Quick conclusion
Rakuten Mobile fits people who want to cut mobile costs, use moderate to heavy data, and connect their phone plan with Rakuten Point.
If your job requires extremely stable coverage everywhere, check your living area, workplace, and commute before switching completely.
Rakuten Mobile: Unlimited data ¥3,278/mo or under 3GB ¥1,078/mo (tax incl.).
The best part is predictable pricing
Official pricing is 1,078 yen up to 3GB, 2,178 yen up to 20GB, and 3,278 yen over 20GB. For budget life in Japan, having a clear monthly ceiling is useful.
In months when you use less data, the price automatically drops by usage tier. That works well if you use Wi-Fi heavily some months and mobile data heavily in others.
Rakuten Link is useful, but learn the conditions
Rakuten promotes domestic calling through the Rakuten Link app. However, some special numbers or calls made outside the app can still cost money.
After applying, install Rakuten Link and get used to calling from that app. This is an important difference from using the phone's default dialer.
Coverage is the point to check
Your experience depends on where you live, where you work, your train routes, and your phone model. Tokyo, suburbs, rural areas, and concrete buildings can feel very different.
The safer approach is to check the service area map, ask people in the same area, and use eSIM or dual SIM during the trial period if possible.
Who should choose it?
Rakuten Mobile is a strong candidate for people who want lower fixed costs, already use Rakuten Ichiba or Rakuten Card, and are comfortable applying online.
Think more carefully if you often call special numbers, travel to remote areas, or need in-person support in your native language.
The operator's own experience
The operator of this site signed up for Rakuten Mobile when the service launched in 2020. At the time, they were already a Rakuten user wanting to earn more points, and the plan was free.
In practice, coverage was a real problem. There were many places where signals did not reach, and sometimes calls would not go through even at home. Despite the free price, it was not reliable enough, so the contract was cancelled quickly and LINEMO was chosen instead.
There were no complaints about LINEMO. But the goal of earning more Rakuten points through the SPU bonus meant Rakuten Mobile was always on the radar.
Recent user reviews showed coverage had improved significantly. Rakuten also announced a serious push to improve coverage across Tokyo in 2026. That was the signal to switch back.
Living in Tokyo, everyday use has had no problems at all. Internet access works fine on the subway lines used regularly.
Switching from LINEMO was simple. The My Rakuten Mobile app made the whole process straightforward with just a few taps.
For anyone who wants to earn points and lower everyday costs in Japan, Rakuten Mobile is worth considering.