How much are you paying for your phone bill in Japan?
If the answer is “too much, I’m not sure exactly,” this article is for you.
With Rakuten Mobile + Rakuten Link app, you can cover all of this for ¥3,278/month:
- Domestic calls in Japan: unlimited, free
- Video calls to family (WhatsApp / LINE): free over data
- Daily internet, TikTok, YouTube: unlimited data
What is Rakuten Link?
It’s a free app that comes with your Rakuten Mobile subscription.
When you make calls through this app, all domestic calls in Japan are free — unlimited.
Calls to companies, friends, anywhere in Japan — ¥0.
International calls to family — free through data
When calling family in the Philippines, Vietnam, or elsewhere:
Rakuten Link’s international call feature is NOT free. Important note.
But there’s a simple solution.
Use WhatsApp, LINE, Viber, or FaceTime video calls — they’re free.
Here’s why:
- Rakuten Mobile gives you unlimited data (¥3,278/month)
- WhatsApp video calls use data, not a phone line
- Works whether your family is on WiFi or mobile data
- Call cost: ¥0
Even if you video call for 30 minutes every night, there’s no extra charge.
Monthly phone cost breakdown
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Rakuten Mobile (unlimited data) | ¥3,278 |
| Domestic calls (Rakuten Link app) | ¥0 |
| Family video calls (WhatsApp, etc.) | ¥0 |
| Total | ¥3,278 |
Docomo and au can cost ¥8,000–¥10,000/month for the same usage.
Foreigners can apply
What you need:
- Residence Card (在留カード)
- Credit card or debit card
- Smartphone
No Japanese driver’s license needed. Apply online — no store visit required.
Summary
- Rakuten Mobile: ¥3,278/month, unlimited data
- Rakuten Link: unlimited free domestic calls
- WhatsApp / LINE: free video calls to family abroad
- Foreigners can apply with a Residence Card
Save ¥5,000+ every month — that’s money you can send home.
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This article contains machine translation. For official terms, please refer to the multilingual pages on the official Rakuten Mobile website.
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