Are you interested in Rakuten Mobile plans (or Rakuten SIM card plans)?
Offering affordable monthly plans that include unlimited data, Rakuten Mobile is a popular cellphone service in Japan.
Outside of Rakuten’s service area, the WiFi connection will change to au and then you can only use monthly 5GB of data. There also is no guarantee that all the operations on your phone will be able to work.
In this article, we will be providing all the information you need to know about Rakuten Mobile plans.
The main Rakuten Mobile site does not have an English translation, so many of you are likely having difficulties understanding just what these phone plans are all about.
We’ve got you covered.
By reading this article you will get all the information you need regarding Rakuten Mobile from the prices to speeds, reviews, and how to apply.
We will be explaining these concepts in a simple and detailed manner so that even people who are signing up for a phone contract for the first time will have an easier time.
Related article
If you’re interested in the best SIM cards and phone plans in Japan, check out this article!
Table of contents
- Rakuten Mobile plan overview
- Pros of using Rakuten Mobile
- Cons of using Rakuten Mobile
- Rakuten Mobile is recommended to these kinds of people!
- Comparison with other carriers
- The steps to start your contract with Rakuten Mobile
- If you need English support with your phone service
1. Rakuten Mobile plan overview
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| Covered area | Rakuten network: 94% au network: 99% |
| Used networks | In Rakuten area: Rakuten network is used In Partner area: au network is used |
| Speed limit | If you go over 5GB in partner network max. speed is 1Mbps |
| Avg. network connection speed* | Upload 18Mbps/ Download 33 Mbps |
| Contract period | None |
| Initial fees | 0 JPY |
| Monthly fees (tax incl.) | Up to 1GB: 0 JPY Up to 3GB: 1,078 JPY Up to 20GB: 2,178 JPY Unlimited: 3,278 JPY |
| Campaign information | First 3 months free |
*This data is based on 5000 reviews taken from the Japanese smartphone network speed review site minsoku(As of 2021/12/23). The actual speeds that you experience while using your phone may differ.
According to the official site as of December 2021, Rakuten Mobile offers only one plan, Rakuten UN-LIMIT VI. The data capacity is unlimited and the monthly cost is only ¥3,278, making it very affordable.
Additionally, during months in which you use less data, the monthly cost is even cheaper (refer to the figure below).
The Rakuten network covers 94% of populated areas. This is somewhat less compared to other carriers, meaning that there is a chance you will not get service in the more remote areas of the country.
Therefore, Rakuten Mobile is better for people living in the cities.
Next, we will discuss the pros and cons of using Rakuten Mobile.
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2. Pros of using Rakuten Mobile
The 4 pros of using Rakuten Mobile are as follows:
- Unlimited data usage available with no speed reductions
- Campaigns make signing up more affordable
- Free unlimited calls with the Rakuten Link app
- No binding contract and no penalty for canceling the contract
We will now go into more detail about the above points.
a) Unlimited data usage available with no speed reductions
For a plan with unlimited data and no speed reductions, a monthly cost of 3,278 JPY is very affordable.
Other than Rakuten Mobile, the three companies which have unlimited plans are docomo, au, and SoftBank, but they all cost around 8,000 JPY per month.
When looking at the features you are getting compared to the monthly costs, Rakuten is one of the best in Japan.
Please note that usage outside of Rakuten’s covered area (au network) can only be used at maximum speed for 5GB. If more than 5GB of data is used, the connection speed is reduced to a maximum speed of 1Mbps.
For those who are interested in the coverage map for Rakuten Mobile, refer to the link below.・
Below are reviews about Rakuten Mobile data usage found on Twitter.
半月で80GB使った😁色々問題もあるけど無制限の恩恵は大きいんだよな🥺3,000円ちょっとだしね🤗#楽天モバイル pic.twitter.com/wgbiNJpsbP
— マッチ@楽天ポイカツマン😎 (@poika2man) December 15, 2021
“I used 80GB in half a month. There were some problems, but the fact that the service is unlimited is a life-saver. Plus, it’s only a little over 3,000 JPY.”
b) Campaigns make signing up more affordable
As of December 2021, Rakuten Mobile is promoting the “first 3-month free plan campaign”.
When you sign up for Rakuten Mobile as a new member, the monthly fee for the first three months will be free.
If you buy a new smartphone or apply for extra options, then it will cost extra, but if you are not planning on doing either then you can use your phone without any cost.
There are no cancellation fees, so if you use the service for 3 months and are not satisfied then you have the option of terminating your contract.
c) Free unlimited calls with the Rakuten Link app
Those with a Rakuten Mobile plan can use the Rakuten Link app. By using this app, you can call anyone in Japan for free.
If the person you are calling is also using the Rakuten Link app, the call fees will be free regardless of whether it is a domestic call or an international call.
If the person you are calling is not using the Rakuten Link app:
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Call type | Android | iOS |
Outgoing calls | Domestic calls (in Japan): Free International calls (to Japan): Free | Domestic calls (in Japan): Free International calls (to Japan): Free |
| International calls (to other countries): Depends on the country International calls (between other countries): Depends on the country | International calls (to other countries): Depends on the country International calls (between other countries): Depends on the country |
|
Incoming calls | Domestic calls: Free International calls: Free | Rakuten Link cannot take incoming calls |
The fees for calling from Japan to a different country and between foreign countries will vary; the specifics are shown in the above table. Those who want to know more about the fees should check the official site.
Note: The Rakuten Link app is a little unstable
On Twitter, we found a review about the “Rakuten Link app being unstable” and having “bad audio quality during calls”.
やはり楽天モバイルの通話アプリは音質と着信発信の安定性を考えるとメイン利用は難しい。
ただしデータ通信無制限のコスパは良すぎる。仕事で使うにしても、格安SIM含め3大キャリア系のSIMを音声に使い、データ通信は楽天モバイル。パンダルータでWi-Fi運用でも良い。
— kanekomakoto (@kanekomakk) February 21, 2021
“The Rakuten Mobile app has wonky call quality and I don’t think I would be able to use it as my main calling app. But it’s so cheap and has unlimited data. I think if I were to use it for work, I would use a SIM card from one of the three major carriers for calling and Rakuten Mobile for data. The Panda router has good quality WiFi as well.”
Keep in mind that, as written in the table above, iPhones cannot receive calls using this app.
Rakuten Mobile started this service in April 2020, so there are still a few issues.
We are hoping that the updated version of the app will improve even more.
d) No binding contract and no penalty for cancelling the contract
Rakuten Mobile has no binding contract and no penalty fees if the contract is canceled so you can use it without any worries. Other carriers usually have a two-year-long contract, so this is another merit of using Rakuten Mobile.
However, if you have bought a new device and are paying in installments, you will have to continue to pay.
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3. Cons of using Rakuten Mobile
Next, we will discuss 2 cons of using Rakuten Mobile:
- No English support is available
- There are only some areas in which you can use unlimited data
We will explain the above points in more detail.
a) No English support is available
Rakuten Mobile does not have English support. The official site, the user “my page” after the registration, and the cancellation procedure are all done in Japanese only.
If you are not fluent in Japanese, you can ask for help from your friends who know Japanese.
Rakuten has shops all over Japan, so if you are unsure about the online application process then you can go to the shop.
If you have other troubles such as not being able to connect to the network, not being able to call via the app, or getting an unexpectedly high phone bill, not having English support is troublesome.
Therefore, we recommend mobile carriers that provide English support.
We go into more detail later in this article, so those who are interested can click here.
b) There are only some areas in which you can use unlimited data
As of October 14, 2021, Rakuten Mobile’s network covers only 94% of the populated area.
Other carriers’ networks such as docomo, au, SoftBank are widely used and they cover 99% of the populated area.
docomo’s network in particular has a wider coverage rate and can also be used in less populated areas like the mountains and the sea.
To further understand what 94% of the area covered by Rakuten Mobile means, we found reviews on Twitter.
それにしても、楽天モバイルはつながりにくいな。
大阪駅ホーム上、近隣の大型商用施設内、つながりにくいってか、繋がらない。
人口カバー率だったかな？
97%と他社99%の違いはこんなに大きいのでしょうか？
無料のうちにカバー率伸ばして欲しいです‼️#楽天モバイル #楽天モバイル繋がらない— 温泉太郎 (@mediaproject23) December 19, 2021
“Rakuten Mobile is not connecting well. Even on the platform at Osaka station and in the big shops nearby I can’t get any signal. Is it because too many people are using it? Is it really this different compared to companies that cover 99% of the populated area? Hope they increase the coverage while it is still free!!”
楽天モバイルにして3か月が経ったけど、横浜周辺の電波状況の改善は遅々として進まない印象。
— kotonoji (@kotonoji) July 15, 2020
“It has been 3 months since I started using Rakuten Mobile and the network connection in the Yokohama area has still not improved.”
楽天モバイル死んでるんだけど、 pic.twitter.com/iBYclvw74h
— 𝕞𝕚𝕟𝕠𝟟𝕣𝟠𝟞 (@Kyomu882) December 22, 2021
“The Rakuten Mobile network is dead.”
If you are thinking about applying to Rakuten mobile, then please remember to check beforehand whether the network covers your home, workplace, and other places you often visit.
It is safe to assume that usually, the city areas have proper network coverage.
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4. Rakuten Mobile is recommended to these kinds of people!
All in all, Rakuten Mobile is recommended to the following kinds of people:
- People who live in places where Rakuten’s network coverage is available, most likely in the city area.
- People who want to lower costs on their smartphones.
- People who want unlimited data connection.
People who live in places where Rakuten’s network coverage is available, most likely in the city area
The Rakuten network covers most cities, so Rakuten Mobile is recommended for those who live in such populated areas.
Because some places in the suburbs are not covered yet, you should make sure to check beforehand and make sure the area you live in is within Rakuten’s network.
As of October 14, 2021, the coverage is 94% of the populated area and by spring 2022, it is estimated to widen to 96%.
Those whose homes are outside the coverage area will still have to wait for some time.
People who want to lower costs on their smartphones
Rakuten’s monthly cost is only 3,278 JPY, which is very affordable compared to other carriers. There is also no binding contract and no penalty for canceling the contract.
Rakuten is still in development compared to other carriers, but its affordable prices make it a service that is worth considering. Rakuten is still in development compared to other carriers, but its affordable prices make it a service that is worth considering.
People who want unlimited data connection
Those who want to use unlimited data should definitely check out Rakuten Mobile.
In Japan, the 4 companies that provide unlimited data plans are docomo, au, SoftBank, and Rakuten Mobile.
Compared to the other carriers mentioned above, Rakuten Mobile is the cheapest.
Rakuten Mobile is recommended for those who, for example, like to play online games or stream videos for long periods of time.
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5. Comparison with other carriers
Let’s compare Rakuten Mobile with other carriers.
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Monthly fee | Unlimited: 3,248 JPY | 3GB: 5,665 JPY Unlimited: 7,315 JPY | 3GB: 5,588 JPY Unlimited: 7,238 JPY | 3GB: 5,588 JPY Unlimited: 7,238 JPY | 4GB: 3,278 JPY 25GB: 4,378 JPY |
Network | Rakuten Mobile | docomo | au | SoftBank | docomo |
Coverage | 94% | 99% | 99% | 99% | 99% |
English support | Japanese only | Website only | Website only | Website only | Full English support |
Rakuten Mobile is much cheaper than other major carriers’ plans.
If you want full English support, then Sakura Mobile is recommended. Sakura Mobile is an MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) on the docomo network, so the connection speeds are fast and the coverage is wide as well.
We will explain more here.
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6. The steps to start your contract with Rakuten Mobile
You can either apply for Rakuten Mobile at a shop or online. Below are the steps to apply to Rakuten Mobile online.
This is the Rakuten Mobile homepage. First, click the pink button on the bottom left of the page.
The pink button will lead you to this page. On this page, click the white button with pink borders on the bottom of the page.
You will see this page after clicking the previous button. Click the pink button in the middle of the page and it will lead you to the page below.
You will need to sign in with your Rakuten Member login information. If you do not have an account, please create one to pay for the Rakuten Mobile registration. The Rakuten membership is free.
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7. If you need English support with your phone service
If you’re looking for an affordable phone plan that can be used in Japan, consider Sakura Mobile.
Features of Sakura Mobile’s long-term SIM card plan:
- 4GB and 25GB Plans from 2,980 JPY/month
- docomo’s fast 4G LTE network
- Full English support 7 days a week
- Online order and next day shipping
- Japanese phone number
Sakura Mobile was founded in the year 2014 and up until now has provided cell phone service to more than 10,000 international visitors and residents in Japan.
We do not have an unlimited data plan, but instead offer two plans (4GB and 25GB) with affordable costs available.
Sakura Mobile is an MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) on the docomo network, so you can enjoy a high-speed network that is available all over Japan.
For more information take a look here.
- Sakura Mobile: https://www.sakuramobile.jp/
Related article
If you’re interested in the best SIM cards and phone plans in Japan, check out this article!
