If your phone supports eSIM, you don’t need a physical SIM card: a travel eSIM does the same job without the plastic. A physical tourist SIM is the answer when your phone is unlocked but has no eSIM support, or you’d rather pick something up in person.
Physical SIM or eSIM?
| Physical SIM | eSIM | |
|---|---|---|
| Works on | Any unlocked phone with a SIM slot | Unlocked phones that support eSIM |
| How you get it | Posted to you, or bought at the airport or an electronics store | Bought online, installed in minutes |
| Keep your home SIM in? | No, unless your phone has two slots | Yes, both can be active |
| Risk | Losing the tiny home SIM while it’s out | Deleting the eSIM by mistake |
Tourist SIM cards compared
The tourist SIM cards we track:
| Plan | Phone number | Hotspot | Checked | Link | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sakura Mobile docomo | 3GB/day SIM card, 31 days SIM card Slows to 1Mbps after 3GB in a day. | 3GB/day | 31 | ¥9,900 | ≈$2.02 | – | No | Yes | Checked | View deal |
| Sakura Mobile docomo | 3GB/day SIM card, 15 days SIM card Slows to 1Mbps after 3GB in a day. | 3GB/day | 15 | ¥7,150 | ≈$3.01 | – | No | Yes | Checked | View deal |
| Sakura Mobile au (KDDI) | Unlimited SIM card, 31 days SIM card Hotspot use capped; the cap depends on plan length. | Unlimited | 31 | ¥15,950 | ≈$3.25 | – | No | Yes | Checked | View deal |
| Sakura Mobile docomo | 3GB/day SIM card, 7 days SIM card Slows to 1Mbps after 3GB in a day. | 3GB/day | 7 | ¥4,950 | ≈$4.47 | – | No | Yes | Checked | View deal |
| Sakura Mobile au (KDDI) | Unlimited SIM card, 15 days SIM card Hotspot use capped; the cap depends on plan length. | Unlimited | 15 | ¥11,220 | ≈$4.73 | – | No | Yes | Checked | View deal |
| Sakura Mobile au (KDDI) | Unlimited SIM card, 7 days SIM card Hotspot use capped at 6GB. | Unlimited | 7 | ¥6,380 | ≈$5.76 | – | No | Yes | Checked | View deal |
Per-day and per-GB figures are approximate, converted to US dollars at the European Central Bank rate of 19 Oct 2026. Prices are in the currency each provider’s site showed us, so you may see a different currency. You pay the provider’s checkout price. Per GB is left blank for unlimited and daily-allowance plans.
Where to buy one
- Online before you go. The cheapest and calmest option. Some providers post the SIM to your home, others to your first hotel or an airport counter.
- At the airport. Rental and SIM counters in the arrival halls sell tourist SIMs, and some airports have SIM vending machines. Expect to pay a little more. See the airport guide.
- Electronics stores. Big stores like Bic Camera and Yodobashi sell prepaid tourist SIMs. The range and English help vary by store, and staff may not have time to set it up for you.
Data-only or voice SIM?
Tourist SIMs are almost always data only: you get mobile data but no Japanese phone number. Plans with a Japanese number need an identity check under Japanese law. Residents sign up with a residence card, and some providers offer visitors a voice + data eSIM with an in-person ID check on arrival. More on getting a Japanese number
In May 2026 Japan amended its Mobile Phone Improper Use Prevention Act so that data-only SIMs and eSIMs will need identity checks too, as voice plans already do. The change takes effect on a date set by government order, within a year of the law being published (by the end of May 2027), so expect providers to start asking visitors for passport details on data plans as well.
Check your phone is unlocked first
A SIM from another provider only works if your phone isn’t locked to your home carrier. Phones bought outright are often unlocked already. Phones on a contract may need your carrier to unlock them, which can take days, so check before you fly. How to check
Questions people ask
How do I get a Japanese SIM card?
Order a tourist SIM online before you travel, or buy one at an airport counter or electronics store when you land. If your phone supports eSIM, an eSIM is quicker.
What is a voice SIM?
A SIM or eSIM that comes with a Japanese phone number for calls and SMS, not just data. In Japan these need identity verification, in person or with a residence card.
Which SIM should I get in Japan?
For a short trip, a data-only eSIM or tourist SIM sized to your data use. For a stay of several months, a monthly plan. See long-stay options.
How many GB do I need?
Around 0.5 to 1GB a day for maps, messaging and some social media; more for video. How much data you need
Can I use my US phone in Japan?
Yes, if it’s unlocked and works on Japan’s 4G networks. Most recent phones do. Check your phone
Written by Stephen
Stephen lives in Osaka. fly-jpn is where he compares eSIMs, SIM cards and pocket WiFi for visitors, using what he has learned as a resident. A plan is only described as tested when he has bought it and used it in Japan himself.