Struggling with High Phone Bills in Japan?
Moving to Japan is exciting, but setting up a phone plan can be a nightmare. Many major Japanese carriers lock you into expensive 2-year contracts with hidden fees, limited data, and complicated English support.
If you are looking for the cheapest unlimited data plan that also works flawlessly when you travel back home, Rakuten Mobile is the ultimate choice for expats and students in Japan.
Even better, if you sign up through the Official Employee Invitation Campaign below, you can get up to 14,000 Yen worth of points back—which you can use directly to pay your phone bill!
Why Rakuten Mobile is the Best Choice for Expats
Here are the 4 main reasons why foreigners living in Japan choose Rakuten Mobile over other carriers like Docomo, Au, or SoftBank.
Truly Unlimited Data for Under 3,300 Yen
Most carriers charge over 7,000 Yen for unlimited data. With Rakuten Mobile’s “Rakuten Saikyo Plan,” your monthly bill automatically scales based on your usage. Even if you binge-watch videos, game, or use your phone as a hotspot all month, the maximum price is capped at only 3,278 Yen (inc. tax), which is the cheapest among all the big carriers.
- 0 – 3 GB: 1,078 Yen / month
- 3 GB – 20 GB: 2,178 Yen / month
- Over 20 GB (Unlimited): 3,278 Yen / month
Save Even More with “Family & Youth Discounts”
If you live in Japan with your family, spouse, or children, Rakuten Mobile becomes ridiculously cheap because you can combine multiple discount programs.
The “Saikyo Family Program” (Family Discount)
Every member of your family gets a 110 Yen monthly discount on their bill. This drops the unlimited data plan to just 3,168 Yen/month (inc. tax). Setting it up is super easy online as long as you share the same last name or address.
The “Youth & Child Programs” (Age-Based Discounts)
Do you have children or are you a student under 22? You can stack these age-based discounts on top of the family discount!
- Ages 0 to 12: Get up to 440 Yen worth of points back every month.
- Ages 13 to 22: Get an extra 110 Yen monthly discount.
The Ultimate Family Scenario: If you have a teenager (under 22) in your family, their monthly bill for the 3GB plan drops from the regular 1,078 Yen to only 858 Yen (inc. tax) by combining the Family + Youth discounts!
Unlike traditional Japanese carriers that trap you in complicated 2-year bundles, Rakuten Mobile has zero contract hidden rules and zero cancellation fees, making it completely risk-free for your entire family.
Free domestic call
One of the key reasons Rakuten Mobile is popular among foreign residents in Japan is its free calling feature. By using the Rakuten Link app, users can make unlimited domestic calls at no additional cost, which is especially valuable for staying in touch with friends, colleagues, and service providers without worrying about high phone bills. This is particularly helpful for newcomers who may need to make frequent calls when settling in, such as contacting real estate agents, banks, or government offices. Combined with its affordable pricing, this free calling option makes Rakuten Mobile a practical and budget-friendly choice for foreigners living in Japan.
Free 2GB International Data Roaming (Perfect for Going Home)
When you go back to your home country for holidays or travel abroad, you don’t need to buy a temporary SIM card or rent pocket Wi-Fi. Rakuten Mobile includes 2GB of free high-speed international data roaming every month in 70+ countries and regions (including the US, UK, Australia, Europe, and more). You can use your phone overseas the moment you land with Rakuten Mobile sim!
Hot tp apply Rakuten Mobile
Thank you for your interest in Rakuten Mobile.
You become eligible for this campaign when you apply for the “Rakuten SAIKYO Plan*”, “Rakuten SAIKYO U-NEXT” or the home router “Rakuten Turbo”. We hope you will take advantage of this opportunity to experience the high satisfaction and superior communication quality.
STEP1. Click the following link and login with Rakuten Membership ID (see below)
Requirements
・Identity Verification Documents
・Rakuten Member ID & Password*The details on your identity verification documents must correspond with your Rakuten membership information.Update or Check Your Rakuten Membership
・Subscriber’s MNP Reservation Number (for switching from another carrier)
・Credit Card/Bank Account Information
*For those intending to use a credit card not registered under the subscriber’s name, please review this pagebeforehand.
*For details on the application process for minors and instructions on how to apply, please visit this page.
*If your current mobile carrier does not support MNP One Stop, you will need to obtain an MNP reservation number. Please click here for a list of mobile carriers that support MNP One Stop.
*For in-store procedures, an MNP reservation number is needed regardless of your previous mobile carrier’s eligibility for MNP One Stop.
STEP2. Start using Rakuten Saikyo Plan
STEP3. Free call to someone using Rakuten Link app (*)
Make a call lasting at least 10 seconds via Rakuten Link app by 23:59 on the last day of the second month following you apply.
*Calls to other carrier connection services starting with (0570) and certain special numbers (188) are not eligible for benefits.
*For applications to the Rakuten SAIKYO Plan (Data Type) or Rakuten Turbo, “Rakuten Link” is not required.
About Rakuten Link app
→→You can earn 14,000 points!*
*When transferring from another carrier (MNP). 11,000 points for other new sign-ups.
*Points will be awarded in installments. Check the rules for more details.
Why Rakuten Mobile Works Well for Foreign Residents in Japan
Benefit of Rakuten Mobile
For many foreigners living in Japan, Rakuten Mobile offers a simple, flexible, and cost-effective mobile solution. Its transparent pricing with no long-term contracts makes it especially appealing for people who may not plan to stay in Japan permanently. The ability to use unlimited data at a relatively low monthly cost, along with free domestic calls through the Rakuten Link app, helps reduce communication expenses significantly. In addition, the sign-up process is comparatively straightforward, and support in English is gradually improving, making it more accessible for non-Japanese speakers. Combined with perks such as Rakuten Points and integration with other Rakuten services, Rakuten Mobile provides not just connectivity, but added value for everyday life in Japan.
What Foreign Residents Say About Using Rakuten Mobile
As a student in Tokyo, I really like how cheap the monthly fee is. I don’t use a lot of data, so I end up paying much less than with other carriers.
The Rakuten Link app saved me a lot of money. I can make unlimited domestic calls for free, which is super helpful when contacting real estate agencies and service providers
The application process was easier than I expected. I was worried about the language barrier, but the online steps were simple, and I could manage most of it on my own.
Even in the suburban area where I live, the connection is fast and stable. I use it for work, video calls, and streaming without any major issues.
I like that there’s no long-term contract. As a foreigner who might move or leave Japan, that flexibility is really important.
Earning Rakuten Points is a nice bonus. I use them for online shopping, so it feels like I’m getting extra value just for paying my phone bill。
