Area Code 1522 – Shari, Hokkaido

Geographic Coverage and Administrative Jurisdiction

The area code 1522 is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) within the Japanese numbering plan, assigned to the town of Shari (斜里町) and its surrounding administrative district in the Okhotsk Subprefecture of Hokkaido. This region encompasses the Shari District, which includes the town of Shari and the village of Kiyosato, as well as parts of the adjacent Bihoro and Tsubetsu areas. The code serves both residential and business subscribers within this rural, scenic area known for its proximity to the Shiretoko Peninsula, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Dialing Formats and Caller Instructions

For callers within Japan, the domestic long-distance format requires dialing 0 followed by the area code and subscriber number: 0-1522-X-XXXX. The subscriber number typically consists of 5 to 6 digits, making the total national significant number (NSN) length 9 or 10 digits. For example, a local Shari number might be 0-1522-4-5678.

International callers must replace the leading zero with Japan's country code +81, resulting in the format +81-1522-X-XXXX. Thus, the example above becomes +81-1522-4-5678. When dialing from abroad, omit the initial '0' and use the international prefix of the originating country (e.g., '011' from the US, '00' from most European countries) before the country code.

Overlay and Numbering Considerations

As of the latest ITU-T E.164 allocations, area code 1522 does not have an overlay code; it remains a standalone geographic code. However, the Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) has implemented number portability for fixed-line services within the same geographic area, allowing subscribers to retain their numbers when switching between carriers. This does not affect the dialing format but ensures competitive choice.

Practical Information for Callers

• Local calls within the Shari area may be dialed as 7-digit numbers without the area code, depending on the specific carrier and local exchange boundaries. However, for clarity and to avoid misdialing, it is recommended to always use the full 10-digit format (0-1522-X-XXXX) when calling from mobile phones or from outside the immediate exchange area.
• Mobile callers in Japan must always dial the area code, even for local numbers, as mobile networks do not recognize abbreviated local dialing.
• Public switched telephone network (PSTN) lines in this region are served by NTT East, the regional incumbent operator, but alternative carriers may also offer services.

Understanding the correct dialing procedure ensures seamless connectivity to this beautiful northern region of Japan, whether you are coordinating travel, contacting local businesses, or reaching residents in Shari.