Why Students in Japan Should Seriously Consider Rakuten Mobile
Living in Japan as a student — whether you’re here on a study abroad program, a language school enrollment, or a full university degree — means managing your budget carefully. Rent, food, transportation, and school fees all add up fast. One area where many students unknowingly overpay is their monthly phone bill.
If you’re currently on a major carrier like SoftBank, au, or Docomo, there’s a good chance you’re spending ¥5,000 to ¥8,000 or more every month just for mobile service. Rakuten Mobile offers a compelling alternative, especially when you sign up through an employee referral link that unlocks a bonus point campaign unavailable through the standard website.
This article breaks down exactly how Rakuten Mobile can benefit students in Japan — including how much you can earn in points, what the monthly plan looks like, and how to get started.
What Makes Rakuten Mobile a Smart Choice for Students?
One Simple Plan, Unlimited Data
Rakuten Mobile operates on a single unlimited data plan priced at ¥3,278 per month (tax included). There are no complicated tiers, no data caps that throttle your speed, and no hidden fees for going over a limit. For students who rely on mobile data for online classes, research, streaming, and staying connected with family back home, this simplicity is genuinely valuable.
Compare that to the ¥6,000–¥8,000 you might pay on a traditional carrier for a similar amount of data, and the savings are immediate.
Free Calls via the Rakuten Link App
One often-overlooked benefit for international students is the Rakuten Link app, which allows completely free domestic calls in Japan. If you need to call your university office, your landlord, or Japanese government agencies, you won’t pay anything extra. For foreigners navigating Japanese bureaucracy, this can save more than you’d expect.
You can learn more about how this works in our Rakuten Link App Complete Guide – Free Calls for Foreigners in Japan.
The Employee Referral Campaign: More Points Than the Standard Offer
Here’s where things get especially interesting for anyone considering signing up right now.
Rakuten Mobile runs regular campaigns offering points as a signup reward. But if you apply through an employee referral link, you receive a higher point bonus that isn’t available through the standard campaign page.
How Many Points Can You Earn?
| Signup Method | MNP (Carrier Switch) | New Number |
|---|---|---|
| Standard campaign | 13,000 points | Varies |
| Employee referral | 14,000 points | 11,000 points |
Signing up via employee referral gives you 1,000 extra points on top of the standard MNP campaign. If you’re switching from an existing carrier (MNP), you receive 14,000 Rakuten Points. If you’re getting a brand-new number, you receive 11,000 points.
These points can be used across the Rakuten ecosystem — Rakuten Ichiba (online shopping), Rakuten Pay at convenience stores and restaurants, or even put toward your monthly Rakuten Mobile bill. For students on a tight budget, 14,000 points is essentially free money.
When Do the Points Arrive?
Points are paid in three installments, beginning four months after the month in which you complete your referral login. This is worth knowing in advance so you can plan accordingly — it’s not an instant reward, but it does arrive reliably across the payout schedule.
Real Savings Breakdown for Students
Let’s put some real numbers to this.
Suppose you switch from a major carrier where you’re currently paying ¥6,500/month.
- Rakuten Mobile plan: ¥3,278/month
- Monthly savings: approximately ¥3,200
- Annual savings: approximately ¥38,400
And on top of those monthly savings, you receive up to 14,000 Rakuten Points at signup (via MNP with referral link). Even if you use those points gradually for groceries or everyday shopping, you’re looking at well over ¥50,000 in total value within your first year.
For students, that’s textbooks, a round of meals, or a weekend trip.
Is Rakuten Mobile Network Coverage Good Enough for Students?
This is a fair concern, and it’s worth addressing honestly. Rakuten Mobile has been building out its own network infrastructure across Japan, and coverage in major urban areas — Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Kyoto, Fukuoka — is solid and continues to improve.
In rural areas or on certain underground train lines, you may occasionally experience weaker signal. However, Rakuten Mobile partners with au (KDDI) for roaming in areas outside its own coverage zone, which significantly extends usability.
For most students living in or near cities, coverage is generally not an issue in day-to-day use.
Foreign Residents: Can You Apply?
Yes — foreign residents in Japan are eligible to apply for Rakuten Mobile, as long as you have a valid residence card (在留カード, zairyu card) and a Japanese bank account or credit card for billing. You’ll need a My Number card or residence card for identity verification during the application process.
If you’re unsure about the application steps, the How to Apply for Rakuten Mobile via Employee Referral Link Step by Step guide walks through the entire process in detail, including what documents to prepare and what to expect at each screen.
A Few Practical Things to Know
Maximum Lines Per Person
One employee referral link can be used for up to five lines. This is useful if you’re a student living in a shared house and want to help roommates or classmates sign up — everyone can benefit from the same referral campaign.
No Long-Term Contract
Rakuten Mobile has no cancellation fees and no fixed contract period. If you’re only in Japan for one or two academic years, you can sign up, enjoy the lower costs and point bonus, and cancel without penalty when you leave. This flexibility is a real advantage compared to carrier contracts that lock you in.
Rakuten Points Work Like Cash
If you’re already using Rakuten services — Rakuten Ichiba, Rakuten Travel, Rakuten Pay — the points you earn from signing up slot directly into your existing account. Even if you’re new to the ecosystem, setting up a free Rakuten account before applying takes just a few minutes.
How to Get Started with the Employee Referral Link
If you’ve decided Rakuten Mobile makes sense for your situation, the simplest way to maximize your signup bonus is to apply directly through an employee referral link.
Using the referral link below gives you access to the higher-tier campaign:
- MNP (switching from another carrier): 14,000 points
- New number signup: 11,000 points
👉 Apply here via employee referral: https://r10.to/henTIE
Make sure to complete your application by clicking through from the referral link, rather than navigating to Rakuten Mobile’s main site separately — the bonus is only applied when you enter through the referral URL.
Final Thoughts
For students and foreign residents in Japan looking to cut monthly expenses without sacrificing data or call quality, Rakuten Mobile is one of the most practical options available today. The flat ¥3,278/month plan is easy to budget for, the Rakuten Link app eliminates domestic call costs, and the employee referral campaign adds significant point value on top.
It won’t be the perfect fit for everyone — coverage in rural areas is still developing, and the point payout schedule takes a few months to begin. But for most students living in urban Japan, the combination of lower monthly costs and a strong signup bonus makes it genuinely worth considering.
If you have questions about the application process or timing your switch, the related guides linked throughout this article are a good place to start.