How to Switch from Docomo to Rakuten Mobile — The Complete 2026 Guide
Benefits
-
Seriously lower monthly bills
- Docomo MAX (unlimited): 8,448 yen before discounts → Rakuten最強プラン: 3,278 yen
- That's a 5,170 yen difference every month — you're looking at roughly 60,000 yen in savings over the year
-
Free domestic calls through the Rakuten Link app
- On Docomo, you'd need to tack on a separate calling option at 880 yen to 1,980 yen/month
-
No contract admin fee (for up to a cumulative 4 lines)
Price Comparison Table
| Data Volume | Docomo MAX | Rakuten最強プラン | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–3 GB | 5,698 yen | 1,078 yen | 4,620 yen |
| 3 GB+ | 6,798 yen | 2,178 yen | 4,620 yen |
| Over 20 GB | 8,448 yen | 3,278 yen | 5,170 yen |
How to Switch
- Sign up for the employee referral campaign first (just log in with your Rakuten ID)
- Get your MNP reservation number from Docomo (it's valid for 15 days)
- Apply to Rakuten Mobile
- Activate via SIM or eSIM (your Docomo contract is automatically cancelled once this is done)
- Make a call of at least 10 seconds using the Rakuten Link app to satisfy the campaign conditions
FAQ
- Early termination fees: Docomo effectively scrapped these back in October 2021
- Switching fee: Free for up to a cumulative 4 lines
- @docomo.ne.jp email: You can keep it for 330 yen/month through the "Docomo Mail Portability" service