What cities or towns are covered by area code 142 in Japan?

Area code 142 covers Date City and the surrounding towns of Toyoura and Sobetsu in the Iburi Subprefecture of Hokkaido, Japan.

How do I call a Date, Hokkaido number from overseas?

To call a Date number from overseas, dial your country's international access code (e.g., 011 from the US, 00 from most countries), then Japan's country code 81, followed by the area code 142 (without the leading zero) and the subscriber number. For example, 011 81 142 XXXX XXX.

Is area code 142 a mobile or landline prefix?

Area code 142 is a geographic landline prefix assigned to fixed-line services in the Date region. Mobile numbers in Japan have their own prefixes starting with 070, 080, or 090.

Do I need to dial the area code for local calls within Date?

Yes, in Japan, 10-digit dialing is mandatory for all calls, including local ones. You must always dial the area code (0142) followed by the subscriber number, even if you are calling from within the same area.

Are there any plans to introduce an overlay code for 142?

As of now, there are no announced plans for an overlay code for area 142. The current numbering resources are sufficient for the region's needs.

Area Code 142 (Japan) - Prefix Details & Exchanges

Overview of Area Code 142

Area code 142 is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) assigned to the Date region in Hokkaido, Japan. It serves the city of Date and its surrounding areas, including the towns of Toyoura and Sobetsu in the Iburi Subprefecture. The code is part of the Japanese numbering plan administered by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) and operated by NTT East.

Geographic Coverage and Administrative Jurisdiction

The 142 area code covers the western part of the Iburi Subprefecture, along the Pacific coast of Hokkaido. Date City is the primary urban center, known for its fishing industry and scenic coastal views. The region is administratively under Hokkaido Prefecture, and the area code is used for fixed-line services, including PSTN and fiber-optic (FTTH) connections.

Dialing Formats

When calling a landline in the Date area, the full national number is 0-142-X-XXXX, where X-XXXX represents the subscriber number. The total length of the national significant number (NSN) is 9 digits, including the leading zero. For international callers, the country code for Japan is +81, and the leading zero is dropped. Thus, the international format becomes +81-142-X-XXXX.

Local and International Calling Instructions

Local callers within Japan: Dial 0142-X-XXXX (the leading 0 is required for all domestic calls to this area).
Callers from outside Japan: Dial your country's international access code (e.g., 011 from the US, 00 from most European countries), then 81 142 X XXXX.
Callers from mobile phones in Japan: Dial the same national format 0142-X-XXXX; no additional prefix is needed.

Overlay Considerations

Currently, there is no overlay code for the 142 area. The region relies solely on this NDC, and 10-digit dialing (including the area code) is mandatory for all calls within Japan, even for local calls. This ensures proper routing and future-proofing for number exhaustion.

Practical Examples

Suppose you need to contact a business in Date City with a subscriber number 1234-5678. From within Japan, you would dial 0142-1234-5678. From the United States, you would dial 011 81 142 1234 5678. From the United Kingdom, you would dial 00 81 142 1234 5678.

Understanding the correct dialing format is essential for both residents and international callers to ensure seamless connectivity to this beautiful region of Hokkaido.

Area Code 142 – Date, Hokkaido

📍 Geographic Location of Date, Hokkaido