Switch Your Whole Family to Rakuten Mobile – How Much Can You Really Save?

Living in Japan With a Pricey Phone Bill? You’re Not Alone

If you’ve been in Japan for a while, you’ve probably noticed that mobile phone bills can add up fast — especially when you’re paying for multiple lines across a family. Many foreign residents stick with major carriers like docomo, au, or SoftBank simply out of habit or uncertainty about switching. But Rakuten Mobile has been quietly becoming one of the most budget-friendly options in the country, and when you factor in the referral campaign bonuses, the savings become genuinely hard to ignore.

In this article, we’ll break down exactly how much your family could save by switching to Rakuten Mobile, how the referral point system works, and what you need to know before making the move.

What Makes Rakuten Mobile Different?

Rakuten Mobile operates on a single, straightforward unlimited plan priced at ¥3,278 per month (tax included). That’s it. No complicated tier structures, no throttled data after a certain limit — just one flat rate for unlimited data.

Compare that to the average major carrier plan, which often runs ¥6,000–¥8,000 per month before discounts, and you start to see where the savings come from. Even at the lower end, a typical family of four could easily be spending ¥20,000–¥28,000 per month on mobile service alone.

With Rakuten Mobile at ¥3,278 per line, a family of four would pay approximately ¥13,112 per month — a potential saving of ¥7,000–¥15,000 every single month.

The Referral Campaign: Where the Real Value Is

Here’s where things get interesting for anyone thinking about switching.

Rakuten Mobile runs an employee referral campaign that gives you bonus Rakuten Points when you sign up through a referral link. The numbers look like this:

MNP (switching from another carrier): 14,000 points
New number signup: 11,000 points

To put that in perspective, the standard public campaign only offers 13,000 points for MNP — meaning signing up through a referral link gets you an extra 1,000 points on top of an already generous offer.

Rakuten Points can be used across a huge ecosystem — from Rakuten Ichiba (online shopping), to convenience store purchases, travel bookings, and much more. For many residents in Japan, these points function almost like cash.

How and When Are the Points Paid Out?

One thing to be aware of: the points are not delivered all at once. They are paid out in three separate installments, starting approximately four months after the month in which the referral login occurs. This is a common point of confusion, so plan accordingly — think of it as a staggered bonus rather than an instant reward.

Family Switch Scenario: Running the Numbers

Let’s say you have a family of four currently on a major carrier, each paying around ¥6,500 per month on average.

Current Monthly Cost (4 lines)

¥6,500 × 4 = ¥26,000/month

After Switching to Rakuten Mobile (4 lines)

¥3,278 × 4 = ¥13,112/month

Monthly Saving

¥26,000 − ¥13,112 = ¥12,888/month

Annual Saving

¥12,888 × 12 = ¥154,656/year

That’s over ¥150,000 in annual savings for a family of four — just from the monthly plan difference.

Add the Referral Points

Now layer in the referral bonus. If all four family members switch via MNP using a referral link, each person earns 14,000 points.

4 × 14,000 = 56,000 points total

If only some members are doing MNP and others are signing up with new numbers, you’d be looking at a mix of 14,000 and 11,000 points per person — still a very meaningful amount across the family.

Combined First-Year Value

¥154,656 (annual savings) + ¥56,000 (referral points) = approximately ¥210,000 in total value

It’s worth noting that Rakuten Mobile allows up to 5 lines per person, so even larger households or extended family groups can take full advantage of this structure.

Is Rakuten Mobile a Good Fit for Foreign Residents?

This is a fair question. Here are a few things that foreign residents commonly ask:

Yes. Rakuten Mobile accepts foreign nationals living in Japan. You’ll need a valid residence card (在留カード), a Japanese bank account or credit card, and a My Number card or other accepted ID. The application process can be completed online in most cases.

Is the network coverage reliable?

Rakuten Mobile has significantly expanded its coverage over the past few years and now covers most urban and suburban areas well. In rural mountainous regions, coverage can be patchier, but for most people living and working in cities, it functions reliably. When outside the Rakuten network, the service roams on au’s network, which provides additional backup coverage domestically.

What about international roaming?

Rakuten Mobile does offer international roaming options, though the free unlimited data applies primarily within Japan. If you travel frequently, it’s worth reviewing their international plans separately.

Is the app and support available in English?

The Rakuten Mobile app and website are primarily in Japanese, which can be a hurdle. However, their support line does have some English-speaking assistance available, and the app itself is fairly navigable even with basic Japanese or a translation tool.

Tips for Switching as a Family

If you’re planning a group switch, here are a few practical suggestions to keep in mind:

Coordinate your timing. Since points are distributed starting four months after the referral login month, switching around the same time means everyone gets their point installments on a similar schedule.
MNP is worth the extra step. Switching via MNP (Mobile Number Portability) means you keep your existing phone number — and you get 14,000 points instead of 11,000. It takes a little more paperwork, but most people find it straightforward.
Check your current contract. Some major carriers have cancellation fees if you’re mid-contract. Calculate whether the referral bonus and monthly savings offset any exit costs — in most cases, they do within just a few months.
Make sure your phone is SIM-unlocked. If your device was purchased through a carrier, it may be SIM-locked. You’ll need to have it unlocked before switching. This can usually be done through your current carrier’s app or website.
Use one referral link per signup. Each person joining needs to use the referral link during their own registration to qualify for the bonus points. It can’t be applied retroactively.

Final Thoughts

For foreign residents in Japan looking to cut household expenses without sacrificing data quality, switching the whole family to Rakuten Mobile is one of the most impactful financial moves you can make. The math speaks clearly: lower monthly bills, a generous one-plan structure, and a referral campaign that adds meaningful point value on top of everything else.

Whether you’re a couple, a family of four, or a group of housemates pooling resources, the combination of ¥3,278 unlimited monthly plan, 14,000 referral points for MNP, and the potential for over ¥200,000 in first-year value for a family of four makes this worth a serious look.

If you’d like to sign up through a referral link and receive the full 14,000 points (MNP) or 11,000 points (new number) — rather than the standard public campaign rate — you can use the link below. It costs nothing extra and simply ensures you get the maximum available bonus.

👉 Sign up via referral link here

Take your time comparing, check your current contract terms, and make the switch at a pace that works for your family.