Holafly sells a Japan eSIM with unlimited data. Before you buy, it's worth knowing how Holafly defines "unlimited," how much of that data you can share through a hotspot, and what the plan doesn't include.
If you're still choosing between an eSIM, a physical SIM card and pocket Wi-Fi, start with our guide to getting online in Japan. This page is only about Holafly.
The data on your phone has no fixed cap, but sharing it with other devices is limited to 1GB a day. If anyone else will be using your connection, that limit matters more than anything else here.
Plan Lengths and Where to Check the Price
You pick the length of a Holafly Japan plan by the day, anywhere from 1 to 90 days. Every length comes with unlimited data, so the only real choice is how many days you need.
The days are counted from when the eSIM connects to a network in Japan, not from the day you buy it.
The price Holafly shows depends on your region and the currency you pick on the page, and it changes over time. Check the current amount on Holafly's Japan eSIM page before you buy.
What "Unlimited" Means in Holafly's Terms
Holafly spells this out in section 6.3 of its terms of service. An unlimited plan means there's no fixed data allowance that automatically cuts off your data.
It doesn't promise a set speed, though. Under the terms, coverage and speed can be subject to the network provider's fair use policy, and the provider can restrict data use or speed. Holafly also doesn't guarantee network capacity or quality.
In Japan, the plan runs on two of the major carriers, KDDI and SoftBank, with 5G where it's available and 4G/LTE elsewhere. Holafly says speeds vary by location and device, and it doesn't publish speed figures.
According to the FAQ on the Japan page, if the fair use policy kicks in, the speed restriction lasts no more than one day and normal speed returns the next day. A slowdown after a heavy day shouldn't follow you for the rest of the trip.
The Hotspot Limit: 1GB a Day
You can share data with another phone or a laptop through your hotspot, up to 1GB a day. A 7-day plan works out to 7GB of sharing in total, but the cap is per day, so you can't save it up and use 3GB on one day.
Reaching the limit doesn't cut off your own phone. Holafly's tethering guide says your phone keeps its unlimited data after you hit the sharing limit.
As a rough guide, 1GB is enough for a travel companion checking maps and messages for the day. It won't go far for uploading a trip's worth of photos or streaming video on a second device.
Data Only: No Phone Number or SMS
The Japan eSIM is data only. It doesn't come with a local phone number, so you can't make regular calls or send SMS with it.
Internet-based apps like WhatsApp still work for calls and messages, and Holafly notes that you keep your existing WhatsApp number. If you rely on SMS sent to your regular number, such as bank login codes, figure out before you go how you'll receive them.
Setting It Up Before You Fly
Holafly emails a QR code and setup steps right after you buy. You can install the eSIM before your trip. Doing it at home is easiest, since installation needs an internet connection.
The Holafly app's automatic installation works on iOS and iPadOS 17.4 or later. On other devices, you scan the QR code.
Installing it doesn't start your plan. The days begin when you arrive in Japan, turn the eSIM on and connect to a supported network. Data roaming has to be on for the Holafly line.
A few rules to check before you buy:
- Your phone has to support eSIM. Holafly has a compatibility checker on its site. Its refund policy lists a locked phone alongside an incompatible one ("incompatible or locked device"), so if your phone came from a carrier, make sure it's unlocked.
- It can be installed on only one phone. Once installed, it can't be moved to another device or reinstalled.
- It's for international travel only. Section 6.3.4 of Holafly's terms excludes use in the country where you're based when you buy, so it isn't an option if you live in Japan.
Backup Data and Support
After your trip, it's worth leaving the eSIM installed. Every Holafly eSIM comes with 1GB of backup data that resets every 30 days and works in more than 150 countries. Unused data doesn't roll over, and it only works while the eSIM stays on your phone.
Holafly offers 24/7 support by chat, email and WhatsApp. Refund requests have to be made within six months of purchase.
Who Should Use Holafly, and Who Shouldn't
Use Holafly if you'd rather not think about data at all. If your days run on maps, translation apps, video calls home and photo uploads, a plan with no fixed cap means you don't have to watch a data balance.
If any of these apply to you, compare it with other options before you buy:
- you need to run a laptop off your phone for hours, because the hotspot is capped at 1GB a day
- you won't use much data, in which case a plan with a set data allowance is worth a look
- you need a Japanese phone number
- you live in Japan, since the service is for international travel
My read of the terms: there's no fixed cap that cuts off your data, and any fair-use slowdown is limited to one day. The one place it gets stricter is sharing through your hotspot, so read that rule twice if anyone else will be using your connection.
Official site: Holafly Japan eSIM
This article was translated from the original Japanese with AI assistance and reviewed by our editorial team. The Japanese version is authoritative.