First, Create a Rakuten ID: The Free Account That Runs Everyday Life in Japan (2026)

Quick answer

Before you sign up for Rakuten Mobile — or almost any Rakuten service — you create one free Rakuten ID. It's a single login that works across shopping, payments, travel, and mobile, so making it early smooths out everything that comes after.

What a Rakuten ID actually is

It's a free account — an email and password — that you register once. There's no charge to create or keep it, and you can set it up in a few minutes with just an email address.

The same ID then signs you in to the wider Rakuten ecosystem, so you don't juggle a separate account for each service.

Why newcomers set it up first

Daily life in Japan leans on a handful of everyday services — online shopping, digital payments, and points that stack across them. A Rakuten ID is the single door into that ecosystem, which is why many residents create it in their first weeks.

Because Rakuten Mobile sign-up uses the same ID, having it ready means the mobile step is faster when you get to it.

How to create one

Go to the Rakuten registration page, enter an email address, set a password, and confirm — that's the core of it. You can use it right away for shopping and other services.

Keep your login details somewhere safe: this one account is what you'll reuse across the ecosystem, including when you set up your phone plan.

The natural next step: your phone plan

Once your Rakuten ID exists, adding a Japanese phone number with Rakuten Mobile is straightforward — you apply online with your residence card, and eSIM-capable phones can connect the same day.

See our setup guide for eligibility and the step-by-step, and confirm current terms on the official page before applying.