Area Code 1563 – Honbetsu, Hokkaido

Overview of Area Code 1563

Area code 1563 is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) within the Japanese numbering plan, assigned to the town of Honbetsu in the Tokachi Subprefecture of Hokkaido. It serves the local exchange areas of Honbetsu and its surrounding communities, including parts of the neighboring towns of Ikeda and Toyokoro. As a geographic code, 1563 is tied to a specific physical location and is used for fixed-line (PSTN) services, including traditional analog lines, ISDN, and some fixed-line VoIP services that are registered to the area.

Geographic Coverage and Administrative Jurisdiction

Honbetsu is a town located in the central-eastern part of Hokkaido, approximately 30 kilometers east of Obihiro, the largest city in the Tokachi region. The area code 1563 covers the town of Honbetsu and its administrative districts, as well as the neighboring areas that fall under the same telephone exchange. The Tokachi Subprefecture is known for its agricultural production, particularly dairy farming and potato cultivation, which influences the local economy and telecommunications demand.

Dialing Formats and Instructions

When calling a number within the 1563 area code, the local dialing format is simply the 7-digit subscriber number (e.g., 52-1234). However, if you are calling from outside the area code but still within Japan, you must dial the trunk prefix 0, followed by the area code and subscriber number: 0-1563-52-1234. For international callers, the format is +81-1563-52-1234 (drop the leading 0). For example, a call from the United States to a Honbetsu number would be dialed as 011 81 1563 52 1234.

Overlay and Numbering Considerations

Currently, there is no overlay code for the 1563 area. The area code is part of the Japanese numbering plan, which follows ITU-T E.164 recommendations. The total length of a Japanese geographic number, including the area code and subscriber number, is 10 digits when dialed domestically (excluding the trunk prefix 0). The 1563 area code is one of several codes in the Tokachi region; neighboring codes include 0155 (Obihiro), 0156 (Kushiro), and 0157 (Mombetsu). Callers should verify the correct area code when dialing to avoid misrouting.

Caller Instructions

• Local callers (within 1563): Dial the 7-digit subscriber number directly.
• Domestic callers (outside 1563): Dial 0-1563-XXXXXXX.
• International callers: Dial your country's exit code, then 81 1563 XXXXXXX (omit the leading 0).

For emergency services (police, fire, ambulance), always dial 110 or 119 respectively, regardless of the area code. These numbers are toll-free and route to the nearest dispatch center.