Japan eSIM Guide: Staying Connected from Narita to Kyoto

Japan has some of the most reliable mobile coverage in the world, including inside subway tunnels in major cities — genuinely impressive if you're used to dropping signal on the London Underground. I checked live pricing from six well-known providers we track for Japan, and the numbers make a strong case for skipping the airport rental-router counter entirely.

The quick answer

• Cheapest unlimited data for a full month: Maya Mobile at $49.99 — well ahead of Ubigi ($65.00), GigSky (currently unavailable), Airalo ($69.00), and Saily ($59.99).
• Cheapest entry point: Ubigi's 1GB/3-day plan at $3.50.
• Best short-trip unlimited: Maya Mobile again, at $9.99 for 3 days.
• Notable standout: Nomad eSIM and GigSky are the only two of these six pricing unlimited at 14 and 21 days for Japan — Nomad at $41.00/$49.00, GigSky at currently unavailable/currently unavailable.

Live Japan deals right now

Public promo codes from providers selling Japan eSIMs — pulled live from our deals list, so this section updates itself and disappears when nothing is running.

Sim Local

20% off every Japan eSIM with JAPAN2026

-20%

Applies to all Sim Local Japan plans. Enter JAPAN2026 at checkout; valid until 31 October 2026.

Public promo Ends Oct 31, 2026

JAPAN2026 Get this deal

Billion Connect

2026 Japan Deal

-30%

2026 Japan Sale: eSIM 30% OFF

Public promo Ends Dec 31, 2026

LOVEJAPAN Get this deal

Jetpac

JAPAN Deal! 12% discount for purchase above $10

-12%

Tokyo trains, Kyoto temples, Osaka food streets, your data needs to keep up. Get Jetpac eSIM plans at 12% off. Use code Japan12 on purchases above $10.

Public promo Ends Apr 30, 2027

Get this deal

What you'll actually pay: six providers compared

Airalo

Airalo's Japan lineup covers 3, 5, 7, 15, and 30 days, with fixed data from 1GB/3-days at $4.00 up through 20GB/30-days at $25.00. A 5GB/7-day plan is $10.00, and 10GB/7-days is $17.00. Unlimited tiers start at $11.50 for 3 days and reach $69.00 for a full month.

GigSky

GigSky's Japan pricing mixes fixed data with unlimited, and it's genuinely one of the more flexible catalogs here: a 1GB/7-day plan from $2.99, a 1-day unlimited option at $3.49, and unlimited tiers stretching all the way to currently unavailable for 30 days. Real discount code active:

GigSky -15% ESIMKART15 All payments

15% off on all GigSky purchases

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Nomad eSIM

Nomad eSIM is the one to check for longer stays: alongside the usual 3-day ($11.00) and 7-day ($25.00) unlimited tiers, it offers 14-day ($41.00) and 21-day ($49.00) unlimited plans that only GigSky also prices for Japan. Its fixed 30-day tiers are solid too — 20GB at $23.00, 10GB at $16.00, 5GB at $10.00. Real discount code active:

Nomad eSIM -15% ESIMKART15

15% off, single-use per customer. Excludes plans under $5, sale plans, add-on data, unlimited plans, and the Thailand 50GB plan.

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Saily

Saily's 1GB/7-day plan at $3.99 is among the cheapest single tiers we found for Japan. Its unlimited range runs from $18.99 (5 days) to $59.99 (30 days), and the fixed 30-day tiers are workable: 20GB at $24.99, 10GB at $17.99, 5GB at $10.99. Real discount code active:

Saily -10% ESIMKART

10% off.

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Ubigi

Ubigi has the cheapest absolute entry point for Japan — 1GB for 3 days at $3.50 — plus a genuinely rare long-term option: 60GB spread over 12 months for $55.00. Its 30-day fixed tiers are strong across the board: 20GB at $18.00, 10GB at $16.50, 5GB at $5.00. Its unlimited tiers run 8 days at $25.00 and 15 days at $39.00, and its 30-day unlimited plan at $65.00 is normally the second-cheapest full-month option after Maya Mobile. Real discount code active:

Ubigi -10% ESIMKART10 First payment only

10% off for new customers on first purchase

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Maya Mobile

Maya's flat rate — $9.99 for 3 days, $19.99 for 7 days, $27.99 for 14 days, $49.99 for 30 days — is normally the best unlimited deal in Japan at every duration where a direct comparison exists. Real discount code active:

Maya Mobile -10% ESIMKART10

10% off.

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Why the prices are all over the place

The usual pricing models apply here: Maya sells unlimited-only and charges the same flat rate everywhere it operates, rather than pricing Japan as its own market. Airalo, GigSky, Nomad eSIM, Saily, and Ubigi all mix fixed-data tiers with unlimited, and Nomad eSIM and GigSky's less common 14 and 21-day unlimited tiers are worth knowing about specifically if your trip falls in that window, since the other four don't price those durations at all.

My honest take, based on how most people actually use data here: Google Maps and train-transfer apps are the biggest data users for most travelers in Japan. A 10GB plan comfortably covers a 10-14 day trip with regular navigation and messaging — you likely don't need unlimited unless you're streaming heavily or tethering a laptop. Our data usage guide has the specifics if you want to check your own habits.

How to pick based on your trip

• A very short trip: Ubigi's 1GB/3-day plan at $3.50 is the cheapest entry point we found.
• A short trip, unlimited: Maya Mobile at $9.99 for 3 days.
• About a week: Maya Mobile again at $19.99, usually cheaper than the alternatives' full-week unlimited plans.
• Two weeks: Maya Mobile's 14-day plan at $27.99 usually beats both Nomad eSIM's ($41.00) and GigSky's (currently unavailable) 14-day tiers, and Ubigi's 15-day ($39.00) too.
• Three weeks: Nomad eSIM's 21-day unlimited at $49.00 and GigSky's equivalent at currently unavailable are the only two options priced at this exact length for Japan.
• A full month, fixed data is enough: Ubigi's 20GB/30-day plan at $18.00 is the standout, well ahead of Nomad eSIM ($23.00) and Saily ($24.99).
• A full month, you want unlimited: Maya Mobile at $49.99, ahead of Ubigi ($65.00), GigSky (currently unavailable), Airalo ($69.00), and Saily ($59.99).
• Frequent visitor or long-term stay: Ubigi's 60GB/12-month annual plan at $55.00 is a rare option among the providers we track.

A few things worth knowing before you buy

Install your eSIM on airport wifi before you land so it's ready the moment your plane touches down — no queueing at a rental counter at Narita or Haneda. Every provider here supports this.

Coverage is excellent nationwide, including inside subway tunnels in Tokyo, Osaka, and other major cities — one of the most reliably connected countries we've priced for. That holds true on the bullet trains too, including the Narita-to-Kyoto and Tokyo-to-Osaka Shinkansen routes most first-time visitors take.

New to eSIMs altogether? Our beginner's guide to how eSIMs work covers the basics before you buy.

Check your phone is eSIM-compatible and carrier-unlocked first — our compatibility guide takes about a minute.

See the full, live list of Japan eSIM plans sorted by price, if you want to compare exact tiers side by side.