Mobal Japan review: tourist eSIMs and a Japanese number

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Is Mobal a good choice for Japan?

Mobal is worth a look for two kinds of visitor: someone who wants an unlimited data eSIM priced by the day on a named network, and someone who needs a real Japanese phone number. Its voice eSIM works like a monthly mobile plan rather than a travel package, with an access code sent by post or collected in Japan, so it suits longer stays better than a one-week trip.

Mobal is a brand of Mobell Communications Ltd., which says it has served international travelers since 1989 and is registered as a telecommunications provider with Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. It describes itself as charity-owned. It sells tourist eSIMs, long-term SIMs and eSIMs with a Japanese number, and a pocket WiFi device you buy rather than rent. This review uses its published prices and terms.

Mobal Japan prices

Yen prices including tax. Mobal charges in yen; other currencies on its site are for reference. Confirm the current price and terms on Mobal’s site before buying. Checked Nov 9, 2026 · Source for Mobal

Mobal charges in yen, and its prices include tax. The unlimited eSIM is sold for any length from 3 to 21 days, then 26 or 31 days; the table shows a selection. The voice plan rows show the one-off eSIM price and the smallest and largest monthly plans; 5GB, 10GB, 15GB and 30GB plans sit between them.

The unlimited tourist eSIM

Mobal’s 5G Unlimited Data eSIM is data-only and, according to its plan details, runs on the KDDI (au) network. The key terms:

• Validity begins when you first connect to the network in Japan and is counted in calendar days, so the day you connect is day 1. You can install it before your flight; landing late in the evening still uses up that first day.
• Hotspot has a plan-length allowance: the 16-day plan, for example, includes up to 15GB of tethering.
• Japan only. The eSIM does not work in other countries, so a Japan–Korea trip needs a separate plan for Korea; see our Japan and Korea eSIM guide.
• Compatibility. Your phone must be unlocked, support eSIM and support 4G LTE Band 1 (2100MHz).

Mobal also sells fixed 10GB and 50GB data eSIMs valid for 16 or 31 days, which can cost less than the unlimited plan of the same length if your use is moderate.

The voice eSIM with a Japanese phone number

Mobal’s voice eSIM gives you a real Japanese number with calls and SMS plus 5G data. It is priced like a monthly mobile plan:

• You pay ¥4,950 for the eSIM, then a monthly plan from ¥1,650 for 1GB to ¥5,280 for 50GB.
• Your first month is pro-rated from the day you activate, and there is no minimum contract.
• Calls and outgoing SMS are charged on top of the plan. On its Voice SIM page, Mobal says usage charges are billed when it receives network data, which can be one to two months later, so expect a final charge after you leave.
• If you use your whole data allowance, speed drops to about 200 Kbps rather than cutting off, and unused data rolls over.

Because Japanese law requires identity checks for numbers, the voice eSIM is not delivered by email. Mobal either posts an access code to the address on your ID or hands it over at a pick-up point in Japan when you show your passport and order confirmation. Voice products are only sold to customers aged 18 or over.

For most tourists, a local number is optional. Our Japanese phone number guide explains when you need one and the alternatives. For a stay of a month or more, compare the voice plan with the options in our 30-day Japan eSIM guide.

The Pocket WiFi Stick: bought, not rented

Mobal’s pocket WiFi is a USB-C stick you buy for ¥6,980 and keep, with a monthly plan from ¥4,980 for 100GB (200GB and 300GB plans cost more). It connects up to 8 devices and can be picked up at Narita or Haneda or delivered free within Japan. There is nothing to post back, and you can reactivate it on a later trip. That suits repeat visitors; for a single holiday, a rental from Japan Wireless or Sakura Mobile is the more natural comparison, as our pocket WiFi guide explains.

Pros and trade-offs

Reasons to choose Mobal

• Unlimited data eSIMs priced for almost any trip length, on a named network.
• A real Japanese number on a no-contract monthly plan.
• Prices include tax, and the first voice month is pro-rated.
• A pocket WiFi device you can keep and reuse on later trips.

Reasons to pause

• The voice eSIM needs a posted or collected access code, and its usage charges can arrive months later.
• Hotspot use on the unlimited eSIM is capped by plan length.
• Voice products are limited to customers aged 18 or over.
• The Pocket WiFi Stick costs more up front than a short rental.

Who Mobal suits

Mobal suits a visitor who needs a Japanese number for a stay of several weeks or longer, a student or worker arriving before settling in, and a repeat traveler who wants a reusable pocket WiFi. For a short trip with no need for a local number, compare its unlimited eSIM with fixed-data plans in our Japan eSIM comparison. The Sakura Mobile review covers a voice eSIM sold as a fixed travel package instead.

Alternatives to consider

• Sakura Mobile offers a Japanese-number travel eSIM with a fixed usage period; compare collection and included-call terms with Mobal’s monthly model.
• Japan Wireless rents routers, which may suit a single holiday better than buying a device.
• Ubigi is another long-stay candidate if you need data without a Japanese voice line; inspect any recurring commitment.

Same 10GB / 30 days from Wanderly, the provider we own: $8.99. See the Wanderly plan →Wanderly: Checked Nov 5, 2026 · Source

The Japanese phone-number guide explains what a local number does and does not solve. Compare total billing and cancellation requirements as well as the initial eSIM price.

Mobal Japan FAQ