How to call Japan from the US
Short answer
To call Japan from the US, open RobinPhone in your browser, dial +81 and the number, and pay $0.04 per minute to landlines or $0.06 to mobiles. There is no app, SIM or subscription, and your first 1-minute call is free.
Planning a trip to Japan, or tying up loose ends after living there, often comes down to one phone call to a place that does not answer email in English.
How to dial
Start with +81 and drop the leading 0, so 03-1234-5678 becomes +81 3 1234 5678.
Tokyo landline
+81 3 XXXX XXXX
Osaka is 6, Kyoto is 75
Mobile
+81 90 XXXX XXXX
Japanese mobiles start 70, 80 or 90
What a call costs
| Call to | Per minute | 10 minutes | 30 minutes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan landlines | $0.04 | $0.40 | $1.20 |
| Japan mobiles | $0.06 | $0.60 | $1.80 |
Live rates in US dollars, billed per minute with no connection fee. The price is the same wherever you call from. Prepaid credit never expires.
Best time to call
Japan is more than half a day ahead of the US. Call in your evening to reach Japan the next morning.
13 hours ahead
Tokyo compared with New York, today
8 pm to 4 am
New York time, when it is 9 am to 5 pm in Tokyo
Who people in the US call in Japan
- Ryokan, restaurants and small hotelsMany take reservations by phone only, and do not reply to email in English. Guide: calling a hotel or airline abroad
- City offices and the pension serviceWard offices and the Japan Pension Service, for example when claiming a pension refund after leaving Japan. Guide: calling a government office abroad
- BanksMUFG, SMBC, Mizuho and Japan Post Bank handle account changes and closures by phone. Guide: calling a bank abroad
Chat apps only reach other app users. Why WhatsApp can't call a landline
Common questions
Can I call a Japanese landline with WhatsApp?
No. WhatsApp only connects to other WhatsApp users, so it cannot reach landlines, offices or hotlines in Japan. RobinPhone places a normal phone call, so any number that can ring will ring.
Do I need a SIM or phone number from the US?
No. RobinPhone works in your browser over Wi-Fi or mobile data, on a laptop or a phone. You do not need any SIM or calling plan.
Is it cheaper to call Japan from the US than from other countries?
The price is the same wherever you are. RobinPhone charges by the destination you call, per minute, with no connection fee.
Can I call toll-free or short hotline numbers in Japan?
Usually not from abroad, with any service. Most agencies and banks publish a separate number for callers overseas. Look for "calling from overseas" on their contact page and dial that number with +81.
Can I try it before paying?
Yes. Every new account gets one free 1-minute test call, with no payment details needed.
Related routes
Call Japan in the next minute
No app, no SIM, no subscription. Pay only for the minutes you talk.