Which Japan SIM carriers and travel eSIM providers offer eSIM versus a physical SIM card only, based on our tracked plan data.
For short trips, travel eSIM providers (Airalo, eSIM-san, Holafly, JapanConnect eSIM, Mobal, Nomad, Saily, Sakura Mobile, Ubigi) are eSIM-only by design — see the tourist eSIM ranking. For a longer stay, a resident SIM plan (above) is usually cheaper per month; whether it offers eSIM or requires a physical SIM depends on the carrier.
No — Airalo and eSIM-san and Holafly and JapanConnect eSIM and Mobal and Nomad and Saily and Sakura Mobile and Ubigi are eSIM-only for the Japan plans we track. If you specifically want a physical SIM (or a pocket Wi-Fi device) for your trip, you'd need a different kind of provider than the ones ranked on our tourist eSIM page.
Daredemo Mobile, TONE Mobile, IIJmio, mineo, AEON Mobile, HIS Mobile, NURO Mobile, BIGLOBE Mobile, LIBMO, QT Mobile, J:COM Mobile, LinksMate, ahamo, povo2.0, LINEMO, Y!mobile, Rakuten Mobile offer eSIM on at least one plan, based on our tracked plan data.
In general, an eSIM needs a device that both supports eSIM and is unlocked for the carrier network you're activating (or already unlocked/carrier-free). This is a general requirement of the eSIM technology itself, not something specific to any one provider in our data — always check your specific phone model before buying.