Area Code 2245 – Ogawara, Miyagi

Overview of Area Code 2245

Area code 2245 is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) within the Japanese numbering plan, assigned to the Ogawara area in Miyagi Prefecture. When dialed internationally, the full number is formatted as +81 2245 XXXX, where +81 is the country calling code for Japan, 2245 is the NDC, and XXXX is the subscriber number. Within Japan, callers must dial 0 before the area code when making a domestic long-distance call, resulting in the format 02245 XXXX. This prefix is part of the larger 0224 area code group, which serves the southern part of Miyagi Prefecture, including towns such as Ogawara, Murata, and Zao.

Geographic Coverage and Administrative Jurisdiction

Ogawara is a town located in Shibata District, Miyagi Prefecture, in the Tohoku region of Japan's Honshu island. The area code 2245 specifically covers the Ogawara exchange area, which includes the central urban district of Ogawara and its surrounding rural communities. Administratively, the town is governed by the Ogawara Town Office, and the region falls under the jurisdiction of the Miyagi Prefectural Government. The area is known for its agricultural production, particularly rice and fruits, and is served by the Tohoku Shinkansen at nearby Shiroishi-Zao Station, facilitating access to major cities like Sendai and Tokyo.

Dialing Formats and Caller Instructions

For local callers within the Ogawara area, calls to other numbers within the same 02245 area code can be made using the 7-digit local number (XXXXXX) without the area code. However, for calls from outside the area code, domestic callers must dial 02245 followed by the subscriber number. International callers from outside Japan should dial their country's exit code (e.g., 011 from the US, 00 from most European countries), then Japan's country code 81, followed by the area code without the leading 0, and the subscriber number. For example, to call a number in Ogawara with the local number 123456, an international caller would dial +81 2245 123456.

Overlay and Numbering Considerations

As of the latest ITU-T E.164 national numbering plan updates, there is no overlay code for the 0224 area group; the 02245 prefix remains a distinct geographic code. Subscriber numbers within this prefix are typically 6 digits long, making the total national significant number (NSN) 10 digits when including the area code (02245 + 6 digits). Japan's telecommunications regulator, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), oversees the allocation of these codes, ensuring efficient use of numbering resources. For businesses and residents, it is important to note that while VoIP services may offer alternative numbering, geographic codes like 2245 are tied to physical locations, which can affect emergency services routing and caller ID display.