Area Code 1462 – Urakawa, Hokkaido

Overview of Area Code 1462

Area code 1462 is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) within the Japanese numbering plan, assigned to the city of Urakawa and its surrounding administrative district in the Hidaka Subprefecture of Hokkaido. This code is used for fixed-line (PSTN) services and is administered under the ITU-T E.164 international standard, with the full country calling code being +81.

Geographic Coverage and Jurisdiction

The 1462 area code serves the town of Urakawa, which is the capital of Hidaka Subprefecture, and extends to neighboring communities such as Hiroo and Niikappu. The region is located along the Pacific coast of central Hokkaido, known for its agricultural and fishing industries. The numbering area is classified as a rural exchange, with a relatively low subscriber density compared to major metropolitan areas like Tokyo or Osaka.

Dialing Formats

For local calls within the 1462 area, callers must dial the full national number, which includes the area code and the subscriber number. The standard national format is 01462-X-XXXX, where the area code is followed by a one-digit exchange identifier and a four-digit subscriber line. For example, a typical local number might be 01462-3-4567. When calling from outside Japan, the international format is +81 1462-3-4567, with the leading zero of the area code omitted. Callers from overseas should replace the '+' with their international access code (e.g., 011 from the US and Canada).

Overlay and Numbering Considerations

As of the latest ITU-T allocation, there is no overlay code for the 1462 area, meaning that the area code is unique to this region and no other NDC shares the same geographic coverage. However, number portability allows subscribers to retain their numbers when switching between fixed-line carriers, but the geographic association remains tied to the original exchange. For VoIP services, users may be assigned numbers with this area code even if they are physically located elsewhere, but this is subject to regulatory guidelines that require a service address within the area for traditional fixed-line services.

Caller Instructions

For local callers within the 1462 area, dial the full national number (including the area code) as 10-digit dialing is mandatory throughout Japan. For international callers, always use the country code +81 and drop the leading zero of the area code. For example, to call a number in Urakawa from abroad, dial +81 1462-3-4567. Ensure that you have the correct international exit code for your country before dialing.