Area Code 1526 – Abashiri, Hokkaido

Overview of Area Code 1526 (Abashiri, Hokkaido)

Area code 1526 is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) assigned to the Abashiri region in northeastern Hokkaido, Japan. It serves the city of Abashiri and its surrounding administrative areas, including parts of the Okhotsk subprefecture. The code is used for fixed-line (PSTN) services, and it is part of Japan's closed dialing plan, where the trunk prefix '0' is used for domestic calls.

Geographic Coverage and Administration

The 1526 area code covers the city of Abashiri, which is the administrative center of the Okhotsk subprefecture, as well as the towns of Bihoro, Tsubetsu, and parts of Kiyosato. This region is known for its port, seafood industry, and proximity to the Shiretoko Peninsula, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The numbering area is managed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) and is allocated to Nippon Telegraph and Telephone East (NTT East) for local exchange services.

Dialing Formats and Number Structure

Local numbers within the 1526 area code have a total length of 10 digits, including the area code. The format is: 0-1526-X-XXXX for domestic calls, where 'X' is the subscriber number. For international calls from outside Japan, the format is +81-1526-X-XXXX, dropping the leading '0'. For example, a local number in Abashiri might be 0-1526-2-3456 domestically, and +81-1526-2-3456 from abroad.

Calling Instructions

• Local callers within Abashiri: Dial the 10-digit number including the area code, as Japan uses closed dialing for all calls. For example, to call a local number, dial 01526-2-3456.
• Domestic callers from other parts of Japan: Dial the same 10-digit number, starting with '0'. For instance, from Tokyo, dial 01526-2-3456.
• International callers: Dial your country's exit code, then Japan's country code 81, then the area code without the leading '0', followed by the subscriber number. For example, from the US, dial 011-81-1526-2-3456.

Overlay and Numbering Considerations

Currently, there is no overlay code for the 1526 area, meaning that 1526 is the sole area code for this region. However, as with all Japanese geographic codes, the area code is an integral part of the subscriber number and cannot be omitted even for local calls. This is due to Japan's closed numbering plan, which requires the full 10-digit number for all calls within the country.

Services and Usage

The 1526 area code is primarily used for fixed-line telephone services, including residential and business lines. It also supports ISDN and some VoIP services that are assigned geographic numbers. However, mobile numbers in Japan use separate prefixes (e.g., 070, 080, 090) and are not tied to geographic areas. When calling a mobile number from Abashiri, you must dial the full 11-digit mobile number, which includes the mobile prefix.