eSIM or pocket Wi-Fi?
An eSIM lives in your phone: nothing to collect, charge or return, and everyone in the group stays online. Pocket Wi-Fi suits a group sharing one connection all day.
Prices in US dollars · for US travelers
eSIM for Japan from the US
Skip the pocket Wi-Fi pickup line: an eSIM lives in your phone and works from the moment you land. See what AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile charge for Japan, next to a prepaid travel eSIM.
Photo: David Maunsell on Unsplash
- QR code by emailinstall before you fly
- Keep your numberdata-only eSIM
- 24/7 live chatin the Graba SIM app
- Pay your way
Before you buy: straight answers
Will it work as soon as I land?
Yes, if you install it before you fly. On landing, turn off airplane mode and set mobile data to the eSIM.
Does it work on the bullet train?
Yes, on most of the route, with short drops in tunnels.
Buying tips for US travelers
- You pay in US dollars, so there is no currency conversion. Your card issuer may still apply its own fees for a merchant outside the US.
- Phones bought on a payment plan are often locked to AT&T, Verizon or T-Mobile until paid off. Check yours is unlocked before you buy.
- Turn off data roaming on your US line before you land. AT&T’s Day Pass and Verizon’s TravelPass charge on each day you use your phone abroad.
- Keep your US line on for texts and two-factor codes; iMessage, WhatsApp and FaceTime work over the eSIM’s data.
What your trip to Japan costs
Each network’s lowest published option for Japan, next to the Graba SIM plan with about 0.7 GB a day (regular use) for the whole trip. Network prices use your US plan and include calls and texts; the eSIM is data only.
| Option | Long weekend3 days | A week7 days | Two weeks14 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graba SIM eSIM | $5.493GB / 30 days | $7.495GB / 30 days | $12.4910GB / 30 days |
| AT&TInternational Day Pass | $36.00$12.00 a day × 3 | $84.00$12.00 a day × 7 | $168.00$12.00 a day × 14 |
| VerizonTravelPass | $36.00$12.00 a day × 3 | $84.00$12.00 a day × 7 | $168.00$12.00 a day × 14 |
| T-MobileInternational Pass | $30.003 × 1-day passes | $50.0010-day pass | $75.0030-day pass |
Japan eSIM
How long is your trip?
Pick the trip that sounds most like yours. Every plan is data only, paid once, with no contract.
Prices in USD
Not sure? Answer 3 quick questionsWe’ll show the maths behind our suggestion.
Swipe to compare plans
On every plan here
- Starts when you first connect, so you can install it before you fly
- QR code by emailInstall it in minutes
- Keep your numberData only, your SIM stays in
- 24/7 live chatIn the Graba SIM app
- Pay onceNo contract, guest checkout
More options
Other sizes for different kinds of trip.
- Long weekend1GB · 7 days$3.50
- Light month5GB · 30 days$7.49
- Heavy use50GB · 30 days$79.75
- Long stay50GB · 180 days$131.50
Only need a day?
A day pass gives you full-speed data for one day, then slower data for the rest of the day.
500MB to 10GB a day
From $2.75
See day passesHow we choose these plans
For each trip we pick the current plan that costs the least while lasting the whole trip and gives about 0.3 to 0.7 GB a day, enough for maps, messages and social media. A plan may last longer than the trip. Everyone uses data differently, so check your phone’s recent data use. “Best value” only appears when that plan also costs the least per GB of all the plans that fit.
Arriving in Japan
- HND Tokyo Haneda
- NRT Tokyo Narita
- KIX Osaka Kansai
- NGO Nagoya Chubu
- FUK Fukuoka
- CTS Sapporo New Chitose
Signal where people go
- Tokyo and Osaka
- Strong signal across both cities and in the subway.
- The Shinkansen
- Good on most routes, with short drops in tunnels.
- Mountain areas
- Good in towns such as Hakone and Takayama; hiking trails have gaps.
Networks our Japan plans use: NTT docomoRakuten MobileKDDI/auSoftBank
Your US network in Japan
What each network publishes for Japan, with the source and the date we checked.
- AT&T
International Day Pass: your US plan’s talk, text and data. In AT&T’s 210+ Day Pass destinations; additional lines on the account are $6 a day, and you pay at most 10 daily fees per line each bill.
Check with AT&T - Verizon
TravelPass: your plan’s talk and text, plus 5 GB of high-speed data a day. In TravelPass countries; charged only on days you use your phone there.
Check with Verizon - T-Mobile
International Pass: high-speed data (2 GB a day, 15 GB for 10 days or 30 GB for 30 days) and calls. Needs a qualifying T-Mobile postpaid plan.
Check with T-Mobile
Sources: AT&T (checked November 6, 2026) · Verizon (checked November 9, 2026) · T-Mobile (checked November 9, 2026). Prices change; check before you buy.
Graba SIM vs Airalo: the same plans, side by side
Plans with exactly the same data and validity for Japan, both data-only and priced in USD. Coverage and networks can differ, so check the plan details before you buy.
Highlighted: the lower price for each plan.
Sources: Airalo (checked November 9, 2026). Prices change; check before you buy.
Know before you go
- Pocket Wi-Fi means collecting, charging and returning a device. An eSIM has none of that.
- The plan gives you data, not a Japanese phone number. Train, taxi and translation apps work over data.
Set it up before you fly
- Check your phone is unlocked and supports eSIM on our compatibility page.
- Install the plan at home on Wi-Fi with our iPhone or Android guide.
- When you land, set mobile data to the eSIM and turn on data roaming for it only.
Questions about Japan
eSIM or pocket Wi-Fi?
An eSIM lives in your phone: nothing to collect, charge or return, and everyone in the group stays online. Pocket Wi-Fi suits a group sharing one connection all day.
Will it work as soon as I land?
Yes, if you install it before you fly. On landing, turn off airplane mode and set mobile data to the eSIM.
Does it work on the bullet train?
Yes, on most of the route, with short drops in tunnels.
What do US carriers charge in Japan?
AT&T: International Day Pass: your US plan’s talk, text and data. In AT&T’s 210+ Day Pass destinations; additional lines on the account are $6 a day, and you pay at most 10 daily fees per line each bill. Verizon: TravelPass: your plan’s talk and text, plus 5 GB of high-speed data a day. In TravelPass countries; charged only on days you use your phone there. T-Mobile: International Pass: high-speed data (2 GB a day, 15 GB for 10 days or 30 GB for 30 days) and calls. Needs a qualifying T-Mobile postpaid plan.
What if something goes wrong?
Live chat in the Graba SIM app is open 24/7. Email and contact-form requests are answered Monday to Friday.
More eSIM guides for US travelers
Traveling from somewhere else?From the UKAus Deutschland한국에서从中国出发