Cheap Calls to Japan — From $0.0460/min
Country code: +81
Landline
BEST VALUE10 min call = $0.46
Mobile
10 min call = $0.46
Call from your browser, or download our iOS / Android app
How Much Does a Call to Japan Cost?
Quick reference at our base rate of $0.0460/min:
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Start with as little as $5. Top up more and get bonus credit — stretch your calls to Japan even further.
Rate Breakdown — Japan
Rates vary by carrier and line type. Here's exactly what you'll pay per minute, broken down by destination type.
Rates are per minute, billed per second. No connection fees. Updated regularly from our carrier.
How to Dial Japan from the US
Dial your country's international exit code (011 from the US/Canada, 00 from Europe, or just use + on a mobile)
Dial 81 — Japan's country code
Dial the area code (e.g., 3 for Tokyo, 6 for Osaka) plus the subscriber number, or the mobile number starting with 70, 80, or 90 — drop the leading 0
Number Format Examples
Landline (Tokyo): +81 3 XXXX XXXX
Landline (Osaka): +81 6 XXXX XXXX
Mobile (NTT Docomo): +81 90 XXXX XXXX
Mobile (SoftBank): +81 80 XXXX XXXX
From US landline: 011 81 3 XXXX XXXX
Common Mistakes
- Drop the leading 0 — Japanese domestic numbers start with 0 (e.g., 03 for Tokyo, 090 for mobile), but from abroad dial 81 3 or 81 90 directly.
- Tokyo uses area code 3, Osaka 6, Yokohama 45, Nagoya 52, Sapporo 11. Tokyo and Osaka have single-digit codes.
- Mobile numbers start with 70, 80, or 90 after the country code. NTT Docomo, au (KDDI), SoftBank, and Rakuten Mobile are the major carriers.
- Japanese phone numbers are typically 10 digits after the country code for landlines and 10 digits for mobiles.
What You Actually Pay — Japan Rate Comparison
Most services advertise a low rate but tack on connection fees, monthly minimums, or round up to 3-minute blocks. Here's a transparent comparison.
Call Japan from Any Device
Web Browser
No downloads needed. Open Chrome, Safari, Firefox, or Edge and start calling instantly.
iOS App
Native iPhone app with one-tap dialing, contact sync, and push notifications.
Android App
Native Android app with the same seamless experience. Your account syncs across all devices.
All platforms share the same account, balance, and call history. Start a call on your laptop, next time dial from your phone — it just works.
AI Call Transcription & Summary
Full Transcription
Every word of your call to Japan, transcribed by AI into readable text. Available in your call history immediately after the call ends.
AI Summary
Get an AI-generated summary of key points from your conversation. Perfect for business calls or remembering important details.
Best Time to Call Japan
Tokyo
5:05 AM
Sat, Mar 21
Osaka
5:05 AM
Sat, Mar 21
Yokohama
5:05 AM
Sat, Mar 21
Nagoya
5:05 AM
Sat, Mar 21
Sapporo
5:05 AM
Sat, Mar 21
Time zone: JST (UTC+9)
From EST: JST is 14 hours ahead of US Eastern (13 hours ahead during EDT)
From CST: JST is 15 hours ahead of US Central
From PST: JST is 17 hours ahead of US Pacific
Japan is UTC+9, which means a huge time difference from the US. Evening in Japan (7–9 PM JST) is 5–7 AM US Eastern. Morning in Japan (8–10 AM JST) is 6–8 PM US Eastern the previous day. The easiest overlap is early morning Japan / evening US.
Calling Japan — Things to Know
- LINE is by far the dominant messaging app in Japan — over 95 million monthly users. It's used for everything from personal messaging to business communication, payments, and news. If you know someone in Japan, they almost certainly use LINE.
- Japan does not observe daylight saving time. The 14-hour difference from US Eastern (EST) changes to 13 hours during EDT. This makes the time difference tricky — plan calls carefully.
- NTT Docomo is the largest carrier, followed by au (KDDI), SoftBank, and Rakuten Mobile. Coverage is excellent even in rural and mountainous areas.
- Japanese business culture values phone etiquette. For business calls, call during working hours (9 AM–5 PM JST) and be concise. For personal calls, evening is fine.
- Japan has one of the best telecom infrastructures in the world. 5G coverage is widespread in urban areas. Data-based calls are very reliable.
- BubblyPhone is useful for calling Japanese landlines and businesses — something LINE can't do. Many Japanese businesses still rely heavily on phone calls.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest way to call Japan from the US?
Rebtel offers $0.02/min. BubblyPhone and Google Voice both start at $0.03/min. AT&T without a plan charges $0.22/min.
What is Japan's country code?
Japan's country code is +81. Tokyo is area code 3, Osaka 6. Mobile numbers start with 70, 80, or 90. Drop the leading 0.
What time should I call Japan?
Japan (UTC+9) is 14 hours ahead of US Eastern. Evening in Japan (7–9 PM) is 5–7 AM US Eastern. Best overlap: early morning Japan (8 AM) = 6 PM US Eastern.
Is LINE better than phone calls for Japan?
LINE is perfect for app-to-app calls with friends and family. But LINE can't reach landlines, businesses, or people without the app. BubblyPhone calls any Japanese phone number.
Can I call Japanese mobile numbers?
Yes. Japanese mobile numbers start with 70, 80, or 90 after +81. All carriers (Docomo, au, SoftBank, Rakuten) reachable.
Are there hidden fees?
No. BubblyPhone has per-second billing with no connection fees or monthly charges.
How much does a 10-minute call to Japan cost?
With BubblyPhone, about $0.30. With Google Voice, $0.30. With AT&T without a plan, $2.20.
Do I need an app?
No. BubblyPhone works in any web browser. iOS and Android apps also available.
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