Airalo is an eSIM marketplace covering more than 200 locations. Its Japan eSIMs run on SoftBank and KDDI. You can buy fixed data from 1GB (¥700 for 3 days) or unlimited plans from 3 to 30 days, and the fixed-data plans are among the cheapest we track.
Our verdict: one of the cheapest ways to get online in Japan’s cities, as long as you buy a fixed-data plan: 10GB for 30 days is ¥2,950. The unlimited plans slow to 1 Mbps after 3GB a day, and for rural and mountain trips a docomo-based plan is the safer choice.
Who it suits, and who should skip it
Good fit if you:
- want the lowest price for light to moderate data use
- are visiting several countries: Airalo also sells Asia-wide and global eSIMs that include Japan
Look elsewhere if you:
- need a Japanese phone number: see getting a Japanese phone number
- want unlimited data for streaming or work: Airalo’s unlimited plans drop to 1 Mbps after 3GB in a day
- are heading into the mountains or the countryside: its main network, SoftBank, isn’t the strongest outside the cities
Plans and prices
Every Airalo Japan plan, as shown to a visitor browsing from Japan, in yen. Visitors elsewhere see US dollars. All plans are data-only eSIMs (sold as “Moshi Moshi”). You pay Airalo’s checkout price, which can differ if Airalo changes its prices or runs a promotion.
| Plan | Phone number | Hotspot | Checked | Link | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airalo SoftBank au (KDDI) | 5GB, 30 days eSIM | 5GB | 30 | ¥1,800 | ≈$0.38 | ≈$2.27 | No | Yes | Checked | View deal |
| Airalo SoftBank au (KDDI) | 10GB, 30 days eSIM | 10GB | 30 | ¥2,950 | ≈$0.62 | ≈$1.86 | No | Yes | Checked | View deal |
| Airalo SoftBank au (KDDI) | 5GB, 15 days eSIM | 5GB | 15 | ¥1,750 | ≈$0.74 | ≈$2.21 | No | Yes | Checked | View deal |
| Airalo SoftBank au (KDDI) | 20GB, 30 days eSIM | 20GB | 30 | ¥4,100 | ≈$0.86 | ≈$1.30 | No | Yes | Checked | View deal |
| Airalo SoftBank au (KDDI) | 3GB, 7 days eSIM | 3GB | 7 | ¥1,350 | ≈$1.22 | ≈$2.84 | No | Yes | Checked | View deal |
| Airalo SoftBank au (KDDI) | 10GB, 15 days eSIM | 10GB | 15 | ¥2,900 | ≈$1.22 | ≈$1.83 | No | Yes | Checked | View deal |
| Airalo SoftBank au (KDDI) | 1GB, 3 days eSIM | 1GB | 3 | ¥700 | ≈$1.47 | ≈$4.42 | No | Yes | Checked | View deal |
| Airalo SoftBank au (KDDI) | 5GB, 7 days eSIM | 5GB | 7 | ¥1,650 | ≈$1.49 | ≈$2.09 | No | Yes | Checked | View deal |
| Airalo SoftBank au (KDDI) | 20GB, 15 days eSIM | 20GB | 15 | ¥3,950 | ≈$1.66 | ≈$1.25 | No | Yes | Checked | View deal |
| Airalo SoftBank au (KDDI) | Unlimited, 30 days eSIM Full speed for 3GB a day, then 1 Mbps until the day resets. | Unlimited | 30 | ¥11,250 | ≈$2.37 | – | No | Yes | Checked | View deal |
| Airalo SoftBank au (KDDI) | 10GB, 7 days eSIM | 10GB | 7 | ¥2,800 | ≈$2.53 | ≈$1.77 | No | Yes | Checked | View deal |
| Airalo SoftBank au (KDDI) | 3GB, 3 days eSIM | 3GB | 3 | ¥1,250 | ≈$2.63 | ≈$2.63 | No | Yes | Checked | View deal |
| Airalo SoftBank au (KDDI) | Unlimited, 15 days eSIM Full speed for 3GB a day, then 1 Mbps until the day resets. | Unlimited | 15 | ¥7,850 | ≈$3.31 | – | No | Yes | Checked | View deal |
| Airalo SoftBank au (KDDI) | Unlimited, 5 days eSIM Full speed for 3GB a day, then 1 Mbps until the day resets. | Unlimited | 5 | ¥2,800 | ≈$3.54 | – | No | Yes | Checked | View deal |
| Airalo SoftBank au (KDDI) | Unlimited, 10 days eSIM Full speed for 3GB a day, then 1 Mbps until the day resets. | Unlimited | 10 | ¥5,650 | ≈$3.57 | – | No | Yes | Checked | View deal |
| Airalo SoftBank au (KDDI) | Unlimited, 7 days eSIM Full speed for 3GB a day, then 1 Mbps until the day resets. | Unlimited | 7 | ¥4,350 | ≈$3.93 | – | No | Yes | Checked | View deal |
| Airalo SoftBank au (KDDI) | Unlimited, 3 days eSIM Full speed for 3GB a day, then 1 Mbps until the day resets. | Unlimited | 3 | ¥1,900 | ≈$4.00 | – | 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.
Key details
- Networks: SoftBank and KDDI (au), 5G, according to Airalo’s plan details. The plan page shows SoftBank as the main network.
- Unlimited plans: full speed for the first 3GB in a day, then 1 Mbps until your daily allowance resets, under Airalo’s fair-use policy.
- Fixed-data plans: full speed until the data runs out. You can top up in the app.
- Hotspot: allowed. Airalo’s fair-use policy says there’s no limit on tethering or the number of devices on unlimited plans.
- Phone number: none. Data only, with no calls or SMS.
- When the days start: the first time the eSIM connects to a network in Japan, so you can install it before you fly.
- Refunds: you can withdraw within 14 days of purchase, as long as the eSIM hasn’t been activated. If the reason is “wrong purchase” or “plans changed”, the refund comes as Airmoney (Airalo credit), not cash. If the eSIM won’t install or doesn’t work, you can choose Airmoney or a refund to your card.
- Support: chat in the app, including on WhatsApp.
- Phones: needs a carrier-unlocked, eSIM-compatible phone.
- How to buy: Airalo app or website. The eSIM installs from the app or from a QR code.
How it performed in Osaka
Hands-on test results
Speed, activation time and coverage results for Airalo aren’t published yet. Until they are, nothing on this page claims first-hand testing. How we test
What other travellers report
We haven’t tested Airalo ourselves yet, so this is what we found in recent traveller reports on Reddit and X, not our own results.
- Cities are mostly fine. Several travellers in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka in early 2026 reported quick setup and no speed problems.
- Unlimited plans are where the complaints are. One traveller on a 15-day unlimited plan reported under 1 Mbps in Tokyo. Airalo’s fair-use policy explains why: unlimited plans slow to 1 Mbps after 3GB in a day.
- Your traffic leaves Japan. Users reported their connection being routed through Hong Kong or the US. That adds ping, and a few said TikTok wouldn’t load.
- If data won’t start, travellers fixed it by restarting, choosing SoftBank manually, or setting the APN to “wbdata”.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Some of the lowest prices per GB we track: 10GB for 30 days is ¥2,950
- Fixed-data plans from 1GB (¥700), so light users don’t pay for unlimited
- Runs on two networks, SoftBank and KDDI
- Hotspot use allowed, as long as your phone supports it (Airalo help centre)
- Plans from 3 to 30 days, fixed data or unlimited
- Regional and global eSIMs if Japan is one stop of several
- Support by chat, including WhatsApp
Cons
- Data only, with no Japanese phone number
- Unlimited plans slow to 1 Mbps after 3GB in a day, so the 7-day unlimited (¥4,350) gets you less full-speed data than you might expect
- Refunds for a change of plans come as Airalo credit, not cash
- Traffic is routed outside Japan, according to user reports, which adds ping
- SoftBank is its main network, which isn’t the strongest choice for rural and mountain areas
Questions people ask
Does Airalo use SoftBank in Japan?
Yes. Airalo’s Japan eSIMs run on SoftBank and KDDI, with SoftBank shown as the main network.
Is Airalo good in Japan?
We haven’t run Airalo through our Osaka test route yet, and results will appear above when we have. Traveller reports are mostly positive in the cities, with complaints focused on the unlimited plans. For rural and mountain trips, a docomo plan is the safer choice.
Is Airalo’s unlimited plan really unlimited in Japan?
Not at full speed. Airalo’s fair-use policy slows unlimited plans to 1 Mbps after 3GB in a day, until the daily allowance resets. If you’ll use more than about 3GB a day, look at a plan without a daily cap.
What are the downsides of Airalo in Japan?
Its Japan eSIMs are data only, the unlimited plans slow down after 3GB a day, and its main network, SoftBank, isn’t the strongest outside the cities.
Airalo or Ubigi?
It depends on the plan you need. Compare both in the eSIM comparison and our Ubigi review.
If my Airalo eSIM won’t connect, what should I try?
Travellers report that restarting the phone, choosing SoftBank manually in network settings, or setting the APN to “wbdata” fixed it. Our eSIM setup guide covers the general steps.
Alternatives
See every Japan eSIM side by side in best eSIMs for Japan.
