Phone numbers in Japanese

If you live in Japan, you will always use the telephone. In Japan, telephone etiquette is especially important, especially in the case of business. Let's learn some telephone etiquette to better communicate on your business.

Japanese phone number system

First, here is how Japanese telephone numbers work. Do you know how to read Japanese numbers? First, let's review how to read numbers to understand Japanese people speaking phone numbers.

And the hyphen between phone numbers "-" is read as "の/no/" in Japanese.

Domestic

When calling within Japan, a landline phone may identify an area by its telephone number.

Fixed-line phone

A landline phone consists of a total of 10 digits: area code, local area code, and subscriber number.

For example, in Tokyo, the area code is “03” and the number is 03-1234-5678. In some cities, the area code is four-digit, but the telephone number has 10 digits in every area.

Area codes are 01X for Hokkaido in the north and 09X for Kyushu in the south. Tokyo is 03, Osaka is 06, and Nagoya is 05X.

Toll-free numbers begin with 0120. This is also a total of 10 digits. However, please note that some companies do not allow calls from cell phones.

Cellular phone(smartphone)

The cell phone number is 11 digits.

They begin with 090, 080, or 070. 090 and 080 are common, but 070 is rare. For example, 090-XXXX-XXXX.

International

When making an international call to Japan, add “+81”. Then, take off the first 0 of the phone number to make the call.

For example, if your domestic phone number is 03-1234-5678, you would dial +81312345678.

How do we call in Japan?

When making a phone call within Japan, you can make it the same way you do in your country.

But what should you say when making a phone call? Let's remember the manners.

Cell phone call in Japan

When calling a cell phone in Japan, just put in the phone number. Depending on the cell phone company, all calls may be free. Calls to cell phones are usually a little more expensive than calls to landlines.

Fixed-line phone call in Japan

Calls to landlines within Japan are no different than calls to cell phones.　However, when making a call at work, you need to be careful to say it in a polite way.

What do we say when calling in Japan?

When making a phone call, Japanese people say “もしもし/moshi moshim". This means Hello, but please note that it is only used on the phone. Don't say “Moshi moshi” out of the blue when you meet someone.

What is the business call like?

I have worked in the corporate world for 7 years. In every company I worked for, I had to use the phone a lot and at first, I struggled with how to say polite Japanese. Yes, even native Japanese can be rude to others if they are not very careful when using the phone.

I think it is best for everyone to imitate others when they join a company to learn how to talk on the phone, but I have compiled a few phrases that must be used.

These phrases are used very often. If you are planning to work for a Japanese company, you should definitely learn them.