Does Lebara work in Japan? Roaming Plans, Setting Up and Alternatives

This article was reviewed on 12 December 2025. Information may have changed since publication. Please verify with the relevant provider. Also, Wise Payments Japan is not affiliated with Lebara and this content is for informational purposes only. Please use your own judgment when making decisions.

Lebara is a mobile virtual network operator from the United Kingdom. The company offers pre-paid SIM cards and various plans to use overseas.

The article will answer the question “Does Lebara work in Japan?” for expats and tourists who are going to Japan. Lebara’s different price plans, ways of roaming and setting up on your phones, alternatives to data roaming, and the convenient Wise payment option will be covered in the article.

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Table of contents
Does Lebara work in Japan? Roaming with Lebara: Options and Cost Setting up your Lebara roaming: Step-by-step guide Alternatives to Data Roaming Travel easily around Japan with Wise

Does Lebara work in Japan?

Yes. International roaming is available and Lebara does work in Japan. There are a few plans you can choose from.¹

Here is a quick comparison of plans depending on the leng

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Roaming with Lebara: Options and Cost

Roaming with Lebara（UK SIMs)

Does it work? Japan is not supported for Lebara UK roaming as of December 2025. For roaming outside of Europe and India, you’ll need to buy the appropriate roaming add-on or use pay-as-you-go. Always confirm in your Lebara app before you fly.²

Two main options that work in Japan:

Roaming add-ons³

Plans	Details	Price
8-Day Add-On	500MB Roaming Data 25 Roaming Minutes (Incoming & Outgoing) 25 Roaming Texts	£15
15-Day Add-On	2GB Roaming Data 50 Roaming Minutes (Incoming & Outgoing) 50 Roaming Texts	£25

Pay-As-You-Go roaming⁴

Incoming Calls: 49p per minute
Outgoing Calls to local numbers back to the UK: 49p per minute
Outgoing Calls to other EU/EEA countries: £1.99 per minute
Outgoing Calls to the rest of the world (Including Japan): £1.99 per minute
Data: £93 per GB

Roaming with Lebara (Australian SIM)

Japan is supported for Lebara Australia roaming as of December 2022. Confirm in your Lebara AU account/app.

There are two main options:

Roaming add-ons⁵

Plans	Details	Price
Economy Class Add-On (2 days)	500MB Roaming Data 50 Minutes 50 SMS / MMS	$15
First Class Add-on (10 days)	3GB Roaming Data 150 Minutes 150 SMS / MMS	$45

Pay-As-You-Go roaming⁴

Incoming Calls: 49p per minute
Outgoing Calls to local numbers back to the UK: 49p per minute
Outgoing Calls to other EU/EEA countries: £1.99 per minute
Outgoing Calls to the rest of the world (Including Japan): £1.99 per minute
Data: €93 per GB

Be aware that the prices can get high real quick. Unless you don’t use your phone often, this option is generally not recommended.

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Setting up your Lebara roaming: Step-by-step guide

Below are the steps for setting up your Lebara roaming.

Step 1: Check Your Phone’s Compatibility

Check if your phone is compatible with Japan’s frequency bands

2G (MHz): none
3G (MHz):

• Band 1 (2100)
• Band 19 (850)

4G (MHz):

• Band 1 (2100)
• Band 3 (1800)
• Band 19 (850)
• Band 21 (1500)
• Band 28 (700)

5G: Available

Modern smartphones with GSM and LTE compatibility will generally work in Japan. To have a better idea, go through this checklist to check the compatibility.

• Is your phone new?
• Is your phone SIM locked? (Your carrier might block you from using other SIMs)
• Did you check the list of Japan’s supported bands?

For the latest information, please check with your provider to ensure that your Japan trip will be a smooth one.

Step 2: Adding the roaming add-on

Follow the instructions on MyLebara app to add their roaming add-ons.

Step 3: Turn on Roaming on your phone

Data roaming must be enabled on your phone. If it’s not turned on, you will not be able to use Lebara’s mobile data.

Here is a step-by-step guide of how to turn on roaming for both iPhones and Android.

iPhone:

1. Go to Settings
2. Tap Mobile Service
3. Add your primary number
4. Scroll down and select the Data Roaming button

Android:

1. Go to Settings
2. Select Network and Internet / Connections
3. Select Mobile network
4. Turn the Data roaming on

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Alternatives to Data Roaming

eSIM

There are many eSIM options in Japan with an average cost of $4~5 per GB. In Japan, eSIMs might be slow during busy times like at train stations or tourist spots. Therefore, prepare to pay some extra charges in case you need speed upgrades.

Here are some popular eSIM options that work in Japan.

Types of eSIM	Price (Incl. tax)*
Airalo eSIM⁶	3GB: £6.50 for 7 days 5GB: £8 for 7 days 10GB: £13.50 for 7 days
ESIMJAPAN⁷	3GB: €6.79 for 7 days
Mobal eSIM⁸	25GB: ¥4730 (£23) for 8 days
Sakura Mobile⁹	4G Unlimited (high-speed 3GB/day): ¥4620 (£22) for 7 days 5G Unlimited: ¥5500 (£26) for 7 days

(Calculated based on the conversion rate on 12 December 2025)

Local SIM card

Using Local SIM cards is another popular option while traveling to Japan. On average, they cost around $3.5 per GB and $3-4 per day. If you order online, you can have your SIM cards delivered to the airport, hotels, local post offices to pick up (best to check their website).

Here are some local SIM cards you can find in Japan.

Types of eSIM	Price (Incl. tax)*
Mobal SIM⁸	8 Days (25GB): ¥4730 (£23) 16 Days (50GB): ¥6490 (£31) 31 Days (50GB): ¥7920 (£38)
Sakura Mobile⁹	4 Days: ¥4,400 (£21) High-speed up to 3GB per day (4G Unlimited data SIM card）
IIJMio	Depends on the shop you purchase
B-mobile¹⁰	Docomo: ¥3,850 (£18) per month for 10GB B-mobile Biz 30GB: ¥47,300 (£226) per month VISITOR SIM (5GB) for 10 days: ¥1,980 (£9.50) VISITOR SIM (7GB) for 21 days: ¥2,970 (£14.50)

(Calculated based on the conversion rate on 12 December 2025)

WiFi

Japan has a few popular WiFi options but depending on the service, WiFi options, items and prices may vary. On average, Japanese WiFi costs around $37 per month.

You can select your desired location or visit the shop / airport counter to pick up a rental WiFi (check their website for more details).

WiFi Options	Price*
Mobal eSIM (Pocket WiFi)¹¹	¥4,980 (£24) per month Pocket WiFi Stick Price: ¥6,980 (£33)
Sakura Mobile¹²	Pocket WiFi: ¥4,980 (£24) per month Home Internet: ¥6,480 (£31) per month
Ninja WiFi (Softbank)¹³	Infinite Unlimited Plan: ¥1,980 (£9.50) per day Unlimited Plan (10GB): ¥1,320 (£6) per day Unlimited Plan (5GB): ¥1,100 (£5) per day Unlimited Plan (3GB): ¥770 (£3) per day Unlimited Plan (1GB): ¥440 (£2) per day 5G Unlimited Plan: ¥2,200 (£10.50) per day

(Calculated based on the conversion rate on 12 December 2025)

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Travel easily around Japan with Wise

Exchange to JPY at your desired rate before and during your trip

Add money to your Wise account from your bank, or using a card, and exchange to JPY in advance to lock in your exchange rate and fix your budget. Or simply let the card convert for you at the point of payment or withdrawal. In either case you get the mid-market exchange rate and the lowest possible Wise fee.

Withdraw cash from Japan ATMs at no additional fees

Order a Wise card to link to your account, and make some ATM withdrawals every month with the exchange rate you see on Google, low conversion fee, and no ATM fee. You’ll get a fixed free withdrawal allowance every month before the low Wise fees begin, making this a simple and cheap way to get cash when you need it.

Pay seamlessly with virtual and physical Wise cards

Tap and pay in person, make Chip and PIN payments, and add your card to a wallet like Apple Pay for easy spending in Japan and countries around the world. Easy.

Your trip to Japan will be a memorable experience whenever you decide to go. Use this guide to plan, and get Wise today to make your money go even further during your visit to Japan.

Key takeaways

• Lebara does work in Japan with their multitude of international plans
• If you have Lebara SIMs from the UK or Australia, you will have two options to use it in Japan: Roaming add-ons and Pay-as-you-go roaming.
• Alternatives to Lebara roaming are local eSIM, SIM cards, or pocket WiFi which you can borrow at the airport or purchase online.

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FAQ

Can I use my roaming for my study abroad in Japan?

No. Japan is not part of the free roaming zone on Lebara roaming plans. Only in the EU or India you’ll be able to use it for no extra cost. For roaming in Japan, you’ll need to buy the roaming add-on or use Pay-as-you-go plan.²

Can I use hotspot/tethering with my roaming plans?

Hotspot/tethering is supported on Lebra eSIMs but there is a possibility that it doesn’t work on roaming plans. Check your home career’s services for information.

Is data roaming free in Japan?

Data roaming in Japan is not free. In fact, it may lead to high expenses charged from your home career’s service.

Is there free WiFi in Japan?

Yes, free WiFi can be found especially in the cities. Free WiFis are usually available at the airport, hotels, restaurants, cafes, etc. It could be tricky in the countryside so if you are worried of getting no service, eSIM or pocket WiFi will be convenient to purchase or rent.

Also be aware of the security risk for free WiFi since some public WiFi networks don’t require a password or encrypt data properly. To protect your personal data, don’t use WiFi for checking online bank details or entering your password and personal information.

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This article was reviewed on 12 December 2025. Information may have changed since publication. Please verify with the relevant provider. Also, Wise Payments Japan is not affiliated with Lebara, and this content is for informational purposes only. Please use your own judgment when making decisions.

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Sources:

1. International Roaming - Lebara
2. Can I use my plan in Roaming?
3. 8-Day Roaming Add-On
4. Roaming Rate Finder
5. Prepaid Roaming Add-on
6. eSIM für Japan, ab 4.00 € | Der erste eSIM-Shop der Welt · Airalo
7. eSIMJAPAN.com | Product Category - Japan
8. Japan SIM Card – Data & Phone Number Plans + Free Delivery | Mobal
9. Japan Travel eSIM | Sakura Mobile
10. プリペイドSIM一覧｜b-mobile(bモバイル)
11. Best Pocket WiFi Japan – Fast, Reliable & Affordable | Mobal
12. Japan Monthly Mobile and Internet Plans
13. Pricing / Plans | NINJA WiFi | Pocket WiFi rental Japan