Telephones

Public telephones are found here and there in Japan. Using a telephone card to call is convenient.

How to Make a Phone Call in Japan

Public Telephones in Japan

How to make a domestic telephone call

Lift up the phone receiver.
Insert a telephone card or coins into the telephone.
Dial the telephone number. You will hear the calling tone. You will be connected when your party responds.
After finishing the telephone call, put the phone receiver back down in the original position. The card or remaining coins are returned.

There is no operator. The call is connected directly.

How to make international calls

The procedure for making international phone calls changes depending on the telephone company. Please reference the links to each telephone company.

How to make a call with KDDI
http://www.kddi.com/service/private/howto/

NTT Communications Virtual Shop
http://www.ntt.com/shop/english/naiyou/index3.html

The Two Types of Telephone Card

There are two types of telephone card: magnetic cards and integrated circuit (IC) cards. The sizes are the same and they are very similar. I must warn you not to confuse them.
Different telephones are used depending on the type of card, so you must use the telephone that accepts your card.


A magnetic telephone card		An IC telephone card

After using the card, a punched hole indicates the approximate remaining units.		Before using the card, snap off the corner of the card. The photograph shows a card with the corner already snapped off.
Surface designs differ respectively. The price of both of types of card is 1,000 yen. Small card vending machines are often located right beside the telephones. You can also buy telephone cards at kiosks.

Telephones

The 10 yen coin can be used in a telephone that accepts coins. Some telephones also accept 100 yen coins. Be aware that the telephones that accept the 100 yen coins do not return change. Insert a 10 yen coin first, and then if the line is connected, insert a 100 yen coin.

Telephone that accept magnetic telephone cards

Telephone that accepts IC telephone cards

This telephone accepts telephone cards and coins.

The telephone on the left accepts telephone cards and coins. The telephone on the right accepts only telephone cards.

Orange telephones accept IC telephone cards and coins. You use the phone by inserting the card in the upper-righthand slot.

This telephone accepts IC telephone cards only.

By the way, you will surely be surprised that many Japanese are always staring at their cellular phones. They are usually reading their e-mail.

Town Page (Japan Telephone Directory)
http://english.itp.ne.jp/

NTT Home (The largest telephone company in Japan)
http://www.ntt.co.jp/index_e.html

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