eSIM and Multi-SIM Setups in Japan

eSIM Japan service lets residents run a mobile line without a physical SIM card, with the carrier profile installed over the network instead.¹ For anyone whose handset supports it, that removes the store visit or mailed card from signup and makes a second line practical to hold alongside the first.¹²

Confirm current details with official sources

Procedures, fees, and requirements can change. Confirm current details at each carrier's official support pages.

Overview

An eSIM (īshimu, "embedded SIM") is a SIM integrated into the device and programmed remotely with subscriber information such as the phone number.¹ There is no card to collect, insert, or lose, which shortens signup to an online application plus a profile download.¹²

デュアルSIM (dyuaru shimu, "dual SIM") means operating two lines on one handset, usually a nano SIM plus an eSIM or two eSIM profiles side by side.¹² Rakuten Mobile presents this as eSIM's core convenience: two different lines managed on a single smartphone.²

Who this guide is for

This guide is for residents whose handset supports eSIM, including recent arrivals setting up a first or second line around landing.¹²³ Each carrier below sets its own identification and payment requirements at signup, so read the per-carrier notes rather than assuming one flow fits all.¹⁴

Which carriers support eSIM

eSIM availability in Japan is set per carrier and sub-brand, not by a single national procedure.¹²⁵⁴ The table below maps the landscape as of this writing; the sections underneath give the per-carrier detail.

Carrier or sub-brand	eSIM support	As of	Notes
docomo / ahamo	Yes, online issuance and reissue	2026-09-061	eKYC check; service from about one hour after application
au / povo	Yes, including eSIM-only Data Only plan on povo	2026-09-0656	In-store SIM-to-eSIM change 2,200 yen tax incl.; My au app reissue free
SoftBank sub-brand LINEMO	Yes, via LINEMO eSIM app	2026-09-064	eSIM signup limited to Permanent and Special Permanent Resident status
Rakuten Mobile	Yes, fully online flow	2026-09-062	In-app screening from about 3 minutes on compatible devices
IIJmio (MVNO)	Yes, voice and data-only tiers	2026-09-0678	Per-profile issuance fee applies
mineo (MVNO)	Yes, as an option on two plans	2026-09-069	KDDI-network and docomo-network plans

Support levels above reflect each carrier's published pages (as of 2026-09-06; confirm current details at each carrier's official support pages). Figures inside tables carry their currency in the As of column, so the prose below keeps only the short date form per figure.

docomo and ahamo

docomo issues eSIM to eSIM-compatible models through the docomo Online Shop, while ahamo lines are handled on the ahamo website.¹ New contracts including transfers from other companies, SIM-to-eSIM switches, and eSIM reissues can all be applied for online (as of 2026-09-06).¹

docomo states service can be available in as little as about one hour after the online application when the eKYC electronic identity check is used (as of 2026-09-06).¹ Its published compatible-model list covers the iPhone XS generation and later, recent iPad generations, and a set of recent Android models, though operation of handsets not bought from docomo is not guaranteed (as of 2026-09-06).¹

docomo confirms dual SIM operation for voice, SMS, data, and emergency calls on docomo lines, whether nano SIM plus eSIM or multiple eSIM profiles together.¹ Operation on non-docomo lines is untested according to the same page, so mixed-carrier pairs rely on the other carrier's own confirmation.¹

Procedures done at a docomo Shop or call center instead of online may carry a handling fee of 4,950 yen including tax (as of 2026-09-06).¹¹⁰ The Kids Keitai Plan cannot be contracted on eSIM through the docomo Online Shop.¹ A docomo profile setup finished between 11:30 PM and 8:30 AM may not connect until morning, with server maintenance scheduled 11:00 PM to 7:00 AM (as of 2026-09-06).¹⁰

Confirm your handset is on the carrier model list before paying

Compatibility lists change as new models ship, and an incompatible or locked handset fails only after you have paid the upfront eSIM price. Check the carrier list and your lock status first.¹²

au and povo

au supports eSIM, including on handsets bought elsewhere, provided the device is SIM-unlocked, matches au's radio bands, and bears the technical-conformity (技適, giteki, "technical conformity") mark required under the Radio Act.⁵ au publishes no operation guarantee for non-au handsets and directs setup questions to the handset seller.⁵

Changing an au IC card to eSIM in store carries a 2,200 yen charge including tax, while reissuing through the My au app carries no fee (as of 2026-09-06).⁵ A new au contract on a brought-in handset needs the standard documentation plus a 3,300 yen contract processing fee including tax (as of 2026-09-06).⁵

On non-au Android handsets, au packet data needs a manual access-point (APN, apn, "access point name") entry from au's published values.⁵ On iPhones the access-point setting is applied automatically when the au line is in place, so no manual profile step is needed.⁵

povo2.0 offers SIM card and eSIM side by side, with activation completed online and no card to swap on the eSIM type.⁶ Its Data Only plan is sold on eSIM only, and povo warns eSIM-type applicants to confirm device compatibility before applying (as of 2026-09-06).⁶ SIM activation requests run between 9:30 AM and 8 PM, with timing after 8 PM varying by application (as of 2026-09-06).⁶

SoftBank and LINEMO

LINEMO supports eSIM with setup through the LINEMO eSIM app on iOS 14.5 and later.⁴ The signup identification rule is the strictest in this guide: only subscribers with Permanent Resident or Special Permanent Resident status can subscribe on eSIM (as of 2026-09-06).⁴ Other residents use the physical SIM path with a residence card plus passport instead.⁴

LINEMO is online-only throughout.⁴ Applications cannot be made at SoftBank, Y!mobile, or electronics-retailer stores, and chat or phone help is Japanese-only.⁴ The SIM ships to a Japanese address matching the identification document, and LINEMO does not ship outside Japan.⁴

SoftBank main-brand eSIM issuance runs through SoftBank's own shop and online channels rather than LINEMO's, so confirm the main-brand flow on SoftBank's pages before assuming the LINEMO steps transfer across. (limitation: this pass verified the LINEMO sub-brand pages directly; SoftBank main-brand pages were not fetched.)

Rakuten Mobile and MVNOs

Rakuten Mobile runs eSIM from application to activation fully online, paired with its Simple Mobile ID Verification path.² On a compatible eSIM device, in-app identity screening can complete in as little as about 3 minutes (as of 2026-09-06).² A handset bought on another carrier's installment lock must be SIM-unlocked first, and Rakuten Mobile points to each carrier's unlock procedure for that step.²

IIJmio sells voice-with-data eSIM on its Giga Plan alongside a data-only eSIM tier called Data Plan Zero, whose base sits at 165 yen per month with per-GB top-up data added as needed (as of 2026-09-06).⁷⁹ From 2026-09-01 it added SMS-capable eSIM on both docomo and au networks plus data-only eSIM on the au network (as of 2026-09-06).⁸ Each eSIM profile carries a one-time issuance fee, 220 yen including tax for type A and type I profiles and 433.4 yen for type D (as of 2026-09-06).⁸

mineo offers eSIM as an option on its Maipita and Maisoku plans, covering the KDDI-network A plan and the docomo-network D plan (as of 2026-09-06).⁹ (limitation: this traces to a reputable trade-press roundup rather than a fetched mineo carrier page.) Across the MVNO market, most major brands now offer some eSIM option with lineup depth varying by carrier, and the trade-press roundup series tracks per-carrier pricing as the catch-up continues (as of 2026-09-06).⁹

Use a data-only eSIM as the cheap second line

A data-only eSIM with a low monthly base works well as the line you test carriers or travel data on, while the voice line stays untouched. IIJmio's data-only tier is a clear example of this pattern.⁷

Practical dual-SIM setups that earn their keep

Two lines on one handset earn their keep in three patterns below. In each pattern, the handset's cellular settings decide which line carries data and which carries calls and messages.¹¹²

The diagram above shows the standard assignment: data on the Japan eSIM, voice and messages on the other line, with roaming toggles set per line.¹¹

Home carrier plus foreign roaming SIM

Keep the home-country SIM active for calls and SMS while the Japan eSIM carries mobile data.¹¹² Set the Japan eSIM as the default for cellular or mobile data, and leave the home SIM as the default for voice and messages.¹¹

Switch data roaming on for the Japan eSIM line, since the profile needs it to attach to the local network, and keep data roaming off for the home SIM so background traffic cannot bill to the home carrier.¹¹ (limitation: the toggle pattern is documented in device-setup guides; carrier pages confirm dual-SIM management without prescribing the toggle.)

eSIM-only secondary line for testing or temporary use

A second eSIM line installs alongside the existing physical SIM, so testing a carrier or holding a temporary second number costs no hardware swap.¹⁶ povo's zero-base-fee structure with pay-as-needed toppings and IIJmio's low-base data-only eSIM are the lightest examples (as of 2026-09-06; confirm current figures with povo and IIJmio).⁶⁷

Watch one IIJmio boundary: Data Plan Zero cannot be plan-changed into the Giga Plan, so moving between them means signing the new contract and cancelling the old one.⁷ Check the equivalent plan-change rule on any carrier before assuming a trial line can grow into the main line.⁷

Rapid onboarding from abroad

Mobal sells long-stay Voice+Data and Voice-Only eSIM products with a real Japanese phone number, English customer support, and no fixed contract term (as of 2026-09-06).³ Ordering from abroad is possible, but the access-code step differs by product type, which sets the lead time.³¹²

Mobal product	Delivery	Activation window	As of
Voice+Data eSIM	Physical access code by post or pickup with ID	10:00 AM to 6:30 PM JST, about 90 minutes inside window	2026-09-06312
Voice-Only eSIM	Physical access code by post or pickup with ID	8:00 AM to 10:00 PM JST, minutes up to 90 minutes	2026-09-06312
Data-Only eSIM	Email delivery, no ID check	Ready email in about 15 minutes for immediate requests	2026-09-06312

Timing rows above carry their currency in the As of column (as of 2026-09-06; confirm current details at Mobal's helpdesk pages). Voice eSIM access codes cannot be emailed: the buyer gets a physical code by post or collects it at a pickup point in Japan on showing ID, because Japanese rules require identity verification for voice lines.³ Data-only eSIM needs no ID check and arrives by email instead.³¹²

Mobal assigns the phone number only at full activation, so the number cannot be provided in advance.¹² Requests naming a future activation date are worked about a day early so service is live on the requested date (as of 2026-09-06).¹² The Voice-Only tier runs from 1,430 yen per month with an upfront eSIM price near 4,950 yen before campaigns; incoming calls and SMS are free while outgoing calls and SMS bill separately (as of 2026-09-06).³

Activating an eSIM: iPhone vs Android

Carriers publish device-specific activation paths, so the exact screens differ by carrier even where the handset flow looks similar.¹²⁶⁴ The pattern below holds across them; the carrier page gives the exact taps.

The diagram above traces the full path from device check to a working data line.¹¹² Installation needs an internet connection, usually home or airport Wi-Fi, since the profile downloads over the network.¹¹⁷

iPhone activation flow

iPhone setup needs an iPhone XS, XS Max, XR, or later, a carrier that supports eSIM, and a Wi-Fi or hotspot connection during setup.¹¹ iPhones store eight or more eSIM profiles, with activation through eSIM Quick Transfer, eSIM Carrier Activation, QR code, carrier link, carrier app, or manual entry.¹¹

For the QR path, open Camera and scan the carrier code, tap the Cellular Plan Detected notice, then Continue and Add Cellular Plan.¹¹ On iOS 17.4 and later, a QR code received by email or web page can be long-pressed directly with Add eSIM instead of needing a second screen.¹¹ A confirmation code goes in when the carrier supplied one.¹¹

For manual entry, open Settings, then Cellular or Mobile Data, then Add Cellular Plan, then Enter Details Manually at the bottom of the screen.¹¹ docomo adds a carrier-push variant: supported iPhones get an activation push notification within about 1 to 2 minutes, with QR scanning as the fallback when no notification arrives.¹⁰

Android activation flow

Android paths vary by maker and model.⁶ The usual entries are Settings, then Network and Internet or Connections, then the SIM manager with Add eSIM or Download a SIM, then a QR scan or manual code entry.⁶ (limitation: menu labels differ by maker and OS version, so treat this as the pattern, not exact universal steps.)

On handsets bought outside the carrier, packet data generally needs a manual access-point entry using the carrier's published values.⁵ docomo adds an on-device transfer function on supporting Android models, issuing the eSIM from device settings with no separate application step.¹

Good to know

Confirm the handset is unlocked and eSIM capable before paying anything

An eSIM order placed for a carrier-locked or non-eSIM handset fails after payment, not before.⁶² povo warns eSIM-type applicants to confirm device compatibility first, and Rakuten Mobile sends buyers to its compatibility and unlock checks before applying.⁶² Dialing *#06# and finding a 32-digit EID, or finding an Add eSIM entry in network settings, confirms the hardware side; the original seller confirms the lock side.²

Voice lines need identity handling that data-only lines skip

Mobal voice eSIM access codes travel by post or in-person pickup with ID, while data-only eSIM arrives by email within minutes.³¹² Same seller, different lead times, because the identity-verification rule attaches to voice lines and not to data-only lines.³¹² Travelers landing at Haneda, Narita, Kansai, or other airports with Mobal counters can pick up the access code the same day by choosing the collection point and date at checkout.³

Removing the profile from the phone leaves the contract running

Deleting the eSIM profile from the handset does not cancel the contract; cancellation is a separate procedure.⁷ Accidental deletion needs a reissued activation code, and reissue carries the profile issuance fee, 220 yen including tax per reissue on IIJmio's data tier (as of 2026-09-06; confirm current figures with IIJmio).⁷⁸ Treat profile deletion as a settings action and cancellation as an account action, and never confuse the two.⁷

See also

• Prepaid SIMs for the First Month
• Mobile Plan Considerations for Foreign Residents
• Internet and TV: Utility Setup Overview
• Big Three Carriers vs. MVNO Sub-Brands

References

Footnotes

1. NTT DOCOMO. "About eSIM" (Support, English). https://www.docomo.ne.jp/english/support/esim/ ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹ ↩¹² ↩¹³ ↩¹⁴ ↩¹⁵ ↩¹⁶ ↩¹⁷ ↩¹⁸ ↩¹⁹ ↩²⁰ ↩²¹

2. Rakuten Mobile. "eSIM" (Products, English). https://network.mobile.rakuten.co.jp/en/product/sim/esim/ ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹ ↩¹² ↩¹³ ↩¹⁴ ↩¹⁵ ↩¹⁶ ↩¹⁷ ↩¹⁸

3. Mobal. "eSIM Japan: Best eSIM with Japanese Phone Number". https://www.mobal.com/japan-esims/ ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹ ↩¹²

4. LINEMO (SoftBank). "Affordable SIM card in Japan" (English guide). https://www.linemo.jp/language/ ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰

5. au (KDDI). "The procedures when using another company's mobile phone" (Support, English). https://www.au.com/english/support/contract/simcard/unlocked/ ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹

6. povo (KDDI). "SIM/eSIM Activation Procedures" (English). https://povo.jp/en/procedure/sim-esim/ ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹

7. IIJmio. "IIJmio eSIM service, Data Plan Zero" (Japanese). https://www.iijmio.jp/esim/index.html ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰

8. IIJ. "IIJmio Giga Plan eSIM lineup expansion" press release (2026-08-25). https://www.iij.ad.jp/news/pressrelease/2026/0825.html ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

9. Keitai Watch (Impress). "Major MVNO eSIM services roundup, January 2026 issue" (Japanese, 2026-02-20). https://k-tai.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/review/2076941.html ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

10. NTT DOCOMO. "eSIM Activation" (Support, English). https://www.docomo.ne.jp/english/support/esim_activation/ ↩ ↩² ↩³

11. Apple Support. "Set up eSIM on iPhone". https://support.apple.com/en-us/118669 ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹ ↩¹² ↩¹³

12. Mobal Helpdesk. "Activation Processing Times". https://helpdesk.mobal.com/support/solutions/articles/205000041369-activation-processing-times ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹