Japanese Phone Number Format and How to Say Them Aloud
Japanese mobile numbers have 11 digits; landlines have 10. Numbers are read digit by digit, with 4 always pronounced yon and 7 always pronounced nana to prevent mishearings. This page covers format, area codes, and the spoken conventions.
The format
- Mobile (11 digits): 090-XXXX-XXXX, 080-XXXX-XXXX, or 070-XXXX-XXXX.
- Landline (10 digits): area code (1 to 5 digits) + subscriber. Tokyo: 03-XXXX-XXXX. Osaka: 06-XXXX-XXXX.
- Toll-free: 0120-XXX-XXX or 0800-XXX-XXXX.
- VoIP / IP phone: 050-XXXX-XXXX.
- International dialling code: +81. Drop the leading 0 of the area or mobile prefix when calling from abroad.
How to read a number aloud
Each digit is read individually. The number 090-1234-5678 reads "zero kyū zero, ichi ni san yon, go roku nana hachi". Hyphens are read as a brief pause, not a word.
- 4: always yon, never shi.
- 7: always nana, never shichi.
- 9: always kyū, never ku.
- 0: "zero" most commonly; rei in formal contexts; maru in casual.
Common area codes
| Code | City / region |
|---|---|
| 03 | Tokyo |
| 06 | Osaka |
| 045 | Yokohama |
| 052 | Nagoya |
| 092 | Fukuoka |
| 011 | Sapporo |
| 022 | Sendai |
| 075 | Kyoto |
| 098 | Naha |
Mobile prefixes
- 090, 080, 070: mobile / cellular
- 050: VoIP / IP phone
- 0120, 0800: toll-free (free for the caller)
Cultural notes
- Reading speed in Japanese phone numbers is slower than English. Each digit gets a clear pulse.
- Hyphens are standard in writing. Spaces and periods are unusual.
- When leaving a voicemail or repeating a number, speakers often group the digits and repeat: "zero kyū zero, repeat: zero kyū zero".
Frequently asked questions
How many digits is a Japanese phone number?
Mobile numbers are 11 digits, formatted 0X0-XXXX-XXXX with prefixes 090, 080, or 070. Landline numbers are 10 digits, formatted as area code (1 to 5 digits) + subscriber (4 to 9 digits). Toll-free numbers begin with 0120 or 0800.
Why are 4 and 7 always read as yon and nana on the phone?
Clarity. Shi (4) and shichi (7) are easy to misshear, especially over a noisy connection or in a hurry. Yon and nana are unambiguous. The convention is universal in Japanese phone-number readings, voicemail, and customer service. Use kyū for 9 (not ku) for the same reason.
How do I read zero in a Japanese phone number?
Most commonly, "zero" pronounced English-style. The formal alternative is 零 (rei). The casual alternative is 丸 (maru, "circle"), which is sometimes used in friendly speech: maru-roku-maru for 060.
What is the international dialling code for Japan?
+81. When dialling Japan from abroad, drop the leading 0 of the area code or mobile prefix. Example: a Tokyo landline 03-1234-5678 becomes +81-3-1234-5678 from outside Japan.
Continue: reading variations · numbers 1 to 100 · addresses.