The official ranking
Rakuten Mobile announced on April 15, 2025 that it ranked first in MMDLabo's survey category for communication services used by foreign residents in Japan.
The survey had 750 valid responses from foreign residents with communication contracts, including people from Vietnam, Nepal, Indonesia, Myanmar, and China.
Rakuten Mobile was used by 21.0% of foreign-national respondents, ahead of SoftBank at 15.6%.
Under 3GB is ¥1,078 including tax. In heavy-use months, data charges are capped at ¥3,278 including tax.
Check Rakuten Mobile plansWhy it is worth comparing first
Rakuten says foreign customers rated usage fees and data allowance highly. For Indian residents in Japan, those points directly affect monthly budget planning.
Rakuten Saikyo Plan is 1,078 yen up to 3GB, 2,178 yen up to 20GB, and 3,278 yen over 20GB, tax included, excluding calls and paid options.
A clear price ceiling is easier to compare than complicated family or home internet discounts. That makes Rakuten Mobile a practical first candidate when reducing phone costs.
Can foreign residents sign up?
Yes. Indian and other foreign residents in Japan can apply if they have accepted identity documents, a Japanese address, and a usable payment method.
Prepare a residence card or special permanent resident certificate. A passport alone should not be treated as the standard document for Rakuten Mobile identity verification.
Keep name, date of birth, and address consistent across your residence card, Rakuten ID, payment method, and application form.
Documents, payment, and MNP
Prepare Rakuten ID, residence card, email address, Japanese address, payment method, and a Rakuten-compatible phone. For eSIM, confirm that your phone supports eSIM and is not SIM-locked.
Payment methods can include credit card, debit card, bank transfer, and Rakuten Points depending on the contract details. Check the official payment page because not every method works for every application.
To keep your phone number, use MNP during application. Do not cancel the old carrier before the number transfer is complete.
Best-fit users and cautions
Rakuten Mobile is a strong fit if you study, work, use maps and translation apps daily, watch video, or call family and friends through data-based apps.
The clear 3,278 yen data ceiling helps if your monthly usage changes. It is also useful if your current bill is above 5,000 yen.
Check coverage in your apartment, office, school, and commute route before switching completely, especially outside large cities.
Language and shop support
Rakuten Mobile says it has expanded multilingual shop support, including English, Chinese, and Nepali-speaking staff, multilingual flyers, and multilingual important explanation documents.
It also introduced POCKETALK in 162 stores nationwide. Rakuten says foreign-national contracts at Rakuten Mobile shops increased by 8% year over year and reached about 25% of all shop contracts.
Easy Japanese communication for payment-related notices is also being improved, which can help after you sign up.
Checks before applying
Check coverage, device compatibility, residence card validity, payment method, and name/address consistency before applying.
The ranking supports the recommendation, but your actual experience depends on your area and phone model.
If your current bill is higher than Rakuten's data ceiling, Rakuten Mobile deserves an early comparison.