Mobal vs Sakura Mobile vs Amigo eSIM: Which to Buy in Japan?

What Do Mobal, Sakura Mobile and Amigo eSIM Sell for a Trip to Japan?

If you need a Japanese number, Mobal sells one on voice eSIMs that need ID and a posted or collected code, Sakura Mobile only on a monthly plan with an in-person ID check for passport holders, and Amigo eSIM not at all. For data alone, Mobal sells unlimited plans and packages of up to 50 GB and 31 days, Sakura Mobile unlimited plans and packages of up to 200 GB and 90 days, and Amigo eSIM three packages of up to 10 GB and 30 days, in euros.

This comparison is published by Amigo eSIM, which is also one of the three options in it. The 12 criteria were set before any provider's data was gathered. Prices and terms come from each provider's own plan pages, terms and help centers, ratings from Trustpilot, and the full methodology at the end gives the dates the data was collected.

Mobal, Sakura Mobile and Amigo eSIM in One Table: 12 Criteria for Japan

The table sets each option's single-country plans for Japan side by side, with regional and global plans only as country lists. SIM cards and pocket Wi-Fi, which Mobal and Sakura Mobile also sell, are outside the comparison; Amigo eSIM's guide on whether a pocket Wi-Fi is worth renting in Japan covers that choice.

Five terms are used in the table:

Fixed-GB package: a one-off eSIM package with a set amount of data and a set number of days that a visitor can pick on the option's Japan page; unlimited, daily-allowance and monthly plans are not counted.
Entry package: the lowest-priced fixed-GB package. Package sizes differ, so it is a starting price, not a ranking.
10 GB / 30-day package: exactly 10 GB, valid exactly 30 days. Where an option has none, the cell names the smallest package with at least 10 GB and 30 days, marked "not the same".
Lowest price per GB: price divided by GB across an option's fixed-GB packages valid exactly 30 days; it holds only among the options compared, and the euro amounts for yen prices are approximate.
Plan with a Japanese number: the cheapest plan that comes with a Japanese phone number, with its billing model: one-off or monthly until cancelled.

Prices appear as each site displayed them; yen prices also show an approximate amount in euros, at the reference rate given in the methodology. Amigo eSIM shows euros by default, with US dollars and pounds selectable, and its Terms say prices include VAT.

Mobal charges in yen only, states that its prices include all applicable tax and warns that a currency conversion or international transaction fee may apply, depending on the payment method. Sakura Mobile also charges in yen only, and its list of fixed-data packages states that the prices do not include tax.

Criterion	Amigo eSIM	Mobal	Sakura Mobile
Package range (fixed-GB packages)	3 packages: 3 GB / 14 days, 5 GB / 30 days, 10 GB / 30 days	4 packages: 10 GB or 50 GB, for 16 or 31 days	40 packages, 1 to 200 GB, 3 to 90 days, shown by trip length
Unlimited and daily-allowance plans	None on the Japan page	5G Unlimited Data in 21 lengths, 3 to 31 days, ¥1,650 to ¥12,300 (about €9.32 to €69), tax included; speeds may drop at peak times	Unlimited (1 to 31 days, no Fair Usage Policy on personal data) and 3GB/day (1 to 90 days); prices not collected
After the data runs out	The Terms say "Renew before data expires to avoid service loss"; unused data expire with the plan	Fixed packages: up to 200 kbps for the rest of the plan	Fixed packages: 200 kbps at no extra charge; 3GB/day: 200 kbps until midnight
Entry package	3 GB / 14 days: €11	10 GB / 16 days: ¥4,620 (about €26), tax included	1 GB / 3 days: ¥2,000 (about €11) before tax
Mandatory one-time fees	None published	No activation or termination fee; eSIMs with a number cost ¥4,950 (about €28) at purchase, tax included, before the monthly fee	Travel eSIM: none published; Monthly plans: ¥5,500 (about €31) registration fee, tax included
10 GB / 30-day package	10 GB / 30 days: €25	None; nearest 10 GB / 31 days, ¥5,950 (about €34), tax included (not the same)	None; nearest 20 GB / 30 days, ¥6,950 (about €39) before tax (not the same)
Lowest price per GB, 30-day fixed-GB packages	€2.50 (10 GB / 30 days, €25)	No 30-day fixed-GB package	¥263 (about €1.49) before tax (50 GB / 30 days, ¥13,150, about €74)
Offer model and eligibility	One-off packages for travelers; no subscription, monthly plan or minimum term; no residency or address requirement stated	Tourist eSIMs and Long Term eSIMs for extended stays; voice plans monthly until cancelled, no minimum term, 18 or over with ID; data-only: no residency requirement stated	Travel eSIM for stays of up to 90 days, paid once; Monthly plans, for stays of more than 90 days: subscription with no formal minimum term, open to non-residents with a passport
Formats sold	eSIM only	eSIM, physical SIM cards, pocket Wi-Fi	eSIM, SIM cards, pocket Wi-Fi; Home WiFi for residents
Network	KDDI Corporation and SoftBank, selected automatically	Docomo (fixed packages, Voice+Data 5G); KDDI (5G Unlimited Data)	NTT Docomo (fixed packages, 3GB/day); au by KDDI (Unlimited)
Coverage stated by the provider and countries covered	Described as "nationwide"; Japan only; Japan is on the Asia plan's list of 12 countries, not on the World plan's list of 66	Docomo reaches over 99% of Japan's population, per Mobal; data-only eSIMs work only in Japan	99.9% coverage for the Unlimited and 3GB/day plans, per Sakura Mobile; travel services only within Japan
Voice, texts and Japanese phone number	Data Only, 3 of 3: no number, calls or SMS; calls and texts through apps such as WhatsApp, FaceTime and Viber	Data-only eSIMs: none. Voice-Only and Voice+Data eSIMs: 070, 080 or 090 number, incoming calls free, outgoing ¥44 a minute in Japan	Travel eSIMs: no number, calls or SMS. Monthly Voice+Data: 070, 080 or 090 number, incoming calls free in Japan, outgoing ¥16.5 per 30 seconds
Cheapest plan with a Japanese phone number	None	Voice-Only eSIM: ¥4,950 (about €28) plus ¥1,430 (about €8.08) a month, tax included, monthly until cancelled; with data, Voice+Data 1 GB: ¥4,950 (about €28) plus ¥1,650 (about €9.32) a month	Monthly Voice+Data 5 GB: ¥2,980 (about €17) a month before tax (¥3,278, about €19 with tax) plus a ¥5,500 (about €31) fee, tax included; monthly until cancelled
Hotspot	"Hotspot & Tethering" panel showing "Unlimited", no figure; the Terms say tethering may be restricted by the Fair Use Policy	Fixed packages: "Hotspot & Tethering Enabled", no separate cap published; 5G Unlimited Data: one GB less than the plan's days, then 128 kbps; Voice-Only: none	Allowed; Unlimited: from 2 GB for 1 to 3 days up to 30 GB for 27 to 31 days
Activation and delivery	QR code by email; install at once or later, also before the flight; activates on installation and connection in Japan	Data-only: activate in your online account, email in about 15 minutes, starts on first connection in Japan. Voice eSIMs: access code by post or pickup	Two emails, then you issue the QR code and install within 48 hours; Unlimited starts on first connection in Japan, packages and 3GB/day on installation
Identity check	None mentioned	None for data-only; voice eSIMs: ID required by Japanese law (upload, or passport at pickup)	None for the Travel eSIM; Monthly plans: ID, face to face when applying with a passport
Renewal and top-up	Extra data in the Amigo app at any time; auto-renewal, cancellable in the app	Data-only: no top-up or extension, buy another eSIM; voice plans renew monthly until cancelled	Fixed packages: add data and extend; 3GB/day: extend only; Unlimited: neither
Refunds and cancellation	Refunds "only considered within 30 days of purchase" and with "a valid reason"; none for incompatible or locked devices or unused data after expiry	Money Back Guarantee within 8 days of activation and at most 90 days from purchase; excludes data, line rental, shipping and incompatible devices	Full refund only before you issue the QR code, also for a locked or unsupported phone; optional ¥550 (about €3.11) Compatibility Insurance
Device compatibility	eSIM-compatible and unlocked; one device per eSIM; no eSIM transfers	Unlocked, eSIM, 5G or 4G Band 1; Voice+Data 5G only with five EID prefixes, per the helpdesk; data-only eSIM not transferable	Unlocked and eSIM-compatible; an installed eSIM cannot move to another device
Support channels, hours and languages	Email (help@amigosim.com) and a contact form; hours, response time and languages not published	Ticket form, three email addresses, UK and Japan phone numbers; English; hours not published	Email (usually answered within 24 hours) and phone, 7 days, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM JST; English; airport counters and a Shinjuku office
Third-party ratings (Trustpilot)	4.2 from 88 reviews	3.8 from 956 reviews	4.8 from 1,532 reviews

Among the options compared, the lowest price per GB on packages valid exactly 30 days was €2.50 at Amigo eSIM (10 GB for €25, VAT included) and ¥263 (about €1.49) at Sakura Mobile (50 GB for ¥13,150, about €74, before tax); Mobal listed no 30-day fixed-GB package.

Packages with other validities came out lower per GB. Mobal's 50 GB packages came to ¥103.40 (about €0.58) over 16 days and ¥132.00 (about €0.75) over 31 days with tax included, below Sakura Mobile's ¥263 (about €1.49) even before Sakura Mobile's tax is added, and Sakura Mobile's lowest was ¥152.5 (about €0.86) for 200 GB over 90 days, before tax. None of Amigo eSIM's other packages was lower than €2.50.

Mobal

If you want data from the moment you land, Mobal's data-only eSIMs arrive by email; if you want a Japanese number, its voice eSIMs need ID first. Mobal groups its Japan eSIMs into Tourist eSIMs for travelers and Long Term eSIMs for extended stays, with Voice+Data eSIMs in both groups.

Mobal: pricing and data plans

Mobal listed four fixed packages, 10 GB or 50 GB for 16 or 31 days, from ¥4,620 to ¥6,600 (about €26 to €37) with tax included, and a 5G Unlimited Data eSIM in 21 lengths from 3 to 31 days. None of the four packages lasts exactly 30 days, so Mobal has no 10 GB / 30-day package and no value in the 30-day price-per-GB row.

Package	Price (tax included)	Per GB
10 GB / 16 days	¥4,620 (about €26)	¥462.00 (about €2.61)
50 GB / 16 days	¥5,170 (about €29)	¥103.40 (about €0.58)
10 GB / 31 days	¥5,950 (about €34)	¥595.00 (about €3.36)
50 GB / 31 days	¥6,600 (about €37)	¥132.00 (about €0.75)

The two 50 GB packages, at ¥103.40 (about €0.58) and ¥132.00 (about €0.75) per GB, are the lowest per GB of the four, but their 16- and 31-day validities keep them out of the 30-day row.

5G Unlimited Data: 3 to 21 days in one-day steps, plus 26 and 31 days; for example ¥1,650 (about €9.32) for 3 days, ¥3,850 (about €22) for 7, ¥7,400 (about €42) for 16 and ¥12,300 (about €69) for 31, tax included.
Speed on unlimited: Mobal's helpdesk describes unlimited high-speed 5G/4G data until the plan ends, with speeds that may be lower at peak times or where coverage is poor.
After a fixed package runs out: the eSIM stays connected at up to 200 kbps for the rest of the plan.

Mobal: coverage and network

Mobal's fixed data packages and its Voice+Data 5G eSIM run on Docomo, which Mobal says reaches over 99% of Japan's population, and its 5G Unlimited Data eSIM runs on KDDI. Mobal's data-only eSIMs work only in Japan: its Tourist eSIMs FAQ says they cannot be used outside the country.

Fixed packages: Mobal's helpdesk names 4G Band 1 (2100 MHz) and 5G Band n79 (4700 MHz) as the primary Docomo frequencies and recommends a phone that supports them; 5G is available on compatible devices.
5G Unlimited Data: KDDI, which the helpdesk calls the KDDI AU network.

Mobal: voice, texts and hotspot

Mobal's Voice-Only and Voice+Data eSIMs come with a Japanese number starting 070, 080 or 090, and incoming calls and texts are free. Mobal's data-only eSIMs have no phone number, calls or SMS.

Voice-Only eSIM: ¥4,950 (about €28) at purchase plus ¥1,430 (about €8.08) a calendar month, tax included, the cheapest Mobal plan with a Japanese number. Mobal's helpdesk, which calls it Voice Lite, says it allows up to 500 MB of data at no extra cost, then charges ¥2,500 (about €14) for 2.5 GB for the rest of the month.
Voice+Data 5G eSIM: ¥4,950 (about €28) at purchase plus a monthly plan from ¥1,650 (about €9.32) for 1 GB to ¥5,280 (about €30) for 50 GB, tax included; unused data roll over to the following month only.
Rates in Japan: the number is assigned once the eSIM is activated; outgoing calls cost ¥44 a minute and domestic texts ¥33 each.
Billing: on the 1st of each month until you cancel, with no minimum term and no termination fee; when the plan ends or is cancelled, the number is lost. Mobal's helpdesk activation guide also describes a short-term 30-day plan with 10 GB per calendar month that ends automatically.
Hotspot: fixed packages list "Hotspot & Tethering Enabled" with no separate cap published; on 5G Unlimited Data the hotspot gets one GB less than the plan's days (15 GB on a 16-day plan), then 128 kbps; the Voice-Only eSIM does not support tethering.

What the number requires is set out under Mobal's limitations below.

Mobal: activation, top-up and refunds

A Mobal data-only eSIM arrives by email about 15 minutes after you activate it in your online account, and its days start when it first connects to a network in Japan. It cannot be extended or topped up: Mobal's helpdesk answer on extending a data-only eSIM says the only fix is to buy another eSIM.

Buy the eSIM; a data-only eSIM needs no ID.
Within 30 days of purchase, log in to your Mobal account, click Activate and choose an activation date.
Wait for the email "Your Mobal eSIM is ready!": about 15 minutes for immediate activation, or about 24 hours before a chosen date.
Install the eSIM over Wi-Fi, also before you leave; an iPhone may show an Activating or Connecting to network message until you arrive in Japan.
The plan starts on the day the eSIM first connects to the network in Japan.
On Android, create the APN profile by hand (APN ppsim.jp); an iPhone may install it automatically.

Refund: Mobal's Terms give a Money Back Guarantee, requested by email within 8 days of activation and at most 90 days from purchase. It does not cover data, line rental, shipping or services bought for an incompatible device, and prepaid bundles are non-refundable.
Device: a data-only eSIM cannot be transferred to a new phone. For fixed packages ordered after 26 December 2025, Mobal's helpdesk says a deleted eSIM should be reinstallable on the same device only; a deleted 5G Unlimited Data eSIM cannot be reinstalled.

Mobal: support, ratings and limitations

Support: a ticket form; support@mobal.com, charges@mobal.com and returns@mobal.com; UK and Japan phone numbers in the legal notice; English-language support; no support hours or response time published.
Rating: Trustpilot showed 3.8 from 956 reviews.
Use: Mobal's Terms say its network providers may temporarily restrict service for customers deemed to use excessive data or bandwidth.

Mobal's eSIMs with a Japanese number are not sent by email: Mobal says Japanese law requires ID, so the access code is posted to you or collected in Japan with your passport. Unlike a data-only eSIM, the number is not ready minutes after you pay.

Step	What it takes
ID upload, for delivery by post	An email about 15 minutes after the order asks for ID; Mobal's review can take up to two business days
Access code by post	2 to 5 days within Japan and up to 30 days abroad, with free standard shipping; a Japanese address needs a residence card, driver's license or My Number Card, not a passport
Pickup in Japan instead	Free at 25 pick-up points at airports, train stations and tourist centres, with the order confirmation and your passport

Mobal's own documents differ on which phones can take the Voice+Data 5G eSIM, and Mobal's EID rule for the Voice+Data 5G eSIM is the stricter of the two:

Source	What it says
Japan eSIMs page	Mobal eSIMs work in any unlocked eSIM phone with 5G or 4G/LTE Band 1 and VoLTE
Helpdesk article "Compatibility Checks"	The Voice+Data 5G eSIM works only with an EID starting 89033023, 89033024, 89043051, 89043052 or 89049032

Before ordering the Voice+Data 5G eSIM, dial *#06# to see your phone's 32-digit EID and check that it starts with one of the five prefixes.

Sakura Mobile

If you need data for up to 90 days, Sakura Mobile's Travel eSIM covers it in three plan families picked from your arrival and departure dates: fixed data packages, 3 GB a day and Unlimited; if you need a Japanese number, only its Monthly Voice+Data plan has one.

Sakura Mobile: pricing and data plans

Sakura Mobile listed 40 fixed packages, from 1 GB to 200 GB and from 3 to 90 days, starting at ¥2,000 (about €11) before tax for 1 GB over 3 days. For a 30-day stay, its page showed only 20, 30 and 50 GB packages, so there is no 10 GB, 30-day package.

Package	Price before tax
1 GB / 3 days	¥2,000 (about €11)
20 GB / 30 days	¥6,950 (about €39)
30 GB / 30 days	¥8,500 (about €48)
50 GB / 30 days	¥13,150 (about €74)
100 GB / 90 days	¥20,500 (about €116)
200 GB / 90 days	¥30,500 (about €172)

The 50 GB, 30-day package works out at ¥263 (about €1.49) per GB before tax, the value in the 30-day row. The 200 GB, 90-day package, at ¥152.5 (about €0.86) per GB before tax, is the lowest of the 40, outside the 30-day definition.

Unlimited data eSIM: au by KDDI, 1 to 31 days, with no Fair Usage Policy on personal data; hotspot data are limited by the number of days.
3GB/day data eSIM: NTT Docomo, 1 to 90 days; after 3 GB the speed drops to 200 kbps until midnight, and Sakura Mobile does not recommend it for long streaming, video calls or large downloads.
After a fixed package runs out: 200 kbps at no extra charge.
Day-plan prices: not collected (see the methodology).

Sakura Mobile: coverage and network

Sakura Mobile's Unlimited eSIM runs on au by KDDI, while its fixed packages and 3GB/day plan run on NTT Docomo, and Sakura Mobile states 99.9% coverage for both day plans. Its travel services work only within Japan; for other countries, the Help Center points to a separate Japanese-language site.

NTT Docomo (fixed packages, 3GB/day): the Help Center lists Band 1 (2100 MHz) for most city areas and Band 19 (800 MHz) for rural areas, mountains, lakes and islands.
au by KDDI (Unlimited): 5G n77 and n78 as main bands, and 4G Band 1 as main band with Band 18 as support.

Sakura Mobile: voice, texts and hotspot

Sakura Mobile's Monthly Voice+Data plan comes with a normal Japanese number starting 070, 080 or 090, from ¥2,980 (about €17) a month before tax. Sakura Mobile's Travel eSIMs have no phone number, calls or SMS; WhatsApp, Messenger, LINE and, on iPhone, iMessage and FaceTime work over data.

Monthly Voice+Data: 5 GB for ¥2,980 (about €17) a month before tax (¥3,278, about €19 with tax) on the docomo 5G/4G network; call and SMS charges are not included.
Rates in Japan: incoming calls are free; Sakura Mobile's rate page lists domestic calls at ¥16.5 per 30 seconds and domestic texts at ¥5.5 each, tax included.
Hotspot: allowed on the Travel eSIMs; the Unlimited eSIM's hotspot allowance runs from 2 GB for 1 to 3 days to 30 GB for 27 to 31 days, and the 3GB/day card says "Hotspot: available".

What the number requires is set out under Sakura Mobile's limitations below.

Sakura Mobile: activation, top-up and refunds

Sakura Mobile asks for no ID for a Travel eSIM and lets you choose when to issue its QR code, after the two order emails arrive. It refunds a Travel eSIM in full only until you issue that QR code, even when the phone turns out to be locked or not eSIM-ready, as its cancellation policy for Travel eSIMs sets out.

Pay for the Travel eSIM; no ID is required.
Two emails arrive: a booking receipt and "[Japan eSIM] QR Code Issue Link".
On the eSIM management page, click Issue eSIM and confirm to display the QR code.
Install within 48 hours of issuing the code; Sakura Mobile recommends issuing it within 48 hours before arrival and installing on arrival, over airport Wi-Fi.
Unlimited eSIM: you may install before you leave, and day 1 is the first connection in Japan. Fixed packages and 3GB/day: the period starts on the day you install, and the fixed-data page advises installing after arrival.

Top-up: fixed packages take extra data from the eSIM management page, listed at ¥800 (about €4.52) for 1 GB, ¥1,400 (about €7.91) for 2 GB, ¥2,500 (about €14) for 5 GB and ¥5,000 (about €28) for 10 GB, and their period can be extended; the 3GB/day eSIM can only be extended, and the Unlimited eSIM can be neither topped up nor extended.
Compatibility Insurance: the optional ¥550 (about €3.11) cover gives a pocket Wi-Fi at no extra charge, or a refund of the eSIM price minus ¥550 (about €3.11), if the phone does not support eSIM, is carrier-locked or cannot get the eSIM working after troubleshooting; an accidentally deleted eSIM is not covered.
Device: unlocked and eSIM-compatible; an eSIM installed on the wrong device cannot be moved to another.

Sakura Mobile: support, ratings and limitations

Support: email to contact@sakuramobile.jp ("We usually respond within 24 hours") and a phone line for urgent help, (+81) 03-5937-5869, Mon-Sun 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM JST; Sakura Mobile states that all communication is available in English.
In person: direct counters at Kansai and Fukuoka airports, partner counters at Narita and Haneda, and an office in Shinjuku, Tokyo.
Rating: Trustpilot showed 4.8 from 1,532 reviews.

Applying with a passport, Sakura Mobile's Monthly Voice+Data eSIM needs a face-to-face ID check at a pickup location, so the number cannot be arranged entirely online, as Sakura Mobile's in-person ID check for the Monthly Voice+Data eSIM explains. The number also comes on a subscription, not a travel package:

Term	Monthly Voice+Data eSIM
Registration fee	¥5,500 (about €31), tax included, charged when the application is completed
Renewal	Every month until Sakura Mobile receives a termination form, due by the 25th of the month; no formal minimum term, but early or irregular termination may incur a fee
ID check without a passport	Fully online with a Residence Card showing a registered address, a Japanese driver's license or a My Number Card

Amigo eSIM

If all you need in Japan is data, we sell three Data Only packages, one-off eSIMs with a set amount of data and days; our Japan page lists no unlimited, daily or monthly plan. For how our packages compare with Airalo, Holafly, Saily and Nomad, see our five-way comparison of Airalo, Holafly, Saily, Nomad and Amigo eSIM.

Amigo eSIM: pricing and data plans

Our Japan page lists an exact 10 GB, 30-day package among its three Data Only packages, with VAT included in the price. Our largest package for Japan is 10 GB for 30 days, and we sell no unlimited or daily plan for Japan.

Package	Price (VAT included)
3 GB / 14 days	€11
5 GB / 30 days	€16
10 GB / 30 days	€25

Each package and its Details window are on our Japan eSIM page.

After a package runs out: our Terms say "Renew before data expires to avoid service loss", and extra data can be bought in the Amigo app.

Amigo eSIM: coverage and network

Our Japan packages use KDDI Corporation and SoftBank, with the network selected automatically, and their Details windows state "Up to 5G - Will vary by location". Each Japan package covers Japan only, and Japan is on our Asia plan's list of 12 countries but not on our World plan's list of 66.

Coverage: "nationwide", as our Japan page puts it, with no coverage percentage.
Asia plan list: Cambodia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

Amigo eSIM: voice, texts and hotspot

All three of our Japan packages are labelled Data Only and have no phone number, calls or SMS; their Details windows list calls and texts through apps such as WhatsApp, FaceTime and Viber.

Our Japan page shows a "Hotspot & Tethering" panel with "Unlimited" and no figure, and our Terms say tethering "may be restricted by the Fair Use Policy".

Our Terms on calls are set out under our limitations below.

Amigo eSIM: activation, top-up and refunds

You can buy and install our Japan packages before your flight, and they activate only on installation and connection in Japan. Our Terms say refunds are only considered within 30 days of purchase and require a valid reason, with none for incompatible or locked devices or for unused data after expiry.

Buy a Japan package before your flight, or at the airport after landing if you have an internet connection.
Scan the QR code from our email at once or save it for later use, following our step-by-step installation guide.
On arrival, turn on data roaming for the eSIM; the plan activates once it connects in Japan.

Top-up: extra data in the Amigo app at any time; auto-renewal is available and can be cancelled in the app; unused data expire when the plan ends.
Device: an eSIM-compatible, unlocked phone; each eSIM works on one device, and we do not support eSIM transfers.

Amigo eSIM: support, ratings and limitations

Support: help@amigosim.com and a contact form; our pages publish no support hours, response time or languages.
Rating: Trustpilot showed 4.2 from 88 reviews.
Use: our Fair Use Policy says "You must not use our services or eSIM profiles for business purposes", allows traffic shaping or throttling, and lets us add further charges or disconnect the eSIM profile if we reasonably suspect a breach.

Our Terms & Conditions ("Using your Services", item 2) say: "Your Services do not allow you to make calls or access emergency services. Subject to partner networks' terms." Our FAQ adds that a data only plan "does not support traditional voice calls or SMS". If you need a Japanese number or regular calls in Japan, our Japan packages do not provide them, and you need another plan alongside or instead of ours.

Seven Japan Trips and the eSIM That Fits Each: Mobal, Sakura Mobile or Amigo eSIM

A trip's first pick is the option whose published terms match it, shown with the deciding figure and one caveat to check before paying; other options that also match are listed under "Also fits".

If you…	First pick	Why	Check before you buy
need a Japanese number for calls or texts	Mobal	A 070, 080 or 090 number with no minimum term, with the access code posted to you or collected at 25 pick-up points; 5 GB Voice+Data costs ¥4,950 (about €28) plus ¥3,190 (about €18) a month, tax included. Also fits, for stays of more than 90 days: Sakura Mobile, 5 GB Monthly Voice+Data at ¥3,278 (about €19) a month with tax plus a ¥5,500 (about €31) fee, after an in-person ID check with a passport	Billed monthly until you cancel, and the number is lost when the plan ends; the access code is posted (up to 30 days for international delivery) or collected in Japan with a passport
stream, work or share a hotspot for up to 31 days	Mobal or Sakura Mobile	Mobal 5G Unlimited Data, 3 to 31 days, ¥1,650 to ¥12,300 (about €9.32 to €69), tax included; Sakura Mobile Unlimited, 1 to 31 days, no Fair Usage Policy on personal data	Mobal: the hotspot gets one GB less than the plan's days, then 128 kbps. Sakura Mobile: the hotspot is capped by days, and the plan cannot be extended
stay longer than 31 days, up to 90, on one plan	Sakura Mobile	60- and 90-day packages, such as 200 GB for ¥30,500 (about €172) before tax, with extra data and extensions available. Also fits: Mobal's Long Term Voice+Data eSIM, billed monthly until you cancel, after ID and a posted or collected code	The period starts on the day you install, and installing after arrival is advised
are not sure your phone is unlocked or eSIM-ready	Sakura Mobile	The optional ¥550 (about €3.11) Compatibility Insurance gives a pocket Wi-Fi or a refund of the eSIM price minus ¥550 (about €3.11)	Without it, the right to a full refund ends when you issue the QR code
want to be charged in euros, pounds or US dollars rather than yen	Amigo eSIM	Amigo eSIM charges in EUR, USD or GBP, with VAT included; Mobal and Sakura Mobile charge only in yen, and Mobal warns that a currency conversion or international transaction fee may apply, depending on the payment method	The largest package is 10 GB for 30 days, with no unlimited plan
visit Japan as one stop on a multi-country Asia trip	Amigo eSIM	Japan is on Amigo eSIM's Asia plan list of 12 countries; Mobal's data-only eSIMs and Sakura Mobile's travel services work only in Japan	The Asia plan's data, days and prices are listed under the Regional eSIMs tab of Amigo eSIM's Japan page, not in the tables above; compare them with a Japan package before you buy
spend about a month with a set amount of data, 10 GB or more	Mobal	10 GB or 50 GB for 31 days at ¥5,950 (about €34) or ¥6,600 (about €37), tax included; Sakura Mobile's cheapest 30-day package, 20 GB, was ¥6,950 (about €39) before tax. Also fits: Sakura Mobile (20, 30 or 50 GB for 30 days, with top-ups), Amigo eSIM (exactly 10 GB for 30 days, in euros)	No top-up or extension: more data means buying another eSIM

How We Compared Mobal, Sakura Mobile and Amigo eSIM

The comparison answers what a traveler to Japan needs to know before paying: whether an option gives a Japanese number, how much data it sells for how many days, in which currency and with or without tax, what to do before and after landing, and what ends the right to a refund.

Full methodology, criteria and how conflicting data was resolved: show / hide

The 12 criteria below were fixed before any provider's data was collected; they come from the topics that recur in reviews and comparisons of Mobal and Sakura Mobile and from travelers' questions about Japan eSIMs:

Plans and data allowance: plan families, fixed packages, unlimited plans and what happens when the data runs out, because they set what can be bought.
Price: the entry package and mandatory one-time fees, the cost of a short trip.
The 10 GB / 30-day package and the lowest price per GB: one shared size and one mechanical rule for value.
Coverage and network: operators, coverage stated by the provider and countries covered, without speed tests.
Voice, texts and phone number, including the cheapest plan with a Japanese number and its billing model.
Activation, delivery and identity check, because they decide what to do before and after landing.
Offer model, eligibility, formats and renewal: one-off or subscription, tourist or resident, the formats sold, and top-ups.
Device compatibility, including moving an eSIM to another phone.
Support channels, hours and languages, not support quality.
Third-party ratings on Trustpilot.
Hotspot and tethering.
Refunds and cancellation, with the conditions that end them.

Japan, on each option's single-country plan, was fixed as the only reference point before data collection; Amigo eSIM's Asia and World plans appear only as country lists.

Home markets differ: Amigo eSIM is a business name of Core Communication Retail Limited, registered in England and Wales; Mobal's service is provided by Mobell Communications Ltd, based in the UK, which Mobal says is approved as a telecommunications provider by Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications; Sakura Mobile is operated by Og inc. in Tokyo.

The price rows count one-off eSIM packages with a fixed amount of data that a visitor can select on an option's Japan page, and price per GB uses only packages valid exactly 30 days. Prices are as displayed, from one location and without promo codes or discounts. Yen prices also show an approximate amount in euros, converted at the European Central Bank reference rate of 8 October 2026, ¥177.05 per euro, and rounded; Mobal and Sakura Mobile charge in yen, so the amount charged depends on the card issuer's rate. Carts were not opened, so tax added at Sakura Mobile's checkout and any fees added in a cart were not checked.

Mobal's and Sakura Mobile's plan pages, terms, help centers and Trustpilot profiles, and Amigo eSIM's Japan page and FAQ answer on extra data, were read on 8 October 2026. Amigo eSIM's Trustpilot profile, its Terms on calls and data expiry, its support wording and its eSIM transfer article were read on 7 October 2026; its VAT and currency clause, the FAQ answer on data-only plans and the business-use clause on 6 October 2026.

Amigo eSIM's refund, renewal and tethering terms, its Fair Use Policy on throttling, its FAQ answers on devices and networks and its contact page were read on 24 September 2026.

Statements of absence, such as "none published" or "not published", cover only the plan pages, terms, help centers, FAQs, legal notices and contact pages read, not other sources. Sakura Mobile's prices for its Unlimited and 3GB/day plans load from a source that its robots.txt file closes to automated reading, so they are marked "not collected".

Outside the comparison: speed and coverage in the field; cart totals and tax at checkout; the providers' apps and online accounts; SIM cards and pocket Wi-Fi; privacy and data security, including notices about security incidents; promo codes and discounts; payment methods.

Where a provider's pages gave two different values, the text gives the more cautious one; the case that changes a purchase decision, Mobal's EID rule for the Voice+Data 5G eSIM, appears with both sources in Mobal's limitations. Ratings come from Trustpilot only, where all three options have a profile; ratings collected by the providers themselves are not used.

Sources

Mobal, Mobal Support: Extension Requests, 20 July 2026: https://helpdesk.mobal.com/support/solutions/articles/205000041474-extension-requests
Mobal, Mobal Support: Compatibility Checks: https://helpdesk.mobal.com/support/solutions/articles/205000042829-compatibility-checks
Sakura Mobile Help Center, [Travel eSIM] What is the cancellation policy for my eSIM purchase?: https://support.sakuramobile.jp/hc/en-us/articles/54686843393817--Travel-eSIM-What-is-the-cancellation-policy-for-my-eSIM-purchase
Sakura Mobile Help Center, [Monthly eSIM] Why do I have to choose a pickup location for monthly Voice+Data eSIM on my application process?: https://support.sakuramobile.jp/hc/en-us/articles/33162581672985--Monthly-eSIM-Why-do-I-have-to-choose-a-pickup-location-for-monthly-Voice-Data-eSIM-on-my-application-process