Japan Country Code (+81): Complete Guide to Calling Japan
Complete guide to Japan country code +81. Learn how to dial Japan from abroad, understand Tokyo, Osaka area codes, mobile operators (NTT Docomo, au, SoftBank, Rakuten), LINE app, and save money on calls.
Quick Facts: Japan Country Code
| Country Code | +81 |
| International Prefix | 010 (from Japan) |
| Number Format | +81 X XXXX XXXX |
| Time Zone | JST (UTC+9, no DST) |
| Major Carriers | NTT Docomo, au, SoftBank, Rakuten |
How to Dial Japan
The Japan country code is +81. Japanese numbers start with 0 domestically - drop the 0 when calling internationally.
From the USA
Format: 011 + 81 + Area Code (no 0) + Number
Example (Tokyo): 011-81-3-XXXX-XXXX
From UK/Europe
Format: 00 + 81 + Area Code (no 0) + Number
Example (Mobile): 00-81-90-XXXX-XXXX
Japan Area Codes
| City | Area Code |
|---|---|
| Tokyo | 03 |
| Osaka | 06 |
| Yokohama | 045 |
| Nagoya | 052 |
| Kyoto | 075 |
| Mobile Numbers | 090, 080, 070 |
Mobile Operators in Japan
Japan has four major mobile carriers:
- NTT Docomo (~36%): Largest carrier, best coverage nationwide
- au / KDDI (~27%): Second largest, strong rural coverage
- SoftBank (~21%): Third carrier, owns Yahoo Japan
- Rakuten Mobile (~16%): Newest carrier, aggressive pricing
📱 Japanese Mobile Format: Mobile numbers start with 090, 080, or 070 (90, 80, 70 internationally).
Cost to Call Japan
| Service | Rate |
|---|---|
| BubblyPhone | $0.02-0.03/min |
| Carrier (AT&T/Verizon) | $2.00-3.50/min |
| T-Mobile (Magenta) | $0.25/min or free |
| LINE App | Free (app-to-app) |
Time Zone
Japan uses Japan Standard Time (JST, UTC+9) year-round - no daylight saving:
- 7 PM EST = 9 AM next day in Japan
- 6 AM EST = 8 PM same day in Japan
Japan is 14 hours ahead of EST (13 hours ahead of EDT).
Pro Tips for Calling Japan
- Drop the Zero: Japanese numbers start with 0 domestically. Remove it internationally: 03 → +81 3
- Use LINE: LINE is Japan's #1 messaging app (95M+ users) - free calls over WiFi/data
- Mobile Prefixes: 090 (oldest), 080, 070 (newest) - all work the same
- No DST: Japan doesn't observe daylight saving, so time difference changes when US switches clocks
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