Rakuten Points for Beginners — How to Earn, Spend & Save in Japan (2026)

You keep hearing about "Rakuten Points" everywhere — your phone plan mentions them, your colleagues collect them, and that signup bonus promises thousands of them. But what are they actually worth, and how do you use them?

We work at Rakuten, so we're admittedly biased — but we also know this system inside and out. Here's the practical guide.

The Basics: What Are Rakuten Points?

Rakuten Points are a loyalty currency used across the Rakuten ecosystem. Simple version:

1 point = ¥1

No conversion needed. No minimum balance. No complicated redemption process.

You earn them by using Rakuten services and spending at partner stores. You spend them the same way you'd spend yen — at over 1.2 million locations across Japan.

Where Can You Actually Use Them?

This is where it gets interesting. Rakuten Points aren't locked into some niche online store. You can use them at:

Physical stores (via Rakuten Pay app):

• Convenience stores (most major chains)
• Supermarkets
• Drugstores and pharmacies
• Restaurants and fast food chains
• Department stores

Online:

• Rakuten Ichiba (Japan's largest e-commerce platform — think Amazon)
• Rakuten Travel (hotels and flights)
• Rakuten Books
• Rakuten Fashion

Bills:

• Your Rakuten Mobile phone bill
• Rakuten Hikari internet bill

How to use them in stores: Open the Rakuten Pay app on your phone, and scan the QR code at checkout. You can choose to pay fully with points, partially, or save them. It takes about 5 seconds.

How to Earn Points

From Your Phone Plan (Automatic)

If you sign up for Rakuten Mobile through our employee referral:

• Signup bonus: Up to ¥14,000 in points (¥11,000 new / ¥14,000 MNP)
• Monthly usage: Your phone bill doesn't directly earn points, but being a Rakuten Mobile subscriber boosts your earning rate on everything else (see SPU below)

From Shopping (Rakuten Ichiba)

Every purchase on Rakuten Ichiba earns at least 1% back in points. With SPU (Super Point Up), this can go much higher.

From Daily Spending (Rakuten Pay)

Using Rakuten Pay at physical stores earns 1%+ back in points. Combined with a Rakuten Card, this can reach 1.5–2%.

From Rakuten Card (Credit Card)

The Rakuten Card earns 1% on all purchases, anywhere — not just at Rakuten stores. It's one of the most popular credit cards in Japan.

Note for newcomers: Getting a credit card as a new foreigner is difficult (6+ months of salary history usually required). Start with a debit card from your bank and apply for a Rakuten Card later.

SPU: The Multiplier System

SPU (Super Point Up) is Rakuten's loyalty multiplier. The more Rakuten services you use, the higher your point earning rate on Rakuten Ichiba.

How it works: Each Rakuten service you use adds to your multiplier. When you shop on Rakuten Ichiba, your points earned are multiplied by your SPU level.

Example: With Rakuten Mobile + Rakuten Card + Rakuten Bank, you could earn 6%+ back on every Rakuten Ichiba purchase. Buy ¥10,000 worth of daily necessities → get ¥600 back in points.

Important (2025 update): SPU for mobile services now requires a separate entry. After signing up for Rakuten Mobile, go to the SPU entry page and activate it. Without this step, your mobile subscription won't boost your SPU rate.

Practical Tips for Maximizing Points

1. Consolidate Your Spending

The Rakuten ecosystem rewards loyalty. The more services you use through Rakuten, the more points you earn on everything. A common "starter stack" for foreigners:

1. Rakuten Mobile (phone) → starts earning SPU
2. Rakuten Pay (daily shopping) → earns 1%+ on physical purchases
3. Rakuten Ichiba (online shopping) → earns SPU-multiplied points
4. Rakuten Bank (eventually) → boosts SPU further
5. Rakuten Card (when eligible) → boosts everything

2. Use Points for Your Phone Bill

You can set your Rakuten Mobile bill to auto-deduct from your point balance. This means your signup bonus of ¥11,000–¥14,000 effectively gives you 3–4 months of free phone service.

3. Shop During Point Events

Rakuten Ichiba regularly holds "Super Sale" and "Okaimono Marathon" (shopping marathon) events where point multipliers stack even higher. These happen roughly every month. Stock up on daily necessities during these events.

4. Don't Hoard Points

Points have an expiration date:

• Regular points: Expire at the end of the last day of the month, one year after being earned
• Limited-time points: Vary, but typically 1–6 months

Check your point balance and expiration dates in the Rakuten Point Club app. Use points before they expire — there's no benefit to saving them.

Getting Started: Your First 30 Days

Here's a practical timeline for building your Rakuten Points ecosystem:

Day 1: Create a Rakuten ID (free, 2 min) and lock in your phone referral bonus. See our main setup guide for instructions.

Week 1–2: Open a bank account. See our bank account guide.

Week 2–3: Complete your Rakuten Mobile application. Activate SPU entry.

Week 3+: Download Rakuten Pay. Start using it for daily purchases.

Month 2+: Start shopping on Rakuten Ichiba for things you'd buy anyway (toiletries, household items, electronics). Your SPU multiplier makes this worthwhile.

Month 6+: Consider applying for a Rakuten Card (credit card) once you have enough salary history.

Points from Your Signup Bonus

If you sign up through our employee referral, here's what to expect:

• Amount: ¥11,000 (new subscriber) or ¥14,000 (MNP/switching from another carrier)
• When they arrive: In installments starting about 4 months after your referral login
• Type: Limited-time points (use within the expiration period)
• What to do with them: Pay your phone bill, use at convenience stores, or shop on Rakuten Ichiba

¥11,000 is roughly equivalent to:

• 3.4 months of phone service (3GB plan)
• 36 convenience store lunches
• A nice dinner for two at a restaurant