Alternative

Ubigi alternative for Japan: fix it tonight, or switch

Disclosure: ESIM KIMONO is our store. Competitor facts come from their own pages and public reviews, checked 13 October 2026, each linked.

Short answer: try the four checks below first, because most "no connection" problems with any eSIM are a roaming or data-line setting. If Ubigi still drops out, or your unlimited plan has used its 25GB at full speed and now runs at 2 Mbps, you can install ESIM KIMONO on hotel Wi-Fi tonight: KDDI 4G/5G, QR code by email in minutes, no app, and an unlimited plan at a flat 10 Mbps with no daily or total cap. Keep Ubigi on the phone while you decide.

It's 11pm in Fukuoka. What happens tomorrow?

Tomorrow you have a 9am train from Hakata. The family needs the map to find the right exit, and lunch is at a place that only takes QR payment at the till. Tonight, your eSIM keeps dropping. You've toggled airplane mode so often that your thumb knows the way.

You're not the only one. Recent Ubigi reviews from Japan:

"At first I rated it in the 90% range, now it's down to 40% reliability. I'm on day 5 of 10, traveling in Fukuoka." (Trustpilot, Oct 2026)
"My sim keeps dropping out in japan." (Jul 2026)
"I purchased two separate 7-day unlimited plans for two phones… both have been extremely slow over the past several days." (Oct 2026)

In our sample of 29 recent Japan 1 to 2★ Ubigi reviews, 15 involved no connection or dropouts and 8 involved slow speeds. That's the shape of the problem, not how often it happens: Ubigi is rated 4.1★ across 48,484 reviews on Trustpilot.

What should you check before switching?

These work for any eSIM, ours included.

Data roaming on for the Ubigi line. iPhone: Settings → Cellular → [Ubigi line] → Data Roaming. Android: SIM settings → Roaming. An international eSIM roams in Japan, so with roaming off you get bars but no data.
The right line carries data. If your home SIM is set for cellular data, you're using your home carrier's roaming.
Pick the network by hand. Turn off automatic selection and try the other Japanese network listed. Ubigi uses Docomo and KDDI.
Check the APN. One reviewer had to find it online (Trustpilot). Ubigi's help center lists the correct value.

If the problem is speed on unlimited, check your usage in the Ubigi app. Past 25GB on the 7-day plan, 2 Mbps is the plan working as written (Ubigi plan page). Nothing is broken, so a new plan is the fix.

What do you get if you switch tonight?

	Ubigi	ESIM KIMONO
Network	NTT Docomo and KDDI	KDDI 4G/5G, a licensed Japanese carrier
Unlimited speed rule	25GB at full speed (7-day plan), then 2 Mbps	Flat 10 Mbps from the first minute, no daily or total cap
Fixed plans	Top up in the app	Full network speed, then 384 kbps until the plan ends
Hotspot	Not covered in our check	Allowed on most plans; each plan's rule printed at checkout
Delivery	Ubigi app and account	QR code by email in minutes, no account, no app
If it fails	Under Ubigi's terms	Faulty eSIM replaced one for one
Support	Through Ubigi	Real humans on chat and [email protected]

Sources: Ubigi plan pages and our /fup/, checked 13 October 2026.

ESIM KIMONO is data only, with no phone number. It's run by Fizen LLC; Fizen.io has 500,000+ app users and a strategic investment from Tether. The eSIM is a GSMA standard profile, and card payments run on Stripe (PCI DSS Level 1).

How do you keep two eSIMs on one phone?

You don't need to delete anything tonight. Most recent iPhones and Android phones store several eSIMs.

Label the lines. Call the new one "Japan KIMONO" and the old one "Ubigi".
One data line. Set ESIM KIMONO for cellular data and turn off "allow cellular data switching", so the phone doesn't flip back to the line that keeps dropping.
Keep your home SIM for texts only. Leave it on for bank codes by SMS, off for data. One Ubigi reviewer got caught here: "Verizon has charged me for using my phone" (Trustpilot, Jun 2026).
Keep the Ubigi eSIM until any refund is settled. Its details may help your claim.
A QR code installs once. Don't delete our eSIM after installing unless you're finished with it.

Not sure what size to pick for the days left? Our guide says most travelers use about 1GB a day: how much data you need.

When is switching the wrong move?

Stay with Ubigi if one of the checks above fixed it, if you're heading somewhere remote where Docomo coverage matters, or if you just need more data and Ubigi's in-app top-up covers it. Most of our eSIMs can't be topped up.

Switch if you've tried the checks and it still drops, if you've reached the unlimited allowance with days to go, or if you're stuck in a support loop. One reviewer: "The customer service is an AI that doesn't help me at all" (Oct 2026).

How do you get your Ubigi money back?

That's between you and Ubigi. Contact them through the app with your plan details and dates; screenshots of the "no service" screen help. Refunds came up in 5 of the 29 reviews we sampled, so keep records. We can't process Ubigi refunds and don't claim to know the outcome.

FAQ

Why does Ubigi show full bars but no data in Japan?

Usually data roaming is off for that line, the wrong line is set for data, or the APN is wrong. Check all three before buying anything.

Why did my Ubigi unlimited plan get slow?

Ubigi's 7-day unlimited plan drops to 2 Mbps after 25GB at full speed (Ubigi plan page, checked 13 October 2026).

Can I install a second eSIM while Ubigi is still on my phone?

Yes, on most recent phones. Install the new eSIM on Wi-Fi and switch your data line to it.

Will ESIM KIMONO work in the morning if I install it tonight?

Install it on hotel Wi-Fi tonight, then turn on the line and Data Roaming. If it won't connect, use the rescue card and message us; a faulty eSIM is replaced one for one.

How do your prices compare with Ubigi?

We don't compete on price. Plans are priced for a carrier-grade network and a human who answers. Today's price is on the button below.

All Japan plans

Competitor facts on this page were checked on 13 October 2026 on their own pages. The button above shows today's price.