Is Rakuten Mobile’s Coverage Finally Good Enough in 2026?
If you’ve been living in Japan for a while, you’ve probably heard mixed things about Rakuten Mobile’s network. “Great price, but the coverage is patchy.” “It drops indoors.” “Underground stations are a dead zone.”
These concerns were completely valid — two or three years ago. But the situation in 2026 looks very different, and if you’re a foreign resident in Japan who dismissed Rakuten Mobile based on older information, it’s worth taking a fresh look.
This article covers everything you need to know about Rakuten Mobile’s coverage expansion progress, what the 99.9% population coverage milestone actually means, and whether the network is now reliable enough for daily life in Japan.
What Is Rakuten Mobile’s Coverage Goal?
Rakuten Mobile has been aggressively expanding its own standalone 4G/5G network (Band 3 / n77) since launching as Japan’s fourth major carrier. The company has publicly committed to reaching 99.9% population coverage, with a target timeline centered around 2026.
This is not just a marketing number. Population coverage means the percentage of Japan’s resident population that lives within the signal footprint of Rakuten’s own towers. At 99.9%, that’s essentially everyone.
But coverage percentage alone doesn’t tell the whole story. The more important questions for day-to-day users are:
- Does it work indoors?
- Does it work underground (subway stations, basement floors)?
- Does it work outside of major cities?
Let’s break each one down.
Underground and Indoor Coverage: The Biggest Weak Points — and What’s Changing
Underground Stations
Historically, underground subway stations were Rakuten Mobile’s Achilles’ heel. The carrier relied heavily on roaming with au (KDDI) to fill gaps, but roaming coverage in basement and underground environments was inconsistent.
As of 2026, Rakuten has been rapidly deploying its own antenna infrastructure in major underground stations across Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, and other metropolitan areas. Key lines including parts of the Tokyo Metro and Osaka Municipal Subway network now have Rakuten’s own signal — not just au roaming.
This is a meaningful shift. When you’re on Rakuten’s own network rather than roaming, you get:
- More stable data speeds
- Better call quality via the Rakuten Link app
- No dependency on au’s network load
That said, 100% underground coverage is still a work in progress. If you commute on specific deep underground lines or work in a basement office, it’s still worth checking the official coverage map for your specific route.
Indoor Coverage
Indoor coverage has improved significantly thanks to a combination of:
- Increased tower density — more towers means stronger penetration into buildings
- Low-band spectrum utilization — while Rakuten’s primary spectrum is mid-band (Band 3, 1.7 GHz), the expanded use of partner network access in weaker zones helps
- 5G (n77) rollout — in urban areas, 5G coverage is actually quite strong indoors due to Rakuten’s dense urban infrastructure
For most apartments, offices, and shopping centers in major cities, indoor coverage is now acceptable to good. Older concrete buildings in rural areas remain more challenging.
What Does 99.9% Population Coverage Actually Mean for You?
It’s worth being honest here: population coverage and geographic coverage are very different things.
99.9% population coverage means that nearly everyone in Japan, based on where they live, is within the coverage area. Japan’s population is heavily concentrated in cities, so covering urban and suburban zones gets you to 99.9% without covering every mountain or rural road.
If you live and work in a major Japanese city — Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya, Fukuoka, Sapporo — Rakuten Mobile’s coverage in 2026 is genuinely competitive. Most foreign residents in Japan live in these urban centers, which means the 99.9% figure is quite relevant to your daily experience.
If you frequently travel to rural areas or mountainous regions for hiking, skiing, or countryside trips, you may still notice occasional dead zones on Rakuten’s own network. In those areas, au roaming typically kicks in automatically, which helps — but it’s a factor to be aware of.
How Does Rakuten Mobile Compare to Docomo, au, and SoftBank for Coverage?
The three major carriers (Docomo, au, SoftBank) have decades of infrastructure investment and cover even very rural and mountainous areas on their own networks. Rakuten is still closing this gap for geographic coverage.
However, for the urban-dwelling foreign resident who wants to save money without sacrificing day-to-day usability, the gap has narrowed dramatically. For reference, a detailed savings comparison between Rakuten Mobile and Docomo, au, and SoftBank shows that switching can save many users ¥3,000–¥7,000 per month — which adds up to ¥36,000–¥84,000 per year.
The question is no longer “Is Rakuten good enough?” for most urban users. It’s “Does the cost saving justify the switch given my specific usage?”
The Plan: ¥3,278/Month, Truly Unlimited Data
Rakuten Mobile currently offers a single, simple plan: ¥3,278 per month (tax included), with unlimited data, domestic calls via the Rakuten Link app, and no speed throttling at any usage tier.
There are no multiple tiers to compare. No “3GB plan” or “20GB plan.” You get unlimited, and that’s it.
For foreign residents who stream video, use navigation apps constantly, or work remotely, this simplicity is a genuine advantage. No bill shock from going over a data cap. No downgraded speeds after 20GB.
Considering the Switch? Here’s How to Maximize Your Benefits
If you’ve decided that Rakuten Mobile’s 2026 coverage is sufficient for your lifestyle — and for most urban residents, it likely is — it’s worth making sure you get the best possible deal when signing up.
Employee Referral vs. Standard Campaign
Rakuten Mobile runs standard campaigns, but there’s also an employee referral program that offers better rewards than the public campaign:
| Method | MNP (carrier switch) | New Signup |
|---|---|---|
| Standard campaign | 13,000 points | Varies |
| Employee referral | 14,000 points | 11,000 points |
The employee referral gives you 1,000 extra points for MNP compared to the standard campaign — and the new signup bonus of 11,000 points is also competitive.
You can access an employee referral link here: https://r10.to/henTIE
For a full breakdown of how the employee referral program works, see this complete guide to the Rakuten Mobile employee referral campaign.
Important Details You Must Know Before Applying
Before you apply, there are several important rules to understand:
1. Points are paid in 3 installments starting 4 months after the referral login month. Don’t expect the points immediately. They arrive in three separate batches, beginning roughly 4 months after you apply. Plan accordingly if you’re hoping to use the points for a specific purchase.
2. Points awarded are “limited-period points,” not regular Rakuten points. This is critical. Limited-period points expire faster than standard Rakuten Points. Once they arrive in your account, use them promptly. Don’t let them sit — they won’t last as long as regular points.
3. A call of 10 seconds or more via the Rakuten Link app is required. For applications made from March 2, 2026 onwards, you must make at least one call of 10 seconds or longer using the Rakuten Link app to qualify for the points. Data-only SIM users are not eligible. This is a straightforward step — just call a friend or family member briefly after activation.
4. Re-contracts and additional lines are eligible — employee referral only. This is an exclusive benefit of the employee referral program. If you previously had Rakuten Mobile, cancelled, and want to re-contract, you’re still eligible through the employee referral. Second and additional lines on your account are also eligible. This is not available through the standard friend referral campaign — only through employee referral.
5. You can apply for up to 5 lines per person.
6. Login rescue rule: If you didn’t use the referral link before applying, you can still qualify by logging in via the referral URL within 7 days of your application.
Who Is Rakuten Mobile Best Suited for in 2026?
Based on the coverage situation and plan structure, here’s a simple breakdown:
Rakuten Mobile is a strong choice if you:
- Live and work primarily in a major Japanese city (Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka, Sapporo, etc.)
- Use a lot of data (unlimited plan has clear value)
- Are comfortable using the Rakuten Link app for calls
- Want to simplify your phone bill without complicated tier decisions
- Are currently on a major carrier paying ¥5,000–¥8,000/month
Consider your specific situation more carefully if you:
- Frequently travel to remote, rural, or mountainous areas
- Work in a deep underground facility with no surface access
- Need absolutely guaranteed coverage in every building type
Practical Tips for Testing Coverage Before Committing
If you’re still unsure, here are a few practical approaches:
- Check the official Rakuten coverage map at the Rakuten Mobile website and trace your typical daily route — home, commute, workplace, frequent spots.
- Ask people around you — if you know any Rakuten Mobile users in your area, their real-world experience is the most reliable signal.
- Consider eSIM activation — Rakuten Mobile supports eSIM, which means you can activate a new line without discarding your existing SIM. Keep your current carrier’s SIM active while you test Rakuten for a month. (For activation details, see this Rakuten Mobile same-day activation guide.)
Final Thoughts: 2026 Is the Year Coverage Concerns Diminish
Rakuten Mobile’s coverage story in 2026 is genuinely encouraging. The push toward 99.9% population coverage, combined with expanded underground and indoor antenna deployment, has addressed most of the concerns that held urban users back in previous years.
For foreign residents in Japan — particularly those living in major metropolitan areas — the combination of Rakuten Mobile’s unlimited plan at ¥3,278/month and the improving network quality makes 2026 a compelling time to consider switching.
If you do decide to move forward, using an employee referral link gets you up to 14,000 points for MNP or 11,000 points for a new signup — meaningfully better than the standard campaign. Remember to make that 10-second Rakuten Link call after activation to ensure your points are confirmed.
You can use the employee referral link here: https://r10.to/henTIE
Take your time, check the coverage map for your specific locations, and make the decision that fits your life in Japan. The network has come a long way — and it’s still improving.