One of the essential questions when traveling to Japan is mobile internet. Do I get a sim card, pocket wifi or esim.
Chanced upon Airalo, an app that enables you to purchase esims. Prepaid plans and data allowance seems easy and fair to buy.
I have always been using pocket wifi’s for my previous Japan trips. Would like to get your feedback on the performance of the esims you buy off Airalo. Thanks in advanced!
15 comments
Just visited Tokyo and used Airola’s service earlier this month. My phone is an iPhone 14.
The pricing is decent I’d say (1GB: $4.5, 2GB: $8.5, 3GB: $11.5). It used NTT’s network and had only 4G/LTE, so not 5G for ya if you are looking for that.
Activation was quite straightforward, basically click-wait-use. I didn’t do a speed test but never had I have issue with its coverage or speed.
Also, iirc, Airola’s plan in Japan is actually provided by Singtel, a Singaporean company, that has some roaming-enabled plan in Japan. I don’t think it has anything to do with the use experience negatively.
Edit: Given that it’s 1GB data costs only $4.5 in Japan, I think it doesn’t hurt to give it a try. You can always top-up more data (or start a new plan) at the same price. I didn’t see those “sign up for cheap, but with expensive top-up” shenanigans with Airola afaik.
Didn’t use it in Japan, but used it in Canada on an iPhone XS, worked perfectly, and my father used it when he traveled around Asia this winter (did not travel to Japan), and worked very well there as well.
So I have no complaints
I’ve been using it for about 3 weeks now and it’s been great. Really straightforward and it’s good to know that I can just keep topping up extra data/ time through the app.
I’d be interested in knowing how well this works in Japan, also.
I used pocket Wi-Fi when I was there in 2019, but the battery life of the device became a bit of an issue as I could only get 8 or 9 hours out of it. I successfully used Airalo on holiday in the USA, and it was handy to not have to carry another device around and to not have the battery run out on me
I’m interested in seeing if they are any good in Japan too? Going in May and was thinking of getting a physical sim but only just came across this Airalo eSim a few days ago.
I used an Airalo eSIM for my entire trip so far (unfortunately at the airport now though so it’s coming to an end). It worked just fine with my phone (Pixel 6a). It used Softbank (4G) most of the time. I used it in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka without issues!
In Japan using Airalo esim right now. I got 10 GB for 30 days at $18 USD. You can use a referral code or discount code to get $3 off. I’m on a 12 pro max with T-mobile in the US.
Great value and reliable service in my experience. Only issue I had was installing the app and installing the esim locally because I didn’t have a stable internet connection. I recommend installing the app and esim before arriving in Japan if you plan to use it.
Main pro is not needing to carry an extra wifi device that you need charged, decent price to data value (pay as you go), and straightforward to use when you’re set up.
Currently in Japan using Ubigi!
I used Ubigi in Japan with my iPhone (which is very similar to Airalo), and it worked perfectly and was very simple. I used to pick up a 4G hotspot when I arrived at HND, but this is a lot simpler and much cheaper. I was mainly in the Tokyo/Yokohama metropolitan area, but I went on a day trip to see Mount Fuji and it worked fine there as well.
Awesome. Been in Sapporo for a month on the 20gb 26usd esim. Really good reception even on mountains and chairlifts, so far only drops connection in and around tunnels when travelling around.
I think value, convenience, and app totally kill traditional sim. 14 pro max btw
I saw one review on here a month or so ago that said they had problems with airlo data being unusably slow, even though they had used it in other countries with no issues.
I paid $17 for 10GB/30days with Ubigi, which uses docomo as default and allows 5G. Have had zero issues with it so far. I installed the esim and bought the data plan before getting on the plane so I knew it was ready to go
Used it a few weeks ago with no issue. Good service in all the cities I went to as well as out in the boonies in southern Hokkaido. I’ve used it a few times so installation I found to be easy and the price was good. Definitely recommend.
Just got back from using it for three weeks, worked fine! At times signal dropped but similar happened to friends using their networks international minutes so don’t think it was on them
Considered between airalo and ubigi a week ago, concluded with ubigi. Anecdotal comments that airalo has problems in Japan specifically, while ubigi didn’t have significant negative comments.
My wife and I have been using Ubigi instead and have found it largely good and easy to use. Some inevitable dead spots/weird loading hang ups but otherwise a very solid option