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Japan +81

International code · Asia

Key facts

International code+81
International format+81 X XXXX XXXXe.g. +81 90 1234 5678
Mobile prefixesXX XXXX XXXXe.g. 90 1234 5678
Mobile length10 digits
Landline format0X XXXX XXXXe.g. 03 1234 5678
Domestic trunk0

How to read a number

+819012345678

+81Country code
Japan.
90Mobile prefix
Written 090 domestically — the 0 is the trunk prefix, dropped when dialling from abroad. Mobiles use 090 / 080 / 070, plus the newer 060.
1234Carrier block
The first 3 digits (123 here) show which carrier the Ministry assigned this block of 100,000 numbers to; after porting it only shows the original carrier.
5678Subscriber number
Assigned to the individual user.

Domestic format: 090-1234-5678.

This section checked 2026-09-13. Sources: www.soumu.go.jp/main_sosiki/joho_tsusin/top/tel_number/number_shitei.html · www.soumu.go.jp/main_sosiki/joho_tsusin/top/tel_number/mnp.html

Number ranges & quality

RangeTypeNotes
090 / 080 / 070 Mobile carrier Voice mobile ranges, handed out in blocks of 100,000 numbers to docomo, KDDI, SoftBank, Rakuten and others; almost all budget SIMs (MVNOs) use numbers wholesaled from these carriers. Since the 2023 rule change, Japan Communications and OPTAGE (mineo) have started receiving 070 blocks directly. Number portability keeps the original range, so the range only reflects the original issuer.
050 VoIP IP telephony. Cannot open a bank account, is rejected outright by most ticketing and membership systems, and usually cannot receive SMS.
020 Data-only Data-only (M2M); no voice and no SMS.
060 Mobile carrier New voice mobile range. As of July 2025 the Ministry had assigned one block each to docomo, KDDI, SoftBank, Rakuten and Okinawa Cellular; when numbers actually reach subscribers still needs confirmation.
Intl SMSStable
Virtual-number riskLow
ID requiredID plus a residence card or proof of address is required; real-name checks are strict, and short-term visitors have limited options for physical SIMs.

Physical SIMs in 090 / 080 / 070 work for everything. Numbers starting with 050 are IP phones, and signing up for services that need SMS, such as ChatGPT or WhatsApp, is basically impossible — this is the most common trap in Japan.

Carriers & prefixes

Mobile prefixes by carrier.

Number portability applies — a prefix only shows the original carrier. Since October 2006.

Prefixes are allocated in blocks, so one prefix can appear under several carriers.

  • NTT docomo Mobile carrier

    090, 080, 070, 060

    Notable brands: docomo, ahamo

    About 60% of 090 is docomo.

  • KDDI Mobile carrier

    090, 080, 070, 060

    Notable brands: au, UQ mobile, povo

    Holds the most 070; Okinawa is served by its subsidiary Okinawa Cellular.

  • SoftBank Mobile carrier

    090, 080, 070, 060

    Notable brands: SoftBank, Y!mobile, LINEMO

    A later entrant — mostly 080 / 070.

  • Rakuten Mobile Mobile carrier

    070, 060

    Notable brands: Rakuten Mobile

    No 090 / 080; new numbers are almost always 070.

Show 2 more
  • Japan Communications MVNO
    Host network: NTT docomo

    070

    Japan's first MVNO with its own mobile numbers (070-960 to 965).

  • OPTAGE MVNO
    Host network: KDDI

    070

    Notable brands: mineo

    Assigned 070-966, planned for fiscal 2027.

This section checked 2026-09-13. Sources: www.soumu.go.jp/main_sosiki/joho_tsusin/top/tel_number/number_shitei.html · www.soumu.go.jp/main_content/000697567.xlsx · www.soumu.go.jp/main_content/000697565.xlsx · www.soumu.go.jp/main_content/001090878.xlsx · www.soumu.go.jp/main_content/001019693.xlsx · www.soumu.go.jp/main_sosiki/joho_tsusin/top/tel_number/mnp.html · www.j-com.co.jp/news/2502.html · optage.co.jp/announce/announce_202615.html

SIM cards & keeping a number

The go-to keep-number option in Japan is KDDI’s povo2.0: ¥0 base fee, buy “toppings” as needed. But sign-up requires online ID checks with a Japanese driver’s licence, My Number card or residence card — tourists with only a passport can’t sign up.

povo2.0

Number-keeping SIM
Network
au (KDDI)
Price
¥0 base; cheapest paid topping about ¥390 (1GB / 7 days)
Keeping the number
Buy a paid topping (or spend ¥660+ on calls and SMS) within every 180 days, or the line is suspended and then terminated. While suspended you can’t buy toppings in the app and must contact support. The wording changed in July 2026; povo says operation is unchanged.
ID check
Online ID check with a driver’s licence, My Number card or residence card — passports aren’t accepted (verification methods changed on 2026-03-25)
SMS & calls
A real 090 / 080 / 070 mobile number; SMS and calls work

Pros

  • ¥0 base fee — about ¥800 a year to keep
  • A genuine au line

Watch out

  • Impossible without Japanese ID
  • Easy to miss the 180-day rule; suspension needs support to lift

Where to buy: povo.jp

Sources: povo.jp/procedure/identification · povo.jp/important_news/newsrelease/20260325_01 · faq.povo.jp/faq/show/849?category_id=7&site_domain=default · pixela.co.jp/mobiledash/povo-free · orefolder.jp/2026/08/povo-180days-rule-change

From user and blogger reports; platform risk rules change often — treat as a guide only. This section checked 2026-09-14.

Sign-up availability

What to expect when signing up for these services with a physical SIM from this country:

ChatGPT Works
Claude Works
WhatsApp Works
Telegram Works
LINE Works
WeChat Works
X Works
TikTok Works
Gemini Works

Jump to another country

Calling Japan from abroad

Dial +81, then the local number. Drop the leading trunk prefix 0. E.g. the landline 03 1234 5678 is dialled from abroad as +81 3 1234 5678.

Generate the full number →

Dialing within Japan

For domestic long distance dial 0 first, then the area code. Local calls and mobiles: dial directly.

Elsewhere in Asia

Community tips

  • 日本实体 SIM（docomo / au / SoftBank）收海外验证码没问题，但号码绑定的本地服务多，换平台容易触发二次验证。

    个人实测 · 2026-09

  • 乐天移动（Rakuten）预付费卡收短信很稳，注册 Line 尤其顺。

    网络反馈 · 2026-09

Reader-reported, for reference only; not a registration guarantee. Official platform rules apply. Tips are shown in the original language as submitted.

Have experience to share? Submit →

Common premise & disclaimer

Applies to every platform: VoIP / virtual numbers and heavily-reused number pools get rejected. Physical SIM only.

Checked 2026-09-12. Platform region policies and number-range allocations change — always confirm against each platform’s official supported-regions list and the carrier’s notices.

Sources：www.soumu.go.jp/menu_news/s-news/01kiban06_02000129.html · www.soumu.go.jp/main_content/000751827.pdf · help.openai.com/articles/7947663

Traveling to Japan? Get a SIM card

eSIM providers like Airalo and Holafly charge by the day and work the moment you land. Common picks below:

Affiliate links pending — sign-up under review.