Which companies offer eSIM in Japan? All four mobile networks do: NTT DOCOMO, au (KDDI), SoftBank and Rakuten Mobile. Apple also lists brands like povo, UQ, LINEMO and Y!mobile, plus BIGLOBE and J:COM. Most of these plans are monthly contracts made for people who live in Japan. If you're visiting, a travel eSIM is usually simpler: you buy it online, install it before you fly and it connects when you land.
Just visiting? These Japan eSIMs are data only, so you keep your home number for WhatsApp, calls and texts. Here are three plans: a short week, a busy week, and two weeks.
Japan 5GB (7 days) · Japan 10GB (7 days) · Japan 20GB (15 days) · See all Japan eSIMs · All destinations
eSIM providers in Japan at a glance
Apple's list of carriers that offer eSIM on iPhone shows these Japanese carriers for activation by QR code or carrier app: au, BIGLOBE, J:COM, LINEMO, NTT DOCOMO, povo, Rakuten Mobile, SoftBank, UQ and Y!mobile. The same carriers are listed for eSIM Quick Transfer, which moves your number from an old iPhone to a new one (Apple: carriers that offer eSIM service on iPhone). Here is how the main options compare:
- NTT DOCOMO: monthly plans, plus ahamo, a plan you sign up for online.
- au (KDDI): eSIM on au plans, plus UQ and povo. povo runs on the au network and has a data only plan.
- SoftBank: eSIM on SoftBank plans, plus Y!mobile and LINEMO, SoftBank's online only brand.
- Rakuten Mobile: eSIM you can sign up for and activate online.
- Travel eSIMs: sold online by providers like SimOptions. Data only, no Japanese sign-up, ready before you leave.
Looking for the best plan for your trip rather than a carrier? See our guide to the best eSIM for Japan.
NTT DOCOMO eSIM
Apple lists NTT DOCOMO for eSIM on iPhone. Its English plans page lists docomo MAX, docomo Poikatsu MAX, docomo Poikatsu 20 and docomo mini. The plan pages themselves are in Japanese only.
- ahamo: DOCOMO describes it as a simple online subscription with 30 GB of data. You apply on the ahamo website yourself.
- Help in English: DOCOMO's phone line 0120-005-250 (from landlines) takes calls in English, Portuguese, Chinese and Spanish, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
These are monthly plans. If you're only in Japan for a week or two, a travel eSIM is easier.
au eSIM, UQ and povo
au is run by KDDI. Apple lists au, UQ and povo for eSIM on iPhone. au's English site points you to au Style and au shops with foreign language service.
povo is the au brand most interesting for visitors. According to povo's English site:
- Network: povo uses the au network, including au 5G.
- How it works: the basic fee is 0 yen and you buy data (and call options) as "toppings" in the povo app when you need them.
- Data Only plan: povo says it can be activated without identification documents. It is only for new contracts, with a new number.
- eSIM only: povo says the Data Only plan works on eSIM phones only and can be activated the same day (povo: eSIM activation).
Apple lists povo as the one Japanese carrier with eSIM prepaid plans for international travelers. Check povo's sign-up and payment steps before you count on it.
SoftBank eSIM, Y!mobile and LINEMO
SoftBank, Y!mobile and LINEMO are all on Apple's eSIM list. LINEMO calls itself SoftBank's online only brand, and it has an eSIM setup guide on its site (in Japanese).
For visitors, SoftBank sells a Prepaid SIM for Travel. Note that it is a physical SIM card, not an eSIM. According to SoftBank, it is data only, you buy it at a SoftBank shop, an electronics store or an airport counter, and you need your original passport, a SIM-lock-free phone and to be at least 18.
Rakuten Mobile eSIM
Rakuten Mobile runs its own network. Its coverage map (in Japanese) shows its own network, with the au network as a partner line in some areas.
According to Rakuten's eSIM page (in Japanese), you can apply and activate an eSIM online, with an ID check on your phone. For foreign nationals, the online ID check accepts a residence card or a special permanent resident certificate. So as a short-term visitor without a residence card, you can't use this quick online route.
Japan travel eSIM: data without a local sign-up
A travel eSIM is a data plan you buy online. You get a QR code by email, install it on Wi-Fi before you leave, and it connects when you arrive. Here is what the SimOptions plans include, according to their plan details on our Japan eSIM page:
- Plans: from 1 GB for 3 days up to 60 GB for 90 days, with 5 GB to 20 GB plans for one or two weeks.
- Speed: 4G and 5G.
- Data only: no Japanese number, calls or SMS. You can top up if you run low.
- Activation: once installed, the eSIM activates automatically when you reach Japan.
- No local paperwork: no passport upload, no residence card, no store visit.
For a few days in Tokyo with maps, messages and photos, 5 GB is a good start. For a week or two with train apps, video calls and uploads, look at 10 GB or 20 GB.
Data only means no phone number. You can still call and text with apps. See how to make phone calls with a data-only eSIM.
Also visiting South Korea or China on the same trip? See our South Korea eSIM page, our China eSIM page or an Asia eSIM that covers several countries. Stopping in Taiwan too? Read eSIM providers in Taiwan.
Local eSIM or travel eSIM: which one is right for you?
A DOCOMO, au, SoftBank or Rakuten eSIM fits if
- You live in Japan or stay for several months, with a residence card.
- You need a Japanese phone number.
- You're fine with Japanese sign-up pages and a monthly plan.
A travel eSIM fits if
- You're on a short trip and want data the moment you land.
- You'd rather skip ID checks, Japanese forms and store queues.
- You want to keep your home number active at the same time. See how to set up a dual eSIM.
Planning the whole trip? Our Japan trip guide helps with the rest.
How to set up a Japan eSIM
- Check your phone. It must support eSIM and be unlocked. See our guide to checking eSIM compatibility and our list of eSIM supported devices.
- Buy your plan and wait for the QR code by email.
- Install it on Wi-Fi. On iPhone, open the Camera app, scan the QR code and tap the Cellular Plan Detected notification (Apple: Set up eSIM on iPhone). Step by step for iPhone and Android: how to install an eSIM.
- Label the line "Japan" so you can tell it apart from your home line.
- When you land, make the eSIM your data line and turn on data roaming for it.
Not connecting? Go through our eSIM activation fixes.
FAQs
Which companies offer eSIM in Japan?
NTT DOCOMO, au, SoftBank and Rakuten Mobile, plus brands like povo, UQ, LINEMO and Y!mobile. Apple lists all of them for eSIM on iPhone.
What are the best eSIM providers for Japan?
If you live in Japan, pick the carrier whose plan and coverage suit you. If you're visiting, a travel eSIM is the easiest choice because you set it up before you fly. Our guide to the best eSIM for Japan compares plans by trip length.
Where can I buy an eSIM in Japan?
Japanese carriers sell eSIM on their own sites and in their shops, but most plans need Japanese ID. As a visitor, it's easier to buy a travel eSIM online before you leave, so you're connected at the airport.
Can tourists get a Japanese carrier eSIM?
Options are limited. Rakuten's online ID check needs a residence card for foreign nationals. povo says its Data Only plan can be activated without ID documents. SoftBank's visitor product is a physical SIM card.
Do I get a Japanese phone number with a travel eSIM?
No. The SimOptions Japan plans are data only. For a Japanese number, you need a local carrier plan.
Does a Japan travel eSIM support 5G?
Yes. The SimOptions Japan plans support 4G and 5G.
Can I install a Japan eSIM before I fly?
Yes. Install the QR code on Wi-Fi at home. The eSIM then activates automatically when you reach Japan.
Can I use a Japan eSIM on an iPhone?
Yes, if your iPhone supports eSIM and is unlocked. Follow Apple's eSIM setup guide or our guide on how to install an eSIM.
