※ This guide contains affiliate links to Mobal, TIFE’s partner. If you buy through them, TIFE may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices include tax and were checked on Mobal’s website in October 2026; promotions change, so confirm the live price before you buy.
Online the minute you land, with a real Japanese number if you need one.
- Visiting? Unlimited data eSIM from ¥1,650 (3 days), emailed in minutes, no ID.
- Moving here? Real 070/080/090 Docomo number with just your passport. No contract, no Japanese bank account.
- English support, free pick-up at Haneda and Narita.
Quick answer: for a short trip with no need for a phone number, get a data-only eSIM (Mobal’s unlimited plan starts at ¥1,650 for 3 days). If you need a Japanese number, for restaurant bookings, taxi apps, SMS codes or because you’re moving here, get a Voice+Data eSIM or SIM: a one-time ¥4,950 eSIM fee, then from ¥1,650 a month, with a real 070/080/090 Docomo number verified by passport.
Which Japan SIM or eSIM do you actually need?
The question isn’t “which SIM is best”. It’s whether you need a Japanese phone number. Data keeps you on Google Maps and LINE. A number is what Japanese apps, banks, delivery services and restaurant bookings ask for, and it’s the thing newcomers struggle to get.
| You are… | Get this | Cost at Mobal |
|---|---|---|
| Visiting for up to a month, only need data | Data-only eSIM (unlimited) | ¥1,650 for 3 days … ¥12,300 for 31 days |
| Visiting and need a number (bookings, taxi apps, SMS codes) | Voice+Data eSIM or SIM | ¥4,950 one-time + monthly plan from ¥1,650, first month pro-rated |
| Just moved, student, working holiday | Voice+Data (long-term), keep the same number | ¥4,950 one-time + from ¥1,650/month |
| Have Wi-Fi, only need a number for SMS and calls | Voice-Only | ¥1,430/month + one-time eSIM/SIM fee |
Tourist data-only eSIMs: prices
Data-only eSIMs are the fastest option: you buy online, get an email with setup instructions, and can install it at home and switch it on when you land. There’s no phone number and no SMS.
| Trip length | Unlimited data |
|---|---|
| 3 days | ¥1,650 |
| 5 days | ¥2,750 |
| 7 days | ¥3,850 |
| 10 days | ¥5,400 |
| 14 days | ¥6,600 |
| 21 days | ¥9,100 |
| 31 days | ¥12,300 |
Unlimited plans include 15GB of hotspot data. If you use less data, fixed plans cost less on longer trips: 16 days is ¥4,620 for 10GB or ¥5,170 for 50GB, and 31 days is ¥5,950 for 10GB or ¥6,600 for 50GB.
Japanese phone number plans (Voice+Data and Voice-Only)
This is where Mobal is different from most travel eSIM sellers. Its voice plans give you a real 070, 080 or 090 mobile number on NTT Docomo, not a virtual or 050 number. Incoming calls and texts are free, there’s no minimum contract, and you pay only for the days you use in your first month.
| Monthly plan | Price per calendar month |
|---|---|
| 1GB | ¥1,650 |
| 5GB | ¥3,190 |
| 10GB | ¥3,630 |
| 15GB | ¥3,795 |
| 30GB | ¥4,378 |
| 50GB | ¥5,280 |
| 100GB / 200GB (add-on) | ¥6,490 / ¥9,900 |
| Voice-Only (no data) | ¥1,430 |
On top of the monthly plan there’s a one-time eSIM or SIM fee of ¥4,950 (on sale for ¥4,455 when we checked). Unused data rolls over, you can change plans on the 1st of each month, and hotspot is included. If you run out of data, it slows to about 200 Kbps instead of cutting off. Outgoing calls and texts are charged separately.
Voice+Data
from ¥1,650 / month
Number, SMS and 5G data on day one. Keep the same number for as long as you live here.
Voice-Only
¥1,430 / month
A real number for SMS codes, banks and deliveries, without paying for data.
How to get it: email for data, passport for a number
Data-only eSIMs arrive by email. Voice plans can’t, because Japanese law requires the provider to confirm who is using the line. Mobal does that in one of two ways:
Buy online
Choose your eSIM or physical SIM and pay. No Japanese bank account is needed.
Pick up free in Japan, or get it posted
Collect your access code at a pick-up point such as Haneda or Narita airport by showing your passport and order confirmation, or have it posted to the address on your ID before you travel.
Activate and choose a plan
Enter the access code on Mobal’s activation portal, pick your monthly data plan and install the eSIM.
Set the APN and you’re live
Follow Mobal’s English instructions to enter the APN settings. Your Japanese number is ready to use.
About Japan’s 2026 SIM ID rules: Japan is tightening identity checks for SIM cards, and data-only SIMs are being brought into scope. Today Mobal’s data-only eSIMs still need no ID, but that could change. Read our guide to the 2026 SIM ID law before you buy.
Will it work on your phone?
Check these four things before you buy:
- Unlocked: phones bought on contract are often locked to your home carrier.
- eSIM-compatible (or choose a physical SIM instead).
- Supports 4G/LTE Band 1 (2100MHz) or 5G.
- Supports VoLTE if you want to make and receive calls.
Mobal vs other options: the honest comparison
| Mobal | Roaming travel eSIMs | Japanese budget carriers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Real Japanese number | ✅ 070/080/090 (voice plans) | ❌ Usually data only | ✅ |
| What you need to sign up | Passport (voice), nothing (data) | Nothing | Residence card, address, often a Japanese bank account or card |
| Language | English support | English | Mostly Japanese |
| Contract | None | None | Varies |
| Cheapest for… | Day-one number, no paperwork | Short trips, data only | Long-term residents once settled |
Our take: Mobal solves the chicken-and-egg problem every newcomer hits. You need a Japanese number to open a bank account, set up PayPay, receive deliveries and sign up for apps like Mercari, but most carriers want a bank account and residence card first. If you settle long-term and want the lowest monthly bill, compare a budget Japanese carrier later. For your first weeks, a number that works on day one is worth more than saving a few hundred yen.
Next steps after you land: Setting up life in Japan: bank, SIM, health insurance · Your first 30 days in Tokyo · SMBC Olive bank account for expats · Best apps for living in Japan
Japan SIM and eSIM FAQ
Can tourists get a Japanese phone number?
What is the easiest way to get mobile data for a short trip to Japan?
Can I get a Japanese SIM without a residence card or Japanese bank account?
Is the Mobal number a real Japanese number or a virtual one?
Will a Mobal eSIM work on my phone?
Is there a contract or cancellation fee?
Is Mobal cheaper than a Japanese carrier for long-term living?
Land in Japan already connected
Unlimited data from ¥1,650, or a real Japanese number with just your passport. No contract, English support.
Mobal is run by Mobell Communications Ltd, registered as a telecommunications provider with Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (A-16-07612). Related: Visiting Tokyo? Meet locals at TIFE events · Haneda Terminal 1 guide
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