Quick answer: +81 is Japan. Mobiles have 10 digits after +81 and start with 70, 80 or 90. Landlines have 9 digits after +81. Japanese numbers are written with a leading 0: drop it. Example: +81 90 1234 5678.

How to dial Japan

Calling from Dial
Any mobile phone +81 + number without the 0
US or Canada landline 011 81 + number without the 0
UK, China or most of Europe landline 00 81 + number without the 0
Australia landline 0011 81 + number without the 0

In Japan, every number starts with a 0: 090-1234-5678 for a mobile, 03-1234-5678 for Tokyo. That 0 is only for calls inside Japan. From abroad, leave it out: 03-1234-5678 becomes +81 3 1234 5678.

Mobile and landline numbers

Mobiles start with 070, 080 or 090 and are 11 digits with the 0, so 10 digits after +81. They have no area code.

Landlines are always 10 digits with the 0, so 9 digits after +81. The area code can be 1 to 5 digits long, and the local number gets shorter as the area code gets longer.

City Area code in Japan From abroad
Tokyo 03 +81 3 xxxx xxxx
Osaka 06 +81 6 xxxx xxxx
Yokohama 045 +81 45 xxx xxxx
Nagoya 052 +81 52 xxx xxxx
Sapporo 011 +81 11 xxx xxxx
Fukuoka 092 +81 92 xxx xxxx
Kyoto 075 +81 75 xxx xxxx
Kobe 078 +81 78 xxx xxxx
Sendai 022 +81 22 xxx xxxx
Hiroshima 082 +81 82 xxx xxxx

Numbers starting 050 are internet phone lines, not mobiles. They have 10 digits after +81, like a mobile.

Codes that get mixed up with +81

+82 is South Korea and +86 is China.

Time difference

Japan is on JST (UTC+9) all year, with no daylight saving time. The gap changes only when your own clocks change.

Where you are Your clocks on summer time Your clocks on standard time
US East Coast Japan is 13h ahead Japan is 14h ahead
US West Coast Japan is 16h ahead Japan is 17h ahead
UK Japan is 8h ahead Japan is 9h ahead
China Japan is 1h ahead all year
Sydney Japan is 2h behind Japan is 1h behind

A 10 PM call from New York reaches Japan at 11 AM the next day in the US summer and at noon in the US winter.

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FAQ

Can I call a Japanese 0120 or 0570 number from abroad?

Usually not. 0570 Navi Dial numbers do not accept calls from overseas, and 0120 or 0800 toll-free numbers are generally set up for callers inside Japan. Look for the company's regular number, which starts with an area code such as 03 or 06.

Why won't my call to +81 go through?

Check three things: you left out the leading 0, you have 10 digits after +81 for a mobile or 9 for a landline, and you dialed 81, not 82.

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