Daily eSIM | Mobal: A Real Japanese Number on eSIM, Free Incoming SMS Even Abroad
Daily eSIM | Mobal: A Real Japanese Number on eSIM, Free Incoming SMS Even Abroad

"Daily eSIM" introduces one pay-as-you-go / prepaid / free-trial eSIM every day. Episode 020 features Mobal from Japan — one of the rare eSIMs in this column that comes with a real Japanese phone number: a 070 / 080 / 090 number that sends and receives texts and makes calls, on NTT Docomo's 5G network. If you need to receive Japanese SMS verification codes long-term, this episode hands you the buying logic.
One-line pitch
Mobal is Japan's voice-eSIM provider. Its core product, the Voice+Data eSIM, pairs a real Japanese phone number with a monthly data plan — a one-time issuance fee plus monthly billing, no contract, cancel anytime. Unlike the vast majority of data-only travel eSIMs, its number is ID-verified under Japanese telecom law, so restaurant bookings, ride-hailing apps, Japanese banks, and any service demanding a Japanese SMS code accept it.
Plan types
- Voice+Data eSIM (long-term): flagship — real Japanese number + monthly data, no minimum duration;
- Voice Lite eSIM: light version — number + SMS with 500MB of data, under ¥1,000/month;
- Voice-Only: number and SMS only, no data;
- Tourist Voice+Data: 30 / 60 / 90-day packages that expire automatically, for trips where you need a number;
- Tourist data-only eSIM: emailed in minutes, no ID required, if you don't need a number.
Pricing (as of October 20, 2026, cross-checked against October 2026 guides)
- Voice+Data: one-time issuance fee ¥4,950 (some pages showed ¥4,455 in October 2026); monthly 1GB ¥1,650 / 5GB ¥3,190 / 10GB ¥3,630 / 15GB ¥3,795 / 30GB ¥4,378 / 50GB ¥5,280 (tax included), upgradeable to 100GB ¥6,490 / 200GB ¥9,900 from month 2;
- Voice Lite: ¥2,970 issuance, then ¥990/month (includes 500MB), no minimum duration, first month pro-rated;
- Voice-Only: ¥1,430/month (number + SMS, no data);
- Tourist voice packages: 30 days ¥7,920 / 60 days ¥12,870 / 90 days ¥17,820;
- Data-only tourist eSIM: unlimited from ¥1,650/3 days up to about ¥12,300/31 days.
Usage rates on top: incoming calls and texts free in Japan; outgoing domestic calls ¥44/min; domestic texts ¥33; international texts ¥140; calls to the US/UK and a set list of countries ¥65/min, others ¥200/min. Sourced from Mobal guides updated October 2026 on tokyointernationalmeetup.com, freakingnomads.com and therealjapan.com — confirm live prices at mobal.com before buying.
Key question: can it receive SMS verification codes?
Yes — the most capable "code receiver" this column has covered. The Voice line gives you a real, ID-verified Japanese mobile number with free incoming texts in Japan; crucially, Mobal offers free incoming SMS roaming — you receive texts (including bank and platform verification codes) even outside Japan at no cost. Restaurant booking forms, taxi apps, Japanese bank accounts — anything that rejects VoIP numbers works with it. Note: sending texts costs per message, but receiving codes is free.
Pros
- Real number + SMS: genuine 070 / 080 / 090 number, free incoming texts at home and abroad — the code-receiving need solved in one go;
- ID-verified number accepted by far more Japanese services than any VoIP virtual number;
- No contract, cancel anytime; flexible monthly tiers; throttled (~200 Kbps) rather than cut off when data runs out; one-month rollover;
- Docomo 5G network across Japan;
- English-speaking support from a British-origin company, straightforward for foreigners, credit card / PayPal accepted;
- Passport is enough — no Japanese bank account or residence card required.
Cons
- Voice plans can't be emailed instantly: Japanese law requires ID verification — pick it up free in person at Haneda/Narita airport with your passport, or wait for delivery; only the data-only eSIM is emailed in minutes;
- Hefty one-time issuance fee (¥4,950, or ¥2,970 for Voice Lite) just for the number;
- Calls and texts billed on top — light users should tally monthly + usage costs;
- Data is pricier than mainstream travel eSIMs (you're buying the number, not cheap data).
Who it's for
- Anyone needing Japanese SMS verification codes long-term (banks, platforms, Japanese service registrations);
- Students, workers and long-stay visitors in Japan who need a local number for restaurant bookings, taxis and deliveries;
- People back home who must keep Japanese service accounts alive (receiving codes) — free incoming SMS roaming is the key.
Not for: short trips where you just want cheap data (get its data-only eSIM or another data-only product instead); anyone unwilling to do ID verification or expecting scan-and-go.
Official site
mobal.com (confirm live plans and pricing on the site)
Notes
Compiled from Mobal guides updated October 2026 on tokyointernationalmeetup.com, freakingnomads.com, therealjapan.com, visitjapan-vegetarian.com and japanlifereview.com. As of October 20, 2026. eSIM plans and prices change frequently — check the official site before buying. Not tested in person.
中文版:https://cutting-edgetechnology-ai.blogspot.com/2026/10/esim-mobal-esim.html
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