Japan eSIM Prices 2026 — Airalo, Holafly, Nomad & More Compared
Last updated: April 23rd, 2026
Japan eSIM prices in 2026 start at $3.99 for 1 GB and range up to $25 for a 20 GB 30-day plan — with Travelsim Asia, Airalo, Nomad, and Saily all competitive in the $10–$18 range for most trips. The headline number doesn't always tell the whole story, though: unlimited plans throttle, validity windows differ wildly, and some providers connect to one Japanese network while others cover all four.
This page breaks down exactly what each major Japan eSIM provider charges in April 2026, what you're actually getting for that price, and where the hidden trade-offs are. We sell eSIMs ourselves, so we're not neutral — but where a competitor offers better value, we'll say so.
Quick summary: Japan eSIM prices 2026
- Cheapest small plan (1 GB): Travelsim Asia — $3.99 / 7 days
- Best value 30-day plan (5 GB): Travelsim Asia / Airalo — ~$11
- Most expensive option: Holafly — $3.90/day unlimited
- All four Japanese carriers: Travelsim Asia — the only provider in this comparison connecting to NTT docomo, KDDI/au, SoftBank, and Rakuten Mobile
- No app required: Travelsim Asia
- Best unlimited value: Nomad — $23 / 7 days
Prices verified April 2026. Always check provider websites before purchasing.
How much does a Japan eSIM cost? (quick answer)
Japan eSIM prices range from $3.99 for a 1 GB short-trip plan to around $25 for a 20 GB 30-day plan. Most travelers pay $10–$18 total for a one to two week trip with regular use — maps, translation, and social media included.
Here's the full price range at a glance across all major providers:
| Plan size | Price range | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | $3.99–$4.00 | Short stopovers, 1–3 days |
| 3 GB | $6.99–$8.00 | One week, light use |
| 5 GB | $10.00–$11.00 | One to two weeks, regular use |
| 10 GB | $16.99–$18.00 | Two weeks, heavier use |
| 20 GB | $24.00–$25.00 | Extended trips, remote workers |
| Unlimited (7 days) | $23.00–$27.30 | Heavy daily users — check FUP |
Price ranges based on major providers: Travelsim Asia, Airalo, Holafly, Nomad, Saily, Ubigi. April 2026.
Airalo Japan eSIM prices 2026
Airalo is the most widely recognised eSIM marketplace and a common starting point for Japan travelers. They offer both fixed and unlimited Japan plans, with flexible validity options.
Airalo Japan fixed plans
| Data | Validity | Price (USD) | Price per GB |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | 3 days | $4.00 | $4.00 |
| 3 GB | 3 days | $7.50 | $2.50 |
| 3 GB | 7 days | $8.00 | $2.67 |
| 5 GB | 7 days | $10.00 | $2.00 |
| 5 GB | 30 days | $11.00 | $2.20 |
| 10 GB | 7 days | $17.00 | $1.70 |
| 10 GB | 30 days | $18.00 | $1.80 |
| 20 GB | 15 days | $24.00 | $1.20 |
| 20 GB | 30 days | $25.00 | $1.25 |
Airalo Japan unlimited plans
| Validity | Price (USD) | FUP (daily high-speed cap) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 days | $11.40 | 3 GB/day → 1 Mbps |
| 5 days | $19.50 | 3 GB/day → 1 Mbps |
| 7 days | $27.00 | 3 GB/day → 1 Mbps |
| 10 days | $35.00 | 3 GB/day → 1 Mbps |
| 15 days | $49.00 | 3 GB/day → 1 Mbps |
| 30 days | $74.00 | 3 GB/day → 1 Mbps |
Networks: SoftBank and KDDI/au. Solid for Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto. Thinner in rural Hokkaido and remote areas where docomo coverage matters. App required.
Worth knowing: Airalo raised their Japan unlimited prices significantly in early 2026 — the 7-day plan went from around $15 to $27, and 30-day from ~$35 to $74. At these new prices Airalo's unlimited is no longer the bargain it used to be, and sits close to Holafly on shorter durations.
Holafly Japan eSIM prices 2026
Holafly only sells unlimited plans — no fixed data options. Their pricing is per day at $3.90/day, which makes them significantly more expensive than fixed-plan alternatives for most trip lengths.
| Validity | Price (USD) | Price per day | FUP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 days | $19.50 | $3.90 | Not disclosed |
| 7 days | $27.30 | $3.90 | Not disclosed |
| 10 days | $39.00 | $3.90 | Not disclosed |
| 15 days | $58.50 | $3.90 | Not disclosed |
| 30 days | $117.00 | $3.90 | Not disclosed |
Worth knowing: At $3.90/day, Holafly is by far the most expensive Japan eSIM option in this comparison. A 15-day trip costs $58.50 — versus $16.99 for a 10 GB fixed plan from Travelsim Asia that covers the same period comfortably for most users. On top of that, Holafly doesn't disclose their FUP threshold for Japan, so you don't know exactly how much high-speed data you're getting before throttling kicks in.
Networks: SoftBank and KDDI/au. Good for cities. App optional — can manage via customer panel.
Nomad Japan eSIM prices 2026
Nomad offers competitive fixed plans and some of the best-value unlimited options in the Japan market. They also connect to all four Japanese networks — a meaningful advantage over most competitors.
Nomad Japan fixed plans
| Data | Validity | Price (USD) | Price per GB |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | 7 days | $4.00 | $4.00 |
| 3 GB | 30 days | $7.50 | $2.50 |
| 5 GB | 30 days | $10.00 | $2.00 |
| 10 GB | 30 days | $17.00 | $1.70 |
| 20 GB | 45 days | $24.00 | $1.20 |
| 50 GB | 45 days | $39.00 | $0.78 |
Nomad Japan unlimited plans
| Validity | Price (USD) | FUP |
|---|---|---|
| 3 days | $11.00 | 2 GB/day → reduced speed |
| 7 days | $23.00 | 2 GB/day → reduced speed |
| 14 days | $41.00 | 2 GB/day → reduced speed |
| 21 days | $49.00 | 2 GB/day → reduced speed |
Networks: KDDI/au and SoftBank — two of Japan's four major carriers. App required. Their unlimited plans are the best-value unlimited option in this comparison — significantly cheaper than Holafly for the same trip length, and now also cheaper than Airalo after Airalo's early-2026 price hike.
Saily Japan eSIM prices 2026
Saily is built by the NordVPN team — fixed plans only, no throttling surprises. Pricing sits close to Travelsim Asia and Airalo across the board.
| Data | Validity | Price (USD) | Price per GB |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | 7 days | $3.99 | $3.99 |
| 3 GB | 30 days | $7.99 | $2.66 |
| 5 GB | 30 days | $10.99 | $2.20 |
| 10 GB | 30 days | $17.99 | $1.80 |
| 20 GB | 30 days | $24.99 | $1.25 |
Networks: SoftBank only — weakest rural coverage of all providers listed here. Fine for major cities. App required. Also offers unlimited plans from $48.99 — poor value compared to Nomad's unlimited options.
Ubigi Japan eSIM prices 2026
Ubigi operates as a full MVNO rather than a reseller. Their strength is monthly and subscription-style plans for longer stays.
| Data | Validity | Price (USD) | Price per GB |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | 3 days | $3.50 | $3.50 |
| 1 GB | 30 days | $4.00 | $4.00 |
| 3 GB | 15 days | $7.50 | $2.50 |
| 5 GB | 15 days | $10.00 | $2.00 |
| 10 GB | 7 days | $14.00 | $1.40 |
| 10 GB | 30 days | $16.50 | $1.65 |
| 25 GB | 30 days | $32.00 | $1.28 |
| 50 GB | 30 days | $55.00 | $1.10 |
Networks: KDDI/au and NTT docomo — strong rural coverage. App required. Their 10 GB / 7-day plan at $14.00 is the best-value short-trip 10 GB option in this comparison. Also offers unlimited plans from $25 / 7 days and an annual plan (60 GB over 12 months) at $59.
Travelsim Asia Japan eSIM prices 2026
This is our product, so take this section with that in mind. We've tried to be as factual as possible — including both our strength and limitations.
| Data | Validity | Price (USD) | Price per GB |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | 7 days | $3.99 | $3.99 |
| 3 GB | 15 days | $6.99 | $2.33 |
| 5 GB | 30 days | $10.99 | $2.20 |
| 10 GB | 30 days | $16.99 | $1.70 |
| 20 GB | 30 days | $24.99 | $1.25 |
| 50 GB | 180 days | $52.99 | $1.06 |
Networks: Travelsim Asia is the only provider in this comparison that connects to all four Japanese carriers — NTT docomo, KDDI/au, SoftBank, and Rakuten Mobile — all with 5G. No app, no account — eSIM delivered by email. Fixed plans only, full speed, no throttling. Top-ups via web portal. No unlimited plans.
Price comparison table: all providers side by side
All prices in USD. Fixed data plans only — unlimited plans excluded from this table as throttling makes direct comparison misleading.
| Data | Travelsim Asia | Airalo | Nomad | Saily | Ubigi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | $3.99 / 7d | $4.00 / 3d | $4.00 / 7d | $3.99 / 7d | ~$4.00 / 30d |
| 3 GB | $6.99 / 15d | $8.00 / 7d | $7.50 / 30d | $7.99 / 30d | $7.50 / 15d |
| 5 GB | $10.99 / 30d | $11.00 / 30d | $10.00 / 30d | $10.99 / 30d | $10.00 / 15d |
| 10 GB | $16.99 / 30d | $18.00 / 30d | $17.00 / 30d | $17.99 / 30d | $14.00 / 7d |
| 20 GB | $24.99 / 30d | $25.00 / 30d | $24.00 / 45d | $24.99 / 30d | N/A |
| 50 GB | $52.99 / 180d | N/A | $39.00 / 45d | N/A | N/A |
Prices verified April 2026. Always check provider websites before purchasing — plans and pricing change. "d" = days validity.
The market is tighter than it looks. On 5 GB and 10 GB 30-day plans, Travelsim Asia, Airalo, Nomad, and Saily are all within $1 of each other. The real differentiators are network coverage (Travelsim Asia is the only provider in this comparison connecting to all four Japanese carriers — NTT docomo, KDDI/au, SoftBank, and Rakuten Mobile), app requirements (only Travelsim Asia needs no app), and validity on smaller plans.
Which Japan eSIM gives the best value?
There's no single best answer — it depends on your priorities. Here's a straightforward breakdown:
- Best for short trips (1–3 GB): Travelsim Asia — cheapest 3 GB plan at $6.99 with 15 days validity. Airalo's equivalent is $8.00 for only 7 days.
- Best for standard trips (5–20 GB, 30 days): Nomad edges it slightly on price ($10.00 vs $10.99 for 5 GB), but Travelsim Asia is the only provider in this comparison that connects to all four Japanese networks (NTT docomo, KDDI/au, SoftBank, Rakuten Mobile) — Nomad only covers KDDI/au and SoftBank — and doesn't require an app. Airalo and Saily are within cents. Worth noting: Ubigi's 10 GB / 7-day plan at $14.00 is the best deal in this comparison if you need 10 GB for a short trip.
- Best for unlimited data: Nomad — $23 for 7 days is significantly cheaper than Holafly's $27.30 and Airalo's $27.00 for the same period, and Nomad discloses their FUP (2 GB/day) while Holafly doesn't. Airalo's unlimited pricing jumped in early 2026 — 7 days went from ~$15 to $27 — putting it roughly level with Holafly and no longer the budget option it once was.
- Best for extended stays (50 GB+): Nomad's 50 GB / 45 days at $39.00 beats Travelsim Asia's 50 GB / 180 days at $52.99 on absolute price, but Travelsim Asia's plan lasts 6 months — useful if you're making multiple trips to Japan.
- Best rural coverage: Travelsim Asia is the only provider that connects to all four Japanese carriers, including NTT docomo and Rakuten Mobile. Ubigi is the runner-up with docomo + KDDI/au. Avoid Nomad, Airalo, Holafly, and Saily for rural travel — none connect to NTT docomo, which has the widest coverage outside Japan's major cities.
- Worst value: Holafly — at $3.90/day their unlimited pricing is by far the most expensive option in this comparison, with a non-disclosed FUP to boot.
Hidden costs to watch out for
The headline price rarely tells the full story. Here are the things that trip people up when choosing a Japan eSIM.
- Throttling on unlimited plans. "Unlimited" means unlimited volume — not unlimited speed. Once you hit the daily cap, speeds drop significantly. Nomad throttles after 2 GB/day, Airalo after 3 GB/day. Holafly doesn't disclose their threshold at all. At throttled speeds, Google Maps and translation apps can struggle. A fixed plan with full speed is often the better experience for most travelers.
- Validity mismatch. Always check the validity window alongside the price. Airalo's 1 GB plan lasts only 3 days — fine for a stopover, poor value for a week-long trip. Travelsim Asia's equivalent lasts 7 days for the same price.
- App requirements. Most providers require downloading an app and creating an account. If you're buying last-minute at the airport with no data, this creates a catch-22. Travelsim Asia delivers by email — no app, no account, installs in any browser.
- Single-network risk. Saily connects only to SoftBank. If you're venturing outside major cities, a multi-network eSIM automatically switches to the strongest available signal. For Hokkaido, the Japanese Alps, or rural travel, this matters.
Unlimited vs fixed: which is actually better for Japan?
Japan is one of the destinations where this question genuinely matters — because you use your phone constantly. Translation apps, train navigation, finding restaurants, messaging. It adds up.
| Fixed data plan | Unlimited plan | |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Full speed, all the time | Full speed until daily cap, then throttled |
| Predictability | Know exactly what you're getting | Depends on daily usage patterns |
| Price | Lower for typical users | Higher — you pay for peace of mind |
| Best for | Most travelers | Heavy streamers, hotspot users |
| Runs out? | Yes — but you can top up | No — but may throttle badly |
For most Japan travelers, a fixed 5 GB plan is the sweet spot. It covers a week of maps, translation, and social media, costs less than unlimited, and delivers full speed the entire time. If you're a heavy user or hotspotting a laptop daily, consider 10–20 GB fixed rather than unlimited — you get more usable high-speed data for the same or lower cost.
How much data do you actually need for Japan?
Japan is data-hungry compared to other Asian destinations. You'll use translation apps constantly, run Google Maps or Navitime for train navigation, and look up restaurants in a city where English menus aren't always available.
| Usage type | Per day | 7 days | 14 days | Recommended plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maps, translation, messaging | 300–700 MB | 2–5 GB | 4–10 GB | 3–5 GB |
| + social media and photos | 1–1.5 GB | 7–10 GB | 14–20 GB | 10 GB |
| + video calls and streaming | 2–4 GB | 14–28 GB | 28–56 GB | 20–50 GB |
Most travelers fall in the first or second row. Hotel and café WiFi can supplement your data for heavier tasks.
Dig deeper
Need more detail on a specific topic? We've covered the Japan eSIM decision from every angle:
- Best eSIM for Japan (2026) — full comparison of Airalo, Holafly, Nomad, Saily, Ubigi, and Travelsim Asia on coverage, throttling, and setup.
- Cheapest Japan eSIM 2026 — Pure price comparison - lowest price at every data tier, compared across all major providers.
- How much data do you need for Japan? — Full breakdown on how much data you need on a typical trip to Japan.
- Travelsim Asia vs Airalo Japan eSIM — head-to-head price, coverage, and feature comparison between the two most popular options.
- How to Buy and Install a Japan eSIM — step-by-step setup for iPhone and Android, activation at Narita and Haneda, troubleshooting.
- Japan eSIM vs Pocket WiFi — if you're traveling as a group or need to connect multiple devices, pocket WiFi may actually be the better choice.
Not sure which plan is right for your trip? Our support team is available 24/7 via email and live chat — typical response time under one hour.