Your Complete Guide to Switching to Rakuten Mobile via MNP [2026 Edition]

What is MNP? MNP stands for Mobile Number Portability — the system that lets you keep your existing phone number when switching carriers. In Japan, the whole process has been massively simplified: you no longer need to grab an MNP reservation number from your old carrier first (thanks to the MNP One-Stop System that rolled out in 2023). The whole thing takes about 10 minutes online.

Overview

Switching to Rakuten Mobile through their web application comes down to 5 steps and roughly 10 minutes of your time. Sign up through the Employee Referral Campaign link and you're looking at up to 14,000 Rakuten Points — currently the best reward on offer for a SIM-only switch.

4 Reasons to Switch

1. A Much Lower Monthly Bill

Rakuten Strongest Plan runs on a 3-tier structure: ¥1,078 for up to 3 GB, ¥2,178 up to 20 GB, and ¥3,278 for unlimited over 20 GB (all tax included). For most people coming from a major carrier, that works out to savings of over ¥40,000 a year.

2. Free Domestic Calls Through Rakuten Link

With the Rakuten Link app, every domestic call in Japan is free — no add-on plan required. At the big carriers, equivalent calling packages run anywhere from ¥770 to ¥1,980 per month.

3. Rakuten Point Boost (SPU)

Just being a subscriber bumps your Rakuten Ichiba shopping point return by +4x (capped at 2,000 points/month). You can also use limited-time points directly toward your monthly phone bill.

4. Overseas Data Included

Your plan works in over 100 countries and regions, with up to 2 GB of data included at no extra cost. International calls through Rakuten Link are free too.

Tip for frequent travelers: The included 2 GB overseas data refreshes every month — handy for short business trips or holidays. If you need more, additional overseas data costs ¥500 per 1 GB.

3 Potential Drawbacks

1. Network Coverage

Population coverage sits at 99.9%, but signal quality can dip underground, in mountainous areas, or inside heavy concrete buildings. If that's a concern, pairing with a povo dual SIM as a backup is worth considering (check the Dual SIM Guide for details).

2. Carrier Email Address

Once you switch, your old carrier email address (think @docomo.ne.jp or @ezweb.ne.jp) will generally stop working. You can keep it alive through a "Mail Portability Service" for around ¥330/month, or just move everything over to a free Gmail or Yahoo Mail account.

3. Fewer Physical Stores

Rakuten Mobile has over 1,500 stores as of 2026 — the network is growing, but it still doesn't match the big carriers' footprint. Most urban areas are fine, though.

Identity Documents Required

For foreign residents in Japan: Your Residence Card (在留カード) is the most straightforward ID to use for smartphone verification. Just make sure it hasn't expired before you start the process.

Best Timing to Switch

2–3 days before the end of the month is the sweet spot for MNP transfers. Here's the logic:

• Most major carriers (docomo, au, SoftBank) do not pro-rate your final month — you get billed for the full month no matter when you cancel
• Rakuten Mobile doesn't pro-rate the first month either
• Timing your switch right at the end of the month keeps the overlap window — and any double-billing — as short as possible

Costs

• New contract setup fee: Free
• MNP transfer fee from your old carrier: Free (when using the MNP One-Stop System)

How to Switch — 5 Steps

1. Log in via the Employee Referral Link — This also registers you for the campaign at the same time
2. Apply on Rakuten Mobile — Pick "SIM only" or a "SIM + device bundle"; choose MNP as your transfer type
3. Identity verification — The quickest option is the in-app "Easy Smartphone Verification" (スマホでかんたん本人確認)
4. Select MNP transfer or new number — MNP One-Stop is supported, so no reservation number from your old carrier is needed
5. Activate your SIM + make a 10-second call via Rakuten Link — That's the campaign condition ticked off