Rakuten Mobile Japan Review 2026: The Best Budget Carrier for Expats?
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Introduction: Why Rakuten Mobile Keeps Coming Up in Every Expat Group Chat
If you’ve spent more than five minutes in a Japan expat Facebook group or Reddit thread, you’ve seen someone ask: “Is Rakuten Mobile any good?” And honestly, it’s a fair question. When I first moved to Japan, the mobile carrier landscape felt overwhelming — three massive carriers (docomo, au, SoftBank) all charging what felt like highway robbery, and a growing swarm of budget MVNOs that seemed too good to be true.
Then Rakuten Mobile entered the scene and basically flipped the table. Free plans (originally), dirt-cheap data, no contracts, and — crucially for us foreigners — a signup process that doesn’t require you to sell your soul or have a Japanese guarantor.
But here’s the thing: Rakuten Mobile isn’t perfect. After using it myself for over two years and hearing from dozens of fellow expats, I’ve got a pretty nuanced take. In this comprehensive Rakuten Mobile Japan review for 2026, I’ll walk you through everything — the pricing, the coverage (the good AND the dead zones), how to actually sign up as a foreigner, and whether it’s the right choice for your situation.
If you’re still in the planning stages of your move, check out our complete moving to Japan checklist to make sure you’ve got everything covered beyond just your phone plan.
Rakuten Mobile at a Glance: Quick Recommendation
Before we dive deep, here’s the executive summary for those of you who just want the bottom line:
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Plan Name | Rakuten Saikyō Plan (最強プラン) |
| Price Range | ¥1,078 – ¥3,278/month (tax included) |
| Data | Unlimited (tiered pricing based on usage) |
| Calls | Free via Rakuten Link app; ¥22/30sec standard |
| Contract Period | None — cancel anytime |
| Best For | Budget-conscious expats in urban areas |
| Expat-Friendly? | Yes — English support available, residence card accepted |
My recommendation: If you live in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, or another major metro area and you want the cheapest unlimited data plan without a contract, Rakuten Mobile is hard to beat in 2026. If you live in rural Japan or depend on rock-solid coverage for work, you might want to consider docomo or au as your primary carrier and keep Rakuten as a secondary line.
Rakuten Mobile Pricing Breakdown: The Saikyō Plan in 2026
Rakuten keeps things beautifully simple with a single plan structure. No confusing tiers, no “pick your data bucket” nonsense. You just use what you use, and you’re charged accordingly:
- 0 – 3GB: ¥1,078/month (tax included)
- 3 – 20GB: ¥2,178/month (tax included)
- 20GB – Unlimited: ¥3,278/month (tax included)
Let me put that in perspective. When I was on SoftBank years ago, I was paying close to ¥8,000/month for a plan with a data cap. Rakuten’s unlimited tier at ¥3,278 is genuinely revolutionary for Japan’s market.
And here’s the kicker — if you barely use data (maybe you’re always on WiFi at home and work), you could pay as little as ¥1,078. That’s roughly $7 USD. For a phone plan. In Japan. I still find that wild.
Rakuten Link App: Free Domestic Calls
Rakuten Link is their proprietary calling app, and calls made through it to domestic numbers are free. It works over data/WiFi, similar to how WhatsApp or LINE calls work, but it actually dials real phone numbers. The call quality has improved significantly since the early days — it used to sound like you were talking through a tin can, but in 2026 it’s genuinely decent.
One caveat: calls to some toll-free numbers, emergency numbers, and a few specific services won’t go through Rakuten Link and will be charged at ¥22 per 30 seconds through the standard dialer. Not a dealbreaker, but worth knowing.
Coverage in 2026: Has Rakuten Fixed Its Biggest Problem?
Okay, let’s talk about the elephant in the room. Coverage was Rakuten Mobile’s Achilles’ heel for years. When they launched, they had a tiny network and relied heavily on roaming agreements with au (KDDI) to fill the gaps. The result? Patchy service, dropped calls in buildings, and dead zones that made you question your life choices.
In 2026, things have improved dramatically — but they’re not perfect.
What’s gotten better:
- Rakuten has significantly expanded their own base station network across Japan
- The partnership with au/KDDI for roaming has been upgraded under the “Saikyō” (strongest) plan branding, meaning you get better fallback coverage
- Major cities now have solid, reliable 4G and growing 5G coverage
- Underground stations in Tokyo and Osaka have seen major improvements
What’s still not great:
- Rural and mountainous areas can still be hit or miss
- Some indoor locations (especially deep inside older concrete buildings) can have weak signal
- If you’re in the countryside of Tohoku, Shikoku, or parts of Kyushu, coverage may frustrate you
- 5G availability is still concentrated in urban cores
My personal experience: Living in central Tokyo, I rarely have issues. But on a trip to rural Niigata last winter, I had stretches of no signal that lasted 20+ minutes. If I were a farmer in Hokkaido, I would not choose Rakuten as my only carrier.
Signing Up as a Foreigner: Step-by-Step Guide
This is where Rakuten Mobile really shines for expats. Compared to the bureaucratic nightmare of signing up with traditional carriers, Rakuten’s process is relatively painless.
What You’ll Need
- Residence Card (在留カード) — This is your primary ID
- Japanese bank account or credit card — For monthly billing (if you haven’t set up banking yet, check our Wise Japan review for a great interim solution)
- My Number Card (optional but helps speed up eKYC verification)
- An unlocked phone or purchase one through Rakuten
The Signup Process
- Go to the Rakuten Mobile website — There’s an English version available, though some pages may revert to Japanese. Google Chrome’s auto-translate is your friend here.
- Create a Rakuten account (or log in if you already shop on Rakuten Ichiba)
- Select the Saikyō Plan — It’s the only plan, so this is easy
- Choose SIM type: Physical SIM or eSIM. If your phone supports eSIM, I’d recommend it — you’ll be set up in minutes rather than waiting for a physical card to arrive.
- Identity verification: Upload photos of your residence card. The eKYC process uses your phone camera and takes about 5 minutes.
- Choose your number: Pick a new number or transfer an existing one via MNP (Mobile Number Portability)
- Complete payment setup and submit
The whole process took me about 15 minutes online. My eSIM was activated within a couple of hours. If you opt for a physical SIM, expect delivery in 2-3 days.
Pro tip: You can also sign up at physical Rakuten Mobile stores if you prefer face-to-face help. Staff at major city locations sometimes speak basic English, but don’t count on it. Bring a Japanese-speaking friend if you’re not confident with the language.
Pros and Cons: The Honest Assessment
Pros
- Unbeatable pricing — Cheapest unlimited plan from a major carrier in Japan
- No contracts — Cancel anytime with zero penalties
- Free domestic calls via Rakuten Link
- Expat-friendly signup — Residence card accepted, some English support
- eSIM support — Quick activation, no waiting for mail
- Rakuten Points ecosystem — Earn and spend points across Rakuten services (this adds up fast if you shop on Rakuten Ichiba)
- Decent international roaming — 2GB free data in 70+ countries
- Tiered billing — Pay less in months you use less data
Cons
- Coverage gaps — Still weaker than docomo/au in rural areas and some indoor locations
- Rakuten Link call quality — Better than before, but still not as clear as standard VoLTE calls
- Customer support — Can be slow, especially in English. Chat support sometimes has long wait times
- Limited phone selection — If buying through Rakuten, the device lineup is smaller than big carriers
- Network congestion — During peak hours in very crowded areas (Shibuya at rush hour, major events), speeds can dip
- Some services require Japanese navigation — The app and website aren’t fully translated
Rakuten Mobile vs. Other Options for Expats
How does Rakuten stack up against the alternatives? Here’s a quick comparison with the options expats most commonly consider:
| Carrier | Monthly Cost | Data | Coverage | Expat Ease |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rakuten Mobile | ¥1,078–¥3,278 | Unlimited | Good (urban), Fair (rural) | ★★★★☆ |
| ahamo (docomo) | ¥2,970 | 20GB (+100GB option) | Excellent | ★★★☆☆ |
| LINEMO (SoftBank) | ¥990–¥2,728 | 3GB–20GB | Very Good | ★★★☆☆ |
| povo (au) | ¥0 base + toppings | Pay as you go | Excellent | ★★☆☆☆ |
| IIJmio | ¥850–¥2,000 | 2GB–20GB | Good (docomo/au network) | ★★★☆☆ |
My take: If coverage is your top priority, ahamo on docomo’s network is probably the safest bet. If you want the absolute cheapest unlimited plan with no strings attached, Rakuten wins. For a deeper dive into SIM options when you first arrive, see our guide on the best SIM cards for Japan expats.
Essential Accessories for Your Rakuten Mobile Setup
Once you’ve got your Rakuten Mobile plan sorted, there are a few things that’ll make your life easier:
- A good unlocked phone: If you’re bringing a phone from abroad, make sure it supports Japanese bands (Band 3, Band 18/26 for au roaming, and Band 77 for 5G). The latest unlocked smartphones generally have broad band support.
- Portable WiFi battery pack: For those times when Rakuten’s signal dips, having a reliable power bank means your phone stays alive while you hunt for signal or switch to WiFi tethering.
- SIM card tool/ejector pin: If you’re swapping physical SIMs, keep a SIM card tool kit handy — you’d be surprised how often you need one during that first month of setup.
Buying Guide: Is Rakuten Mobile Right for You?
Let me break this down based on common expat situations:
Choose Rakuten Mobile if:
- You live in a major Japanese city (Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka, Sapporo, etc.)
- You want the cheapest possible unlimited data plan
- You hate contracts and want flexibility to cancel anytime
- You’re okay using an app (Rakuten Link) for free calls
- You already use or plan to use Rakuten ecosystem services (Rakuten Card, Rakuten Ichiba, etc.)
- You want a relatively easy signup process as a foreigner