Verdict
I haven’t personally used this provider. Below is the public picture, sourced from Nomad’s plans pages and terms.
If you want the cheapest fixed-data plan for a metro-Japan trip and you don’t need Docomo coverage, Nomad is the budget pick. Buy if you want the lowest fixed-plan price for a 5 GB or 10 GB allowance and you’ll be in cities. Skip if you’re considering Nomad’s unlimited tier — the 512 Kbps post-throttle speed is harsh enough that fixed plans are essentially always the better choice on Nomad.
What you actually get
Nomad’s Japan plans connect to KDDI au and SoftBank. No NTT Docomo. 5G is supported on the underlying networks. Plans are data-only — no Japanese phone number, no SMS, no voice. No KYC.
Nomad’s headline feature for Japan is price: at the 5 GB / 10 GB / 30-day tiers, it consistently undercuts the rest of the global apps by a small margin. The unlimited variant exists but throttles harshly enough that most travelers should ignore it.
Plans and pricing
Last verified May 2026.
| Plan | Duration | Price (USD) | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | 7 days | $4.00 | KDDI au / SoftBank |
| 5 GB | 30 days | $10.00 | KDDI au / SoftBank |
| 10 GB | 30 days | $17.00 | KDDI au / SoftBank |
| 20 GB | 45 days | $24.00 | KDDI au / SoftBank |
| 50 GB | 45 days | $39.00 | KDDI au / SoftBank |
| Unlimited (2 GB/day FUP) | 7 days | $23.00 | KDDI au / SoftBank |
| Unlimited (2 GB/day FUP) | 21 days | $49.00 | KDDI au / SoftBank |
Two shapes worth flagging in Nomad’s lineup. The 1 GB / 7-day plan at $4 is the cheapest short-trip fixed plan in this comparison and a real competitor for transit-only travel. At the long-stay end, the 20 GB and 50 GB plans run on 45-day durations rather than the typical 30-day structure used by Airalo, Saily, and Ubigi — useful for a 6-week trip without stacking. The unlimited tier comes in two durations; both throttle to 512 Kbps after 2 GB per day, which is too slow for most travel use — see the throttling section below for why fixed plans are almost always the better pick on Nomad.
Throttling and Fair Usage Policy
Nomad’s fixed plans do not throttle. When you hit your GB allowance, the plan stops or prompts a top-up. The unlimited tier is a different story: after 2 GB per day at high speed, Nomad throttles to 512 Kbps for the rest of the day. 512 Kbps is too slow for live translation, video calls, and most modern app updates; it’s marginal even for Google Maps. Among the major Japan eSIM providers, this is the harshest published throttle.
The practical takeaway: if you’re using less than 2 GB per day, Nomad’s fixed 5 GB plan is cheaper than the unlimited and runs at full speed throughout. If you’ll average more than 2 GB per day, a 10 GB or 20 GB fixed plan still delivers more usable speed than Nomad’s unlimited.
What public reviews and policy pages say
Public reviews of Nomad for Japan consistently flag two things: the price-leadership at the 5 GB and 10 GB fixed tiers, and the harshness of the unlimited-tier throttle. The KDDI au plus SoftBank network combination is rated as “fine for cities, weak in rural areas” — same shape as Airalo’s coverage. App and activation experience is rated below Airalo’s polish but above mid-tier resellers.
How to buy and activate Nomad
- Install the Nomad app and create an account.
- Search “Japan” and pick a fixed plan (avoid the unlimited tier for Japan unless you’re sure your usage stays under 2 GB per day).
- Pay (cards, Apple/Google Pay).
- From the app’s plans tab, tap Install eSIM — your phone walks through the OS-level install.
- Set the new eSIM as your Cellular Data line; keep your home SIM active for calls and SMS.
- On arrival in Japan, toggle Data Roaming on for the Nomad line.
- If data doesn’t connect, confirm the APN is set automatically, then toggle Airplane Mode off and on.
Who should pick Nomad
- Budget-conscious metro traveler — Nomad’s 5 GB and 10 GB fixed plans are the cheapest in this comparison at those tiers.
- Anyone who wants a fixed-data plan with no FUP fine print — Nomad’s fixed tiers don’t throttle within the allowance.
- A traveler doing the Tokaido corridor (Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Tokaido Shinkansen) — KDDI au plus SoftBank is plenty.
Who should skip Nomad
- Anyone considering the unlimited tier — 512 Kbps post-throttle is too slow to use; pick Airalo’s transparent 1 Mbps unlimited or a fixed plan elsewhere.
- Rural Japan, Hokkaido, or Japanese Alps traveler — no Docomo. Pick Travelsim Asia or Ubigi.
- Frequent traveler who already has Airalo or Saily on their phone — Nomad’s small price advantage isn’t worth a third app for most people.
Frequently asked questions
Is Nomad really the cheapest Japan eSIM?
For fixed-data plans at the 5 GB and 10 GB tiers, Nomad consistently prices at or below the rest of the global eSIM marketplaces — typically around $10 for 5 GB / 30 days. For unlimited plans, Holafly’s longer-duration per-day pricing can edge it out; for 1-day or short-trip plans, Airalo and Holafly are competitive at the small end.
What network does Nomad use in Japan?
Nomad’s Japan plans connect to KDDI au and SoftBank. There is no NTT Docomo coverage. KDDI au plus SoftBank gives you strong all-rounder coverage in cities and most populated rural areas, but signal can drop in deep Hokkaido or the Japanese Alps.
Does Nomad throttle speeds?
Fixed-data plans (1 GB, 5 GB, 10 GB) do not throttle within the allowance — when you hit the cap, the plan stops. The unlimited variant throttles to 512 Kbps after 2 GB per day, which is the harshest published FUP among the major Japan eSIM providers and effectively useless for translation apps with audio.
Should I pick Nomad’s fixed plan or unlimited plan?
For Japan specifically, the fixed plans are the better choice. Nomad’s unlimited tier throttles to 512 Kbps after 2 GB per day, which is slower than walking pace for most apps. A 10 GB fixed plan on Nomad runs at full speed all day for the same kind of total monthly usage.
Can I tether on a Nomad Japan eSIM?
Yes, hotspot and tethering are allowed on Nomad’s fixed-plan tiers within your overall data allowance. On the unlimited tier, hotspot data counts against the 2 GB-per-day pre-throttle cap.