Domestic Calls

Public telephones accept 10 yen and 100 yen coins and/or telephone cards. A local call (within Tokyo's central 23 Wards and some other metropolitan cities) costs 10 yen per minute. If you put in two 10-yen coins and speak for less than one minute, one of the coins will be returned to you. No change is given for partial use of a 100 yen coin. Prepaid telephone cards cost 1,000 yen from vending machines, kiosks at train stations, and convenience stores. Charges for inter-city calls vary according to the distance. Domestic calls are cheaper at night and on Saturday, Sunday & national holidays.

Area Code

Telephone numbers in Japan consist of an area code and a phone number (Exchange Number + Subscriber's Number). For example: (03) 1234-5678.

International Calls

Direct Calls

A direct overseas call can be made from a public telephone displaying an International and Domestic Telephone sign. These phones are not widespread, but can be found at airports, hotels, and other key facilities. Direct dial calls can be made via a telephone company using the company's access number.

Credit Card Calls

A credit card call can be made from a telephone with an International and Domestic Telephone sign. Insert a 100 yen coin (returned when you finish the call) and input an access number. The telecom business is fiercely competitive and so rates and systems change often.

Companies

SoftBank Telecom

http://www.softbanktelecom.co.jp

KDDI

http://www.kddi.com/english/telephone/index.html

Mobile Phones

You can use your mobile phone in Japan in SoftBank Mobile or DOCOMO's 3G (3rd Generation) service area. All you have to do is bring your own SIM card and insert it to a rental phone or your own 3G handset.

For more details, please check with your local mobile phone service provider. Rental phone service is also available upon arrival at Narita Airport or Kansai Airport. For further information please contact any of the following companies.

G-Call:Compare and Save with G-Call

http://www.g-call.com/e/rental/dom/rental.php

JAL ABC RENTAL PHONE

http://www.jalabc.com/rental/domestic_eng/index.html

PuPuRu(Japanese Mobile Phone Rentals)

http://www.pupuru.com/foreign/en/index.html

NTT DoCoMo International Roaming Center

http://roaming.nttdocomo.co.jp/en/index.html

SoftBank Global Rental

http://www.softbank-rental.jp/en/index.php

Toll Free Numbers

Telephone numbers starting with 0120 are receiver-paid calls under NTT's Free Dial 0120 service. For Japan Telecom, the toll-free numbers begin with 0088, but calling areas are sometimes limited. Toll free numbers can not be called from outside Japan.

Facsimile and Computer Networking

Facsimile machines are available at most hotels. Ask the front desk or go to the hotel's business service center. Some hotel phones and the new gray telephones have modular sockets for computer network access.

Domestic Mail

Ask your hotel front desk to assist you in posting mail or packages. The rates for regular sized letters (14 to 23.5cm long, 9 to 12cm wide and up to 1cm thick) and postcards are as follows: Mail that has different measurements costs 120 yen up to 50 grams and 140 yen over 50 grams up to 75 gram.

International Air Mail

International mail can be classified into letter post (letters, aerogramme and postcards), parcel post, and EMS (Express Mail Service).

Foreign parcel post can be sent between Japan and most other nations. The maximum weight for a single package is usually 20 kg but it depends on the destination. The type of contents of a parcel accepted, however, and the maximum measurements of a single parcel differ by destination.

EMS is the fastest way to send documents and parcels to over 100 countries and territories worldwide. A tracking system, providing prompt information on a package's delivery status, is available for 35 countries.

Other Mail Services

Private delivery services such as DHL and Federal Express provide fast and efficient services between Japan and other nations. Your choice of service depends on the kind of item you want to send. Please ask your hotel front desk to assist you in posting mail or packages via these couriers.

Postal Service Website

http://www.post.japanpost.jp/english/

Business Hours

Some main post offices are open seven days a week.
Most department stores are closed for two to three weekdays a month.
Most museums are closed on Mondays.

National Holidays