Set your trip length and daily data. We rank what you actually pay.

No. Every Japan eSIM plan we list from Airalo, eSIM-san, Holafly, JapanConnect eSIM, Mobal, Nomad, Saily, Ubigi is data-only — there's no voice number or SMS attached. The monthly resident plans of Mobal and Sakura Mobile (not part of this ranking) do include a Japanese phone number.

It depends on the provider and plan. Airalo, Holafly, JapanConnect eSIM, Mobal, Nomad, Saily, Ubigi explicitly list hotspot/tethering as supported on at least one Japan plan. eSIM-san doesn't state it either way on any Japan plan we checked, so we show it as "not listed" rather than assuming yes or no.

Some providers put a limit on it. eSIM-san: The official FAQ says tethering is outside the scope of its eSIM service, because it depends on the settings and restrictions of the domestic carrier you are contracted with; it does not say tethering is impossible. Only the South Korea product page says tethering is possible. The Japan product pages do not mention it, so do not count on it. Holafly: You can share up to 1GB a day by tethering (a 7-day plan shares 7GB in total; the amount depends on the number of days). This cap is separate from the unlimited data itself. The official FAQ says only some eSIMs have tethering enabled and tells you to check the destination page before buying; every Japan plan page we checked mentions sharing. Mobal: The prepaid Tourist unlimited plans allow tethering for up to 15GB (the official page shows "15GB hotspot data"). The monthly Voice+Data plan can tether, but Mobal says it does not guarantee it on every device or OS.

No app needed for Airalo, eSIM-san, Holafly, JapanConnect eSIM, Nomad, Ubigi — buy and activate through a browser. Saily requires their own app. Mobal doesn't state this clearly on the pages we checked.

Airalo, Holafly, JapanConnect eSIM, Mobal, Nomad, Saily, Ubigi: from your first connection in Japan, not the purchase date or the install date, so installing at home before you fly doesn't use up days. eSIM-san: from the moment the eSIM profile is installed (the QR code is scanned), so install it on the day you start using it, not before you fly. Buying very early has its own limit, though. eSIM-san: You must start and finish using it within 90 days of purchase; after that it can no longer be used. JapanConnect eSIM: Start using it within 60 days of purchase. After that it expires and can no longer be used. Nomad: Activate it within 60 days of purchase. After that it starts by itself and the validity days begin to count, even if you have not used it. Saily: Activate it within 180 days of purchase. After that it starts by itself and the validity days begin to count, even if you have not used it. Ubigi: Start using it within 6 months of purchase. After that it expires and can no longer be used.

Plans with a daily allowance don't cut you off — they throttle instead. Among the plans we track (Airalo, eSIM-san, JapanConnect eSIM, Nomad, Saily, Ubigi), the throttle speed after the daily cap ranges from 256kbps to 2000kbps, resetting the next day. Check the specific plan for its exact daily cap and throttle speed.

Refund conditions are set by each provider, not us — see the table above and each provider's page for the source. Airalo, eSIM-san, Holafly, JapanConnect eSIM, Nomad, Saily, Ubigi have refund conditions on record. We could not find refund conditions stated on the official pages we checked for Mobal — ask official support before buying if this matters to you.