Destination Guide | Tokyo Japan
Telephone
Japan has an extensive range of telephone services. English language assistance is available when applying for installation of a personal phone. Arranging a telephone line is costly and you may need help to get the line installed. International calls can be made from private phones with international access and certain public phones.
One of the best reference books is NTT's Townpage English Telephone Directory. In Japan, telephone directories do not carry residential addresses and phone numbers. Therefore, take care of your business cards. Public telephones are conveniently located throughout Japan. They accept change or telephone cards, which are readily available at many convenience stores throughout the city.
NTT Phone Services Numbers
113 Repair services
116 Moving and Relocating
104 Directory Assistance
177 Weather
117 Time signal
Mobile Phones
Japan is a world leader in wireless technology. Mobile phones are called “keitai”. There are 3 major mobile phone companies in Japan: NTT Docomo, Au by KDDI and Softbank. Retail shops are everywhere. Phone prices are very competitive and you could buy one for 1yen.
Obviously for watching TV, using it as an MP3 player, taking a good-quality digital photo ups the cost.
Tips: In Japan do not use your mobile phone on any public transportation. Receiving a call while on subway, train or bus, quickly answer and call back later. Clients understand this and accept you hanging up.
Do not use your phone while driving as this is against the law.
Public Pay Phone
Public pay phones are decreasing because of increased mobile phone use. Public phones in Japan are: green, a regular phone and gray a digital one.
Public pay phones are operated through NTT. The charges are listed below:
Public Telephone Charges
| (intra-prefecture calls) | |||
| Distance Between Service Areas | Call duration for 10 yen (Includes taxes) | ||
| Daytime | Evening | Late Night/Early Morning | |
| 8:00 to 19:00 | 19:00 to 23:00 (Also includes weekend and holiday daytime calls) |
23:00 to 8:00 | |
| Local area | 60 seconds | 80 seconds | |
| Adjacent areas and up to 20 km away | 42.5 seconds | 55 seconds | |
| 20 km to 30 km | 28.5 seconds | 38 seconds | |
| 30 km to 40 km | 23 seconds | 28 seconds | |
| 40 km to 60 km | 17 seconds | 21 seconds | |
| 60 km to 80 km | 12.5 seconds | 16.5 seconds | 18 seconds |
| 80 km to 100 km | 11 seconds | 16.5 seconds | 18 seconds |
| 100 km to 160 km | 9 seconds | 15 seconds | 16.5 seconds |
| Over 160 km | 8.5 seconds | 15.5 seconds | 14 seconds |
* Please inquire with each mobile telephone carrier for call charges from public telephones to mobile phones, etc.
To make an international call from public pay phone, dial carrier code + 010 + country code + phone number.