Should You Keep
Rakuten Mobile During Your Malaysia Education Migration?
Japanese Number, Free Calls & Overseas Use Explained
When preparing for education migration or mother-child study abroad in Malaysia, it's easy to focus on school selection, visa applications, finding a place to live, and living costs. One thing that often gets put off, however, is deciding what to do with your Japanese mobile number. A local SIM will handle your day-to-day needs just fine, but if you use Japanese bank accounts, credit cards, or brokerage accounts, there will still be situations where a Japanese number is required. That's where Rakuten Mobile comes in as a strong candidate.
Conclusion First
Rakuten Mobile is recommended for people who:
- Want to keep a Japanese phone number
- May need to make calls to Japan
- Want some data connectivity overseas as well
- Make temporary return trips to Japan
- Use Rakuten services
Not recommended for people who:
- Want to keep maintenance costs as low as possible
- Only need to keep a number for SMS verification
- Rarely make calls to Japan
Rakuten Mobile is"a balanced solution for Japanese number retention + free calls + overseas use"— ideal for those who want all three.
- Why You Still Need a Japanese Number Even After Moving to Malaysia
- Why Rakuten Mobile Suits Families Who Have Relocated for Education
- Things to Watch Out for When Using Rakuten Mobile Overseas
- Rakuten Mobile vs. povo vs. ahamo Comparison
- Who Rakuten Mobile Is and Isn't Right For
- Pre-Departure Checklist
- Conclusion | Rakuten Mobile's Strength Is Its Free Calling
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why You Still Needa Japanese Number Even After Moving to Malaysia
Once you start living in Malaysia, you'll find far fewer occasions to use your Japanese phone number. Even so, situations where a Japanese number is necessary will still arise — for example:
- Logging in to a Japanese bank
- Verifying your identity for a credit card
- Accessing a brokerage account
- Completing SMS verification for various services
- Using Japanese services during a temporary return to Japan
SMS verification in particular is something many people find troublesome after overseas life begins. We recommend confirming which services are linked to your Japanese number before cancelling it.
Why Rakuten MobileSuits Families Who Have Relocated for Education
Rakuten Mobile's appeal goes beyond simply maintaining a Japanese number.
Make Free Calls to Japan with Rakuten Link
One of Rakuten Mobile's biggest strengths is its free-calling app, Rakuten Link. This is a dedicated app for Rakuten Mobile subscribers, and by making calls through the app, you can call Japanese phone numbers for free. When living abroad, you'll find yourself in situations like these more often than you might expect:
- Contacting family in Japan
- Enquiring with your bank
- Contacting your credit card company
- Checking in with schools or government offices
While povo and ahamo focus primarily on "maintaining a Japanese number" and "data connectivity," Rakuten MobileIt also covers calls to Japan more easily,which is a major difference.
Up to 2 GB of data available overseas every month
With Rakuten Mobile, you can use high-speed data communication of up to 2 GB per month in designated overseas regions. Malaysia is one of the eligible regions. It comes in handy in situations such as the following:
- Calling a Grab ride right after arrival
- Using Google Maps
- Getting to school visits and tours
- Using it as a stopgap until you get a local SIM
It is not suited as a primary line for long-term living, but it is convenient as a supplementary line right after arrival.
Works well with Rakuten services
If you are using Rakuten Card, Rakuten Bank, Rakuten Securities, and similar services, keeping your Japanese number offers significant benefits.
Things to Watch Out ForWhen Using Rakuten Mobile Overseas
Rakuten Mobile is convenient, but it is not suited to be used as your main line for life in Malaysia on an ongoing basis. The reason is that high-speed data communication available overseas is limited to 2 GB per month.
For this reason,using a local SIM for everyday communication and Rakuten Mobile for keeping your Japanese numberis the recommended approach.
About Rakuten Mobile's running costs
Rakuten Mobile uses a tiered pricing system based on your usage. As the pricing structure is subject to change, please check the official website for the latest information.
If your sole purpose is to keep a Japanese number, povo may allow you to keep costs lower in some cases. On the other hand, Rakuten Mobile's strength is that it conveniently bundles Japanese number retention, overseas data use, and free calls to Japan all in one.
Rakuten Mobile / povo / ahamoComparison
| Feature | Rakuten Mobile | povo | ahamo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese number retention | ◎Retention supported | ◎ | ◎ |
| SMS authentication | ◎Authentication supported | ◎ | ◎ |
| Calls to Japan | ◎Free via Rakuten Link | △ | ○ |
| Overseas data usage | ○2 GB per month | △ | ◎ |
| Ease of use upon arrival | ○Convenient as a secondary line | △ | ◎ |
| Pre-move visits / short-term stays | ○ | △ | ◎ |
| For long-term overseas residents | ◎Balances line retention + calls + overseas use | ○ | △ |
| Monthly maintenance cost | ○ | ◎ | △ |
| Ease of management | ○ | △ | ◎ |
※ Fees and conditions are subject to change. Please check the latest information on each official website.
In a word
- Rakuten Mobile: Best for those who want a balanced solution — keeping a Japanese number, making free calls, and using data overseas.
- povo: Best for those who want to keep a Japanese number at the lowest possible cost.
- ahamo: Best for those who want reliable connectivity from the moment they arrive during a pre-move visit or short-term stay.
Who Rakuten MobileIs and Isn't Right For
Who Rakuten Mobile is right for
- You want to keep a Japanese phone number
- You may need to make calls to Japan
- You want some data connectivity overseas as well
- You use Rakuten Card, Rakuten Bank, or Rakuten Securities
- You plan to return to Japan temporarily
Who Rakuten Mobile is not right for
- You want to keep a Japanese number at the absolute lowest cost
- You only need a number for SMS verification
- You rarely use mobile data overseas
- You rarely make calls to Japan
Rakuten Mobile is not the cheapest option. However, for households that want not only to keep a Japanese number but also to make free calls to Japan, it is a well-balanced choice.
Before DepartureChecklist
Before leaving for Malaysia, it is reassuring to confirm the following.
Things to check before departure
- ✓Set up Rakuten Link
- ✓Confirm that SMS verification codes are received
- ✓Check the registered number for Rakuten services
Rakuten Mobile'sStrength Is "Free Calling"
Rakuten Mobile stands out for combining Japanese number retention, free calls via Rakuten Link, and 2 GB of overseas data all in one plan. For households that need to make calls from abroad to Japan in particular, Rakuten Link provides significant peace of mind.
On the other hand, if your only goal is to keep a Japanese number, povo may allow you to keep costs lower.
A Practical Way to Split Usage
✓For everyday data use,a local SIM
✓For keeping your Japanese number and calling Japan,Rakuten Mobile
Our Comment
Once you start living abroad, you may find yourself calling Japan more often than you'd expect — whether it's inquiries to your bank or credit card company or other situations where you need to dial a Japanese phone number. In that sense, Rakuten Mobile, with its free calling through Rakuten Link, is a reassuring option.
