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Formula
From the UK: 00 (or +) → 81 → Japanese number without the leading 0.
| Type | Domestic in Japan | Save as (portable) | Dial from UK |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landline (Tokyo) | 03-XXXX-XXXX | +81 3 XXXX XXXX | 00 81 3 XXXX XXXX |
| Mobile | 090-XXXX-XXXX | +81 90 XXXX XXXX | 00 81 90 XXXX XXXX |
X characters are placeholders, not a private callable number. Save +81 in contacts; use 00 only for all-digit UK access. Japan's own international prefix, 010, is for calls out of Japan. It is not used on this route.
Dial it step by step
- 1
Exit the UK network. On a mobile or modern contact book, start with +. On a UK landline, PBX, or digit-only service, dial 00.
- 2
Add the Japan country calling code: 81.
- 3
Add the national significant number (NSN). Take the domestic Japanese number and remove the leading trunk prefix 0 (090 → 90, 03 → 3).
Portable contact format: + 81 + NSN
Digits-only call from UK: 00 + 81 + NSN
Mobile and landline rules
- Mobile: 090…, 080… and 070… become +81 90…, +81 80… and +81 70….
- Geographic landline: Tokyo 03 becomes +81 3; Osaka 06 becomes +81 6.
- Hyphens are display only. Drop them when dialing; spaces are fine in contacts.
See the Japan calling-code reference and the international dialing format guide.
Worked examples
Domestic → portable international → digits-only from United Kingdom. All subscriber digits shown as X are placeholders.
| Type | Domestic in Japan | Save as (portable) | Dial from UK |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo landline | 03-XXXX-XXXX | +81 3 XXXX XXXX | 00 81 3 XXXX XXXX |
| Osaka landline | 06-XXXX-XXXX | +81 6 XXXX XXXX | 00 81 6 XXXX XXXX |
| Kyoto landline | 075-XXX-XXXX | +81 75 XXX XXXX | 00 81 75 XXX XXXX |
| Yokohama landline | 045-XXX-XXXX | +81 45 XXX XXXX | 00 81 45 XXX XXXX |
| Japan mobile | 090-XXXX-XXXX | +81 90 XXXX XXXX | 00 81 90 XXXX XXXX |
Common mistakes on this route
- Keeping the Japanese domestic 0 after 81. Wrong: 00 81 090… or +81 03…. Correct: 00 81 90… / +81 3….
- Dialing Japan's 010 from the UK. 010 is Japan's exit code for calls out of Japan. From the UK, use 00 or +.
- Saving 00 in the contact. Store +81 + NSN so the number works from any country. See common formatting errors.
Quick Japan area codes (from the UK)
| City / area | Domestic area code | After +81 / 00 81 |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo | 03 | 3 |
| Osaka | 06 | 6 |
| Kyoto | 075 | 75 |
| Yokohama | 045 | 45 |
| Nagoya | 052 | 52 |
| Fukuoka | 092 | 92 |
| Sapporo | 011 | 11 |
| Kobe | 078 | 78 |
International form already has the leading 0 removed. Dial 00 81 (or +81), then the code, then the subscriber digits. Starter set only, not a full inventory. Full rules and mobile ranges: Japan (+81).
Time difference (practical)
Japan Standard Time is UTC+9 with no daylight saving time. The UK is UTC+0 (GMT) in winter and UTC+1 (BST) in summer, so Japan is 9 hours ahead in winter and 8 hours ahead in summer. Example: 09:00 London = 18:00 Tokyo in winter, 17:00 in summer.
How the international format is built
Under ITU-T E.164, the international number is the country code plus national significant number, with a maximum of 15 digits. The + symbol and spacing are access/display notation rather than E.164 digits.
Portable
+ 81 + NSN
Digits-only from UK
00 + 81 + NSN
Related routes and references
FAQ
What is the Japan country code from the UK?
81. Dial 00 or +, then 81 and the Japanese number without the leading domestic 0.
Do I dial 00 or +?
Use + on a mobile or saved contact when supported. Use 00 on a UK landline or digit-only path. After that, the destination is the same: 81 + NSN.
Why drop the zero?
The leading 0 is a Japanese domestic trunk prefix, not part of the national significant number after country code 81. Keeping it gives 00 81 0…, which is wrong.
How do I dial a Japanese mobile from the UK?
Drop the 0 from 090-XXXX-XXXX, then dial 00 81 90 XXXX XXXX or +81 90 XXXX XXXX.
Is Japan's exit code 010 relevant here?
No. 010 is for calls out of Japan. From the UK the exit code is 00, or + on a mobile.
Standards and numbering-plan sources
- ITU-T E.164: The international public telecommunication numbering planInternational Telecommunication Union. Verified 2026-07-19.
- ITU-T E.123: Notation for national and international telephone numbersInternational Telecommunication Union. Verified 2026-07-19.
- The National Telephone Numbering PlanOfcom. Verified 2026-07-19.
- National numbering plan: United KingdomInternational Telecommunication Union. Verified 2026-07-19.
- National numbering plan: JapanInternational Telecommunication Union. Verified 2026-07-19.
See our editorial and sourcing methodology.