photo by huffingtonpost
I know everyone has a smartphone nowadays and making an international phone call has become a lot easier thanks to smartphone apps. But these apps are not always handy due to some reasons: calls can be made only between same app users, or a connections can be unstable, or you don’t have a smartphone in the first place. So, you may want to call abroad by a landline phone or your mobile phone by using the talk credit. But do you know what number you dial first? Let’s revise how to make an international phone call from Japan.
From landline phone
The first thing you need to know is, whether the landline phone you are using is contracted with MYLLINE or MYLINE PLUS, which is a carrier selection/designation service. With these services, you can select or designate a telephone company among a few of them. If your landline phone is not with any of these services, you will need to dial access number of a phone company every time you make an international call.
From MYLINE/MYLINE PLUS contracted phone
Dial the international dialing access code, country, the country code of the country you are calling, the phone number you are calling (if the number starts with a 0, drop the 0). For example, to call 020-XXXX-OOOO in U.K. (the country code 44), dial
010 44 20 XXXX OOOO
Form Non-MYLINE/MYLINE PLUS contracted phone
In such a case, dial the specific access code of each phone company before the international dialing access code.
Examples of the access codes of phone companies
NTT Communications: 0033
KDDI: 001
SoftBank Telecom: 0061
For example, to call 020-XXXX-OOOO in U.K. (the country code 44) by using NTT Communications, dial
0033 010 44 20 XXXX OOOO
Each phone companies offer different deals and plans depending on the country you are calling. A prior research is recommended to choose the best phone company for your need. Or if you can’t be bothered, just dial 0033.
From mobile phone
Calling abroad from a mobile phone is a lot simpler. Dial the international dialing access code, the country code and the phone number you are calling.
From SoftBank & NTT Docomo mobile phone
To call 020-XXXX-OOOO in U.K. (the country code 44), dial
010 or “+” 44 20 XXXX OOOO
From au mobile phone
To call the same number as above, dial
010 44 20 XXXX OOOO
By using international phone card
photo by kleinmoynihan
The biggest downside when calling abroad from a landline or mobile phone is an expensive calling charge. The rates vary depending on the time slot or the country you are calling, but you should expect a rate of several tens of yen per minute, or even over a hundred yen per minute. A pre-paid international phone card let you call overseas at a far less price. Purchase a fixed rate international phone card values JPY1,000, 3,000 or more, dial the access number of each phone company. Once you get through to the access point, dial the ID number on the card, the country code and the phone number. There are one-off cards and rechargeable cards.
A phone call can be made from a landline, mobile phone or IP phone, but how long you can talk varies by the type of the phone you use and the country you are calling. A landline phone, which is the cheapest option, for example, calling by using an international phone card is a lot cheaper than calling by using normal phone line. There are a few phone companies who offer international phone cards, run a quick research to find the best one for you.
※When you use an international phone card, note that a normal phone charge apply in addition to the discounted rate of international call while you are getting connected to the access point.
I just called to say…
In most countries, you have to dial some numbers starting with a “0”, but what comes after the “0” is different by countries. Well, at least you know that the international dialing access code in Japan is 010, yay! So keep this number somewhere in case you have to call overseas from a landline or mobile phone.
Related Article:
Get connected! 6 free call apps to make international phone calls
