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Phone Number Basics

What the First Digits of a Phone Number Tell You - 090, 080, 050, 03 Explained

About 3 min read

The First Digits Tell You Everything

When you receive a call from an unknown number, the first few digits reveal what kind of call it is. Japanese phone numbers are organized by purpose based on their prefix.

Mobile Numbers: 090, 080, 070

All mobile phone numbers are 11 digits starting with 090 (since 1999), 080 (added 2002), or 070 (opened to mobiles in 2013). Due to number portability (MNP), the prefix no longer identifies the carrier.

Landline Numbers: 03, 06, 045, etc.

Landline numbers are 10 digits starting with an area code. 03 = Tokyo, 06 = Osaka, 045 = Yokohama. The area code tells you the caller's region.

IP Phone: 050

050 numbers are internet-based phones. They're cheap to obtain, so they're used by both legitimate businesses and spam callers.

Toll-Free: 0120, 0800

Free to call - the receiving company pays. Used for customer service lines.

Caller pays, and it's excluded from unlimited calling plans. Watch out for long calls.

Emergency: 110, 119, 118

110 = Police, 119 = Fire/Ambulance, 118 = Coast Guard. Memorize these.

International: Numbers Starting with +

+81 is Japan, +1 is USA, +44 is UK. Unknown international calls are likely spam - don't call back.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is there any difference between 090, 080, and 070?

No functional difference. New bands were added as numbers ran out. With number portability, the prefix no longer identifies the carrier or user.

Do 0570 calls cost money even with an unlimited calling plan?

Yes. 0570 (Navi Dial) numbers are excluded from most unlimited calling plans. You'll be charged per minute, so be careful with long calls.

Should I ignore calls from 050 numbers?

050 numbers are used by legitimate businesses but also by spammers due to easy acquisition. If you don't recognize the number, let it go to voicemail and search the number before deciding whether to call back.

Related Number Ranges

03(Tokyo)06(Osaka)050(IP Phone)070(Mobile)080(Mobile)090(Mobile)0120(Free Dial)0570

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