📶 Rakuten Mobile — Latest Info
Combining Rakuten's own network coverage area with the au partner-network roaming area gives you unlimited data nationwide.
Unlimited monthly data for as little as Up to ¥3,278 (tax included)
Prices and figures shown here are indicative. For the always up-to-date, auto-updated (daily 05:00 JST) cached values, see the Japanese page, or check the official site directly.
📡 Coverage areas
📡 Rakuten's own network area
Population coverage of 99.9% has been achieved. Within Rakuten's own base-station area, high-speed data is unlimited.
🔄 Partner network (au) roaming area
Indoors, or in areas where Rakuten's own signal is weak, the service switches to au roaming. High-speed data is available up to 5GB/month, after which speed is capped at up to 1Mbps.
⚠️ Things to bear in mind
Underground, in high-rise buildings, or in rooms set well back from windows, the signal can be harder to reach. Rakuten is expanding its platinum band (700MHz) to improve this.
🗺️ Coverage-checking tools
📍 Rakuten Mobile coverage map ❓ What counts as the "unlimited high-speed data" area?
📞 International calling plan
🇯🇵 Japan → overseas plan price: ¥980/month (tax included) / "International Unlimited Calling"
🌍 Countries covered by the unlimited plan: roughly 66 countries
✈️ Overseas → Japan: free of charge when using the Rakuten Link app (conditions apply, eligible countries only)
🌏 Can you genuinely ring Japan for free from abroad too?
Yes — mainly when using the Rakuten Link app (conditions apply).
- Japan → Japan: free via Rakuten Link
- Japan → overseas: covered by "International Unlimited Calling" (¥980/month) for around 66 countries
- Overseas → Japan: free via Rakuten Link (from eligible countries)
Notes: Rakuten Link must be authenticated in Japan before travelling overseas · only supported countries/regions are eligible · Wi-Fi may be required in some regions · certain numbers (0570/0120 etc.) are excluded · iPhone behaviour abroad differs slightly from Android · this works as an IP calling service via the Rakuten Link app.
🚀 Satellite broadband calling (AST SpaceMobile partnership)
In partnership with AST SpaceMobile, Rakuten Mobile is developing satellite broadband calling.
Low-earth-orbit (LEO) satellites are expected to enable calls and data connectivity from ordinary mobile phones even in remote mountain areas, isolated islands, and offshore locations.
🛰️ Commercial launch: to be confirmed (some reports suggest a 2025–2026 target)
📡 Platinum band (700MHz)
Rakuten Mobile is expanding its 700MHz platinum band to improve indoor, underground, and rural coverage.
The 700MHz platinum band is a lower-frequency band that penetrates buildings and underground spaces more easily, improving the stability of indoor calls and data connections.
📶 Coverage: nationwide rollout under way (expanding in phases)
📶 Switching to Rakuten Mobile (¥1 handsets, unlimited data, unlimited calls)
If you're thinking about switching, promotions sometimes offer eSIM-compatible handsets — such as Fujitsu's high-performance "we2 plus" — for as little as ¥1 (availability, timing, and contract terms vary — always confirm the current offer). The Rakuten Link app is available across Japan.
- Example ¥1 handsets: Fujitsu "we2 plus" and others (check the current offer)
- Unlimited-data plan details
- Unlimited calling via the Rakuten Link app
- Rakuten Link for Android
- Rakuten Link for iPhone
- Switching promotions (general)
In areas with good Rakuten Mobile coverage, a plan with less worry about data caps can be handy for streaming or video calls. Where hospitals and similar facilities offer free Wi-Fi, this can also be useful whilst at home or during a hospital stay (always confirm plan details and coverage on the official site).
→ See the always up-to-date cached figures on the Japanese page