![Rakuten Mobile Regrets & Real Failure Stories [2026 Guide]: What People Noticed After Switching — Honest Review for Foreign Residents in Japan](/assets/ogp/2026-05-31-rakuten-mobile-regret-cases.png)
Thinking about switching to Rakuten Mobile? Before you make the move, it’s worth hearing from people who have already done it — including those who experienced some regrets or unexpected surprises along the way.
This guide is written specifically for foreign residents in Japan and covers the most common complaints, failure stories, and things people wish they had known before switching. We’ll also share how to make the most of your switch if you do decide to go ahead.
Why So Many People Have Mixed Feelings About Rakuten Mobile
Rakuten Mobile has grown rapidly in Japan, attracting users with its simple flat-rate pricing and attractive sign-up campaigns. At ¥3,278/month (tax included) for unlimited data, it sounds like an obvious winner — and for many people, it is.
But online forums and review sites in Japan are also full of posts from people saying things like:
- “I wish I had known about the coverage issues before switching.”
- “I lost out on points because I didn’t understand the conditions.”
- “My phone wasn’t compatible and no one told me.”
Let’s break down the most common regrets and what you can do to avoid them.
Common Regret #1: Coverage Was Worse Than Expected
This is, by far, the most frequently mentioned complaint. Rakuten Mobile operates its own network, which is strong in central Tokyo, Osaka, and other major urban areas. However, in rural areas, mountainous regions, and even some suburban pockets, the Rakuten network hands off to partner networks, and in some locations coverage can be inconsistent.
What people said:
- “I live just 20 minutes outside of Osaka and I get almost no signal at home.”
- “It works fine when I’m in the city, but whenever I visit family in the countryside, I have basically no connection.”
How to avoid this regret:
Before switching, check Rakuten’s official coverage map carefully — and not just for your home address. Check your commute route, your workplace, and any places you visit regularly.
If coverage concerns you, reading through community experiences can help. We’ve also published a detailed guide on Rakuten Mobile No Signal & Connection Issues: Complete Troubleshooting + Coverage Check Guide for Foreign Residents in Japan that walks you through how to test and troubleshoot in advance.
Common Regret #2: Points Were Received as “Limited-Period Points” — And They Expired
This is a surprisingly common failure story that catches many new users off guard.
Rakuten Mobile campaigns — including their well-known employee referral campaign — award Rakuten Points as an incentive. The numbers sound great: 14,000 points for MNP (carrier switch) or 11,000 points for a new signup via the employee referral link, for example.
The problem? These points are awarded as “limited-period points,” not regular Rakuten Points.
What’s the difference?
- Regular Rakuten Points: Can be used on most purchases across Rakuten services and accumulate without a tight deadline.
- Limited-period points: Have a shorter expiry window and must be used quickly — often within one to two months of being awarded.
What people said:
- “I didn’t even realize my points were limited-period. By the time I remembered to use them, they had already expired.”
- “I got 14,000 points but lost around 5,000 of them because they expired before I noticed.”
How to avoid this regret:
As soon as you receive your points, log into your Rakuten account and check the expiry date immediately. Use the limited-period points first on everyday purchases — Rakuten Ichiba, Rakuten Pay in stores, or other Rakuten-linked services.
Also keep in mind: points are paid in 3 installments, starting 4 months after the month in which you first logged in via the referral URL. That means you won’t get everything at once — so check your account regularly around that 4-month mark.
Common Regret #3: Their Phone Wasn’t Compatible
Rakuten Mobile uses specific frequency bands, and not all smartphones are compatible — especially older models or phones purchased overseas.
What people said:
- “I imported my phone from the US and it only works on 4G but keeps dropping to very slow speeds. I didn’t realize compatibility would be such an issue.”
- “They let me sign up, but my phone didn’t support the right bands. I had to buy a new one.”
How to avoid this regret:
Before applying, check your device against Rakuten Mobile’s official compatibility list. This is especially important for foreign residents who may have brought phones from their home countries. Even if a phone is “compatible” in a basic sense, full band support varies by model and region variant.
Common Regret #4: Missed the Point Campaign Conditions
Another common story: people switch, expect to receive campaign points, and then either receive fewer than expected — or nothing at all.
One major change that took effect from March 2, 2026: to receive your campaign points, you are now required to make a call of 10 seconds or more using the Rakuten Link app within the qualifying period. Data-only SIM users are not eligible for this bonus.
What people said:
- “I signed up expecting points but got nothing. I found out later I had to make a call through the Rakuten Link app and I never did it.”
- “I was using a data SIM thinking I’d still qualify for the points. I was wrong.”
How to avoid this regret:
After switching, download the Rakuten Link app and make at least one phone call of 10 seconds or more as soon as possible. Don’t wait. This is now a firm requirement for point eligibility on applications from March 2, 2026 onwards.
For more details on why points may not arrive and how to check their status, see our related guide: Rakuten Mobile Points Not Received? [2026 Guide] Reasons, How to Check & Solutions for Foreign Residents in Japan.
Common Regret #5: They Didn’t Use a Referral Link and Missed Extra Points
Some users switch to Rakuten Mobile and only later discover that they could have received more points by using an employee referral link.
How the normal campaign compares:
| Method | MNP (Carrier Switch) | New Signup |
|---|---|---|
| Normal campaign | 13,000 points | Varies |
| Employee referral link | 14,000 points | 11,000 points |
That’s 1,000 extra points just for using a referral link for MNP — and the referral link also unlocks benefits that the standard friend-referral campaign does not offer.
Important: the employee referral campaign has some exclusive advantages
Unlike the regular friend-referral campaign, the employee referral campaign also applies to re-contracts and additional (2nd, 3rd, etc.) lines — up to a maximum of 5 lines per person. This is exclusive to the employee referral route and is not available through the standard referral system.
The “login rescue” rule
If you’ve already applied but haven’t logged in via the referral URL yet, don’t panic: logging in via the referral URL within 7 days of your application date also qualifies you for the referral campaign. This gives you a short window to still get the bonus even if you forgot to use the link first.
Common Regret #6: Expecting Japanese Customer Support and Struggling
Rakuten Mobile’s customer support is primarily in Japanese. While they have some online tools, foreign residents — especially those who are not yet confident in Japanese — sometimes find it difficult to resolve issues quickly.
What people said:
- “When I had a problem with my SIM, I couldn’t get help because the phone support is only in Japanese.”
- “The online chat is fine for simple things, but for anything complicated, I needed Japanese.”
How to manage this:
- Use Rakuten Mobile’s My Rakuten Mobile app for most account management tasks — it’s generally intuitive even with limited Japanese.
- For complex issues, consider preparing your question in Japanese in advance using a translation tool.
- Online communities for foreign residents in Japan can often provide peer-to-peer advice quickly.
So Should You Switch? An Honest Assessment
Despite the regrets listed above, the reality is that Rakuten Mobile works very well for a lot of people — particularly those who:
- Live and work primarily in major urban areas
- Use Rakuten services regularly (Rakuten Ichiba, Rakuten Pay, etc.) and can take full advantage of points
- Are comfortable managing their account online
- Want a simple, affordable, unlimited data plan at ¥3,278/month
The key is going in with the right expectations and taking the steps to avoid the common pitfalls outlined above.
Checklist: What to Do Before and After Switching
Before switching:
- Check coverage at your home, workplace, and regular routes
- Confirm your phone is compatible with Rakuten Mobile’s network bands
- Decide whether to MNP or sign up fresh
- Use an employee referral link to maximize your points (see below)
After switching:
- Download the Rakuten Link app immediately
- Make a phone call of 10 seconds or more via Rakuten Link to qualify for points
- Check your Rakuten account around the 4-month mark for your first point installment
- When points arrive, use limited-period points immediately before they expire
- Check your point expiry dates regularly
Get Up to 14,000 Points via the Employee Referral Campaign
If you’ve weighed the pros and cons and decided that Rakuten Mobile is worth trying, using an employee referral link is simply the smarter way to apply. It gives you:
- 14,000 points for MNP (1,000 more than the standard campaign)
- 11,000 points for a new signup
- Eligibility for re-contracts and additional lines (up to 5 lines per person) — exclusive to this route
- Points paid in 3 installments starting 4 months after your referral login month
Just remember: points are limited-period points, so plan to use them promptly after they arrive.
If you’d like to apply using an employee referral link, you can do so here:
👉 Apply via Employee Referral Link
And if you want a full walkthrough of how the employee referral process works step by step, check out our dedicated guide: Rakuten Mobile Employee Referral 2026: Complete Guide for Foreigners in Japan — Get Up to 14,000 Points.
Information in this article is based on Rakuten Mobile’s campaign terms as of 2026. Campaign conditions may change — always verify the latest details directly on Rakuten Mobile’s official website before applying.