Phone Number Type FAQ
Frequently asked questions and answers about phone number types, including landlines, mobile phones, IP phones, toll-free numbers, and free-call numbers.
Landline
Landline numbers consist of an area code, a local exchange code, and a subscribe…
Mobile Phone
Japanese mobile phone numbers are 11 digits long and begin with 090, 080, or 070…
IP Phone
IP phone services use internet connections rather than traditional phone lines a…
Free Dial (0120)
Free Dial numbers start with 0120 and bill the call to the receiver instead of t…
Free Call (0800)
Free Call numbers begin with 0800 and, like Free Dial (0120), bill the call to t…
Understanding Phone Number Types
In Japan, the first digits of a phone number roughly tell you its type: landlines start with 0 followed by an area code, mobile phones use 070, 080, or 090, IP phones use 050, and toll-free numbers (0120, 0800) charge the receiving party instead of the caller. Each type works differently and serves different purposes.
Knowing the type changes how you can approach an unknown number. Calls from toll-free numbers often come from corporate call centers, while IP phone numbers are easy to obtain and are sometimes used for spam calls. The number type is one useful clue when judging who is calling.
This page collects frequently asked questions and answers for each number type. From basic questions about how numbers and fees work to dealing with spam calls, select a type to learn more. To look up the specific number that called you, you can also use the phone number search on the top page.