Best Japan SIM card for Tourists - Which one should you get?

Travelling to Japan offers a rich tapestry of experiences, from its bustling cities to serene temples. Getting a Japan SIM card for tourists ensures you can navigate seamlessly while staying connected. There are many ways to pick up a Japan data SIM card for tourists, including a Japan eSIM with unlimited data.

This guide delves into the best Japan SIM card for tourists, helping you choose the plan that fits your roaming needs. Go one step further by getting a Wise card. This other travel essential can help you save on conversion rates and fees, while also being a convenient option to pay in major cities in Japan.

Table of contents
Best eSIM and SIM card for tourists in Japan What to consider when choosing your tourist SIM card Mobal Sakura Mobile IIJmio Yesim Airalo Where to get a tourist SIM card Get the most out of your MYR to JPY spending with Wise

Best eSIM and SIM card for tourists in Japan

Prior to diving into the best Japan SIM card for tourists, here is a quick overview of the main providers of Japan SIM cards for tourists. There are also Japan eSIM options for tourists.

Some of the comparison points when selecting the best Japan SIM card for tourists include data allowance, validity period, price and additional benefits. Here is a side-by-side comparison:

SIM / eSIM	Mobal SIM	Mobal eSIM	Sakura Mobile	IIJmio	Yesim	Airalo
Price range	Buy the SIM card for JPY 2,970 (MYR 87.90) Add on a monthly plan from JPY 1,650 (MYR 48.83)	From JPY 2,340 (MYR 69.25)	From JPY 1,650 (MYR 48.83)	From JPY 2,480 (MYR 73.39)	From EUR 11 (MYR 50.84)	From USD 4.50 (MYR 19.88)
Duration options	1 month, renewable	8 to 90 days	1 to 90 days	30 days	7 to 30 days	7 to 30 days
Usage type	1 to 30 GB of super-fast data each month, reduced speeds thereafter	3 to 100 GB	Unlimited data	3 to 55 GB	3 GB to Unlimited data	1 to 20 GB
Additional features	Includes local phone number on the Softbank network Local calls from JPY 44 per min (MYR 1.30)	Japanese phone number available	Physical SIM cards can be picked up at major airports or have it shipped to Japan hotels	Data only Purchase at airport, convenience stores, electronics retail stores	Data only	Free Welcome eSIM available for new Airalo users

What to consider when choosing your tourist SIM card to travel in Japan?

The best Japan SIM card for tourists is subjective as every traveller has different needs. You might want a Japan eSIM with unlimited data to post all your stories on socials, or focus on a Japan SIM card for tourists with a local number as some reservations require that.

You may also be looking at the usage duration for your best eSIM for Japan, which can range from a few days to even a month. Some global eSIMs also cover regional travel, which is great if you’re combining Japan with other nearby countries.

Japan SIM card price for tourists

As with tourist SIM cards in other countries, prices for Japan SIM cards for tourists vary based on data allowance, validity, and the provider used. This also depends if you use a physical SIM card or an eSIM, from a local or global provider.

Physical Japan SIM cards for tourists range from JPY 2,480 to JPY 26,400 (MYR 73.39 to MYR 781.29) for 30 to up to 90 days. Meanwhile, Japan e SIM cards for tourists, especially from global providers, are not necessarily more expensive.

For instance, prices start from JPY 2,340 (MYR 69.25) for a Japanese telco, and from USD 4.50 (MYR 19.88) for a global provider’s eSIM. The factors to compare are the data needed, number of days validity and if you need a Japanese phone number.

There might also be more value in getting the Japan eSIM card for tourists from a global provider, with one of the main reasons being convenience.

What’s the difference between a Japan tourist SIM and tourist eSIM?

So why choose between a Japan SIM card for tourists or a Japan e SIM card for tourists? The simple reason is that the former is a physical SIM card that often requires you to swap out your existing SIM card, which might be misplaced.

You might also need to order the physical Japan SIM card for tourists in advance and locate a store for collection. There is no need to do this with a Japan e SIM for tourists.

In addition, if you are travelling around the region and not just in Japan, juggling multiple SIM cards can be a hassle. Global providers of eSIM cards offer regional plans, which are more convenient.

That said, it is usually the local SIM or eSIM cards that provide a local number. So you can make phone calls, use them for reservations, and so on.

Here are the most popular Japan SIM / eSIM cards for tourists and their key points:

Mobal

If you're looking for a physical SIM:

Prepaid SIM	1 GB plan	5 GB plan	10 GB plan	30 GB plan
Price	Buy the SIM card for JPY 2,970 (MYR 87.90) Add on a monthly plan at JPY 1,650 (MYR 48.83 )	Buy the SIM card for JPY 2,970 (MYR 87.90) Add on a monthly plan at JPY 3,190 (MYR 94.41)	Buy the SIM card for JPY 2,970 (MYR 87.90) Add on a monthly plan at JPY 3,630 (MYR 107.43)	Buy the SIM card for JPY 2,970 (MYR 87.90) Add on a monthly plan at JPY 4,378 (MYR 129.56)
Duration	1 month, renewable	1 month, renewable	1 month, renewable	1 month, renewable
Usage	1 GB of super-fast data each month, after which, reduced speeds of ~200Kbps	5 GB of super-fast data each month, after which, reduced speeds of ~200Kbps	10 GB of super-fast data each month, after which, reduced speeds of ~200Kbps	30 GB of super-fast data each month, after which, reduced speeds of ~200Kbps
Additional features	Includes local phone number on the Softbank network Local calls from JPY 44 per min (MYR 1.30)	Includes local phone number on the Softbank network Local calls from JPY 44 per min (MYR 1.30)	Includes local phone number on the Softbank network Local calls from JPY 44 per min (MYR 1.30)	Includes local phone number on the Softbank network Local calls from JPY 44 per min (MYR 1.30)

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If you're looking for an eSIM:

Prepaid eSIM	8-day data-only	16-day data-only	31-day data-only	30-90 Days Voice+Data
Price	JPY 2,340 to JPY 3,200 (MYR 69.25 to MYR 94.70)	JPY 2,800 to JPY 6,500 (MYR 82.86 to MYR 192.36)	JPY 3,850 to JPY 8,000 (MYR 113.94 to MYR 236.76)	JPY 7,920 to JPY 17,820 (MYR 234.39 to MYR 527.37)
Duration	8 days	16 days	31 days	30-90 days
Usage	3 to 30 GB	3 to 100 GB	10 to 100 GB	7 GB Superfast data per calendar month Japanese phone number
Additional features	Data only	Data only	Data only	Runs on Docomo network

Mobal provides both Japan SIM cards¹ for tourists, as well as eSIMs². There are a variety of plans, depending on various durations and data usage. For some of the plans, the super-fast data is reduced once used up, but data is always-on, even at reduced speeds.

With Japan eSIM cards and SIM cards for tourists for up to 90 days or even on a rolling month basis, with some including a local number, Mobal is an option for those considering a much longer trip.

Sakura Mobile

Prepaid SIM / eSIM	Travel SIM Short Trip	Travel SIM Long Trip	Travel eSIM
Price	JPY 3,850 to JPY 9,900 (MYR 113.94 to MYR 292.98) Price includes tax	JPY 15,950 to JPY 26,400 (MYR 472.03 to MYR 781.29) Price includes tax	JPY 1,650 to JPY 26,400 (MYR 48.83 to MYR 781.29) Price includes tax
Duration	1 to 30 days	45 to 90 days	1 to 90 days
Usage	Unlimited data	Unlimited data	Unlimited data
Additional features	Can pick up at major airports or have it shipped to any hotel in Japan	Can pick up at major airports or have it shipped to any hotel in Japan	Flexible number of days

For those who need flexibility, Sakura Mobile³ has a range of physical Japan SIM cards for tourists to choose from. These can be conveniently picked up upon arrival in Japan at major airports, or even shipped directly to your hotel.

Sakura Mobile’s Japan eSIM cards for tourists are another option, with flexible plans tailored to your exact trip duration. Both plans feature unlimited data, for high-speed connectivity on the go without worries. This is good news for digital nomads who may need to do video conferences while travelling.

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✈️ Planning a trip to Japan? Find out more about Japan requirements, restrictions and more in our handy guide for Malaysians

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IIJmio

	Japan Travel SIM / eSIM
Price	JPY 2,480 to JPY 5,780 (MYR 73.39 to MYR 171.06)
Duration	30 days
Usage	3 to 55 GB (7 plans available)
Additional features	Data only Purchase at airport, convenience stores, electronics retail stores Runs on NTT Docomo network

IIJmio⁴ has a Japan SIM card for tourists in 2024, which is also available in eSIM format. The data-only prepaid SIM is available at various outlets across Japan, which makes it a convenient choice. However, it is recommended for light data users, as the maximum usage is 55 GB – though you can buy a top-up for the data if needed.

Yesim

Prepaid eSIM	Prepaid Data Plans	Unlimited Data Plans
Price	EUR 11 to EUR 26.40 (MYR 50.84 to MYR 122.01)	EUR 18.15 to EUR 64.90 (MYR 83.88 to MYR 299.95)
Duration	7 to 30 days	7 to 30 days
Usage	3 to 20 GB	Unlimited Data
Additional features	Data only. Operates on KDDI LTE	Data only. Operates on KDDI LTE

Swiss provider Yesim⁵ offers global eSIM plans, including Japan eSIM cards for tourists. The plans are flexible, and the Japan eSIM with unlimited data is especially useful for your travels to Japan, as you pose with cherry blossoms in Kyoto, livestream the sunset from Shibuya Sky, or use it as a hotspot while you ride the shinkansen from Tokyo all the way to Hakodate, Hokkaido.

Airalo

Prepaid eSIM	Moshi Moshi: Free Welcome eSIM	Moshi Moshi
Price	Free for new Airalo users	USD 4.50 to USD 26 (MYR 19.88 to MYR 114.87)
Duration	3 days	7 to 30 days
Usage	500 MB	1 GB to 20 GB
Additional features	Earn reward points as an Airalo customer.	Earn reward points as an Airalo customer.

Global provider Airalo⁶ offers a variety of plans, including a free welcome eSIM for new users of its service. This can be topped up later on. Its usual Moshi Moshi Japan eSIMs for tourists range from 1 GB to 20 GB of usage, which can also be topped up.

This is good for navigating and translating menus as you traverse hidden gems in Japan such as Fukui and Tottori, but not for data intensive work like posting your latest reel on TikTok.

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Where to get a tourist SIM card in Japan?

Getting a Japan SIM card for tourists is really easy, simply because it is a popular travel destination. If you’re not going the eSIM route, which can be purchased digitally, physical Japan tourist SIM cards are readily available through multiple channels:

• Airports: Major international airports in Japan like Narita, Haneda, Kansai, and Fukuoka sell SIM cards
• Electronics Stores: Retailers such as BIC Camera, convenience stores like Lawson, and others offer Japan SIM cards for tourists.
• Online Purchase: You can also order your Japan SIM card for tourists online and choose to pick it up at the airport, or have it delivered to your hotel.

Get the most out of your MYR to JPY spending and conversions with the Wise card

To save on shopping, food, theme parks, and more in Japan, get the Wise card to save as you spend with the rate you see on Google without any foreign exchange or hidden fees.

Sign up for a free Wise account and order a physical Wise card for a low, one-time fee to start spending in THB. All you need to do is top up your account in MYR and let Wise’s auto conversion do the trick. Alternatively, you can convert your ringgit at your desired rate. Either way, you’ll be getting the mid-market rate with low, transparent fees.

The Wise card is available in both digital and physical formats, and can be added to your Apple or Google Pay wallets. You can get up to 3 virtual cards with card details for secure online spending. At times where you need cash, you can use your physical card to get some free overseas ATM withdrawals of up to 1,000 MYR monthly.

Avoid pesky hidden fees and make your THB spending go further with Wise card.

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Sources:

1. Mobal - Tourist SIM Cards
2. Mobal - Tourist eSIMs
3. Sakura Mobile - Travel
4. IIJmio - Japan Travel SIM
5. Yesim - Digital SIM cards for tourists
6. Airalo - Japan eSIM
7. Pricing/fees: Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information