Rakuten Mobile Coverage Map 2026 — Check Your Area

Coverage FAQs

Common questions about Rakuten Mobile coverage in Japan

• Does Rakuten Mobile have good coverage in Tokyo?

  Yes, Rakuten Mobile has excellent coverage in Tokyo, which benefits from comprehensive 5G Sub-6 GHz network coverage across urban areas. The 5G network in the Kanto region (Greater Tokyo Area) expanded by approximately 110% in 2024. 5G mmWave (millimeter-wave) is available in major districts like Shinjuku, Harajuku, and major train stations. The 700 MHz platinum band, launched in June 2024, significantly improves indoor and underground coverage throughout the city. Network speeds often exceed 200 Mbps, with peak speeds up to 1 Gbps in 5G areas.

• Is Rakuten Mobile coverage good in rural areas?

  Rakuten Mobile's coverage in rural areas varies by location. The nationwide 4G LTE population coverage is approximately 99.9%, which includes both Rakuten's native infrastructure and au's partner network in areas where Rakuten has not yet built coverage. The 700 MHz platinum band launched in June 2024 has significantly improved rural coverage, especially for indoor penetration and filling coverage gaps. Major regional cities like Sendai, Sapporo, and other prefectural capitals have good 4G LTE coverage with increasing 5G deployment. However, remote mountainous areas and small islands may experience limited coverage depending on the specific location.

• What is Rakuten Mobile's 5G coverage like?

  Rakuten Mobile operates approximately 17,200 outdoor 5G base stations across all 47 prefectures as of May 2024. 5G Sub-6 GHz provides wide-area coverage with speeds up to 1 Gbps in major metropolitan areas including Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka, Sendai, Hiroshima, and Sapporo. 5G mmWave technology is available in limited urban zones like major train stations and stadiums, offering even higher speeds. The 5G network in the Kanto region (Tokyo area) expanded by approximately 110% in 2024-2025, with other regions seeing expansion rates of 40-100%. More than 80% of base stations use Massive-MIMO antennas for improved speeds and capacity. 4G LTE serves as fallback coverage in all areas.

• Does Rakuten Mobile work in Osaka?

  Yes, Rakuten Mobile works very well in Osaka. The city has seen significant 5G network expansion with base station upgrades that doubled average speeds. Osaka offers comprehensive 5G Sub-6 GHz coverage, with 5G mmWave available in the city center. Network speeds typically range from 500-800 Mbps in 5G areas, with peaks up to 1 Gbps. The 700 MHz platinum band launched in June 2024 improves indoor coverage in buildings and underground areas. Osaka, being part of the Kansai region, benefits from Rakuten's strong native infrastructure throughout the metropolitan area.

• How does Rakuten coverage compare to other carriers?

  Rakuten Mobile achieves approximately 99.9% nationwide 4G LTE population coverage, comparable to established carriers NTT Docomo, au, and SoftBank. Key differences: Rakuten operates a newer network infrastructure built over recent years versus traditional carriers' larger infrastructure built over decades. Rakuten excels in major metropolitan areas with its own native infrastructure. In areas without native coverage, Rakuten uses au's partner network to ensure nationwide connectivity. The 700 MHz platinum band launched in June 2024 helps close the gap with traditional carriers for indoor and underground coverage. Rakuten's advantage is significantly lower pricing while achieving competitive coverage in populated areas where most users live and work.

• What is Rakuten Mobile's population coverage in Japan?

  Rakuten Mobile achieves approximately 99.9% nationwide 4G LTE population coverage across all 47 prefectures. This includes both Rakuten's native infrastructure and au's partner network. Major metropolitan areas including Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka, Sendai, Hiroshima, and Sapporo have extensive native coverage. The network includes approximately 17,200 outdoor 5G base stations as of May 2024, with more than 80% utilizing Massive-MIMO technology. The 700 MHz platinum band launched in June 2024 and continues to expand as part of Rakuten's long-term network development roadmap, further improving indoor and rural coverage.

• Does Rakuten Mobile use partner networks?

  Yes, in areas without Rakuten's native infrastructure, Rakuten Mobile uses au's partner network to ensure nationwide coverage. This partnership ensures you have coverage throughout Japan while Rakuten continues expanding its native network. Major metropolitan areas including Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka, Sendai, Hiroshima, and Sapporo primarily use Rakuten's native infrastructure with excellent 4G/5G coverage. Check the official Rakuten Mobile site for current data conditions in partner areas, and use the coverage map to see which areas use native versus partner networks before signing up.