Japan SIM card for tourists: which one to choose, where to buy it and at what price?

Japan is one of the most connected countries in the world, but public wifi is not everywhere. To use Google Maps in the Tokyo subway, translate a menu in a small countryside town or book a train, you need a real connection. There are five ways to get internet in Japan (each one is detailed in our article on internet in Japan):

Can you use your usual mobile plan in Japan?

Yes, your phone will connect to Japanese networks, but Japan is rarely included in mobile plans: without an add-on, data is billed per megabyte, at a rate that can add tens of dollars to your bill for a single photo you send. Check your carrier's terms and the price of a travel pass before you leave. We cover the topic in our article on [roaming in Japan](/en/blog/roaming-in-japan/).

Is free wifi in Japan enough?

Free wifi used to be rare; today it helps out at your hotel, in stations and in some cafés, but you often have to sign up with an email address, and the security of open networks is weak for your payments. It does not follow you down the street or onto the train. We listed the right habits in our article on [free wifi in Japan](/en/blog/free-wifi-japan/). For the big picture, also read our article [Internet in Japan](/en/blog/internet-in-japan/).

To choose your SIM card for Japan, ask yourself three questions: is your phone unlocked and eSIM compatible, do you need to make local calls, and how much data will you use each evening back at the hotel? The answer points you to one of three families of products, and these top 3 criteria are enough to decide.

The Japanese prepaid SIM card

A prepaid SIM card for tourists is a chip you slide into your smartphone, in place of your usual card. It gives you mobile data, almost always without a phone number or texts. Tourist plans range from 3 to 30 days, with "unlimited" but capped data included, or a fixed amount. It is a reliable local SIM card, on 4G LTE and 5G, but you have to pick it up, insert it and sometimes set it up.

To make local calls, you need a voice plan like Mobal's: ¥4,950 (about $31.50) for the SIM, then ¥1,430 (about $9.10) a month. It is useful if you live there for several months, with a partner like Mobal that also delivers to the airport, much less for a two-week vacation.

The eSIM for Japan

An eSIM is a digital SIM card built into your smartphone. You buy it online, you can download it with a QR code or directly in the app, and it connects as soon as you land. Your usual SIM card stays in place: you keep receiving texts from your bank, and your WhatsApp account does not change. It is the simplest option if your phone is compatible, which is the case for every iPhone since the XS and most recent Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel phones.

The pocket wifi router in Japan

A few years ago, this small device was the travelers' favorite, and often simply essential. Today, this pocket router is rented just for the length of the stay, mostly by groups. It picks up 4G LTE and shares it over wifi with several devices. Sakura Mobile rents it from ¥329 (about $2.10) per 24 hours. It is handy for a family or a group of friends, but the device needs charging every night and must be returned before you leave. We compare the plans in our [comparison of pocket routers in Japan](/en/blog/pocket-wifi-japan/).

The market relies on four networks: NTT Docomo, KDDI (au brand), SoftBank and Rakuten Mobile. The first, which was the former state carrier, has the best coverage in the countryside and the mountains. KDDI is very strong in big cities and in the subway.

These four Japanese carriers mainly sell contracts to residents. A newcomer passing through therefore buys elsewhere. For a tourist, SIM card offers come from partner sellers that rent their networks:

• Japan Wireless: data cards on two major networks, as a Standard plan (3 GB of high-speed data per 24 hours) or Premium (no speed reduction), with airport pickup or shipping.
• Sakura Mobile: a data SIM for travelers from ¥3,850 including tax (about $24.50), an eSIM version, and monthly plans for residents.
• Japan Experience: a physical SIM card from €22 (about $24.70), to pick up locally.
• Mobal: the voice SIM card, for anyone who needs to call within Japan. Mobal offers SIM cards with free local pickup.
• IIJmio and b-mobile: data cards sold in stores, often on the shelves of the big electronics chains.

The seller's name matters less than the partner carrier it uses: before paying, check whether it is Docomo, au or SoftBank, especially if your destination includes rural areas, and compare the coverage for each destination on your itinerary.

SIM card prices in Japan depend on the length, the data cap and where you buy. Here is what each seller offers for tourists, checked on their websites on October 22, 2026 (euro and yen prices converted at the European Central Bank reference rates of October 22, 2026: $1 = ¥157 and €1 = $1.12):

The word "unlimited" deserves a careful read. At Japan Wireless, the Standard plan keeps 3 GB of high-speed data per 24 hours, after which speed may slow down until midnight. Only the Premium plan removes this reduction, for a price about 65% higher over 15 days.

Compared with these prices, the voilà eSIM for Japan is much cheaper, and it runs on Docomo too:

For two weeks, 20 GB with voilà eSIM costs $16.80, compared with $23.20 for the 15-day Japan Wireless Standard card and about $48.20 for the 14-day Airport Telecom card. That is excellent value for money, and the price shown is the final price. To know how much data to plan for, we did the math in [how many GB for your trip](/en/esim-how-many-gb-for-my-trip/).

You can get a SIM in four places. The choice mostly depends on when you land and whether you want everything sorted before you leave.

Online before you leave

It is the safest method, ideal for a first trip: nothing new to deal with when you arrive. Japan Wireless, Sakura Mobile and Japan Experience let you order online, then pick the card up at the airport or have it delivered to your hotel. You compare plans calmly so you can enjoy it from day one, and you can contact the seller's customer service before you leave if you have a question.

At the airport

Narita and Haneda (Tokyo) and Kansai (Osaka) airports have counters and vending machines in the arrivals hall. Products are often labeled in English: "Japan SIM card", "Travel SIM", "data only", "unlimited" and the number of "days". It is convenient right off the plane, but prices there are usually higher than on the seller's website, and the line can be long when an international flight arrives.

At Bic Camera, Yodobashi Camera and department stores

Electronics chains such as Bic Camera, Yodobashi Camera and Sofmap have shelves dedicated to tourist SIM cards, with brands like IIJmio or b-mobile. The choice is wider than at the airport, and it is the right move for a newcomer who wants to compare packages. A first-time traveler will also find adapters for the [plug type in Japan](/en/blog/japan-plug-type/). Every big city has its Bic Camera near the main station, in Tokyo as well as in Osaka or Kyoto. On Reddit and travel forums, Bic Camera and Japan Wireless come up often in travelers' feedback.

In konbini

Some convenience stores open 24 hours a day, the konbini, sell data SIM cards. The choice is limited and instructions are rarely in English: keep this option as plan B, after plan A of buying online and a backup plan at the airport.

Bring your passport. A voice SIM card already requires an ID check, and each seller sets its own rules for data cards.

Until now, the rules were looser for data cards. They are about to get stricter, with a new law. In May 2026, the Japanese Parliament passed a reform of the law against the fraudulent use of mobile phones: ID checks will become mandatory for data SIM cards too. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, this new legal framework will take effect within a year of its promulgation, so by May 29, 2027 at the latest. Foreign visitors will not be exempt.

Your phone must also be unlocked to accept another carrier's card. On iPhone, the "Carrier Lock" line in Settings, General, About should read "No SIM restrictions". If it is locked, ask your carrier to unlock it before you leave.

Activating a Japanese SIM card takes a few minutes, at the airport or at your hotel. Here is each step:

1. Turn off your phone and remove your usual SIM card. Keep it somewhere safe for the trip home.
2. Insert the new chip into the SIM tray, then turn the phone back on.
3. Set up the APN if the card requires it: the instructions mention "network" and "APN settings", and give the access point name, username and password to enter in your settings. Many recent SIMs set themselves up.
4. Turn on mobile data and restart if the connection does not show. If you have a problem, contact the seller's customer service, usually in English.

How to activate an eSIM in Japan?

An eSIM removes these steps. With voilà eSIM, you choose your plan in the app, download the eSIM in a few taps before you leave, then turn it on when you land: the connection starts on its own. The eSIM is simple to install and the app is easy to use: every feature is designed for travel, from tracking your data usage to topping up in two taps. The full walkthrough is in our article [how to install an eSIM](/en/blog/how-to-install-esim/). Before buying, check that your phone is compatible:

The best option depends on how many devices you need to connect. Here is the SIM card vs pocket wifi comparison for a two-week trip:

For a solo traveler or a couple, the SIM card and the eSIM win: cheaper, nothing to carry, and hotspot sharing covers a second smartphone or a laptop. The router still makes sense for a family of four with tablets, or for an old phone without eSIM. Either way, you can use your SIM's hotspot to help out someone close to you.

A Japanese SIM card still has strengths, but an eSIM fixes most of its weaknesses. Here are both assessments.

For most travelers, the eSIM is therefore the most practical option for a trip to Japan: cheaper, installed in a few minutes, with the same coverage as a local SIM card. A physical SIM card is still useful if your phone is not eSIM compatible or if you need a Japanese number.