Cheapest Way to Call Japan from the UK

Every option compared honestly — access numbers, WhatsApp, VoIP apps and eSIMs. The right answer depends on your situation, so we cover all of them.

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20+ Years Helping UK Callers PocketDial has been helping people in the UK make affordable international calls since 2003. We know this space inside out.

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Honest Comparisons We compare every option — including free ones — because the right answer depends on your situation, not on what earns us a commission.

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More Than Just Calls We also cover money transfers, eSIMs and travel data — everything you need if you regularly call, travel to, or send money to family abroad.

All Your Options at a Glance

There is no single best way to call Japan from the UK — it depends on whether both ends have internet, whether you're on a landline or mobile, and how often you call. Here is an honest comparison of every option.

Method	Typical Cost	Needs Internet	Best For	Verdict
WhatsApp / FaceTime Free — but only if both ends have a reliable connection	Free	Both ends	Regular callers with WiFi on both sides	Best if both online
PocketDial Access Number UK landline dial-around — no internet, no account	Coming soon	No	UK landline callers, elderly relatives with no smartphone	🔔 Notify me
Rebtel VoIP app — connects as a regular call at the Japan end	~1–3p/min	UK end only	UK mobile callers, no app needed on other end	Best for UK mobiles
VoIP Apps (Viber, Telegram) Free app-to-app only — both ends need same app	Free / low	Both ends	If your contact already uses the same app	Good if app matches
Japan eSIM Local data for when you travel there	From £3	For data calls	Travelling to Japan	Travel only
Standard UK Mobile EE / O2 / Vodafone — international direct dial	50p–£1.50/min	No	Emergency calls only	Avoid — very expensive

💡 The most important caveat on WhatsApp: it is genuinely free — but only works if the person you are calling also has a good internet connection. For calling elderly relatives or anyone without reliable WiFi or data, you need a paid option.

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PocketDial Access Numbers — New Supplier Coming Soon

We are upgrading our dial-around service to a new supplier offering better rates to Japan. Leave your email below and we will notify you the moment new access numbers go live — you will be among the first to know.

One email when numbers go live. No spam, ever.

In the meantime:

Rebtel offers competitive per-minute rates to Japan from your UK mobile — the person you're calling does not need any app or internet. Try Rebtel →

Calling from Your UK Mobile

Your standard mobile network will charge 50p–£1.50 per minute for international calls to Japan. Here are the two options that actually make sense.

⭐ Recommended

Rebtel

The key advantage over WhatsApp: the person you're calling doesn't need a smartphone, internet connection, or any app. Rebtel routes your call over the internet on your end but delivers it as a normal phone call at the Japan end. Rates from around 1–3p per minute.

No app needed at the Japan end Works on any UK mobile Calls landlines and mobiles

Call Japan with Rebtel →

WhatsApp (Free — with a caveat)

Completely free if the person you're calling has WhatsApp and a reliable internet connection. That caveat matters — if they have unreliable WiFi or data, call quality suffers. Best for regular calls to people you know are online.

Completely free over WiFi Video calls too Requires internet on both ends

Download WhatsApp →

Used Skype to call Japan?

Microsoft shut Skype down in May 2025. The best direct replacement for calling Japan landlines and mobiles is Rebtel — same principle, no account needed. For free app-to-app calls, WhatsApp is the natural replacement.

Also Need to Send Money to Japan?

Many people calling Japan from the UK also send money home regularly. Your high street bank is typically the worst way to do it — most add a hidden margin of 3–5% on top of the exchange rate before charging a transfer fee. These two services are consistently cheaper.

⭐ Top Pick

Wise

Uses the real mid-market exchange rate — the same one you see on Google — with a small transparent fee shown upfront before you send. No hidden margin buried in the exchange rate. Used by over 16 million people worldwide.

Mid-market exchange rate 74% of transfers arrive in under 20 seconds All fees shown upfront — no surprises

Send money with Wise →

Remitly

Built specifically for diaspora remittances — very popular for UK–Japan transfers. Competitive exchange rates with an on-time delivery guarantee: if your transfer is late, they refund the fee. Supports bank deposit, cash pickup and mobile wallet.

On-time delivery guarantee Cash pickup option available Strong UK–Japan corridor

Send money with Remitly →

💡 Compare both before sending — rates shift daily. The cheapest for your amount this week may differ from last week.

Travelling to Japan? Avoid Roaming Charges

If you're visiting Japan, your UK SIM will cost you significantly more than you expect. EE charges up to £8.45 per day for data outside Europe — which adds up to over £59 on a week's trip just for mobile internet. An eSIM costs a fraction of that and activates before you board.

Airalo

Best for most travellers. Buy a data plan before you leave, scan a QR code, and you have local data rates the moment you land in Japan. No physical SIM swap, no queues at the airport. Plans start from around £3.

Instant digital activation — no SIM swap Plans from £3 — data only Keep your UK number active on same phone

Get a Japan eSIM on Airalo →

Holafly

Better for longer stays or heavy data users. Unlimited data plans mean you never worry about running out — useful if you're making lots of WhatsApp video calls home, using Google Maps constantly, or working remotely during your trip.

Unlimited data — no monitoring required 24/7 customer support Longer stay plans available

Get a Japan eSIM on Holafly →

ℹ️ eSIMs are data-only — calls and texts still go through apps like WhatsApp. Your UK number stays active on your phone's physical SIM alongside the eSIM.

How to Dial Japan from the UK

📞 Dialling format

Dial 00 + the country code + the full local number (omitting any leading zero).

Dialling code for Japan

The dialling code for Japan is +81.

When calling Japan from the UK you must dial 0081 followed by the Japan number in full.

When using our service to make cheap calls to Japan, you need to:

Dial the access number
When you hear the voice prompt, dial the Japan number starting with 0081
When you have finished inputting the number, wait to be connected.

That’s it….easy!

Best time to call Japan from UK

The time in Japan is 9 hours ahead of the UK (GMT +9). On that basis the best time to call Japan is 8am until 12pm UK time. The whole of Japan is covered by a single time zone so you don’t need to worry about which part of Japan you are calling.

Travel Information (provided by the FCO)

Japan Area Codes

City	Japan Dialing Codes from UK
Akita	0081 96
Aomori	0081 177
Asahikawa	0081 166
Chiba	0081 43
Choshi	0081 43
Fukuoka	0081 92
Funabashi	0081 47
Gifu	0081 58
Hachioji	0081 42
Hakodate	0081 138
Himeji	0081 79
Hiroshima	0081 82
Ichikawa	0081 47
Kagoshima	0081 99
Kanazawa	0081 76
Kasugai	0081 568
Kawaguchi	0081 482
Kawasaki	0081 44
Kishiwada	0081 724
Kitakyushu	0081 93
Kobe	0081 78
Kofu	0081 552
Kumamoto	0081 96
Kurashiki	0081 86
Kure	0081 823
Kurume	0081 942
Kyoto	0081 75
Machida	0081 427
Matsudo	0081 47
Matsumoto	0081 263
Matsuyama	0081 89
Mito	0081 292
Miyazaki	0081 985
Morioka	0081 196
Nagano	0081 262
Nagaoka	0081 258
Nagasaki	0081 95
Nagoya	0081 52
Naha	0081 98
Niigata	0081 25
Ogaki	0081 584
Okayama	0081 862
Okazaki	0081 564
Okinawa	0081 98
Omiya	0081 48
Omuta	0081 9445
Osaka	0081 66
Sakai	0081 72
Sapporo	0081 11
Sasebo	0081 956
Sendai	0081 22
Shimonoseki	0081 832
Shizuoka	0081 54
Takamatsu	0081 878
Takaoka	0081 766
Tokyo	0081 3
Toyama	0081 764
Toyonaka	0081 6
Toyota	0081 565
Tsu	0081 592
Ube	0081 836
Uji	0081 774
Utsunomiya	0081 28
Wakayama	0081 73
Yamaguchi	0081 839
Yao	0081 729
Yokkaichi	0081 748
Yokohama	0081 45
Gytheio	0030 2733
Halkida	0030 2221
Herakleia	0030 2325
Heraklion	0030 2810
Heraklion (Iraklion)	0030 2810
Iasmos	0030 2534
Ierapetra	0030 2842
Ierissos	0030 2377
Igoumenitsa	0030 2665
Ilio	0030 210
Iraklion	0030 281
K. Nevrokopi	0030 2523
Kala Nera	0030 2423
Kalabaka	0030 2432
Kalamaria	0030 2310
Kalamata	0030 2721
Kalavrita	0030 2692
Kalentzi	0030 2659
Kalianoi	0030 2747
Kalimnos	0030 2243
Kallikrateia	0030 2399
Kallisti	0030 2535
Kallithea	0030 210
Kalloni	0030 2253
Kam.Vourla	0030 2235
Kanalaki	0030 2684
Kantanos	0030 2823
Kardamila	0030 2272
Karditsa	0030 2441
Karies	0030 2653
Karpathos	0030 2245
Karpenisi	0030 2237
Karystos	0030 2224
Kassandreia	0030 2374
Kastoria	0030 2467
Kastri	0030 2792
Katerini	0030 2351
Kavala	0030 251
Kea	0030 2288
Keratsini	0030 210
Khaniá	0030 28210
Khania/Souda	0030 28210
Kiato	0030 2742
Kilkis	0030 2341
Kissamos	0030 2822
Kolympari	0030 2824
Komotini	0030 2531
Konitsa	0030 2655
Kopanaki	0030 2765
Korinthos	0030 2741
Koroni	0030 2725
Kos	0030 2242
Kozani	0030 2461
Kranidi	0030 2754
Krestena	0030 2625
Kymi	0030 2222
Kyparissia	0030 2761
Kyprinos	0030 2556
Kythira	0030 2736
Lagadas	0030 2394
Lagadikia	0030 2393
Lagonisi	0030 2291
Lamia	0030 2231
Larissa	0030 241
Lavrion	0030 2292
Lechena	0030 2623
Lefkada	0030 2645
Lefkimi Corfu	0030 2662
Leonidio	0030 2757
Leros	0030 2247
Levidi	0030 2796
Lidoriki	0030 2266
Limenari	0030 2593
Limin Chersonisou	0030 2897
Livadeia	0030 2261
Loutra Aidipsou	0030 2226
Loutraki	0030 2744
Lygourgio	0030 2753
Makrakomi	0030 2236
Makrychori	0030 2495
Mantoudi	0030 2227
Markopoulo	0030 2299
Mataraga	0030 2635
Megalopoli	0030 2791
Megara	0030 2296
Meligalas	0030 2724
Messini	0030 2722
Messologi	0030 2631
Mikonos	0030 2289
Milos	0030 2287
Mirina	0030 2254
Mitilini	0030 2251
Moires	0030 2892
Molaoi	0030 2732
Moudania	0030 2373
Mouzaki	0030 2445
Nafpaktos	0030 2634
Nafplion	0030 2752
Naousa	0030 2332
Naxos	0030 2285
Nea Smyrni	0030 210
Nemea	0030 2746
Nigrita	0030 2322
Nikaia	0030 210
Nikitas	0030 2375
Orestiada	0030 2552
Palamas	0030 2444
Paramythia	0030 2666
Paranesti	0030 2524
Paros	0030 2284
Patra	0030 261
Patras	0030 2610
Perama	0030 2834
Peramos	0030 2594
Perdika	0030 2654
Perea	0030 2392
Peristeri	0030 210
Peristerion	0030 210
Philippiada	0030 2683
Piraeus	0030 210
Plaka	0030 2352
Polikastro	0030 2343
Polygyros	0030 2371
Poros	0030 2298
Préveza	0030 2682
Prosotsani	0030 2522
Psachna	0030 2228
Ptolemaida	0030 2463
Pyli	0030 2434
Pylos	0030 2723
Pyrgos	0030 2621
Pyrgos (Creta)	0030 2893
Rafina	0030 2294
Rethymno	0030 2831
Rhodes	0030 2241
Ródhos	0030 22410
Rodopoli	0030 2327
Salakos	0030 2246
Sami	0030 2674
Samos	0030 2273
Sapes	0030 2532
Serres	0030 2321
Servia	0030 2464
Siatista	0030 2465
Sidirokastro	0030 2323
Siros	0030 2281
Sitia	0030 2843
Skala	0030 2735
Skiathos	0030 2427
Skopelos	0030 2424
Skripero Corfu	0030 2663
Sochos	0030 2395
Sofades	0030 2443
Soufli	0030 2554
Sparti	0030 2731
Spili	0030 2832
Stavroupoli	0030 2542
Stilida	0030 2238
Stratoni	0030 2376
Tampouria	0030 2656
Thermo	0030 2644
Thessaloniki	0030 231
Thira	0030 2286
Thiva	0030 2262
Tinos	0030 2283
Trikala	0030 2431
Tripolis	0030 271
Tropea	0030 2797
Tyrnavos	0030 2492
Tzermiades	0030 2844
Vamos	0030 2825
Vasilika	0030 2396
Velestino	0030 2425
Veroia	0030 2331
Viannos	0030 2895
Vilia	0030 2263
Vitina	0030 2795
Volissos	0030 2274
Volos	0030 24210
Vonitsa	0030 2643
Voulgareli	0030 2685
Xanthi	0030 2541
Xylagani	0030 2533
Xylokastro	0030 2743
Zagora	0030 2426
Zakynthos	0030 2695
Zichni	0030 2324
Zitsa	0030 2658

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cheapest way to call Japan from the UK?

If both ends have reliable internet, WhatsApp and similar apps are free. For UK landline callers, PocketDial access numbers offer competitive per-minute rates with no account needed. For mobile callers, Rebtel is a strong option.

How do I dial Japan from the UK?

Dial 00 followed by the country code for Japan, then the full local number omitting any leading zero.

Can I send money to Japan from the UK?

Wise and Remitly both offer competitive exchange rates for international transfers, significantly better than banks. Both deliver funds quickly and have good mobile apps.

What happened to Skype — and what should I use instead to call Japan?

Microsoft shut Skype down in May 2025. Microsoft Teams, its replacement, does not support outbound calls to regular phone numbers for ordinary users. The best direct replacement for calling Japan landlines and mobiles is Rebtel, which works on any UK mobile and requires no app at the Japan end. For free app-to-app calls, WhatsApp is the natural alternative — it works on the same principle as Skype video calls and is now used by 87% of UK adults.

What if the person I'm calling in Japan doesn't have internet?

WhatsApp and other internet-based apps will not work if the person you are calling has no reliable data connection. For calling people without smartphones or internet access — including elderly relatives — your best options are PocketDial access numbers (from a UK landline) or Rebtel (from a UK mobile). Both connect as a regular phone call at the Japan end, with no internet or app required there.

Is it cheaper to send money or buy credit to top up a phone in Japan?

For supporting family in Japan, sending money via Wise or Remitly is almost always better value than buying international calling credit. A money transfer gives the recipient full control of the funds, arrives in minutes, and the transfer fees are lower than the per-minute costs that accumulate over regular calls. Many families use a combination: occasional calls via a VoIP app, with monthly transfers for living expenses.