Area Code 1377 – Yakumo, Hokkaido

Overview of Area Code 1377

Area code 1377 is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) within the Japanese telephone numbering plan, specifically assigned to the Yakumo region in southwestern Hokkaido. This area code serves the town of Yakumo and its surrounding administrative districts, including parts of the Futami and Otobe areas. The code is managed under the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) and is allocated to Nippon Telegraph and Telephone East (NTT East) for fixed-line services.

Geographic Coverage and Administrative Jurisdiction

Yakumo is located in the Oshima Subprefecture of Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island. The region is known for its coastal scenery and agricultural production. The 1377 area code covers Yakumo town and neighboring communities, providing PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) services to residential and business customers. As a geographic code, it is tied to a specific physical location, and calls are routed based on the caller’s destination.

Dialing Formats and Caller Instructions

For local callers within the same area code, the national subscriber number is typically 7 digits (excluding the area code). To call a Yakumo number from another region in Japan, you must dial the trunk prefix 0, followed by the area code 1377, and then the subscriber number. For example, a local number such as 5-1234 would be dialed as 0-1377-5-1234 from outside the area.

International callers should dial the Japanese country code +81, then the area code without the leading zero, followed by the subscriber number. For instance, to reach the same number from abroad, you would dial +81 1377 5 1234. It is important to note that the leading zero is only used for domestic calls within Japan.

Overlay and Numbering Considerations

Currently, there is no overlay plan for area code 1377, meaning that the area code is not shared with other codes in the same region. However, as with all Japanese geographic codes, the subscriber number length may vary, and some numbers may have been migrated to VoIP services, which can affect routing. Callers should always verify the complete number before dialing, especially for business contacts that may have moved to IP-based telephony.

Practical Usage and Tips

When calling Yakumo from a mobile phone in Japan, the same domestic format (0-1377-...) applies. If you are using a VoIP service that supports international dialing, ensure you use the +81 format. For travelers, it is advisable to store numbers in international format to avoid confusion when roaming. Always check with your service provider for any special rates or restrictions.