What is a country calling code?

A country calling code is the numeric prefix you dial before a national phone number to route a call to a specific country. For example, +1 reaches the United States and Canada, +44 reaches the United Kingdom, and +91 reaches India. The plus sign stands in for the international access code your network uses.

How do I dial an international number correctly?

Start with your exit or access code (or the + symbol on a mobile), add the destination country code, then the area or city code without its leading zero, and finally the local subscriber number. So a London line looks like +44 20 7946 0000.

What does the plus (+) sign mean in a phone number?

The + is a universal placeholder for the international dialing prefix. Saving numbers in +country-code format means they connect from any country without editing the access code, which is why it is the recommended way to store contacts.

Why do the United States and Canada share the country code +1?

Both countries belong to the North American Numbering Plan, a shared system that also covers several Caribbean nations. They use the same +1 country code but are separated by distinct three-digit area codes.

Do I need to remove the leading zero from a phone number when calling internationally?

Usually yes. Many countries print a trunk prefix, often a 0, for domestic calls. When dialing from abroad you drop that leading zero after the country code. For example, a UK mobile written as 07700 900000 becomes +44 7700 900000.

Does Japan observe daylight saving time, and how does JST affect international call scheduling?

Japan does not observe daylight saving time and stays on Japan Standard Time (JST, UTC+9) year-round. This makes scheduling predictable — there are no seasonal time shifts to account for. For callers in Europe (CET), Japan is 8 hours ahead; for US Eastern time, it's 14 hours ahead. The practical overlap window for live letsdial calls is very narrow, making async voice messaging a useful alternative.

How do I format a Japanese phone number correctly in letsdial?

Japanese numbers carry a '0' trunk prefix domestically that is dropped when dialing internationally. Tokyo's area code is 3 (domestically 03), Osaka is 6 (domestically 06), and Nagoya is 52 (domestically 052). In letsdial, enter +81 3 XXXX XXXX for Tokyo or +81 6 XXXX XXXX for Osaka. Mobile numbers begin with 070, 080, or 090 domestically, becoming +81 70/80/90 XXXXXXXX.

What Japanese area codes are most important for business calls via letsdial?

Tokyo uses 3, Osaka uses 6, Nagoya uses 52, Yokohama uses 45, Fukuoka uses 92, and Sapporo uses 11. Tokyo (3) is the undisputed business hub, and a letsdial virtual number with the +81 3 prefix carries strong commercial credibility for companies entering the Japanese market. Osaka (6) is important for manufacturing and trade relationships.

Can letsdial provide a Japanese virtual number, and does it help overcome Japan's sensitivity to international caller IDs?

Yes — letsdial offers Japanese virtual numbers, including Tokyo (+81 3) numbers, that display as a local Japanese caller ID when you make outbound calls. Japanese businesses are particularly cautious about answering international or unknown numbers, so a local caller ID is not just helpful but often essential for successful first contact. This feature significantly improves connection rates for foreign companies calling into Japan.

What business etiquette should I observe when a letsdial call connects with a Japanese counterpart?

Japanese business calls follow formal etiquette: begin with a self-introduction using your full name and company, speak slowly and clearly (many Japanese professionals communicate in English as a second language), avoid rushing to the agenda, and always leave space for silence — pauses are not awkward in Japanese communication but rather signals of thoughtful consideration. Exchanging digital business cards before a video call (meishi etiquette translated to digital) is appreciated.

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Japan

+81

Country code

International prefix

Japan's country code +81 opens the door to the world's third-largest economy — a nation synonymous with technological innovation, precision manufacturing, and unique consumer culture. Japan's business market demands deep cultural understanding and local communication to succeed.

Best hours:10 AM – 6 PM JST

Language:Japanese

Capital:Tokyo

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🇯🇵

Japan

JP · Asia-Pacific

+81

dial code

Capital

Tokyo

Currency

JPY (¥)

Language

Japanese

Population

125 million

Best calling window

10 AM – 6 PM JST

12 AM

12 PM

11 PM

Japan Standard Time (JST) · UTC+9

Country

Japan

2 Digit ISO

Country Calling Code

+81

ISO Alpha-3

JPJ

Loading map…

Tokyo

Capital

Live

Tokyo

--:--:-- --

Time Zone

Japan Standard Time (JST)

Quick Facts

CurrencyJPY (¥)

LanguageJapanese

Population125 million

GMT OffsetUTC+9

Best Hours10 AM – 6 PM JST

Step by step

How to call Japan from abroad

International dialing is a four-step process.
Use + on mobile to skip the exit code entirely.

Step 01

010

Exit code

Dial from US/Canada (or use +)

Step 02

+81

Country code

Japan international prefix

Step 03

Area / city code

Local routing prefix

Step 04

1234 5678

Local number

Subscriber number

dialing-example.txt

International format

010—81—3—1234 5678

Shorthand (works from any device): +81 3 1234 5678

Calling Guide

Best time to call Japan · Japan Standard Time (JST)

View guide

Why letsdial

Benefits of calling Japan
with letsdial

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Get a local +81 number

A Tokyo +81 3 or Osaka +81 6 caller ID signals a credible Japanese business presence — essential in a market where trust and formality are prerequisites for engagement.

Japan and 50+ countries, one plan

Call Japan and 50+ global markets including major Asia-Pacific destinations from one letsdial subscription.

Full call analytics

Track every Japan call in JST (UTC+9) — monitor answer rates during Japanese business hours and team performance in one dashboard.

Works on any device

Mobile app, desktop, or IP phone — your +81 number lets your team call Japanese contacts with a local caller ID from any device.

Unified Communications

One platform. Every call, message and team — connected.

One cloud platform replaces your phone system, chat tool, and contact centre — no hardware, no juggling apps.
Reach Japan and 50+ countries from one dashboard.

50+

Countries covered

99.9%

Uptime SLA

2 min

Setup time

Hardware needed

Voice & Video Calls

Crystal-clear HD calls to Japan and 50+ countries from one number.

Team Messaging

Chat, share files, and collaborate — all inside the same platform you call from.

Real-Time Analytics

Live dashboards for call volumes, answer rates, and agent performance.

Global Number Coverage

Local +81 numbers plus 50+ country codes — managed from one dashboard.

Format reference

Japan& neighbouring countries

Japanese numbers under +81 use area codes of 2–5 digits — Tokyo (3), Osaka (6), Nagoya (52). Always drop the leading 0. Mobile numbers (090/080/070) become +81 90/80/70 internationally.

CountryLocal formatInternational format

Japancurrent1234 5678+81 3 1234 5678

South Korea1234 5678+82 2 1234 5678

China1234 5678+86 10 1234 5678

Australia9123 4567+61 2 9123 4567

Singapore6789 1234+65 6789 1234

United States555-1234+1 212 555 1234

Good to know

Tips for calling Japan

4 things to check before you dial internationally

Always drop the leading 0 when dialling from abroad

Japanese area codes and mobile prefixes start with 0 (03 Tokyo, 06 Osaka, 090 mobiles) — always drop that 0 when dialling internationally. 03 1234 5678 becomes +81 3 1234 5678.

LINE is Japan's essential business platform

LINE is the primary messaging app for professional communication in Japan. Sending a LINE message before calling — or following up via LINE after a meeting — is expected and shows cultural awareness.

Show a local +81 caller ID

Japanese recipients are very unlikely to answer calls from unknown international numbers. A letsdial +81 3 (Tokyo) or +81 6 (Osaka) caller ID signals a legitimate Japanese presence and is essential for getting calls answered.

JST is UTC+9 — no daylight saving

Japan Standard Time never changes. Business hours are 9 AM–6 PM JST. From London (GMT), Japan is 9 hours ahead; from New York (ET), Japan is 14 hours ahead in winter — plan calls for early morning ET.

Market data

Japan communication insights

93%

Internet penetration

93% of Japan's population uses the internet, with high-speed fibre widely available in urban and rural areas.

98%

Mobile users

88% of Japanese residents use mobile phones, with 4G and 5G networks extensively deployed.

70%

Smartphone owners

68% of Japanese adults own smartphones; LINE is the dominant platform for professional messaging.

91%

Digital businesses

87% of Japanese businesses have adopted digital communication and cloud workflow tools.

Global directory

List of Country Codes

50+ countries listed with their international dial prefix and ISO code.

Filter by letter or search to find any country code instantly.

Japan calling FAQs

Frequently asked about Japan

LINE is the dominant messaging platform in Japan, used by over 90% of smartphone users for personal and business communication alike. Before placing a letsdial call to a Japanese contact, sending a LINE message to introduce yourself and request a call time is strongly recommended. Japanese business culture emphasizes prior arrangement (nemawashi), so an unannounced call — even from a letsdial local number — may be unwelcome.

Get a local Japan number

Get a local Japan number in minutes.

Build trust with Japan customers using a local +81 virtual phone number — from the same letsdial dashboard your whole team already uses.

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Looking up US area codes? Browse all US area codes →

Japan

Japan

How to call Japan from abroad

Benefits of calling Japanwith letsdial

Get a local +81 number

Japan and 50+ countries, one plan

Full call analytics

Works on any device

One platform. Every call, message and team — connected.

Japan& neighbouring countries

Tips for calling Japan

Always drop the leading 0 when dialling from abroad

LINE is Japan's essential business platform

Show a local +81 caller ID

JST is UTC+9 — no daylight saving

Japan communication insights

List of Country Codes

Frequently asked about Japan

Get a local Japan number in minutes.

Benefits of calling Japan
with letsdial