A Foreigner’s Guide to Japanese Phone Numbers: Prefixes, +81, Call Costs, and the New 060

2026年9月9日

How to Read and Use Phone Numbers in Japan: A Practical Guide

A Japanese phone number tells you more than just whom to call. Its opening digits can indicate a mobile phone, a geographic landline, an internet-based phone, or a service number that may carry a special charge.

The quickest guide is:

060, 070, 080, 090: mobile phone numbers
03, 06, and other area codes: geographic landlines
050: IP phone numbers
0120 and 0800: toll-free service numbers, usually free when called from supported lines in Japan
0570: caller-paid service numbers, often outside unlimited-call plans
+81: Japan’s country code; remove the first domestic 0 when using it

This matters when you enter a number on a bank form, call a customer-service desk, receive an unfamiliar call, or give your contact details to a landlord, school, employer, or delivery company.

TOC

What the opening digits tell you

The prefix identifies the type of number, but it does not prove who is calling. Use it to understand how to dial and what a call may cost—not as proof that a caller is trustworthy.

Mobile numbers: 060, 070, 080, and 090

Japanese mobile numbers contain 11 digits and are normally written in groups such as:

090-1234-5678
080-1234-5678
070-1234-5678
060-1234-5678

The major current change is the addition of 060 numbers. Japan’s mobile operators announced that numbers beginning with 060-1 through 060-9 could start reaching users from July 2026 as operators completed their preparations. Existing 070, 080, and 090 numbers remain valid.

A 060 number should therefore be treated as an ordinary Japanese mobile number. It is not automatically a premium-rate, overseas, or suspicious number.

The prefix also does not reliably identify the current carrier. Mobile number portability, called keitai denwa bangō portability (携帯電話番号ポータビリティ, mobile number portability), lets a user move a number to another provider.

Geographic landlines

A conventional landline begins with a geographic area code. Common examples include:

03-1234-5678 — Tokyo’s 23 wards and nearby covered areas
06-1234-5678 — Osaka and surrounding covered areas
075-123-4567 — Kyoto
011-123-4567 — Sapporo

These are often called kotei denwa (固定電話, fixed telephone) numbers. Official Japanese materials may also use shigai kyokuban (市外局番, area code).

The grouping is not always two digits, four digits, and four digits. Area-code and local-number lengths vary by location, although the full domestic number normally has 10 digits. Copy the number exactly as published instead of trying to regroup it yourself.

A geographic prefix shows the numbering area, but it does not guarantee that the person answering is physically there. Businesses can use call forwarding and other telephone services.

050 IP phone numbers

Numbers beginning with 050 are non-geographic IP phone numbers. They commonly appear in internet calling services, business systems, and app-based phone products.

An 050 number is not tied to a city in the way that 03 or 06 is. It is also not automatically suspicious. However, some short codes and service numbers cannot be reached from every IP phone service, so check your provider’s dialing rules if a call fails.

Toll-free numbers: 0120 and 0800

Numbers beginning with 0120 or 0800 are used for services where the receiving organization normally pays the call charge. Japanese names include furī daiyaru (フリーダイヤル) and chakushin kakin (着信課金, called-party charging).

Typical formats are:

0120-123-456
0800-123-4567

These numbers are useful for customer support and applications, but “toll-free” has practical limits:

The number may accept calls only from selected domestic networks.
Some services reject calls from certain IP phones or overseas connections.
A Japanese toll-free number may not work when dialed from outside Japan.
Business hours and language support are separate from the call charge.

If a toll-free call does not connect, look for a regular geographic or mobile alternative on the organization’s official website.

0570 caller-paid service numbers

A number beginning with 0570 is commonly a Navi Dial (ナビダイヤル) number. It routes calls to a designated service desk, but the caller pays the specified charge.

These calls are particularly important for foreign residents because they may appear on notices from delivery companies, ticket services, government-related contractors, and customer-support centers. Unlimited mobile calling plans often do not cover them. A recorded message normally explains the approximate rate before connection.

Before waiting in a long queue, check whether the organization publishes an ordinary 03, 06, or other geographic number. Also check its web form, chat service, or multilingual support page.

ここがポイント: 0120 and 0800 usually mean the receiving side pays; 0570 means the caller pays. Similar-looking service numbers can therefore produce very different charges.

How to use Japan’s +81 country code

Replace the first domestic 0 with +81 when converting a normal Japanese number to international format. Do not keep both.

Examples:

090-1234-5678 becomes +81 90 1234 5678
03-1234-5678 becomes +81 3 1234 5678
050-1234-5678 becomes +81 50 1234 5678

The common mistake is writing +81 090-1234-5678. That keeps the domestic trunk prefix and is generally incorrect.

Calling from outside Japan

To call a Japanese mobile phone or landline from abroad:

Enter + or your country’s international access code.
Enter Japan’s country code, 81.
Enter the Japanese number without its first 0.
Check the international rate with your carrier before calling.

For example, someone calling 080-1234-5678 from overseas would normally dial +81 80 1234 5678.

Toll-free and short service numbers are different. Numbers such as 0120, 110, or 119 are designed for domestic networks and generally should not be converted mechanically into +81 format. Find an organization’s international contact number when calling from abroad.

Calling a Japanese number while roaming

If your Japanese SIM is roaming overseas, callers in Japan normally continue to dial your usual domestic number. A caller outside Japan can use the +81 version.

Roaming charges can apply to the person receiving the call, depending on the carrier, destination, and plan. A call that looks domestic to the person dialing may still be routed internationally to the roaming handset.

Saving numbers in your contacts

Saving ordinary contacts in +81 format is often convenient if you travel. Many smartphones recognize the number both inside and outside Japan.

Still, keep these separately where necessary:

Japanese emergency numbers
domestic toll-free numbers
short customer-service codes
extension numbers used inside a workplace, hotel, or school

These do not behave like ordinary full-length telephone numbers.

Short numbers you should recognize

Japan uses several numbers without an area code. Their availability can depend on the phone, network, and service.

Emergency calls

The three essential emergency numbers are:

110: police
119: fire and ambulance
118: emergencies at sea

NTT East states that these can be called from most public telephones without coins or a telephone card. On a public phone with a red emergency-call button, lift the receiver, press the button, and dial the emergency number. On a phone without that button, lift the receiver and dial directly.

Use these only for emergencies. Be ready to state what happened, where you are, and a landmark or address. Language support and call-handling arrangements can vary by agency and location.

Other useful short codes

You may also see:

171 — Disaster Emergency Message Dial
188 — Consumer Hotline, which connects residents to a local consumer-affairs consultation desk
#9110 — police consultation for non-emergency concerns

These are not necessarily free. The National Consumer Affairs Center says that charges for 188 depend on the caller’s telephone service and that some IP phones cannot connect. It also warns that flat-rate mobile plans may not cover the separate service charge.

Foreign tourists with a consumer problem can use the Consumer Hotline for Tourists at 03-5449-0906. It offers several languages, including English, during its published weekday hours, and standard call charges apply.

How to write your number on Japanese forms

Use the domestic version unless the form specifically asks for a country code or international format. A Japanese address, bank, school, employer, or delivery form will usually expect the leading zero.

Useful Japanese labels include:

denwa bangō (電話番号) — telephone number
keitai denwa (携帯電話) — mobile phone
kotei denwa (固定電話) — landline
renrakusaki (連絡先) — contact details
shigai kyokuban (市外局番) — area code
naisen (内線) — extension
hisshu (必須) — required
nin’i (任意) — optional

When a form has three boxes

A mobile number may need to be split as:

090 | 1234 | 5678

A Tokyo landline may be:

03 | 1234 | 5678

A number from an area with a longer area code may use a different grouping. Follow the printed number rather than forcing every landline into a 3-4-4 pattern.

When a website rejects hyphens

Try digits only:

09012345678

If a form explicitly provides a separate country-code field, enter 81 there and omit the first 0 from the remaining number. Do not assume this format unless the fields or instructions show it.

When a service requires SMS verification

A landline or many 050 services may not receive SMS verification codes. Use a mobile number that supports SMS when the service requires a one-time code.

A data-only SIM may have no voice number usable for calls, even if the contract or device displays an identifier. Check whether your plan includes voice calling and SMS before using it as your main contact number.

What different numbers may cost

The prefix gives a warning, not a complete price. Actual charges depend on your carrier, plan, call duration, time, and the destination service.

Use this practical order before making a potentially long call:

Identify the prefix.
Check whether the call is included in your plan.
Listen to any pre-call price announcement.
Look for a regular-number or online alternative.
Keep a note of the time if the matter concerns a contract or support case.

For ordinary mobile and landline calls, your own plan controls the price. For 0570 numbers, do not assume that an unlimited-call option applies. For 0120 and 0800 numbers, do not assume that every network—or an overseas phone—can connect.

How to handle unfamiliar incoming calls

A familiar-looking prefix is not proof of identity. Police materials document scams involving mobile, landline, 050 IP, and international numbers, as well as numbers made to resemble official contacts.

A safe routine is:

Let an unknown caller leave a voicemail.
Search for the organization’s official website independently.
Call back using the number printed on that official site, your contract, or your card.
Never provide a password, PIN, one-time code, residence-card details, or bank credentials because an unexpected caller asks for them.
Do not send money or buy gift cards under pressure from a caller.

Be especially careful with unexpected numbers beginning with +. The National Police Agency warns that international numbers such as +1 and +44 have been widely used in fraud. +81 is Japan’s country code, but even a Japanese-looking display should still be verified independently if the caller requests money or sensitive information.

If you do not need international calls on a fixed line, the police provide information about blocking international calls under applicable conditions. Mobile users can review handset settings for unknown and international callers.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Most problems come from applying one dialing rule to every number.

Keeping the zero after +81: Change 090 to +81 90, not +81 090.
Assuming 060 is suspicious: Since July 2026, 060 can be a normal mobile prefix.
Treating 0570 as toll-free: It is caller-paid and may be excluded from flat-rate plans.
Expecting 0120 to work overseas: Find an international or regular-number alternative.
Guessing a carrier from 070, 080, or 090: Number portability makes the prefix unreliable for that purpose.
Forcing every landline into the same grouping: Copy its published area-code split.
Using a voice-incompatible SIM as a contact number: Confirm voice and SMS support first.
Trusting caller ID alone: Verify unexpected requests through an independently found official channel.

FAQ

Is a 060 number a mobile number in Japan?

Yes. Mobile operators prepared to begin issuing 060 mobile numbers from July 2026. Existing 070, 080, and 090 numbers continue to work.

Are all 080 numbers mobile numbers?

No. An 11-digit number in the form 080-XXXX-XXXX is a mobile number, but 0800-XXX-XXXX is a toll-free service number. Count the digits and check the grouping.

Can I tell which carrier owns a mobile number?

Not reliably from the prefix. The number may have moved between carriers through mobile number portability.

Is 050 a Tokyo area code?

No. Tokyo’s best-known area code is 03. A number beginning with 050 is a non-geographic IP phone number.

Is a 0570 call included in an unlimited calling plan?

Often not. NTT Docomo Business states that mobile flat-rate calling plans do not apply to Navi Dial. Listen to the rate announcement and check your carrier’s terms.

Should I give my number as +81 on a Japanese application?

Usually not. Domestic forms generally expect the version beginning with 0. Use +81 when the form specifically asks for an international number or provides a separate country-code field.

Practical checklist

Before submitting a form or making a call, check:

Is this a mobile, landline, IP, toll-free, or caller-paid number?
Does the form want domestic format or +81 format?
Have you removed only the first zero when using +81?
Is the call included in your plan?
Does the number accept calls from your network or from overseas?
If the contact was unexpected, did you verify it on an official website?

The immediate watchpoint is 060. New contracts can now receive numbers with this prefix, so phones, contact databases, workplace forms, and personal expectations must all accept it as a valid 11-digit mobile number. At the same time, the old safety rule still holds: the shape of a number explains how it works, but not whether the person calling can be trusted.

参照リンク

Let's share this post !

Copied the URL !

Copied the URL !