Sakura Mobile is a Japan-based provider that sells to both visitors and residents: travel eSIMs and SIM cards, pocket WiFi, monthly voice and data plans, and home internet. It stands out for one thing most travel eSIMs don’t offer: a voice + data eSIM that gives short-term visitors a Japanese phone number.
Our verdict: the best pick if you need a Japanese phone number on a short trip (on a 3GB/day plan), or unlimited data with no daily cap on your phone. Its Fixed Data eSIM on docomo is an option for lighter use, but other eSIMs cost less: 3GB for a week is ¥2,970 here.
Who it suits, and who should skip it
Good fit if you:
- need a Japanese phone number on a short trip: its Travel Voice + Data eSIM is for visitors staying up to 90 days
- want unlimited data with hotspot use allowed (within a cap that depends on plan length)
- are moving to Japan and want English sign-up without a Japanese bank account, which Sakura Mobile says its monthly voice plans don’t need
Look elsewhere if you:
- only need light data for a short trip: fixed-data eSIMs from other providers cost less (see the eSIM comparison)
- can’t get to an airport counter or the Shinjuku office: the voice + data eSIM needs an in-person ID check before it starts
- have an older phone: the Unlimited plans need a phone that supports au’s 5G bands n77 and n78, according to Sakura Mobile
Plans and prices
Sakura Mobile prices travel plans by your exact dates, counting both the first and last day, so lengths not shown here cost something in between. It charges in yen only. Prices below include 10% consumption tax.
Travel eSIMs: Unlimited (au), 3GB a day (docomo), and 3GB a day with a Japanese number and domestic calls (au).
| Plan | Phone number | Hotspot | Checked | Link | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sakura Mobile docomo | 3GB/day eSIM, 30 days eSIM Slows to 200kbps after 3GB in a day. Validity starts when installed. | 3GB/day | 30 | ¥9,900 | ≈$2.09 | – | No | Yes | Checked | View deal |
| Sakura Mobile au (KDDI) | Unlimited eSIM, 30 days eSIM Hotspot use capped at 30GB. Validity starts on arrival in Japan. | Unlimited | 30 | ¥14,575 | ≈$3.07 | – | No | Yes | Checked | View deal |
| Sakura Mobile docomo | 3GB/day eSIM, 14 days eSIM Slows to 200kbps after 3GB in a day. Validity starts when installed. | 3GB/day | 14 | ¥6,930 | ≈$3.13 | – | No | Yes | Checked | View deal |
| Sakura Mobile docomo | 3GB/day eSIM, 7 days eSIM Slows to 200kbps after 3GB in a day. Validity starts when installed. | 3GB/day | 7 | ¥4,620 | ≈$4.17 | – | No | Yes | Checked | View deal |
| Sakura Mobile au (KDDI) | Unlimited eSIM, 14 days eSIM Hotspot use capped at 13GB. Validity starts on arrival in Japan. | Unlimited | 14 | ¥9,240 | ≈$4.17 | – | No | Yes | Checked | View deal |
| Sakura Mobile au (KDDI) | Voice + data eSIM, 30 days eSIM Japanese number with up to 240 min of domestic calls. In-person ID check at selected airport counters or Shinjuku office. | 3GB/day | 30 | ¥19,855 | ≈$4.18 | – | Yes | Yes | Checked | View deal |
| Sakura Mobile au (KDDI) | Unlimited eSIM, 7 days eSIM Hotspot use capped at 6GB. Validity starts on arrival in Japan. | Unlimited | 7 | ¥5,775 | ≈$5.21 | – | No | Yes | Checked | View deal |
| Sakura Mobile au (KDDI) | Voice + data eSIM, 14 days eSIM Japanese number with up to 240 min of domestic calls. In-person ID check at selected airport counters or Shinjuku office. | 3GB/day | 14 | ¥14,575 | ≈$6.58 | – | Yes | Yes | Checked | View deal |
| Sakura Mobile au (KDDI) | Voice + data eSIM, 7 days eSIM Japanese number with up to 120 min of domestic calls. In-person ID check at selected airport counters or Shinjuku office. | 3GB/day | 7 | ¥10,340 | ≈$9.33 | – | Yes | 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.
Fixed Data eSIM (docomo, sold as “Japan Travel 5G Data eSIM”): a set amount of data for a set number of days. Sakura shows these prices before tax, so we’ve added the 10% tax to compare them with its other plans. Buy two or more and Sakura takes ¥500 off each. Longer Fixed Data plans, up to 90 days, also exist.
| Plan | Phone number | Hotspot | Checked | Link | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sakura Mobile docomo | Fixed Data eSIM 20GB, 30 days eSIM Sakura lists ¥6,950 before tax; shown here with 10% tax added. | 20GB | 30 | ¥7,645 | ≈$1.61 | ≈$2.42 | No | Yes | Checked | View deal |
| Sakura Mobile docomo | Fixed Data eSIM 5GB, 15 days eSIM Sakura lists ¥3,600 before tax; shown here with 10% tax added. | 5GB | 15 | ¥3,960 | ≈$1.67 | ≈$5.00 | No | Yes | Checked | View deal |
| Sakura Mobile docomo | Fixed Data eSIM 30GB, 30 days eSIM Sakura lists ¥8,500 before tax; shown here with 10% tax added. | 30GB | 30 | ¥9,350 | ≈$1.97 | ≈$1.97 | No | Yes | Checked | View deal |
| Sakura Mobile docomo | Fixed Data eSIM 10GB, 15 days eSIM Sakura lists ¥5,100 before tax; shown here with 10% tax added. | 10GB | 15 | ¥5,610 | ≈$2.36 | ≈$3.55 | No | Yes | Checked | View deal |
| Sakura Mobile docomo | Fixed Data eSIM 3GB, 7 days eSIM Sakura lists ¥2,700 before tax; shown here with 10% tax added. | 3GB | 7 | ¥2,970 | ≈$2.68 | ≈$6.26 | No | Yes | Checked | View deal |
| Sakura Mobile docomo | Fixed Data eSIM 20GB, 15 days eSIM Sakura lists ¥6,200 before tax; shown here with 10% tax added. | 20GB | 15 | ¥6,820 | ≈$2.87 | ≈$2.15 | No | Yes | Checked | View deal |
| Sakura Mobile docomo | Fixed Data eSIM 50GB, 30 days eSIM Sakura lists ¥13,150 before tax; shown here with 10% tax added. | 50GB | 30 | ¥14,465 | ≈$3.05 | ≈$1.83 | No | Yes | Checked | View deal |
| Sakura Mobile docomo | Fixed Data eSIM 5GB, 7 days eSIM Sakura lists ¥3,200 before tax; shown here with 10% tax added. | 5GB | 7 | ¥3,520 | ≈$3.18 | ≈$4.45 | No | Yes | Checked | View deal |
| Sakura Mobile docomo | Fixed Data eSIM 30GB, 15 days eSIM Sakura lists ¥7,550 before tax; shown here with 10% tax added. | 30GB | 15 | ¥8,305 | ≈$3.50 | ≈$1.75 | No | Yes | Checked | View deal |
| Sakura Mobile docomo | Fixed Data eSIM 10GB, 7 days eSIM Sakura lists ¥4,500 before tax; shown here with 10% tax added. | 10GB | 7 | ¥4,950 | ≈$4.47 | ≈$3.13 | No | Yes | Checked | View deal |
| Sakura Mobile docomo | Fixed Data eSIM 1GB, 3 days eSIM Sakura lists ¥2,000 before tax; shown here with 10% tax added. | 1GB | 3 | ¥2,200 | ≈$4.63 | ≈$13.90 | No | Yes | Checked | View deal |
| Sakura Mobile docomo | Fixed Data eSIM 20GB, 7 days eSIM Sakura lists ¥5,650 before tax; shown here with 10% tax added. | 20GB | 7 | ¥6,215 | ≈$5.61 | ≈$1.96 | No | Yes | Checked | View deal |
| Sakura Mobile docomo | Fixed Data eSIM 3GB, 3 days eSIM Sakura lists ¥2,500 before tax; shown here with 10% tax added. | 3GB | 3 | ¥2,750 | ≈$5.79 | ≈$5.79 | No | Yes | Checked | View deal |
| Sakura Mobile docomo | Fixed Data eSIM 50GB, 15 days eSIM Sakura lists ¥12,550 before tax; shown here with 10% tax added. | 50GB | 15 | ¥13,805 | ≈$5.82 | ≈$1.74 | No | Yes | Checked | View deal |
| Sakura Mobile docomo | Fixed Data eSIM 30GB, 7 days eSIM Sakura lists ¥7,000 before tax; shown here with 10% tax added. | 30GB | 7 | ¥7,700 | ≈$6.95 | ≈$1.62 | No | Yes | Checked | View deal |
| Sakura Mobile docomo | Fixed Data eSIM 5GB, 3 days eSIM Sakura lists ¥3,000 before tax; shown here with 10% tax added. | 5GB | 3 | ¥3,300 | ≈$6.95 | ≈$4.17 | No | Yes | Checked | View deal |
| Sakura Mobile docomo | Fixed Data eSIM 10GB, 3 days eSIM Sakura lists ¥4,500 before tax; shown here with 10% tax added. | 10GB | 3 | ¥4,950 | ≈$10.43 | ≈$3.13 | No | Yes | Checked | View deal |
| Sakura Mobile docomo | Fixed Data eSIM 50GB, 7 days eSIM Sakura lists ¥12,000 before tax; shown here with 10% tax added. | 50GB | 7 | ¥13,200 | ≈$11.92 | ≈$1.67 | 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.
Travel SIM cards (physical, data only). SIM cards come in 4, 7, 10, 12, 15, 21, 31, 46, 62 and 93-day lengths.
| 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.
Pocket WiFi:
| Plan | Phone number | Hotspot | Checked | Link | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sakura Mobile Network not stated | Pocket WiFi, 30 days Pocket WiFi Unlimited data. | Unlimited | 30 | ¥18,579 | ≈$3.91 | – | No | Yes | Checked | View deal |
| Sakura Mobile Network not stated | Pocket WiFi, 14 days Pocket WiFi Unlimited data. | Unlimited | 14 | ¥11,616 | ≈$5.24 | – | No | Yes | Checked | View deal |
| Sakura Mobile Network not stated | Pocket WiFi, 7 days Pocket WiFi Unlimited data. | Unlimited | 7 | ¥8,558 | ≈$7.73 | – | 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.
Monthly plans for residents:
| Plan | Phone number | Hotspot | Checked | Link | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sakura Mobile docomo | Monthly data-only SIM/eSIM 5GB SIM card Per month. Activation fee ¥5,500. | 5GB | Monthly | ¥2,728/month | ≈$0.57 | ≈$3.45 | No | Yes | Checked | View deal |
| Sakura Mobile docomo | Monthly voice SIM/eSIM 5GB SIM card Per month. Activation fee ¥5,500. Calls 16.5 JPY/30 sec. Japanese 070/080/090 number. | 5GB | Monthly | ¥3,278/month | ≈$0.69 | ≈$4.14 | Yes | Yes | Checked | View deal |
| Sakura Mobile docomo | Monthly data-only SIM/eSIM 15GB SIM card Per month. Activation fee ¥5,500. | 15GB | Monthly | ¥3,278/month | ≈$0.69 | ≈$1.38 | No | Yes | Checked | View deal |
| Sakura Mobile docomo | Monthly voice SIM/eSIM 15GB SIM card Per month. Activation fee ¥5,500. Calls 16.5 JPY/30 sec. Japanese 070/080/090 number. | 15GB | Monthly | ¥3,828/month | ≈$0.81 | ≈$1.61 | Yes | Yes | Checked | View deal |
| Sakura Mobile docomo | Monthly data-only SIM/eSIM 30GB SIM card Per month. Activation fee ¥5,500. | 30GB | Monthly | ¥3,828/month | ≈$0.81 | ≈$0.81 | No | Yes | Checked | View deal |
| Sakura Mobile docomo | Monthly voice SIM/eSIM 30GB SIM card Per month. Activation fee ¥5,500. Calls 16.5 JPY/30 sec. Japanese 070/080/090 number. | 30GB | Monthly | ¥4,378/month | ≈$0.92 | ≈$0.92 | Yes | Yes | Checked | View deal |
| Sakura Mobile SoftBank | Monthly pocket WiFi 100GB Pocket WiFi Per month. | 100GB | Monthly | ¥5,478/month | ≈$1.15 | ≈$0.35 | No | Yes | Checked | View deal |
| Sakura Mobile SoftBank | Monthly pocket WiFi 200GB Pocket WiFi Per month. | 200GB | Monthly | ¥7,128/month | ≈$1.50 | ≈$0.23 | 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: the Unlimited and Voice + data eSIMs run on au (KDDI). The 3GB/day and Fixed Data eSIMs run on docomo.
- Unlimited eSIM: no daily cap and no fair-use policy on data used on your phone, according to Sakura Mobile. Hotspot use is capped for the whole plan: 2GB for 1 to 3 days, 6GB for 7 days, 13GB for 14 days, 30GB for 27 to 31 days. Sakura quotes 6 to 255 Mbps download on the Unlimited plans.
- 3GB/day eSIM: full speed for 3GB a day, then 200kbps until the next day (1Mbps on the physical SIM).
- Voice + data eSIM: a Japanese phone number with calls and SMS, plus 3GB a day of data (not unlimited). Included domestic call time depends on length: 120 minutes for up to 10 days, 240 for 11 to 30, 360 for 31 to 60, 480 for 61 to 90. It’s for visitors staying up to 90 days and needs an in-person ID check at selected airport counters or the Shinjuku office.
- Monthly voice and data plans: run on docomo, from 5GB to 30GB, with a ¥5,500 activation fee.
- Hotspot: allowed on all travel eSIMs. On Android, Sakura says you may need to add “,dun” to the APN type if tethering doesn’t work.
- When the days start: Unlimited eSIM on arrival in Japan, so you can install it before you fly. 3GB/day eSIM when you install it. Voice + data eSIM after you arrive and complete the ID check.
- Refunds: an eSIM can be cancelled for a full refund any time before its QR code has been issued. Physical SIMs and pocket WiFi can be refunded if you cancel before they’re shipped, which usually happens 4 days before pickup.
- Support: in English by email (Sakura says it usually replies within 24 hours) or by phone on +81 3-5937-5869, 10:00 to 17:00 JST, seven days a week.
- Phones: must be SIM-free (unlocked). The Unlimited plans need au 5G bands n77 and n78. iPhones sold in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau don’t support eSIM.
- How to buy: online on sakuramobile.jp, paying in yen by card or PayPal. Data-only eSIMs arrive by email.
Pickup, delivery and returns
Physical SIMs and pocket WiFi can be collected at Narita, Haneda, Kansai, Fukuoka, New Chitose and Chubu Centrair airports, or delivered to a hotel, post office or home address. Pocket WiFi goes back in the included envelope, dropped into any post box. eSIMs arrive by email, except the voice + data eSIM, which you collect after the ID check. If your phone turns out to be incompatible with a SIM or eSIM, Sakura Mobile offers to switch you to pocket WiFi.
How it performed in Osaka
Hands-on test results
Speed, activation time and coverage results for Sakura Mobile 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 Sakura Mobile ourselves yet, so this is what we found in traveller reports on Reddit and Trustpilot, not our own results.
- Mostly good. Travellers on Reddit reported no problems around Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe and the Kyushu countryside, and a Trustpilot reviewer on a 15-day Unlimited plan said there were no slowdowns all trip.
- Crowds can hurt. One traveller on the Unlimited plan in May 2026 reported under 2 Mbps and pages not loading in busy places. Others in the same thread didn’t have the problem.
- Read the 3GB/day terms. Several travellers on the older 3GB/day plan were caught out when speed dropped after the daily allowance. On the eSIM, that means 200kbps until the next day.
Pros and cons
Pros
- The only travel plan we’ve found that gives visitors a Japanese phone number
- No daily cap on phone data with the Unlimited eSIM (according to Sakura Mobile)
- Hotspot use allowed on every travel plan
- English support by email and phone, seven days a week
- Fixed Data eSIM on docomo, from 1GB for 3 days, with ¥500 off each when you buy two or more
- Airport pickup at six airports, or delivery to your hotel
- Monthly plans with English sign-up and no Japanese bank account needed
Cons
- More expensive than other fixed-data eSIMs for light users
- 3GB/day plans slow right down after the daily allowance (200kbps on eSIM)
- Unlimited plans cap hotspot use
- The voice + data eSIM needs an in-person ID check before it works
- Unlimited plans need a phone that supports au 5G bands n77/n78
- Some travellers reported very slow speeds in crowded places on the Unlimited plan
Questions people ask
Does Sakura Mobile give you a Japanese phone number?
Yes, on two kinds of plan: the Travel Voice + Data eSIM for visitors staying up to 90 days, and the monthly voice SIM/eSIM for residents. Both need an ID check. Its other travel plans are data only.
Which network does Sakura Mobile use?
It depends on the plan. The 3GB/day travel plans, the Fixed Data eSIM and the monthly voice and data plans use docomo. The Unlimited travel plans and the voice + data eSIM use au. Monthly pocket WiFi uses SoftBank.
Is Sakura Mobile’s unlimited eSIM really unlimited?
For data on your phone, yes: Sakura Mobile says there’s no daily cap or fair-use policy. Hotspot use is capped for the whole plan, from 2GB on a 1 to 3-day plan up to 30GB on 27 to 31 days.
Can I pick up a Sakura Mobile SIM or pocket WiFi at the airport?
Yes, at Narita, Haneda, Kansai, Fukuoka, New Chitose and Chubu Centrair. See our airport pickup guide.
When does a Sakura Mobile eSIM start counting days?
Unlimited eSIMs start when you arrive in Japan, so you can install them before you fly. 3GB/day eSIMs start when you install them, so install on the day you want to start using it. The voice + data eSIM can’t be activated until you’re in Japan and have shown your ID.
Alternatives
Only need data for a short trip? See the best eSIMs for Japan or compare every plan.
