A Complete Japan Area Code Guide: Calling To & From Japan

Knowing area codes in Japan is important when making a local phone call. More importantly, you also need to know Japan's country code, or you'll make a local phone call in your country. 

This complete Japan area code guide is here for you to help you.

Breaking down Japanese phone number structure

Japanese phone numbers are broken down into three parts:

• Country code: +81

• Area code: various throughout Japan

• Local Number 

If you have a phone number in Japan, you'll see either 070, 080, or 090 at the beginning and are not tied to any particular location. 

Japan country code

If you are making an international call to Japan, dial +81 first while leaving out the first zero of the area code.

For example, Tokyo's area code is (03). So, if you are calling from abroad, dial +81 3, followed by the rest of the number. 

Japan area code

The area code Japan uses varies throughout the region and can be split into two categories: non-regular and geographical area codes.

Non-regular area codes for Japan

Mobile phone (070, 080, or 090)

If you have a mobile phone in Japan, it'll start with an area code of 070, 080, or 090.

So you have a 070, 080, or 909 number anywhere in Japan. 

0570 area code japan

While not an area code for Japan, the 0570 number is for receiving mass calls, such as a call center. 

0120 area code japan

If you see a phone number with 0120, a toll-free number. It is often referred to as "free dial" (フリーダイヤル) or "free call" (フリーコール) telephone numbers in Japan. 

050 area code japan

If you see a 050 phone number, it is an IP-based phone. That means making or receiving calls over the Internet rather than traditional phone lines. 

A virtual phone number is an example of an IP-based phone number.

All phone codes in Japan

Some phone area codes overlap between prefectures as well as many prefectures have multiple areas for their area.

Here are the most common area codes for major prefectures and cities in Japan. 

• Sapporo, Hokkaido: (011)

• Hakodate, Hokkaido: (013-8)

• Asahikawa, Hokkai: (016-6)

• Aomori: (017)

• Akita: (018)

• Morioka: (019)

• Sendai: (022)

• Yamagata (023)

• Fukushima (024)

• Niigata (025)  

• Nagano (026)

• Gunma (027)

• Tochigi (028)

• Ibaraki (029)

• Tokyo’s 23 special wards: (03)

• Tokyo prefecture: (042)

• Tokorozawa, Saitama (0429)

• Gyōda, Saitama (048-5)

• Higashimatsuyama, Saitama (049-3)

• Funabashi, Chiba (047)

• Chiba, Chiba (043)

• Kawasaki, Kanagawa (044)

• Yokohama, Kanagawa (045)

• Fujisawa, Kanagawa (046-6)

• Hamamatsu, Shizuoka (053)

• Shizuoka, Shizuoka (054)

• Kōfu, Yamanashi (055-2)

• Nagoya, Aichi (052)

• Toyota, Aichi (056-5)

• Gifu, Gifu (058)

• Takayama, Gifu (0577)

• Mie (059)

• Osaka City (06)

• Osaka prefecture: (072)

• Wakayama (073)

• Nara, Nara (0742)

• Kyoto, Kyoto (075)

• Ishikawa (076)

• Toyama (076)

• Fukui, Fukui (0776)

•  Kobe, Hyōgo (078)

•  Hyōgo prefecture (079)

•  Hiroshima, Hiroshima (082)

• Yamaguchi (083) 

• Fukuyama, Hiroshima (0849)

• Shimane (085)

• Tottori (085)

• Okayama (086)

• Kagawa (087)

• Kōchi (088)

• Tokushima (088)

• Ehime (089)

• Fukuoka, Fukuoka (092)

• Kitakyushu, Fukuoka (093)

• Kurume, Fukuoka (0942)

• Nagasaki (095)

• Saga (095)

• Kumamoto (096)

• Ōita (097)

• Miyazaki (098)

• Okinawa (098)

• Kagoshima (099)

While it is not necessary to memorize any of these Japanese phone codes, it can be a fun fact to know. 

How do you call Japan from abroad?

If you are abroad and want to make calls to Japan, you'll need to do the following:

1. Dial your country's international exit code (011 in the U.S. or 00 in many European countries)

2. Dial Japan's country code: +81

3. Input Japan's area code by omitting the first zero (If it's 03, then input just 3 after +81)

4. Input the rest of the phone number

So, the final format should look like this: (International Exit Code) +81 (Area Code without 0) (Local Number).

How do you make phone calls in Japan?

Option 1: Wifi call

Popular instant messaging and wifi-call apps such as Line and WhatsApp allow you to make international calls as long as you have a good internet connection. 

Option 2: Phone call

Domestic calls

You can input the number in your dialer if you are calling domestically and have a Japanese phone number. You can also tap the number on your phone to make the call.

If you are calling from abroad, you can 

When you want to make an international call from Japan, 

From Japan to abroad

If you are in Japan and want to make calls abroad, you'll need to do the following:

1. Dial 010 (Japan's exit code)

2. Dial the destination country code 

3. Dial the area code (without the leading zero)

4. Dial the rest of the phone number

So the final format is: 010 (Destination Country Code) (Area Code without 0) (Local Number).

Frequently asked questions

What is the area code 080 in Japan?

An area code 080 in Japan is for cell phones.

What is Japan's area code?

Japan has various area codes. Its country code is +81, ranging from 011 to 099 throughout Japan.

What is an example of a phone number in Japan?

An example format of a Japanese phone would be: (Area Code) (The Rest of The Digits). So a Tokyo phone number would look like: (03) 1234-5678, with Tokyo's area code being (03).

In closing

We hope this page helped you understand area codes throughout Japan and the phone number system. Knowing the length and format will help you connect easily, domestically or internationally.