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What changed and when

Changelog

A dated record of price checks, new guides and corrections on eSIM Japan Guide, so you can see what changed and when.

Last updated:
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This page records changes to prices and content, newest first. Price data changes are listed separately from editorial changes, because a rewritten paragraph does not mean every price was checked again. Our comparison method explains the monthly price check, and the contact page is the place to report something that has changed. The Japan eSIM comparison always shows the current data.

November 10, 2026

Provider terms and direct answers

  • Added Airalo’s published unlimited fair-use terms to the Airalo review: a default 3GB per 24 hours at full speed, counted from activation, then 1 Mbps, with hotspot allowed. Added its in-app refund rules (Airmoney credit) and a “who should skip it” list. The plan picker now applies the 3GB daily limit to Airalo’s unlimited plans. Comparison pages that said Airalo publishes no hotspot terms now distinguish unlimited from fixed packages. This was a terms check, so no price-check date changed.
  • The Ubigi review now explains Ubigi’s ownership (a Transatel brand within the NTT Group), when its network list matters on rural trips, and its refund and monthly-cancellation rules. Its Ubigi vs Airalo section is now a short summary linking to the full comparison.
  • The data calculator answers whether 3GB a day is enough, using the calculator’s own per-activity figures. The cost guide now opens with price ranges for 7, 14 and 30 days, taken from the cost table.
  • The homepage adds a list of where to start for each trip type and a table of the networks each provider lists. Each provider review now compares the same 10GB / 30-day allowance from Wanderly, with dates and sources for both prices.

November 5, 2026

Clearer comparisons and source checks

  • The homepage short list now identifies the allowance, duration, comparison set and coupon exclusions behind its lowest-price picks. The owned-provider card describes plan-dependent network information, and unlimited picks show their relevant limits. Japan specialist profiles remain separate from the US-dollar price ranking.
  • Refreshed Wanderly’s profile against its current catalogue and selected plan panels: 34 paid fixed-data plans, corrected prices and plan links, and package-specific activation, hotspot, network and refund details. Its starting day pass has 1GB/day at full speed, then 1 Mbps; the picker now applies that known limit. Other providers’ price-check dates were not changed.
  • Added clearly attributed outside testing references to the Airalo and Ubigi reviews. The Airalo reference tests the regional Asialink product, not the Japan-only plans in our price table. Those are the outside author’s observations, not new field tests by this site.
  • Rechecked Airalo’s published network information. Its current Moshi Moshi catalogue lists SoftBank, KDDI and Rakuten, while explanatory copy still names two networks. Updated the Airalo review, comparison pages and Reddit advice checklist to explain that difference. This network-only check does not change any price-check date.
  • Added dated, listing-specific examples to the Klook review, including differences in network, activation and refunds. Selected package totals remain unverified, so Klook is still outside the price ranking.
  • Shortened repeated general pricing material in the Tokyo and Osaka guides, retaining arrival and transport advice and links to the cost comparison.
  • Bylines now identify the pen name and Wanderly founder role in each language. Corrected localized device-setup guidance and Saily plan-duration wording, and translated the consent controls. Translated pages still await native-language review before search indexing. No field-test results have been added.
  • The shared price-check date now uses the oldest recorded source check. Individual rows retain their own dates, and general banners describe dated checks rather than making a monthly freshness promise.

October 31, 2026

Easier pages to read and use

  • Added a Quick answer box to the top of every guide and review, so the main recommendation comes before the detail.
  • Shortened the homepage: the plan picker and full price comparison now come straight after the short list, and the provider sections are tighter.
  • On wide screens, guides and reviews have a sidebar with the page contents, the lowest 10GB monthly price we track and a link to the plan picker. On phones, the price table no longer needs sideways scrolling.
  • Replaced the full-width cookie banner with a small notice. Visits are still counted without cookies until you choose. Cookie settings are in the footer.

New guide and page titles

  • Published Ubigi vs Airalo for Japan, a package-by-package price and network comparison.
  • Rewrote page titles and descriptions to match what travelers search for. No prices changed in this update.

October 28, 2026

Editorial responsibility and comparison rules

  • Added the Kenji (pen name) author profile, linked article bylines and update dates. The profile identifies Kenji as the pen name of Wanderly’s founder. Reviews show testing fields only when evidence is available. No field-test results have been added.
  • Removed broad Wanderly value endorsements and repeated competitor-versus-Wanderly endings. Each competitor profile now links to relevant alternatives, while the ownership disclosure remains visible.
  • Consolidated the pocket WiFi rental material in the eSIM and pocket WiFi comparison, and Holafly alternative-provider material in the unlimited guide. The old URLs redirect permanently.
  • Clarified the different purposes of the cost guide, 30-day guide and Reddit advice checklist. The homepage remains the main provider comparison.
  • The reviews index distinguishes ten existing profiles from four providers still awaiting research. Future publication is limited to two or three new pages per week, subject to evidence and editorial review.
  • Translated pages remain available to readers but are excluded from search indexing until a native-language review is complete. Chinese metadata and purchasing guidance were revised; this does not signify native-language sign-off.
  • Comparison tables use matching duration requirements, show actual package validity and retain dated price-source notes. This editorial update does not mean every listed package was rechecked on October 28.

October 24, 2026

New pages

Prices

  • Recorded eSIM, SIM card and pocket WiFi prices for Japan Wireless, Sakura Mobile and Mobal from their own sites. They are shown in the currency each site charges or displays (yen, or US dollars for Japan Wireless) and kept out of the US-dollar eSIM comparison, so rentals and monthly plans are never ranked against travel eSIMs. Prices for the existing eSIM providers were not changed.

Languages

Layout and content

  • Expanded the comparison area and moved page navigation into a drawer that opens on hover or click. Small screens show comparison rows as labeled cards, with every value available without horizontal scrolling.
  • Expanded the Japanese phone number guide, iPhone setup guide and eSIM, pocket WiFi and physical SIM comparison with clearer buying and setup answers.
  • Updated the Ubigi, Airalo and Saily reviews, and added trip-length planning examples to the Japan data calculator.
  • Refined titles, descriptions and internal links on those pages and the homepage. Provider prices and their check dates were not changed by these editorial updates.

October 23, 2026

Content

Prices

  • Checked every provider’s Japan prices and terms against its own Japan page. Price notices now show a check date instead of saying competitor prices are unconfirmed.
  • Airalo: new 3-, 7- and 15-day fixed packages, unlimited packages from 3 to 30 days, and new prices on several plans. Its Japan packages list SoftBank and KDDI.
  • Ubigi: corrected the 1GB plan to 3 days, added a 7-day 10GB plan and 8-, 15- and 30-day unlimited packages, and updated the 10GB 30-day price. Its monthly plans have a three-month minimum.
  • Saily, Holafly and Nomad: updated prices and added new packages. Saily’s 5GB-a-day full-speed cap and Holafly’s 1GB-a-day hotspot cap are now confirmed from their Japan pages, and Nomad’s unlimited packages allow 2GB a day at full speed.
  • Wanderly: the comparison now includes all 31 fixed-data Japan plans, up from 10, and picker links open the matching plan.
  • Added Wanderly’s Japan & South Korea regional plans and a subset of its South Korea plans, read from Wanderly’s public destination pages, for the Japan–Korea comparison.

October 22, 2026

Content

  • Launched the comparison, six provider reviews, the eSIM vs pocket WiFi guide, the unlimited data guide and the Japan eSIM FAQ.

Prices

  • Recorded Japan plan prices for Wanderly, Airalo, Ubigi, Saily, Holafly and Nomad. Klook is listed without prices because its listings vary by supplier.