Area Code 1396 – Esashi, Hokkaido
The phone area code for Esashi, Hokkaido is 1396 (international format +811396). Browse local exchange codes (NXX) and carrier assignments below.
📍 Geographic Location of Esashi, Hokkaido
Geographic Overview
Area code 1396 is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) assigned to the Esashi region in Hokkaido, Japan. Esashi is a town located in the Hiyama Subprefecture, on the southwestern coast of Hokkaido, facing the Sea of Japan. The code serves the town of Esashi and its surrounding administrative areas, including parts of the former Otobe and Setana towns, which were merged into the current municipality. The region is known for its historic port, fishing industry, and scenic coastal landscapes.
Dialing Format and Usage
Within Japan, calls to Esashi numbers are placed using the national trunk prefix 0, followed by the area code 1396 and the subscriber number. The full national dialing format is 0-1396-X-XXXX, where the subscriber number typically consists of 5 to 6 digits. For international callers, the country code for Japan is +81, and the leading zero of the area code is dropped. Thus, an international caller would dial +81-1396-X-XXXX.
For example, a local call to a subscriber number 12345 would be dialed as 01396-12345 from within Japan, while an international caller would dial +81-1396-12345.
Geographic Coverage and Administration
The 1396 area code is part of the Hokkaido numbering plan area, which is administered by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) in Japan. The code is classified as a geographic code, meaning that it is tied to a specific physical location. Calls made to 1396 numbers are routed through the PSTN to the Esashi exchange, which serves both fixed-line and VoIP subscribers registered with an Esashi address.
Overlay and Numbering Considerations
Currently, there is no overlay code for the Esashi area, and the 1396 code is the sole NDC for this region. However, as with all Japanese geographic codes, number portability allows subscribers to retain their numbers when moving to a different service provider within the same geographic area. It is important to note that if a subscriber moves to a different geographic region, they may be required to change their area code.
Caller Instructions
- Local callers within the Esashi area may be able to dial the subscriber number directly without the area code, depending on the local dialing plan. However, it is recommended to always include the area code to avoid misdialing.
- Domestic long-distance callers from other parts of Japan must dial 01396 followed by the subscriber number.
- International callers should dial +81 1396 followed by the subscriber number, omitting the leading zero of the area code.
For accurate and up-to-date dialing instructions, always consult your service provider or the official MIC guidelines.