Carrier Review
Rakuten Mobile Review: Is It Good for Foreigners?
Sponsored / Contains affiliate links
If you only read this part
Rakuten Mobile's appeal is simple pricing that scales with use — roughly ¥1,078 (≤3GB), ¥2,178 (3–20GB), and ¥3,278 (unlimited) — plus genuinely broad multilingual support (English, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Portuguese, Spanish) and free domestic calls via the Rakuten Link app.
The catch is the network. In big cities it's good; outside them you fall back to au's network with a monthly high-speed cap. For heavy data users in Tokyo, Osaka, or Fukuoka, Rakuten is excellent value. For rural commuters, a docomo-based carrier is safer.
Section 01
What Rakuten Mobile is.
Rakuten is Japan's fourth major carrier, and the newest. Unlike the others, it built its own network from scratch — which is both its strength (aggressive pricing, a genuine challenger) and its weakness (coverage that's still catching up outside cities). For foreigners, it stands out for two reasons: the simplest pricing in the market, and unusually broad multilingual support.
There's only one plan, the Saikyo Plan, and its price moves with how much data you use. You don't choose a tier and risk picking wrong — you simply pay for what you consume each month, up to an unlimited ceiling.
Section 02
The pricing.
One plan, three usage tiers. Prices include tax and are current as of June 2026 — confirm on Rakuten's official site.
| Monthly data use | You pay | Effectively |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 3GB | ¥1,078 | Cheap light-user tier |
| 3GB – 20GB | ¥2,178 | Mid-range, most people |
| Over 20GB | ¥3,278 | Unlimited — capped here |
| Tax included. Verified June 2026. Your bill auto-adjusts to the tier you use. | ||
The headline feature: no matter how much data you use, your bill never exceeds ¥3,278. For a heavy user — someone tethering a laptop, streaming, video-calling home — unlimited data at that price is hard to match among the major carriers.
Section 03
What's good.
- Genuinely broad multilingual supportEnglish, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Portuguese, and Spanish. This is wider than almost any other Japanese carrier and a real advantage if your Japanese isn't fluent.
- Simple pay-as-you-use pricingOne plan, auto-adjusting by usage. No picking the wrong tier, no complex discount conditions to maintain.
- Unlimited ceiling at ¥3,278Heavy users get unlimited high-speed data within Rakuten's area for a flat, low cap. Excellent value if you use a lot.
- Free calls via Rakuten LinkDomestic calls are free through the app, with cheap international calls to selected countries — useful for keeping in touch with home.
- Flexible paymentCredit card, debit card, or Japanese bank direct debit. Pairs naturally with a Rakuten Card.
- No contract lock-inNo minimum term or cancellation fee — easy to leave, which is reassuring if your plans in Japan are open-ended.
Section 04
What's not.
- Network reliability outside citiesRakuten's own coverage is strong in major metros but thinner elsewhere. Outside its area you roam on au's network with a monthly high-speed cap, after which speeds drop.
- Indoor and subway signal can varySome users report weaker signal indoors and underground compared to the established carriers. Worth considering if you spend a lot of time in basements or older buildings.
- You must use Rakuten Link for free callsCalls through your phone's normal dialer are charged per 30 seconds. Free calling depends on using the app, which some people find clunky.
- "Unlimited" follows a fair-use policySpeeds may be managed during congestion. In practice this is fine for most, but it's not a literal no-limits promise.
The Verdict
Who should get Rakuten Mobile.
Honest disclosure: we may earn a commission if you sign up through links here. Our assessment is based on real-world use, not commission rate.
The sweet spot
Heavy data, in the city
A foreign resident in central Tokyo, Osaka, or Fukuoka who uses a lot of data — streaming, tethering, video calls home — and wants unlimited at a flat ¥3,278, plus support in their own language. For that person, Rakuten is outstanding value.
Look elsewhere if
Coverage matters most.
You live or commute in rural or suburban areas where Rakuten's own network is thin. In that case a docomo-based plan, or our pick LINEMO on SoftBank, will likely be more reliable day to day.
Section 05
Rakuten vs LINEMO, briefly.
These are the two budget options foreigners ask about most. The short version: LINEMO gives you fixed, predictable pricing on SoftBank's reliable urban network with the most English-friendly sign-up. Rakuten gives you usage-based pricing with an unlimited ceiling and broader multilingual support, but on a network that's weaker outside cities.
If you're a moderate user who wants reliability and simplicity, LINEMO. If you're a heavy user in a big city who wants unlimited data and support in your language, Rakuten. Read the full LINEMO review to compare directly, and our main SIM guide for the wider field.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is Rakuten Mobile good for foreigners?
It can be a strong choice, especially for heavy data users in cities. Rakuten Mobile offers simple pay-as-you-use pricing capped at unlimited, multilingual customer support (including English), and accepts credit cards, debit cards, and bank direct debit. The main caveat is network reliability outside major metros, where you fall back to au's network with a monthly cap.
How much does Rakuten Mobile cost?
Rakuten's single Saikyo Plan is tiered by usage: roughly ¥1,078/month for up to 3GB, ¥2,178 for 3–20GB, and ¥3,278 for unlimited data above 20GB (tax included). You only pay for the tier you use each month, so a light month costs less automatically.
Does Rakuten Mobile have English support?
Yes. Rakuten Mobile offers customer support in several languages including English, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Portuguese, and Spanish — broader multilingual support than most Japanese carriers, which is a real advantage for foreign residents.
Is Rakuten Mobile's network reliable?
In central Tokyo, Osaka, and Fukuoka the experience is generally good and has improved a lot since 2023. Outside major metros you roam onto au's network, which is capped at a set amount of high-speed data per month before throttling. If you commute to rural or suburban areas, a docomo-based option may be more reliable.
What is Rakuten Link and do I need it?
Rakuten Link is Rakuten's calling app. Using it makes domestic calls free and offers cheap or free international calls to selected countries. The catch is you must use the app rather than your phone's standard dialer to get free calls — calls outside the app are charged per 30 seconds.
Can I use Rakuten Mobile without a Japanese credit card?
Rakuten Mobile supports credit cards, debit cards, and Japanese bank direct debit, and pairs naturally with a Rakuten Card. Like other domestic carriers it generally expects a Japanese payment method. If you don't have Japanese banking yet, see our no-credit-card guide for bridge options.