Jetpac Japan eSIM Review: The Best eSIM for Your Japan Trip?

On our last trip to Japan, there wasn’t a single thought about a SIM card. We’ve come a long way – both personally as travelers and technologically. With the rise of eSIMs, it’s never been easier to access mobile data.

On our most recent trip to Japan, we took the opportunity to try out Jetpac’s Japan eSIM. We noted performance metrics and general feedback, ready to share in our review.

In this article, we’ll do just that: share our findings on the Jetpac eSIM for Japan. We’ll also discuss the pros and cons of the eSIM, cover the different data packages available, and suggest great alternative eSIMs for digital nomads.

Jetpac eSIM Japan: What’s in the Offer?

The Jetpac Japan eSIM is one of the company's most popular local eSIM offers, fuelled by a wealth of tourists visiting the country.

In Japan, Jetpac uses KDDI Corporation as their only carrier. This offers great connectivity throughout the country, although Jetpack does state that users should predominantly expect 3G/4G speeds. 5G is not expected to be the standard.

Users can choose the best data package to suit the needs of their trip. Data packs are available for a period between 4 and 30 days and a data allowance for between 1 GB and 40 GB. The eSIM offer is broken down into the following packages.

Number of Days	Data Allowance	Price (USD)
4	1 GB	$1.00
7	3 GB	$8.50
30	5 GB	$14.00
30	10 GB	$18.00
30	15 GB	$28.00
30	20 GB	$34.00
30	30 GB	$40.00
30	40 GB	$60.00

In addition to the Japan eSIM, the Jetpac Asia-Pacific eSIM is great for those looking to travel around and explore Asia without constantly changing eSIMs. Alongside Japan, plenty of other great nomad destinations are covered (Australia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam).

The Jetpac Asia-Pacific eSIM is broken down into the following packages.

Number of Days	Data Allowance	Price (USD)
4	1 GB	$1.00
7	3 GB	$11.00
30	5 GB	$15.00
30	10 GB	$23.00
30	15 GB	$26.00
30	20 GB	$28.00
30	30 GB	$45.00
30	40 GB	$65.00

Standing out from the crowd, Jetpac offers with their Japan and Asia-Pacific eSIMs some awesome benefits, that include complimentary lounge access in case of flight delays, and a free 30-day ExpressVPN trial to secure your online activity. Pretty cool, right?

As our recent trip involved just traveling throughout Japan, we opted for the Japanese local eSIM. We put the eSIM to the test and explored exactly what Jetpac has to offer.

How Does the Jetpac eSIM for Japan Work?

Jetpac eSIMs aren’t anything new to us. We’ve used and reviewed the Jetpac eSIMs, on trips previously, including Europe - but never in Japan.

With the chance to visit Tokyo and Kyoto, we found the perfect excuse to use one of the Jetpac eSIMs.

Jetpac eSIM Purchasing Process for Japan

The first step of installing the Jetpac eSIM lies in the purchasing and, thankfully, the process is pretty straightforward:

1. Start either in-app or web browsers on the Jetpac website. Locate the “Where are you going?” search box and enter your destination. For this example, we would enter Japan to find the best available offers.

2. Once on the Japan landing page, scroll to browse the available packages and find the best for your trip.

3. Continue to checkout by logging in with either email or Apple ID. This begins the purchase process. Simply follow the handy on-screen instructions and the QR required for set-up will be emailed directly.

Jetpac Japan eSIM: Installation and Activation Process 

With the payment processed, the all-important QR code will be emailed to the user. Open this to start the installation process.

1. Open the email detailing the installation and activation instructions and the eSIM QR code. The QR code can be opened on a separate device, printed, or - for users running iOS17+ - a screenshot will work.
2. Locate the “Mobile Data / Cellular” settings within the general settings of your device.
3. Select “Add Data Plan” and scan the QR code to install and activate the eSIM.
4. The on-screen instructions should then be followed to set up the eSIM. Details include setting cellular data, SMS, and call preferences.
5. Finally, rename the eSIM before closing the settings.

Upon arrival into the covered region, your eSIM will be ready, and local data can be accessed.

Using Jetpac’s Japan eSIM: Our Experience

To test out Jetpac’s Japan eSIM, we traveled to both Tokyo and Kyoto, monitoring the eSIM’s performance as we went. We monitored the following data during our trip.

Location	Download Speed	Upload Speed	Connection details
Tokyo	48.31 Mbps	9.96 Mbps	Reliable connection overall, though upload speeds can be a bit slower
Kyoto	45.38 Mbps	8.02 Mbps	Generally stable, offering good performance throughout the city

The connection remained reliable throughout our Japan trip in both Tokyo and Kyoto and during transit via the Shinkansen. We were impressed with download speeds above 45 Mbps and although upload speeds were slower, circa 8-10 Mbps, we were pleased with the results.

Pros and Cons of Jetpac eSIM for Japan

After talking about the Jetpac brand, checking out their Japan and Asia-Pacific offers, and exploring how to purchase and install the eSIMs, there’s just one question left. Should you purchase a Jetpack Japan eSIM for your trip to the country?

We’ve listed the pros and cons of the Jetpac eSIM for Japan to help make the decision that little bit easier.

Are there any Alternatives to Jetpac in Japan?

Although Jetpac may be the perfect service for some - it’s not always the best for every individual. There are a handful of good alternatives on the market, each with its own unique set of pros and cons, so it’s fair to us to show you what is in the market for you to make the right decision.

Airalo

Airalo is one of the major players in the eSIM market and a direct competitor to Jetpac.

The eSIM provider follows a similar pricing as Jetpac, offering a range of packages that users can select for each trip.

Airalo’s Japan eSIM is competitively priced and similar to the pricing structure offered by Jetpac. There is, however, a maximum data allowance of 20 GB compared to Jetpac’s maximum of 40 GB across a 30-day stay.

If you’re hoping for a little extra data, Jetpac has to be the choice over Airalo for short-term stays (circa 30 days).

If you want to learn more about Airalo, read our full review below:

Airalo eSIM: Is It Legit? Our Honest Review

In-depth review of Airalo’s eSIM for international travelers. We look at the pros, cons, pricing and more to see if it’s really a good eSIM for you.

Freaking NomadsIrene Lidia Wang

Holafly

As one of the most premium eSIMs on the market, Holafly makes it easy to enjoy data without worrying about the data cap.

The brand only offers one size of data allowance - unlimited. Users simply enter their trip length into the system and Holafly quotes the price.

But with a premium offer comes a premium price. For streaming sports, playing games, and dealing with workflow with mobile data - there’s nothing better. Unless you’re using large amounts of mobile data each day, in which case Holafly it can be overkill and Jetpac could be a better solution.

If you want to learn more about Holafly, read our full review below:

Holafly eSIM Review: Is It Reliable? Here’s Our Experience

Explore our in-depth Holafly eSIM review: global coverage, flexible plans, unlimited data, and top-notch support for travelers.

Freaking NomadsIrene Lidia Wang

Jetpac Japan eSIM Review: The Bottom Line

The Jetpac Japan eSIM is a fantastic choice for those staying in the country for 30 days or less.

With a range of different data plans (1GB to 40GB), there are plenty of options with a SIM to suit everyone. The cost is reasonable, the network is reliable, and speeds are more than fast enough. We can’t think of a better alternative for a short-term stay.

There are a small number of downsides to the eSIM. There’s no option for a local number and, if you are a heavy data user, (streaming, gaming, etc.) we would recommend something like the Holafly unlimited plan. But otherwise, the Jetpac Japan eSIM is a wonderful choice for travelers.

Ready to Give Jetpac a Go?

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