Area Code 1583 – Monbetsu, Hokkaido

Overview of Area Code 01583

Area code 01583 is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) within the Japanese numbering plan, assigned to the city of Monbetsu (also spelled Mombetsu) in the Okhotsk Subprefecture of Hokkaido Prefecture. This code is part of the broader 0158 area code cluster, which serves several municipalities along the northeastern coast of Hokkaido. Specifically, 01583 is used for landline telephone services in Monbetsu and its immediate surroundings, including the former town of Omu and parts of the Okhotsk region.

Monbetsu is a port city known for its fishing industry, particularly for scallops and salmon, and is also a gateway to the Shiretoko Peninsula, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The area code covers a predominantly rural and coastal region, with a relatively low population density compared to major metropolitan areas like Sapporo or Tokyo.

Dialing Formats

When calling a landline in Monbetsu, the complete national significant number (NSN) consists of the area code (01583) followed by a subscriber number of 4 to 5 digits, resulting in a total NSN length of 9 or 10 digits. For example, a typical local number might be 01583-2-XXXX or 01583-23-XXXX.

• Local calls (within Monbetsu): Dial the subscriber number without the area code. For instance, if the full number is 01583-2-1234, local callers would dial 2-1234.
• Domestic calls from other regions in Japan: Dial 01583-2-1234 (including the leading 0).
• International calls from outside Japan: Dial your country's international exit code (e.g., 011 from the US, 00 from most countries), followed by Japan's country code 81, then the area code without the leading zero: 81-1583-2-1234. Note that the area code becomes 1583 in international format.

Geographic Coverage and Administration

The 01583 area code is assigned to the Monbetsu Telephone Exchange, which is administered by NTT East (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone East). It covers Monbetsu City and the town of Omu, both located in the Okhotsk Subprefecture. The region is characterized by its cold climate, sea of Okhotsk coastline, and seasonal drift ice. As of recent data, Monbetsu has a population of approximately 22,000 residents.

It is important to note that while 01583 is a geographic code, number portability allows users to retain their numbers when switching between fixed-line carriers, but the number remains tied to the geographic location for routing purposes. For VoIP services, users may be assigned numbers from this range, but they are still considered geographic numbers and are subject to emergency services routing based on the registered address.

Caller Instructions

For callers within Japan, always include the leading '0' when dialing from a different area. For international callers, omit the leading '0' and use Japan's country code. Ensure you have the correct subscriber number, as numbers in this region may have varying lengths. For emergency calls (police, fire, ambulance), dial 110 or 119, which are universal across Japan and do not require area codes.