Understanding Phone Numbers in Japan
Quick Reference Guide
- Country: Japan
- Country Code: +81
- International Prefix: 010
- National Prefix: 0
Overview of Japan's Telephone Numbering Plan
Japan's telephone numbering system, regulated by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), follows ITU-T E.164 standards. This guide provides essential insights into number formats, dialing procedures, and regulatory frameworks, ideal for telecom professionals, developers, and system administrators.
Number Formats in Japan
General Number Structure
- Format:
+81 [Area Code] [Subscriber Number]
- Length: Typically 10 digits (excluding the country code)
Geographic Numbers (Landlines)
Geographic numbers are region-specific, with area codes ranging from 1 to 5 digits.
- Format:
0[Area Code][Subscriber Number]
- Example:
03-1234-5678
(Tokyo),0742-123-456
(Nara)
Mobile Numbers
Mobile numbers are distinguished by prefixes 070, 080, and 090.
- Format:
0[7-9]0[Subscriber Number]
- Example:
090-1234-5678
Toll-Free Numbers
Toll-free numbers have specific prefixes, allowing free calls for the caller.
- Format:
0120[Subscriber Number]
- Example:
0120-123-456
Premium Rate Numbers
Used for services with higher charges, identified by the prefix 0990.
- Format:
0990[Subscriber Number]
- Example:
0990-123456
Special Service Numbers
- Emergency Services:
110
(Police),119
(Fire and Ambulance) - Directory Assistance:
104
- Disaster Relief:
171
Dialing Procedures
Domestic Calls
- Landline to Landline: Dial the full number, including the area code.
- Landline to Mobile: Use the full mobile number with the prefix.
- Mobile to Mobile: Simply dial the full mobile number.
International Calls
- Outgoing: Dial
010
, followed by the country code, area code, and subscriber number. - Incoming: Dial
+81
, followed by the area code (without the leading0
) and subscriber number.
Number Portability
Japan supports number portability for both fixed-line and mobile numbers, allowing users to retain their numbers when switching operators.
Major Telecom Operators
- NTT Docomo: Handles mobile numbers with prefixes 090, 080, and 070.
- KDDI (au): Manages similar mobile prefixes.
- SoftBank: Covers a significant share of mobile numbers.
- NTT East/West: Manages most geographic numbers.
Technical Considerations for Developers
- Validation: Use regex patterns to ensure correct phone number formats.
- Normalization: Strip non-numeric characters and format numbers according to international standards.
- Portability Checks: Implement APIs for number portability verification.
Regex Patterns for Number Validation
- Geographic Numbers:
^(0\d{1,4})-(\d{1,4})-(\d{4})$
- Mobile Numbers:
^(0[7-9]0)-(\d{4})-(\d{4})$
- Toll-Free Numbers:
^(0120|0800)-(\d{3})-(\d{3,4})$
- Premium Rate Numbers:
^(0990)-(\d{6})$
For the latest updates on telecommunications regulations in Japan, visit the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) website.