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Rakuten Mobile Coverage Map: How to Check Your Address

How to use the Rakuten Mobile coverage map. Search by address or postal code, read the 4G/5G color layers, and check partner zones before you sign up.

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Rakuten Mobile coverage map showing 4G and 5G service areas for checking an address in Japan

Last verified: February 25, 2026 (JST)

Signing up for a mobile carrier without checking your specific address first is a gamble. Rakuten Mobile's coverage map lets you verify 4G and 5G availability at your home, workplace, and daily commute before committing—and it works even if you can't read Japanese.

Quick Answer: Go to network.mobile.rakuten.co.jp/area/, type your address or postal code in the search bar, and look for pink (4G) or blue (5G) shading. If your address shows solid coverage, service will work there. Partner area (KDDI roaming) is shown separately and provides reliable 4G.

Related guides: Rakuten Mobile Coverage Guide | Indoor & Building Coverage | Rakuten Mobile 5G Coverage

Get up to 13,000 points when you sign up → https://www.japanmobileguide.com/referral

Where Is the Coverage Map?

The official map is at network.mobile.rakuten.co.jp/area/. The interface is in Japanese, but the map itself is intuitive—you can search by address, place name, or postal code using English or Japanese input. It works fine on both desktop and smartphone.

Enter your address in the search box at the top-left and the map centres on your location, displaying coverage polygons immediately.

What Do the Map Colors Mean?

The map uses distinct color layers to show different network types:

  • Pink/red shading: Rakuten's own 4G LTE network
  • Blue shading: Rakuten's own 5G (Sub-6 mid-band)
  • Orange/yellow shading: Partner area (au/KDDI roaming), which provides 4G LTE

No shading at all means no coverage. Use the checkboxes on the left panel to toggle individual layers—turning off layers you don't need makes the map easier to read.

5G is a subset of the 4G footprint: wherever you see 5G, 4G is also available. If your device doesn't support 5G, or if you're between towers, the network falls back seamlessly to 4G LTE.

What Is the Partner Area?

When Rakuten launched its network, it used KDDI (au) roaming to fill coverage gaps while building its own towers. Partner area is what remains of those roaming agreements—places where Rakuten's own network hasn't yet been deployed.

Today, partner area is limited primarily to deep subway stations and tunnels, remote mountain areas, and some underground commercial facilities. For most people in urban or suburban Japan, their daily route is entirely on Rakuten's own network. The practical implication: 5G isn't available on partner coverage, and you'll see "KDDI" or "au" in your status bar instead of "Rakuten" when roaming.

How to Check More Than One Location

Don't stop at your home address. Before signing up, check:

  1. Your home address
  2. Your workplace
  3. Key subway and train stations on your daily commute
  4. Places you visit regularly (family, gym, shops)

Rakuten also publishes a dedicated subway station coverage list showing which underground sections have confirmed service by line. If you commute on the Tokyo Metro, Osaka Municipal Subway, or any major underground system, check this list directly—it's more precise than trying to read tunnel coverage from the map.

For a regional overview, prefecture-specific pages let you jump straight to your area.

Map Says Covered but Signal Is Weak?

Coverage maps show theoretical availability based on tower placement. They can't account for building materials, terrain, or floor level. Steel-reinforced concrete and energy-efficient windows can significantly reduce signal indoors even in well-covered areas.

If indoor signal is an issue, enable Wi-Fi Calling (iPhone: Settings → Phone → Wi-Fi Calling; Android: Settings → Network & Internet → Wi-Fi Calling). This routes calls and messages over your home internet when cellular is weak.

Rakuten's 700 MHz platinum band, active since June 2024, has substantially improved indoor penetration across Japan. If you've read older reports about Rakuten's indoor performance, many of those gaps have since been addressed.

Are You Using Rakuten Mobile?

Rakuten Mobile's Saikyo Plan costs ¥1,078 for under 3GB, ¥2,178 for 3–20GB, or ¥3,278 for unlimited data—no long-term contracts required. Full English support is available at 0800-805-0805. New users who sign up with a referral earn up to 13,000 Rakuten Points, redeemable across the entire Rakuten ecosystem.

Get up to 13,000 points when you sign up → https://www.japanmobileguide.com/referral

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I search the Rakuten coverage map in English? Yes. The search bar accepts English addresses and place names in addition to Japanese input and postal codes. The interface labels are in Japanese, but searching in English works fine.

Is partner area (au roaming) reliable for everyday use? Yes. Partner area provides standard 4G LTE through KDDI's network and is reliable for calls, messaging, and data. The main limitation is that 5G isn't available on partner coverage, and it's now confined to specific locations rather than broad areas.

How often is the coverage map updated? Rakuten updates the map as new base stations go live and coverage expands. The area page shows update timestamps. As of January 31, 2026, Rakuten added new stations across 104 municipalities in 40 prefectures.

What if my address shows no coverage? Check whether nearby streets are covered or whether you're near the edge of a partner area. The prefecture page provides a more regional view, and Rakuten support can advise on specific addresses.

Quick Reference

Task How
Open the map network.mobile.rakuten.co.jp/area/
Search input Address, place name, or postal code (English or Japanese)
Own 4G Pink/red shading
Own 5G Blue shading
Partner area (au) Orange/yellow shading
Subway stations /area/station/
By prefecture /area/prefecture/

Sources

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