One tap on iPhone, QR code or codes, by email | In the app, QR code or codes | One tap in the app, QR code or codes | App-guided |
| Currencies | GBP, EUR, USD | 16 currencies, often charged in USD | USD and EUR in the app | GBP, USD, EUR, CHF |
From each provider's own public pages. Full comparison
What should you check in a Japan eSIM?
Networks and 5G: Check which networks your eSIM uses and whether it has 5G. eSIMology's plans run on the four networks above, with 5G where the network offers it, and eSIMology checks the phone you're on at checkout.
Plan size: Fixed plans run from 100 MB for 7 days to 50 GB for 180 days. For a 7-day trip, light use (about 1.8 GB in all) fits 2 GB for 15 days, standard use (about 4.9 GB) fits 5 GB for 30 days, and heavy use (about 12.6 GB) fits 21 GB for 7 days. Check how much data you need first.
Speed after the daily allowance: eSIMology's daily allowances run from 500 MB to 10 GB a day. Once you've used yours, speed drops to 384 Kbps, and eSIMology prints that speed on every plan. Airalo says its speed “slows” without a figure, and Saily gives 1 Mbps in its terms.
Where data goes and top-ups: Your data reaches the internet via Hong Kong. Check data left on a web page, with no app needed, and most plans can be topped up.
Fixed GB, daily or unlimited: which Japan eSIM fits your trip?
Start with how many days you'll be online and how much you'll use each day, then pick from Japan eSIM plans.
- A week in Tokyo and Kyoto: Steady daily use for maps, trains and photos suits 5 GB for 30 days. That's eSIMology's plan for standard use over 7 days (about 4.9 GB in all).
- Three days in Osaka: Light use, with a few rides on GO or Uber and LINE messages, fits 1 GB for 7 days. That's the plan for 3 days of light use (about 0.8 GB in all).
- Two weeks across Hokkaido and Okinawa: For heavy use over 14 days (about 25.2 GB in all), eSIMology gives 50 GB for 30 days. If you stream every day, its daily allowances run from 500 MB to 10 GB a day, and its unlimited plans come in 3, 5, 7, 10 or 15 days.
- Other providers for Japan: Airalo and Saily sell fixed-GB plans and unlimited plans by the day. Holafly sells unlimited plans by the day only.
Japan eSIM prices: questions
Which is cheaper for 5 GB over 30 days in Japan?
For 5 GB over 30 days in Japan: eSIMology £6.99, Saily £8.49, Airalo £8.50. Holafly sells unlimited plans only. Rival prices from their own Japan pages, read 7 November 2026; ours are live.
Can I get a refund on an unused Japan eSIM?
eSIMology: Full refund to your card within 30 days. Airalo: In the app as Airmoney credit; card refunds by request. Holafly: Full if not activated, within 6 months; $3.50 fee on partial refunds. Saily: Full within 30 days if not installed.
Do I need an app to check my data in Japan?
eSIMology: On a web page, no app. Airalo: In the app. Holafly: In the app. Saily: In the app.
Which networks does a Japan eSIM from eSIMology use?
It connects to KDDI/au, NTT docomo, Rakuten Mobile and SoftBank in Japan, with 5G where the network has it. Your phone picks the strongest signal by itself.
Is an unlimited or a fixed-GB eSIM better for Japan?
It depends on how you use data. Fixed-GB plans suit a set amount, while eSIMology's daily allowances run up to 10 GB a day for heavier days. After the daily allowance, speed drops to 384 Kbps. Holafly sells unlimited plans by the day only, while Airalo and Saily sell both fixed-GB and unlimited day plans.
How do I know my phone supports a Japan eSIM?
eSIMology checks the phone you're on at checkout, so you learn before you pay. Airalo shows a list of phones, Holafly offers a *#06# test and a list, and Saily shows a list by brand.
Get your Japan eSIM
From £3.99 / €3.99 / $4.99. Delivered by email in seconds, installed in two minutes, and refunded in full if you never install it.