After more than five years of use, my conclusion is simple: Rakuten Mobile is a strong-value option for foreign residents and other long-term residents in Japan who use 200GB or more each month, but it is not the safest single line for every location. I have used it since October 2020 on an iPhone, mainly in Osaka and Tokyo. One recorded month reached 280.72GB, while tethering and call quality have been good in my use. The main weakness is reduced reliability in very crowded places, including Osaka Station and Shibuya Station. This review separates personal evidence from current official facts and does not promise identical results for your device or route.
Rakuten Mobile review verdict in 30 seconds
Quick answer
Choose it for high-volume value; add a backup line when failure at crowded stations would be costly
I would keep Rakuten Mobile for high-volume data and tethering because the regular price stops increasing after 20GB. I would not rely on it as my only connection when a missed QR code, map, payment authentication, or urgent work message at a crowded station could cause a serious problem.
Good fit
Heavy-data residents who can test their own locations and value a low ceiling after 20GB.
Use caution
People who require predictable access in every transport hub, difficult building, or emergency situation.
Rakuten Mobile currently lists the tax-included regular Rakuten SAIKYO Plan price at ¥1,078 up to 3GB, ¥2,178 up to 20GB, and ¥3,278 after 20GB. The carrier also states that speed may be restricted during peak times, for fair service provision, or because of the network environment. “Unlimited” describes the allowance and price tier; it is not a guaranteed minimum speed everywhere.
Check the current plan and English information on Rakuten Mobile’s official site.
What this article can—and cannot—tell you
| Type | What is covered |
|---|---|
| Personal evidence | Five-year use, about 200GB per month, a 280.72GB screenshot, iPhone use, Osaka/Tokyo, tethering, calls, and repeated crowded-station weak spots. |
| Official facts | Current plan prices, speed caveats, device/eSIM guidance, identity-verification notes, Rakuten Link rules, roaming allowance, and campaign conditions. |
| Not measured | Controlled download/upload speeds, latency, exact indoor coverage, every subway route, rural performance, support response time, or the exact screenshot month. |
Five years of use and the 280.72GB evidence
I started using Rakuten Mobile in October 2020. As of July 2026, that is more than five years of everyday use. My main device category has been iPhone, and the main areas covered by this review are Osaka and Tokyo.
My usual monthly data use is around 200GB. The supplied my Rakuten Mobile screenshot records 280.72GB of total data in one month: 280.63GB in the Rakuten network area and 0.08GB in another separately displayed high-speed area.
Original evidence
The screenshot is stronger proof than a copied plan description, but it has limits. It demonstrates unusually heavy real-world use. It does not show the exact calendar month, iPhone model, iOS version, or a controlled speed test, so this article does not invent those details.
| Evidence item | Recorded information |
|---|---|
| Use started | October 2020 |
| Typical monthly use | Approximately 200GB |
| Recorded heavy month | 280.72GB total |
| Device category | iPhone; exact model not supplied |
| Main areas | Osaka and Tokyo |
| Tethering | Good in my use |
| Call quality | Good in my use |
| Repeated weak pattern | Very crowded places, including Osaka Station and Shibuya Station |
Price and data value for a 200GB–280GB user
| Monthly data | Regular price (tax included) | With ¥110 family discount (tax included) |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 3GB | ¥1,078 | ¥968 |
| More than 3GB to 20GB | ¥2,178 | ¥2,068 |
| More than 20GB | ¥3,278 | ¥3,168 |
The family amount is not the universal base price. It requires entry and eligibility for the SAIKYO FAMILY Discount. For a regular-price heavy-data user, the plan charge is ¥39,336 per year. With the ¥110 monthly family discount, the equivalent is ¥38,016 per year.
| Usage example | Monthly plan charge | Annual plan charge | Illustrative cost per GB |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical 200GB month | ¥3,278 | ¥39,336 | About ¥16.39 |
| Recorded 280.72GB month | ¥3,278 | ¥39,336 | About ¥11.68 |
These are editorial calculations, not official per-GB prices. They exclude devices, options, calls outside Rakuten Link, and campaigns. Contract administration is generally free for up to four cumulative lines; Rakuten states that a ¥3,850 fee can apply to the fifth or later cumulative line under the same name.
The psychological trap: cheap data is not enough
A low effective cost per GB feels decisive, but the real question is the cost of failure. A slow connection is a small inconvenience while streaming at home. The same problem becomes expensive when you cannot display a ticket, authenticate a payment, join a work call, or navigate a transfer. The right decision therefore combines price with your own high-priority locations.
Coverage and practical performance: where it worked
The strongest evidence from my use is not a single speed-test screenshot. It is the ability to use around 200GB in a normal month, reach 280.72GB in one recorded month, and tether successfully over more than five years. Across my everyday use in Osaka and Tokyo, the service has generally supported ordinary smartphone data, streaming, downloads, and tethering.
Independent context is useful but should not replace local testing. Opensignal’s April 2026 Japan report named Rakuten Mobile the sole national winner for Upload Speed Experience at 15.8Mbps. That national result does not prove performance at a specific apartment, platform, building, or time.
Why this review does not publish an invented average speed
No controlled download, upload, latency, or packet-loss log was supplied. A credible measurement needs the phone model, location, time, server, connection mode, and repeated tests. Publishing one precise average without those controls would create false confidence. This article therefore prioritizes practical usability, data volume, tethering, and repeated weak-location patterns.
Crowded stations and the weak-location risk
The clearest disadvantage in my experience is reduced reliability when a very large number of people are concentrated in one place. Osaka Station and Shibuya Station are the specific examples I can name.
This does not mean the phone is always offline at those stations. It means the connection can become difficult to use when the area is crowded. That uncertainty matters when you need to:
- display a QR code or ticket at a specific time;
- open a map while transferring trains;
- authenticate a payment or account;
- join an urgent call or meeting;
- send a work file; or
- use tethering during peak commuting periods.
Practical risk reduction: save tickets and maps offline before entering a crowded station. When critical access cannot fail, consider dual SIM with a second line on a different network. This adds cost, but it preserves Rakuten Mobile’s high-data value while reducing one-network risk.
Indoor, underground and regional performance
I do not have a sufficiently documented test set to score apartments, offices, basements, every subway section, tunnels, rural towns, mountains, or islands. Mobile performance can change with the building, floor, window position, train line, handset, supported bands, congestion, maintenance, and network expansion. Check official coverage, confirm your exact phone, and test the places and time periods that matter to you.
Tethering as a home-internet substitute
Tethering has been good in my use and is one of the strongest reasons to consider Rakuten Mobile. An iPhone can share the connection with a laptop or another device without moving into a higher data tier after 20GB.
I would still avoid treating mobile tethering as a universal replacement for fixed broadband. It may be unsuitable when you need stable performance for long video meetings, consistently low latency for gaming, multiple simultaneous users, continuous large uploads, or a connection that remains available while the phone is away.
Use this test before canceling home internet: tether at the exact desk and room you will use, during morning, lunch, and evening peaks. Test a video meeting, a large upload, and the VPN or business service you actually need. Also check battery drain, heat, and whether incoming calls disrupt your workflow.
Calls, Rakuten Link and app-related costs
Call quality has been good in my use. That is a personal observation, not a nationwide guarantee.
Domestic calls through Rakuten Link are generally free, with excluded numbers and conditions. Calls through the standard iPhone Phone app are generally ¥22 per 30 seconds unless another option applies. The distinction matters for both monthly cost and campaign eligibility.
Rakuten states that, beginning in July 2026, my Rakuten Mobile functions are being gradually integrated into Rakuten Link. Screens and instructions may therefore change after publication. Follow the current app guidance rather than relying only on an old screenshot.
English support, billing and overseas use
Rakuten Mobile provides multilingual pages, but the carrier states that translations are for convenience, the Japanese version generally prevails when there is a discrepancy, and some features or customer-service messages may not be available in the selected language. Readers who need English-only support for every unusual billing, repair, or identity problem should treat this as a risk.
The supplied experience is not sufficient to rate refund handling, billing errors, shop support, chat response time, or dispute resolution. I do not invent a support score.
Officially, the SAIKYO Plan includes up to 2GB of overseas data per month in more than 100 countries and regions; after 2GB, the speed is capped at 128kbps unless additional data is purchased or another option is used. I do not have personal roaming evidence for this review.
Who should choose Rakuten Mobile—and who should not
| Your situation | Best next step |
|---|---|
| You use 100GB–200GB+ and your key locations work well | Rakuten Mobile can be a strong main line. The price ceiling creates meaningful value. |
| You use heavy data but crowded-station access is critical | Use Rakuten Mobile with a backup dual-SIM line on another network. |
| You use under 20GB and prioritize another network’s reliability or support | Compare capped alternatives. Rakuten’s unlimited tier may not be your main advantage. |
| You need fixed-line stability for work, gaming, or a household | Keep fixed broadband and use Rakuten Mobile as the phone or backup connection. |
| You are a tourist or short-stay visitor | Use a visitor SIM/eSIM guide. This resident-contract review is outside your search intent. |
Not a fit? Browse the current English mobile-plan guides before choosing another service.
What would change my recommendation
I would become more positive if repeated tests show stable service at the reader’s home, workplace, and crowded commute. I would become more cautious if the line repeatedly fails in a location tied to work, safety, payments, or transport. The “best” answer is therefore conditional, not universal.
Foreign-resident eligibility, documents and iPhone checks
This review gives only the checks needed to decide whether applying is sensible. Use a separate application guide for the full step-by-step process. Before using an application link, confirm these gates:
- Identity information: the application name, address, and date of birth must match the accepted document.
- Foreign-national verification: the method and required documents can vary by nationality. Residence-card IC scanning may be required.
- Newer residence documents: certain combined cards and second-generation residence cards issued on or after June 14, 2026 cannot use Simple Mobile ID Verification and require a shop application.
- Address on the IC chip: if the correct address is not registered on the chip, Simple Mobile ID Verification is unavailable.
- iPhone/eSIM: Rakuten says eSIM support includes iPhone XS, XR, and newer, but you must check the exact model in the official compatibility checker—especially for an overseas-purchased device.
Current English campaign: qualify before you click
Campaign code 2798 · checked July 21, 2026
The reward can improve the first-year value, but only if your application path remains eligible
14,000 points for an eligible MNP transfer
11,000 points for another eligible application
The official English page lists the web end date as TBD. Points are time-limited, paid in three installments, and valid for six months from each grant date. The benefit is not guaranteed merely because you opened the page.
- Start the web application from the campaign page.
- Confirm coupon code WTPRMI20251001 on the “Delivery and Payment Method” page.
- If the session expires, restart from the campaign page.
- If you are changing from an older Rakuten Mobile docomo/au line, read the plan-change and optional-service cancellation notes before proceeding; some Members Station transitions are ineligible.
- If identity verification redirects you to the app, return to the web flow as instructed; completing the wrong app path can remove eligibility.
- Do not select Rakuten SAIKYO Plan (Data Type); the official campaign rules list it as ineligible.
- Start using the eligible plan by 23:59 on the last day of the month following the application month.
- Make a qualifying Rakuten Link call lasting more than 10 seconds as soon as possible after activation.
Important deadline warning: the campaign’s three-step summary says to complete the Rakuten Link call by the last day of the second month after application, while the detailed campaign-period section says the last day of the following month. Treat the earlier date as the deadline—or, safest, make the qualifying call immediately after activation—save the call history, and re-read the current rules before applying.
Affiliate disclosure: the primary button below is an affiliate link. This site may receive a commission if you apply. The commission does not change the weak-location findings, eligibility warnings, or alternative recommendations.
Testing method, evidence and limitations
Evidence used for this review
- Personal use since October 2020.
- Typical monthly use of approximately 200GB.
- One supplied app screenshot showing 280.72GB total use.
- Personal use mainly in Osaka and Tokyo on an iPhone.
- Good tethering and call quality in the reviewer’s use.
- Repeated weak-location examples at Osaka Station and Shibuya Station.
- Current official plan, identity, device, Rakuten Link, roaming, and campaign pages.
- Independent national-network context from Opensignal; not used as a location guarantee.
What was not measured
- exact iPhone model and device history;
- controlled download/upload speed, latency, jitter, and packet loss;
- the exact month shown in the screenshot;
- repeatable room-by-room indoor performance;
- a controlled underground or rural route;
- support resolution time and billing-error frequency; and
- personal overseas-roaming performance.
What we will measure in the next update
In the next quarterly update, we will record the iPhone model, iOS version, SIM type, network indicator, date, time, precise test point, and VPN status. Run three tests at each location during morning, lunch, and evening peaks. Record download, upload, latency, successful page loading, video start time, call stability, and tethering. Include Osaka Station, Shibuya Station, one indoor room, one underground location, and one less-crowded control location.
Pros and cons after five years
| Pros | Cons and limitations |
|---|---|
| High-data value | Crowded major stations can be less reliable. |
| Regular charge stops increasing after 20GB | “Unlimited” does not guarantee a constant speed. |
| Around 200GB typical use and 280.72GB evidence | No controlled speed benchmark is available yet. |
| Tethering has been good in my use | It may not replace fixed broadband for every workload. |
| Call quality has been good in my use | Using the standard dialer can create call charges. |
| Multilingual information is available | Not every feature or support message is guaranteed in English. |
Pre-application checklist
- I need a resident mobile plan, not a tourist product.
- My identity document matches my application name, address, and date of birth.
- My residence document supports my intended online or in-store verification method.
- My exact iPhone model is confirmed in Rakuten Mobile’s compatibility checker.
- I checked coverage at home, work or school, and my main stations.
- I understand that congestion and network conditions can affect speed.
- I know when to use Rakuten Link and when the standard dialer may cost extra.
- I can preserve the campaign entry route, coupon code, activation, and call evidence.
- I have a backup plan if one network fails at a critical location.
- I compared a capped alternative if I rarely exceed 20GB.
Final decision
Apply only after the plan fits your locations, documents, phone, and risk tolerance
For a 200GB+ resident user whose key locations work, Rakuten Mobile can deliver exceptional value. For anyone who cannot tolerate a crowded-station failure, use a backup line or choose another network.
Affiliate disclosure: the campaign button is an affiliate link. Current eligibility, reward, and deadlines are controlled by Rakuten Mobile and may change.
Prefer to keep comparing? Return to the English mobile-plan guide home.
Frequently asked questions
Is Rakuten Mobile really unlimited?
The regular SAIKYO Plan charges ¥3,278 after monthly data exceeds 20GB and describes that tier as unlimited. Rakuten Mobile also states that speeds may be restricted during peak times, for fair service provision, or because of network conditions. It is unlimited by data allowance and billing tier, not a guaranteed minimum speed.
Is Rakuten Mobile suitable for 200GB or more each month?
It has been suitable for my use. My normal monthly use is around 200GB, and one supplied screenshot shows 280.72GB. Your decision should still depend on coverage at your home, workplace, school, and routes.
Can Rakuten Mobile tethering replace home internet?
It may work for one user with suitable indoor coverage; tethering has been good in my use. It is not automatically equivalent to fixed broadband for latency, multiple users, long uploads, or continuous availability. Test before canceling fixed service.
Is it reliable at Osaka Station and Shibuya Station?
Those are the two named locations where I have experienced reduced reliability when crowds are heavy. Results vary by device, time, platform, building, and network conditions. Save essential information offline or keep another network for critical access.
Can foreign residents apply?
Foreign residents may apply, but the verification route depends on nationality and document type. Application details must match the identity document, and some newer residence documents require an in-store application instead of Simple Mobile ID Verification.
How do I avoid losing the campaign reward?
Start from the campaign page, confirm coupon code WTPRMI20251001, complete the eligible web flow, activate the plan, and make the qualifying Rakuten Link call immediately. The page can change, so read all current exclusions before applying.
Sources, review method and last checked
Official plan and campaign information last checked: July 21, 2026.
Personal evidence period: October 2020 to July 2026.
Update frequency: quarterly and after a substantial new test, plan change, campaign change, or identity-verification change.
- Rakuten SAIKYO Plan—price, speed caveats, calls, overseas use, and administration-fee notes
- Rakuten Mobile SIM/eSIM and device compatibility information
- Rakuten Mobile identity-verification documents and foreign-national notes
- Rakuten Link—call charges, exceptions, and July 2026 app integration
- Official English campaign page—Campaign Code 2798
- Opensignal Japan Mobile Network Experience, April 2026
- Google Search Central guidance for high-quality reviews
Editorial method: official facts were separated from the supplied first-hand experience. No speed, location, device, support, billing, or roaming result was added unless it was provided or verifiable. This article does not guarantee approval, coverage, speed, call quality, or campaign eligibility.
