Public Telephones
There are a variety of public telephones in Japan; some are operated only by coins or telephone cards and some allow international calls. To make international calls, use a phone labeled "International & Domestic Telephone". Local calls from public telephones cost 10 yen per minute. Certain type of phone accept 100 yen coins, but no change will be returned. Prepaid telephone cards in denominations of 500 yen and 1,000 yen are available at kiosks or convenience stores.
Land-line Phones
Telephone Subscription Right
Normally in Japan, it is required to obtain the right to a telephone line from Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT) that owns communications infrastructures in the country before installing a telephone at your home. NTT West offers the service in Fukuoka.
NTT West
Tel:116 / Pittari Net http://www.ntt-west.co.jp/shop/tel/list_n.html
* Note that there are some private companies that sell telephone subscription rights that are cheaper than those provided by NTT. In addition, there are also companies that provide package deals that include both the telephone subscription right and connection to the Internet (the former service might be included for free in the package).
* If you no longer require the telephone subscription rights, you must sell it to either a private company or to an individual, for NTT does not conduct any buyback services. The negotiated amount will vary depending on the company, but you should not expect to receive more than several thousand yen for it.
Items Required for a Subscription
●Identification: alien registration card, driver’s license, passport, etc.
●Contract fee and subscription fee: about 39,000 yen.
●Installation fee: depends on the work required （For more details, dial “116”）
* If you purchase the right from a private dealer, the dealer will usually handle some of the required procedures for NTT. For more information, inquire with your dealer.
Telephone Installation
By applying for NTT over the phone or on the Internet, NTT will install internal wiring at your home. However, since most apartments usually have internal wiring already installed, simply plugging a telephone cord into the phone jack will enable phone. For more details on the type of installation you need for your home, please consult your nearest NTT office
For the telephone itself, you will need to purchase it yourself through NTT or at electronics stores.
Relocating or Terminating Your Telephone Service
To relocate or terminate the telephone service, contact NTT West by phone or on the Internet, and provide your address, name, and current phone number, as well as the desired dates of disconnection and reconnection and your new contact information.
Telephone Bills
NTT West bills basic monthly charges other than dialing charges (e.g. connection fees).
Payment Methods
There are three ways to pay your bills: 1) automatic transfer from a personal bank or post office account (jido koza furikae); 2) credit card payment; and 3) payment through a designated bank, post office, or convenience store with an invoice sent by NTT. Application is required for automatic transfers or credit card payments.
A Reminder When Making Domestic Calls
You need to dial an area code when making a call outside of Fukuoka City. However, it is not the case for the following municipalities as they have the same area code as Fukuoka City i.e. 092: Chikushino-shi, Kasuga-shi, Onojo-shi, Dazaifu-shi, Maebaru-shi, Koga-shi, Nakagawa-machi, Umi-machi, Sasaguri-machi, Shime-machi, Sue-machi, Shingu-machi, Hisayama-machi, Kasuya-machi, Nijo-machi, and Shima-machi.
All telephone numbers that begin with “0120” are toll-free, while numbers that begin with “0990” are called “Dial Q2”, in which case, a call charge plus a fixed information fee will apply.
NTT 3-Digit Information Service
|
Directory assistance *100 yen (per number) is charged for a directory assistance from a public phone
|
104 |
|
Weather forecast （Fukuoka） |
177 |
|
Weather forecast （outside Fukuoka） |
area code+177 |
|
Time |
117 |
|
Telegraph （domestic） |
115 |
|
Telegraph （international） |
03-3344-5151 |
|
Collect call （domestic） |
106 |
|
Automatic collect call （domestic） |
108 |
|
Telephone repairs |
113 |
|
Telephone installation, relocation, other inquiries |
116 |
*113 and 116 are toll-free numbers.
Other Major Telephone Companies
At present there are telephone companies other than NTT that provide land lines. Some of them own dedicated lines that do not require the use of NTT lines (i.e. a subscription is not necessary.) Please note that this service is only available in limited areas, and there are also cases when emergency numbers including “110” and “119”, as well as a toll free number of “0120” cannot be used. In the case that you use an NTT phone line through a non-NTT company (this is called “MYLINE”), the basic monthly charges will be separately billed by NTT. For more details, please consult the telephone companies.
◇ＫＤＤＩ
KDDI Metal Plus (dedicated line）
http://www.kddi.com/personal/metalplus/
Tel: 0077-777 / 0120-22-0077
◇SoftBank Telecom
Otoku Line （dedicated line）
Tel: 0088-221-221 / 0120-917-221
http://tm.softbank.jp/otoku/consumer/index.html
IP Phone
There are many telecommunication companies that provide IP phone service via the Internet such as ADSL or fiber-optic connection instead of the regular phone lines. Since many of them are Internet service providers, you can ask for IP phone service at the same time you apply for an Internet connection.
For more information, please inquire at an Internet service provider
International Calls
International Telephone Companies
The following telephone companies are the major international call service providers in Japan. In addition, various smaller firms offer competitive rates and services. Before deciding which company to use, it is advisable to compare the rates and service contents offered by each company, check the related ads on foreign newspapers, or ask other foreigners for advice.
＜Major Telephone Companies＞
◇NTT Communications （company code: 0033）
Tel: 0120-506506
9:00-21:00
Closed during the year-end and New Year holidays
http://506506.ntt.com/0033data/howto.html
◇KDDI （company code: 001）
Tel: 0088-41 / 0120-03-0061
9:00～21:00
http://www.001.kddi.com/
◇SoftBank Telecom （company code: 0041）
Tel: 0088-41 / 0120-03-0061
9:00-21:00
Open seven days a week
http://tm.softbank.jp/consumer/international/
Prepaid Cards for International Calls
The following types of prepaid cards are available for making international calls. For more information on prices, instructions, or purchase/recharge locations, please inquire at one of the international call service providers below.
＜Major Card Types＞
◇World Prepaid Card
NTT Communications
Tel: 0120-506506
http://506506.ntt.com/0033data/howto.html
◇KDDI Super World Card
Tel: 0057
http://www.001.kddi.com/lineup/with-guidance/swc/
◇Communication Card/Comica
SoftBank Telecom
Tel: 0120-85-0061
http://tm.softbank.jp/consumer/comica/
◇Brastel Smart Phonecard *rechargeable
Brastel Co., Ltd.
Tel: 0120-659-530
http://www.brastel.com/
How to Make International Calls
The following methods can be used to make international calls via your home telephone or public telephones that connect international calls..
１．Direct call
Access number （code number of the desired company） → country code → phone number (area code → phone number）
*Generally the “0” on the local area code is omitted when dialing; however, there are exceptions.
２．Operator-assisted call
KDDI provides operator assisted calls for station-to-station calls, person-to-person calls, and collect call services. Upon dialing “0051”, tell the operator which type of call you wish to make.
* Please note that this service is due to end at the end of March 2010.
３．Prepaid card call
Various types of international phone cards are provided by different companies in Japan, and they can be purchased online or at convenience stores. Some are rechargeable while others are single-use only. Both types come with a specified number, so followed the audio guide and dial the number accordingly.
４．Credit card call
Credit card call access code → signal tone or audio guidance → credit card number + # → PIN number → country code→ phone number （area code → phone number） + #
*Access codes for credit card call
NTT Communications: 0034-112 KDDI： 0055 SoftBank Telecom: 0065
＜Places for International Fax services＞
Convenience Stores: Lawson or Family Mart
*Please inquire at the desired stores since not every store necessarily provides this service.
Other: FedexKinko’s
Mobile Phones
A number of phone companies provide mobile phone services that offer cellular services and incoming/outgoing email in almost all areas of Japan. Also an increasing number of cellular models are now equipped with global roaming services.
Purchasing Mobile Phones (Signing a Contract）
Mobile phones can be purchased/contracted at the service desks of phone companies or electronics stores. To sign a contract, you will need to prepare the following items: a form of ID that verifies your name, date of birth, and current address e.g. Japanese driver’s license or alien registration card, the “todokede-in” (a seal which you used to open your bank account) and a bank book or other documents that verify your account information to set up automatic payment, or your credit card if you wish to pay by credit card. In addition, there are also companies that provide prepaid mobile phones. For more information, please inquire at the following companies or mobile phone shops.
＜Major Mobile Companies＞
◇NTT docomo
Tel: 0120-800-000
9:00-20:00
Tel: 0120-005-250（English, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish）
9:00-21:00
Open seven days a week
http://www.nttdocomo.co.jp/
◇SoftBank
Tel: 0088-21-2000
*Press 8 for guidance in English
Open 24 hours, seven days a week
Operator service is available from 9:00-20:00
*Prepaid service available
http://mb.softbank.jp/mb/
◇au
Tel: 0077-7-111
9:00-20:00, open seven days a week
*Prepaid service availabl
http://www.au.kddi.com/
WILLCOM *PHS
Tel: 0120-921-156
http://www.willcom-inc.com/
*As the rates and the contents of service fluctuate greatly in the telephone market, please check the latest information on the websites or at the service offices of the phone companies as needed.
This page cannot be displayed in Windows Internet Explorer 8.0. Please view in another browser (Firefox, etc.).
