Placing international calls can be expensive. Check with your service provider to find out what their international calling rates are before you place your call. Check what time it is in Japan before you place your call. Japan is 13-16 hours ahead of the US, depending on where you live. If you place a call to Japan at noon in the US, it will be 1-4 AM there.
For a list of Japanese area codes, visit http://dialcode. org/Asia/Japan/.
If the beginning of the 2-digit prefix you’ve been given starts with a 0, don’t enter it when you dial the number. The 0 is only for placing calls within Japan. If you leave the 0 in, your call won’t go through.
For example, if you’re dialing a Japanese landline, the full number, including the exit and country codes, will look something like 011-81-3-1234-5678. A Japanese cell phone number, including the exit and country codes, will look something like 011-81-70-1234-5678.
Always check the fine print for any hidden fees or restrictions. Make sure you purchase a calling card that allows international calls to Japan.
WhatsApp, Skype, and Google Voice are a few free calling apps you can try.
If you’re interested in signing up for an international calling plan, reach out to your service provider to see what plans they offer. Most international calling plans come with additional fees, so you’ll usually only save money if you plan on placing multiple international calls every month.
