How to Make International Calls from Japan in 2026

Updated: January 2026 · Reading time: 10 minutes

Why are international calls from Japan so expensive?

Japanese carriers—NTT Docomo, au (KDDI), SoftBank, and Rakuten Mobile—charge steep rates for international calls. Depending on your plan and destination, you might pay ¥50 to ¥200 per minute. A 20-minute call to the US or Philippines could cost more than a month of Netflix.

Some plans include limited international minutes or discounted rates to specific countries, but the default rates remain high. And if you're on a budget MVNO plan (IIJmio, mineo, etc.), international calling options are often even more limited.

Japan has excellent internet infrastructure, which makes VoIP alternatives work exceptionally well. The call quality you'll get from a Tokyo apartment rivals or beats traditional phone lines.

What are the free options for international calls from Japan?

LINE, WhatsApp, and messaging apps

In Japan, LINE dominates. If you're calling someone who also uses LINE, voice and video calls are free and work great. For calls to other countries where WhatsApp is standard (most of the world outside Japan, China, and Korea), WhatsApp calls are equally free.

The problem arises when you need to call a landline or someone who doesn't use these apps. Your parents back home who only have a house phone. A government office handling your visa paperwork. A hospital where a relative is staying. A business that won't respond to emails. In these cases, LINE and WhatsApp don't help.

LINE Out (limited free calls)

LINE offers "LINE Out Free"—you watch an ad and get 1-3 minutes of free calling to real phone numbers. It's inconvenient and unreliable for anything serious, but worth knowing about for emergencies.

Google Meet, Zoom

These platforms allow free voice and video calls, but only between users on the same platform. They don't connect to traditional phone networks.

How do you call landlines and mobiles from Japan?

When you need to call an actual phone number—not an app—you need a VoIP (Voice over IP) service. These services convert your voice into internet data and connect it to the phone network in the destination country.

LINE Out

Since you're probably already using LINE in Japan, LINE Out is the most convenient option for occasional calls. It lets you call real phone numbers worldwide from within the LINE app.

Rates: from ¥3/min to US landlines, ¥6/min to US mobiles. Rates vary significantly by destination. Credit available from ¥250.

Payment: accepts Japanese credit cards, LINE Pay, and convenience store payment. This is a major advantage—most other services don't support konbini payment.

Limitations: credits expire after 180 days. The call quality can be inconsistent. The interface buries the calling feature under multiple menus.

Skype (Microsoft)

Skype was the most popular international calling service for years. Microsoft is migrating it to Teams, but it still works for international calls with prepaid credit.

Rates: from ¥2.7/min to US landlines, competitive rates to most countries. Minimum credit around ¥500.

Payment from Japan: accepts Japanese credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, JCB). PayPal available.

Limitations: the app is increasingly business-focused, the interface is cluttered, and the service's future is uncertain with the Teams transition.

Viber Out

Viber allows calls to traditional phones from within the app. Rates are competitive for some destinations.

Rates: from around ¥2/min to some destinations. Minimum credit roughly ¥500.

Payment from Japan: accepts international credit cards. Japanese convenience store payment not available.

Limitations: credits expire after 180 days without use. Viber isn't widely used in Japan, so you'd be installing an app just for calling.

Rakuten Link (Rakuten Mobile users only)

If you're on Rakuten Mobile, the Rakuten Link app includes free domestic calls and significantly discounted international calls to some countries.

Rates: varies by destination, but often cheaper than other carriers. Check the current rate sheet.

Limitations: only available to Rakuten Mobile subscribers. Quality depends on Rakuten's network coverage, which is still developing in some areas.

DialHard

DialHard is a smaller service focused on international calls directly from your browser. No app installation required—works in Chrome, Firefox, or Safari.

Rates: from around ¥3.5/min (USD 0.03/min). Minimum credit USD 20 (~¥3,000).

Payment from Japan: accepts Visa, Mastercard, and JCB. Japanese payment methods like convenience store payment, PayPay, or bank transfer are not yet available.

Advantages: credit never expires, works directly from browser without installing anything, transparent rates with no hidden fees.

Limitations: the minimum credit of ~¥3,000 may be high for someone just wanting to test the service. No Japanese payment options yet. It's a newer, smaller service.

How much do international calls from Japan cost?

This table shows the approximate cost of a 10-minute call to a mobile phone (assuming USD 1 = ¥150):

Note: prices are approximate and vary with exchange rates. Carrier rates vary significantly by plan. Always verify before calling.

Where do people in Japan call most often?

International calling patterns from Japan reflect both the expat/foreign resident population and Japanese business connections:

Philippines: One of the largest foreign communities in Japan. Many Filipino residents call family regularly—often to landlines in provincial areas where smartphones aren't common. This corridor has high call volume.

China: Business connections, students, technical trainees, and family ties. WeChat is standard in China (not WhatsApp or LINE), but even WeChat can't call Chinese landlines.

Brazil: The Japanese-Brazilian (Nikkei) community works in manufacturing centers like Aichi, Shizuoka, and Gunma. Many call family in Brazil regularly.

Vietnam, Indonesia, Nepal: Growing communities of technical trainees and workers. Many need to call home to rural areas with limited smartphone adoption.

United States: Business connections, military families (especially in Okinawa and around bases), and American expats.

South Korea: Geographic proximity, business ties, and the Korean community in Japan. Despite the closeness, international rates still apply.

United Kingdom, Australia: English-speaking expat communities and business connections.

How do time zones affect calling from Japan?

Japan is far ahead of most places you might call. This matters more than you'd think:

US East Coast: 14 hours behind Japan. When it's 9am Monday in Tokyo, it's 7pm Sunday in New York.

US West Coast: 17 hours behind. 9am Monday in Tokyo = 4pm Sunday in Los Angeles.

UK: 9 hours behind (8 during BST). 9am in Tokyo = midnight in London.

Brazil (São Paulo): 12 hours behind. 9am in Tokyo = 9pm previous day in São Paulo.

Philippines: Only 1 hour behind. This makes calling much easier.

Australia (Sydney): 1-2 hours ahead. Also relatively easy.

For calls to the Americas or Europe, you're often looking at early morning (your time) or late evening calls. Plan accordingly.

How can people overseas call you in Japan?

If you have family or contacts abroad who need to call your Japanese number, the situation reverses. They'll pay international rates from their carrier to reach your +81 number.

You can suggest they use a VoIP service: calling a Japanese mobile costs around ¥15-30/min (USD 0.10-0.20/min) with most VoIP providers—much less than their local carrier would charge.

Some services also offer virtual numbers. You could have a number with a US area code (+1) that rings on your Japanese phone. Useful for maintaining a presence back home or for elderly relatives who can't dial international numbers.

What tips help with international calling from Japan?

Leverage Japan's excellent internet. Unlike some countries where VoIP quality is hit-or-miss, Japan's infrastructure means you'll likely get crystal-clear calls. Use WiFi when available for the most stable connection.

LINE Out is convenient but not cheapest. If you're already using LINE daily, LINE Out requires no new app installation. But for heavy international calling, dedicated VoIP services often have better rates.

Watch out for expiring credit. LINE Out and Viber credits expire after 180 days without use. If you only call occasionally, choose a service where credit doesn't expire.

Check your carrier's international options. Some plans include discounted rates or minute bundles for specific countries. Rakuten Mobile users should check Rakuten Link rates first.

Caller ID matters. If you're calling elderly relatives who won't answer unknown numbers, make sure your service lets you set a recognizable caller ID.

Consider the recipient's situation. If you're calling someone in a rural area of the Philippines or Vietnam, they may have limited mobile data. A VoIP-to-landline call might be more reliable than trying to coordinate app-based calling.

What should businesses consider for international calls?

If you run a business making regular international calls—trading companies, recruiting agencies, consulting firms—consider these factors:

Business VoIP services (not covered in detail here) offer features like call recording, multiple extensions, and local numbers in various countries. They cost more but may be worthwhile for professional use.

Local presence matters. Having a local number in your clients' countries increases answer rates dramatically. Some services let you display a local number when calling.

Track and report costs. International calls add up. Use the detailed logs that VoIP services provide to monitor spending across your team.

What's the best way to make international calls from Japan?

Making international calls from Japan in 2026 costs a fraction of carrier rates if you use internet-based VoIP services. Japan's excellent internet infrastructure makes call quality reliable.

If both people have apps: Use LINE, WhatsApp, or similar. They're free and work well.

If you need to call landlines or people without smartphones: A VoIP service will cost far less than your carrier. LINE Out is convenient since you're probably already using LINE. For better rates or non-expiring credit, consider Skype or DialHard.

If you call one country very frequently: Check if Rakuten Link (if you're on Rakuten) or a monthly plan offers better value.

If you call occasionally to various countries: A prepaid service with non-expiring credit is the most practical choice—you won't lose money if you don't call for a few months.