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

Every Japanese phone number has three parts. Learn these, and any number makes sense.

• Country code: +81 for any international call to Japan.

• Area code: varies by region. Tokyo uses 03, Osaka uses 06.

• Local number: the remaining digits, unique to that line.

A landline number ties to a specific area code and region. A mobile number does not.

Mobile numbers start with 070, 080, or 090 today, with 060 on the way. These prefixes work the same nationwide, not tied to any single region. A 090 number in Osaka works exactly like a 090 number in Tokyo.

Example: a Tokyo landline reads (03) 1234-5678. A mobile number reads 090-1234-5678, with no area code attached.

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)

A Japan mobile number starts with 070, 080, or 090 today. All three prefixes work the same nationwide.

A fourth prefix, 060, is coming. Japan's telecom ministry approved it in December 2024 to add capacity, since 070 numbers were running low.

Note: the 060 rollout was set to begin in July 2026, but carriers announced a delay on July 8, 2026. The Ministry now expects carriers to finish preparations by the end of fiscal year 2026, though no exact date is confirmed yet. Existing 070, 080, and 090 numbers work exactly as before.

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

A phone number starting with 0120 is toll-free. Japan calls this "free dial" (フリーダイヤル) or "free call" (フリーコール).

A number starting with 0800 works the same way. Japan added 0800 in 1999, once 0120 numbers started running out.

Both prefixes cost the caller nothing. The business receiving the call pays instead.

050 area code Japan

A 050 number is an IP-based phone. It makes and receives calls over the internet instead of a traditional phone line.

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

All phone codes in Japan

Japan's area codes follow a rough pattern. Numbers climb from north to south across the country.

Hokkaido starts near 011. Kyushu and Okinawa sit near 098 and 099, the highest in the list. This pattern isn't a strict rule, but it holds up across most of the country.

Code length also varies by population. Tokyo and Osaka, the two biggest metro areas, use short 2-digit codes: 03 and 06. Smaller cities and rural areas use longer codes, up to 5 digits.

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 (04)

• 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.

Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications sets and manages every area code in the country. This same ministry decides when a region's code needs to change or expand.

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

Type the number into your dialer for any domestic call in Japan. Or just tap the number on your phone screen to call it directly.

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?

080 is one of Japan's mobile phone prefixes, alongside 070 and 090. A fourth prefix, 060, is rolling out in stages, though the exact start date is still pending.

What is Japan's area code?

Japan has no single area code. Each region uses its own, and codes range from 011 to 099.

Japan's country code is +81. Dial this first for any international call to Japan, then add the local area code.

What is an example of a phone number in Japan?

A Japan landline number follows this format: area code, then the local number.

• Tokyo landline: (03) 1234-5678

• Osaka landline: (06) 1234-5678

• Mobile number: 090-1234-5678, with no area code

To dial a Tokyo landline from abroad, drop the leading zero. Dial +81 3 1234 5678.

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.