Rakuten Mobile for Foreigners in Japan: Review and Setup Guide (2025)

Rakuten Mobile launched in 2020 as Japan’s fourth mobile carrier and immediately disrupted the market with aggressive pricing. For foreigners in Japan who use significant mobile data, it’s worth a serious look.

Rakuten Mobile Plans (2025)

Rakuten Mobile uses a single unlimited plan:

That’s it — one plan. No data caps, no throttling, no tiered pricing. This simplicity is a competitive advantage.

What’s Included

• Unlimited data at full speed (no throttle point)
• Unlimited domestic calls via the Rakuten Link app (required for free calling)
• 15GB/month of high-speed data while roaming internationally (in 70+ countries)
• No contract period — cancel anytime

What It Costs in Context

Can Foreigners Sign Up for Rakuten Mobile?

Yes — foreigners with a residence card can sign up.

Required documents:

• Residence card (在留カード)
• Rakuten ID (create one at rakuten.co.jp)
• Credit card or bank account for payment (Rakuten Card works; most Japanese cards work)
• Japanese address

Foreign credit cards: Sometimes accepted, but the most reliable payment method is a Japanese card or bank account. If you don’t have one yet, apply for a Rakuten Card first — see our Rakuten Card guide.

Visa type: Most work and spouse visas are eligible. Student visa holders can also sign up. The residence card must be valid for the duration of service.

Network Coverage: Honest Assessment

Rakuten Mobile has invested heavily in its own network, but honest coverage gaps remain:

Strong coverage:

• Tokyo 23 wards: Excellent
• Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka major urban areas: Good
• Other prefectural capitals: Generally adequate
• Shopping malls, station areas: Reliable

Weaker coverage:

• Rural Japan (inaka): Significant gaps — falls back to au (KDDI) network roaming, which is still 5GB/month at full speed before throttle
• Underground/subway: Tokyo underground improving; other cities variable
• Mountain/coastal rural areas: Not reliable

The au roaming: When you’re out of Rakuten’s own network area, you automatically switch to au’s network at no extra charge. Au roaming is capped at 5GB/month — fine for most urban users.

Rakuten’s network map: Check rakuten.co.jp/mobile for the latest coverage map before signing up. Look for the difference between “Rakuten回線エリア” (own network) and “au回線エリア” (roaming) for your area.

The Rakuten Ecosystem Bonus

If you’re already using Rakuten products (Rakuten Card, Rakuten Ichiba, Rakuten Bank, etc.), adding Rakuten Mobile significantly boosts your SPU (Super Point Up) multiplier:

Rakuten Mobile = +4% points on Rakuten Ichiba purchases

This means if you spend ¥100,000/month on Rakuten Ichiba, Rakuten Mobile adds ¥4,000 in points — worth ¥4,000 at most partner stores. For heavy Rakuten users, this partially offsets the monthly mobile cost.

Setting Up Rakuten Mobile

Sign Up Process

1. Create a Rakuten ID at rakuten.co.jp (if you don’t have one)
2. Apply online at rakuten.co.jp/mobile or at a physical Rakuten Mobile store
3. Upload residence card photo for identity verification
4. Choose SIM or eSIM (eSIM available for compatible devices — instant activation)
5. Receive SIM by mail (2–5 days) or activate eSIM immediately

SIM or eSIM?

If your device supports eSIM, choose eSIM for same-day service activation.

Setting Up the Rakuten Link App

Rakuten Mobile’s unlimited calling is through the Rakuten Link app — not standard calls. You must use Rakuten Link for calls to be free. Standard calls from the phone dialer are charged.

Download Rakuten Link and enable it as your default calling app immediately after setup.

International Roaming with Rakuten Mobile

Rakuten Mobile includes international roaming in 70+ countries:

• 15GB of high-speed data per month while abroad
• After 15GB: 1Mbps (usable for messaging, slow for video)
• Calls abroad are charged at per-minute rates

Comparison: This is significantly more generous than most Japanese carrier plans, which charge ¥2,980–4,980 per day for roaming packages.

Rakuten Mobile vs Alternatives for Foreigners

Recommendation for foreigners:

• Heavy user (30GB+/month): Rakuten Mobile
• Moderate user (10–20GB/month): ahamo or LINEMO
• Budget user (<5GB/month): IIJmio or LINEMO mini

See our complete SIM card guide for foreigners in Japan for full comparison.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can foreigners sign up for Rakuten Mobile in Japan? Yes — foreigners with a valid residence card (在留カード) can sign up. You’ll need a Rakuten ID, Japanese address, and credit card or bank account for payment. Most visa types are eligible.

Is Rakuten Mobile’s coverage good in Japan? Coverage is good to excellent in urban areas (Tokyo, Osaka, major cities). Rural coverage has gaps — Rakuten falls back to au’s network for roaming (5GB/month at full speed). Check the coverage map for your specific area before signing up.

Does Rakuten Mobile offer unlimited data? Yes — Rakuten Mobile’s single plan (¥3,278/month) offers truly unlimited data with no throttle point on Rakuten’s own network. This is unique among Japanese carriers.

How does Rakuten Mobile compare to ahamo? Rakuten Mobile offers unlimited data for ¥3,278/month. ahamo offers 20GB for ¥2,970/month on NTT Docomo’s superior nationwide network. For heavy data users (30GB+/month), Rakuten Mobile wins on price. For moderate users who want better rural coverage, ahamo is better.

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