Send SMS to Japan online
Tokyo's lively neighborhoods are filled with ramen shops, convenience stores, and small tech repair businesses. Japanese businesses like hair salons, schools, and delivery services use texts to stay connected with their customers. They send alerts about haircut appointments, school closures, and package delivery times. Texts are perfect for Japanese customers, as they are quick to read, work on any phone, and suit both locals and visitors.
Japan
+81 · East Asia
Price per message
$0.01188
- For $40
- 3,367 SMS
- Alphabet
- Unicode (UCS-2)
- 1,000 messages
- $11.88
- Example number
- +81 90 1234 5678
What a bulk SMS campaign to Japan costs
Need a different count? The pricing calculator works it out for any number of messages, and the workspace shows the exact total for your own list, including names merged into the text.
| Recipients | 1 segment | 2 segments |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | $1.19 | $2.38 |
| 500 | $5.94 | $11.88 |
| 1,000 | $11.88 | $23.76 |
| 5,000 | $59.40 | $118.80 |
| 10,000 | $118.80 | $237.60 |
Who sends text messages to customers in Japan
Hair salons
Salons in Osaka text clients about appointment confirmations.
Schools
Schools in Kyoto notify parents about closures due to typhoons.
Delivery services
Couriers in Tokyo text customers about package arrival times.
Restaurants
Ramen shops in Fukuoka text diners when their table is ready.
Phone number format in Japan
A mobile number in Japan has 10 digits after +81. People write it locally with a 0 in front (090-1234-5678); paste it like that with Japan as the default country, or as +81 90 1234 5678, and the workspace treats both the same.
Alphabet and message length
Writing in Japanese (kana and kanji) always uses Unicode, so a message to Japan in Japanese holds 70 characters in one segment and 67 in each part of a longer text. Short notices in English or plain Latin letters hold 160 characters, which keeps a long message in fewer segments.
Main languages: Japanese.
Best time to send to Japan
Japan stays on UTC+9 all year, so 10:00 in Tokyo is always 01:00 UTC. The scheduler takes your own time zone and shows the same moment in UTC, which makes a 10:00 local send easy to set from anywhere.
Your business
Text Message · Today 09:30
Hi Lee, your order is ready. Collect it today from 2 pm at the front desk.
More SMS destinations in East Asia
Questions about texting Japan
How much does it cost to send an SMS to Japan?
One message (one segment) to Japan costs $0.01188. A campaign to 1,000 people with a short text costs $11.88, and a two-segment text costs twice that. Failed messages are refunded to your credit.
How many messages to Japan does a $40 top-up send?
$40 sends 3,367 single-segment messages to Japan, and more with the bonus on your first top-up. Credit has no expiry date, so what you do not use stays in your account.
How long can a text to Japan be?
Writing in Japanese (kana and kanji) always uses Unicode, so a message to Japan in Japanese holds 70 characters in one segment and 67 in each part of a longer text. Short notices in English or plain Latin letters hold 160 characters, which keeps a long message in fewer segments.
What number format do I use for Japan?
A mobile number in Japan has 10 digits after +81. People write it locally with a 0 in front (090-1234-5678); paste it like that with Japan as the default country, or as +81 90 1234 5678, and the workspace treats both the same.
Should I use Japanese or English for texts?
Japanese is preferred for locals, while English works for tourists. In cities like Tokyo, bilingual texts can be effective.
Are there busy seasons for texting?
During Golden Week or New Year's holidays, people may be less responsive. Plan texts around cherry blossom season or Golden Week for optimal timing.
Ready to text Japan?
Create an account, paste your Japan numbers and see the exact total before you send. Top up from $40: that is 3,367 messages to Japan.