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Japan country code: +81

  • Exit code from Japan: 010
  • Time zone: JST (UTC+9, no DST)

Reviewed by Sujan ThapaliyaLast updated

What is the country code for Japan?

The country code for Japan is +81. To call Japan from the United States, dial 011 81 followed by the local number with its leading 0 removed. From a mobile, dial +81 directly. A Japan number in full international format looks like +81 90 1234 5678.
How an international call to Japan is composed: your own exit code, then Japan's country calling code 81, then the national number with its leading 0 removed. Written in full E.164 form a Japan number looks like +81 90 1234 5678. From a mobile, typing + replaces the exit code and works from any country.
The middle block is the only part fixed by Japan. The exit code changes with wherever you happen to be calling from.

Japan at a glance

Country calling code
+81
ISO country code
JP
Exit code (dialling out of Japan)
010
The prefix people in this country dial to reach another country.
National trunk prefix
0
Drop the 0 when dialling from abroad.
Number length
9 or 10 digits after the trunk 0
Time zone
JST (UTC+9, no DST)

Dialing

How to call Japan: step by step

The full sequence is: exit code + 81 + local number (minus the leading 0).

  1. 1

    Dial your exit code

    From the United States and Canada that is 011. From most of Europe, Asia, and Africa it is 00. On any mobile you can simply press and hold 0 to get a + instead, which works from anywhere.
  2. 2

    Dial 81

    81 is the country calling code for Japan. It never changes and it is the same from every country in the world.
  3. 3

    Drop the leading 0

    Numbers written for domestic use in Japan start with a 0. That is a national trunk prefix, not part of the number; remove it when dialling from abroad. 3 1234 5678 is what you dial after +81.
  4. 4

    Check the time first

    Japan is on JST (UTC+9, no DST). Business calls placed outside local working hours are the most common reason an international call goes unanswered.

Worth knowing

Japanese mobile numbers start 070, 080, or 090. Japan's own IDD prefix is 010, not the 00 used across most of Asia.

Number format

What a Japan phone number looks like

The examples below are format patterns showing digit grouping. They are not working numbers.

TypeFormatExample
Landline+81 X XXXX XXXX+81 3 1234 5678
Mobile+81 [789]0 XXXX XXXX+81 90 1234 5678

City codes

Japan area and city codes

Written domestically these carry a leading 0. Drop it when dialling from abroad.

City / regionCodeDial from abroad
Tokyo03+81 3
Osaka06+81 6
Nagoya052+81 52
Fukuoka092+81 92

Frequently asked questions

What is the country code for Japan?
The country code for Japan is +81. Written in full international (E.164) format, a Japan number looks like +81 90 1234 5678.
How do I call Japan from the United States?
Dial 011, then 81, then the local number with its leading 0 removed. From a mobile you can dial +81 directly instead of 011.
How many digits is a Japan phone number?
9 or 10 digits after the trunk 0. Written internationally it becomes +81 followed by that national number.
Do I keep the 0 when calling Japan from abroad?
No. The leading 0 is a domestic trunk prefix. Dial +81 followed by the number with the 0 removed. Including it is the single most common reason calls to Japan fail.
What time is it in Japan?
Japan is on JST (UTC+9, no DST). Check the local time before calling; the safe business window is roughly 9am to 5pm local.

Sources

  1. ITU-T Recommendation E.164 — The international public telecommunication numbering planInternational Telecommunication UnionThe international number format, the 15-digit maximum, and how country codes and national numbers compose.
  2. ITU-T International Numbering ResourcesInternational Telecommunication UnionThe assignment of country calling codes and the published national numbering plans they belong to.

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