Every Airalo Japan eSIM plan, compared by price per gigabyte
Airalo Japan eSIM Plans Compared: Which Offers the Best Price Per Gigabyte
If you're planning a trip to Japan and considering Airalo's eSIM service, the price per gigabyte varies significantly depending on how long you need data and how much you plan to use. This comparison cuts through Airalo's Japan offerings to show you exactly what each plan costs and whether you're paying premium rates for convenience or finding genuine value.
The Three Plans: Moshi Moshi, Asialink, and Discover
Airalo operates three main branded packages for Japan-only connectivity: Moshi Moshi, Asialink, and Discover. The research gathered on 2026-08-01 identifies these as the primary options, though Airalo lists 35 plans in total when regional multi-country packages are included.
The choice between them hinges on how long you're staying and how much data you realistically need. Price alone doesn't tell the full story—a plan that looks cheap per gigabyte might lock you into too much data, or saddle you with a duration that doesn't match your trip.
Short Stays: The 3-Day Window
For a quick visit, Moshi Moshi and Asialink both offer 1 GB in 3 days at exactly the same price: $4.00. That works out to $4.00 per gigabyte, which is the most expensive rate among all single-gigabyte offerings on either plan.
Jump to 3 GB in 3 days and the plans diverge. Moshi Moshi costs $7.50 ($2.50 per GB), while Asialink jumps to $9.00 ($3.00 per GB). If you need that middle tier for a short stay, Moshi Moshi offers better value.
Extending the 3-day validity to 7 days with 3 GB shifts the advantage slightly: Moshi Moshi charges $8.00 (still $2.67 per GB) versus Asialink's $9.50 ($3.17 per GB).
Week-Long Trips: The Sweet Spot
For a typical week in Japan, the 5 GB plans show where real savings emerge—if you choose the right option.
Moshi Moshi's 5 GB in 7 days costs $10.00, or $2.00 per gigabyte. This is the lowest price-per-GB rate available across both plans. Asialink's equivalent (5 GB in 7 days) costs $14.00 ($2.80 per GB), making Moshi Moshi substantially cheaper for week-long stays.
If your week stretches toward two weeks, Moshi Moshi's 5 GB in 15 days costs $10.50 ($2.10 per GB)—only marginally more expensive than the 7-day option, which makes it worth considering if you might stay longer. Asialink's 15-day variant is $14.50 ($2.90 per GB).
Month-Long Stays
For stays of 30 days or more, Moshi Moshi's 5 GB plan costs $11.00 ($2.20 per GB), while Asialink charges $15.00 ($3.00 per GB). Moshi Moshi maintains its pricing advantage at every duration tier.
The pattern is clear: across all comparable data volumes and durations, Moshi Moshi undercuts Asialink by roughly 30–40%. Unless you have a specific reason to prefer Asialink (perhaps prior experience or network performance), Moshi Moshi offers better value at every step.
Discover: A Specialist Option
Airalo's Discover plans occupy a different market segment. Discover offers just 1 GB in 7 days for $8.50 ($8.50 per GB), making it the most expensive gigabyte rate available. There's also a Discover+ variant at 1 GB in 7 days for $9.00, and a Discover plan with 2 GB in 15 days for $16.50 ($8.25 per GB).
These plans make sense only if Discover's network performance or coverage in Japan is materially superior to the alternatives, or if you genuinely need just 500 MB to 1 GB and want the peace of mind of a longer validity period. Otherwise, you're paying a significant premium for less data.
What to Actually Buy
For most visitors, Moshi Moshi's 5 GB plan—either the 7-day ($10.00) or 15-day ($10.50) option—delivers the lowest price per gigabyte and enough data for a typical trip. This assumes moderate use: email, messaging apps, maps, and social media, but not heavy video streaming.
If you're certain you'll use less than 3 GB and need to save money, Moshi Moshi's 3 GB in 7 days ($8.00) or 3 days ($7.50) works out to around $2.50–$2.67 per GB, which remains reasonable.
Asialink is harder to justify on price alone. It costs roughly 40% more per gigabyte across comparable tiers.
Discover should be your choice only if you're staying long enough that a 7-day or 15-day plan from Moshi Moshi won't cover your visit, and you want to stretch data across a longer period—though even then, you're paying heavily for that convenience.
Remember that prices and plan availability can change. Confirm current pricing and eligibility before purchasing, and check Airalo's coverage map if network priority matters for your specific itinerary in Japan.