In short: your first-month plan charge is based on the data you use from your start date to the end of that month. It is not divided by the number of days. Charges start on a date set by Rakuten Mobile’s rules, which can be before you first use the line. Each month’s usage is billed the following month, and the date Rakuten Mobile bills is not always the date money leaves your bank account.
This guide covers the Rakuten SAIKYO Plan for individuals. It does not cover Rakuten Turbo, or older plans on the docomo or au networks. Rakuten SAIKYO U-NEXT has its own price, so check its official page. Prices include tax.
When do charges start?
Your application date is not necessarily your billing start date. Rakuten Mobile determines when charges begin using the rules below. You cannot choose the date.
- New number: charges start on whichever comes first: the day service starts on your SIM card or eSIM, or the day Rakuten Mobile is notified that your delivery was completed. So charges can start once your delivery arrives, even if you have not set up the SIM yet.
- Keeping your number (MNP): charges start on the day service starts on your SIM card or eSIM. If you do not complete activation yourself, the line switches automatically at 10:00 on the expiry date of your MNP reservation number, and charges start then. See how to switch and keep your number.
You can check your service start date in my Rakuten Mobile, Rakuten Mobile’s account service. It is available in the Rakuten Link app or on the web.
Source: When charges start (Japanese)
Is the first month prorated?
Not for the plan itself. Rakuten Mobile charges your first month by the data you use from your start date to the end of that month. If you start on April 15, it counts your data from April 15 to April 30. If you start on April 30, it counts only that day’s data.
| Data used in the month | Plan charge (tax included) |
|---|---|
| Up to 3GB | ¥1,078 |
| Over 3GB, up to 20GB | ¥2,178 |
| Over 20GB | ¥3,278 |
These are plan charges only, before discounts and any other charges. For example, if you start on the 28th and use 5GB by the end of the month, the plan charge for that month is ¥2,178, not a few days’ worth.
Options are different. Most monthly options are prorated by the number of days from your contract date. Some are always charged for a full month, whatever day you add them. Rakuten Mobile’s list includes 15-minute (standard) unlimited calls and international unlimited calls.
Sources: First-month charge (Japanese) · Options that are not prorated (Japanese) · Rakuten SAIKYO Plan prices
When will your first payment leave your account?
Usage from the 1st to the end of a month is billed the following month. Around the 4th of that month, you can start to see the amount in my Rakuten Mobile, but it is not final yet. After that, the dates depend on your payment method.
| Payment method | Rakuten Mobile bills | Money leaves your account |
|---|---|---|
| Credit card | Around the 11th to 13th, to your card company | On your card company’s schedule |
| Debit card | Around the 11th to 13th, to your bank | At the same time as the bill |
| Bank account direct debit | On the 27th | On the 27th, or the next business day if the 27th is a weekend or holiday |
Example: for October usage, the amount starts to appear around November 4. With a credit card, Rakuten Mobile bills your card company around November 11 to 13, and your bank account is charged whenever your card company collects. With direct debit, the payment is taken on November 27.
Rakuten Points: if you pay by credit or debit card, you can set Rakuten Points to be used for your bill. Points are used around the 11th to 13th, time-limited points first, then regular points, then Rakuten Pay balance. The rest is charged to your card. Points cannot be used with direct debit.
To choose or change how you pay, see Rakuten Mobile payment methods.
Sources: Billing and payment flow (Japanese) · Billing and payment dates (Japanese)
How to read your bill and payment record
To check your bill in the web version of my Rakuten Mobile, follow these steps. The labels and navigation in the Rakuten Link app may differ.
- Open 利用料金 (usage charges).
- Choose the month you want to check, then 利用明細を見る (view statement).
- Look at 利用内訳 (breakdown). If you have more than one line, choose the right phone number.
- For downloads, use 利用明細・支払い証明書 (statements and payment certificates). There you can get the statement, the payment certificate and details of calls, SMS and data.
The Japanese labels come from Rakuten Mobile’s support pages. The English next to them is my explanation, not necessarily the wording on the English screens.
- Statement and payment certificate are different. The statement (利用明細) does not show Rakuten Points you used. The amount you actually paid after points is on the payment certificate (支払い証明書), which is issued after payment.
- No payment certificate yet? Rakuten Mobile says that if a payment certificate has not been issued, the bill may be unpaid. Check your payment status.
- Data shown in the app is approximate. Rakuten Mobile says the data usage shown in my Rakuten Mobile is an estimate and may not match the tier you are billed for.
- Records are kept for 12 months. Statements more than 12 months old cannot be viewed or downloaded in my Rakuten Mobile.
Sources: Statements and payment certificates (Japanese) · Checking billed data usage (Japanese) · Billing and payment flow (Japanese)
Why is the amount higher than expected?
Start with the breakdown for the right month and phone number. Then check these items one by one:
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Data tier | The data shown in the app is approximate. The billed data decides the tier. |
| Calls and SMS | Calls and SMS sent from your phone’s standard apps may incur charges. Standard domestic calls normally cost ¥22 per 30 seconds, unless covered by an applicable calling option or a free-call exception. See calls and charges in Rakuten Link. |
| Options | Check which options you have. Some are charged for a full month even in the month you add them. |
| Phone or accessories | If you bought a product from Rakuten Mobile, check whether its payments are on this bill. |
| Other people’s lines | Rakuten Mobile suggests checking that a family member’s or friend’s contract is not set to pay with your card or bank account. |
| Discounts | Some discounts, such as the family discount, need a sign-up or procedure before they apply. |
| Contract fee | Only applies in some cases. See below. |
Contract fee: for new contracts from November 19, 2025, a fee of ¥3,850 per line applies to your fifth line and beyond, counted over all lines contracted under your name since April 8, 2020, including cancelled ones. No contract administration fee applies to the first four cumulative lines. Rakuten Mobile says the fee is confirmed by the end of the month after next from your service start, and added to the following month’s bill. In its example, a line that started in November has the fee confirmed at the end of January and billed in February, so it is not on your first bill. Rakuten Mobile emails you when the fee is confirmed.
Sources: If your bill is higher than expected (Japanese) · Counting your lines and the contract fee (Japanese)
Does this look like a duplicate charge?
With a credit card, two separate events can look like a double charge. Rakuten Mobile explains that last month’s usage appears on your card statement around the 11th to 13th. The month before that is taken from your bank account by your card company later, often from late in the month to early the next month, depending on the card company.
Before you assume a mistake, check:
- Which usage month each charge is for.
- Which phone number each charge is for.
- The amounts and the transaction dates.
If you still see two charges for the same month and line, contact Rakuten Mobile, and your card company if needed. This check cannot rule out a real error.
If you have already cancelled, check the guide to cancellation and final payments before assuming that a later charge is an error.
Frequently asked questions
Is it cheaper to start at the end of the month?
Not in the way it may seem. The first-month plan charge depends on how much data you use in that month, not on the number of days. See first-month charge.
If I have not used the SIM yet, is it free?
Not necessarily. For a new number, charges can start when your delivery is completed, even if you have not set up the SIM. See when charges start.
Why can I not see my bill yet?
Each month’s charges start to appear around the 4th of the following month, so your first bill appears after the end of your first month.
I used Rakuten Points. Why does my statement show the full amount?
The statement does not show points used. Check the payment certificate, issued after payment, for the amount you actually paid.
What to check before contacting support
Have these ready:
- The usage month and the phone number.
- The item on the bill you are asking about.
- Your payment method, and the transaction date on your card or bank statement.
If a charge is still unclear, or a payment has failed, contact Rakuten Mobile. Do not leave an unpaid bill unpaid. Rakuten Mobile’s contact page lists an English Support phone line, 0800-805-0805, from 9:00 to 17:00 Japan time every day. The call may involve a telephone interpreter.
Never share your password with anyone. If support needs information about your bill, provide only the details requested through Rakuten Mobile’s official channels. Do not send card numbers, identity documents or unredacted bills to this site.
Checked against Rakuten Mobile’s official pages on September 27, 2026. I have not signed in to my Rakuten Mobile or checked a real bill for this guide. Prices, dates and procedures may change; if anything here differs from Rakuten Mobile’s official information, the official information applies. This guide is written by Takahiko Tanaka and is not an official Rakuten Mobile website.