Area Code 2788 – Maebashi, Gunma

Overview of Area Code 2788

Area code 2788 is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) within the Japanese numbering plan, assigned to the city of Maebashi, the capital of Gunma Prefecture, located in the Kantō region of Japan. The code corresponds to the Maebashi telephone exchange area, which historically covered the central urban districts of Maebashi and its immediate surroundings. Since the introduction of closed numbering in Japan, all landline numbers within this area are 10 digits long when dialed domestically, including the leading zero of the area code.

Dialing Formats

For local calls within the Maebashi area, callers can dial the subscriber number directly without the area code, provided they are within the same charging group. However, for calls from other regions in Japan, the full national format must be used: 0278-XX-XXXX. Internationally, callers should dial +81 278-XX-XXXX, omitting the leading zero of the area code. For example, a Maebashi number such as 0278-12-3456 would be dialed as +81 278-12-3456 from abroad.

Geographic Coverage and Administrative Jurisdiction

The 2788 area code serves the central and eastern parts of Maebashi city, including key administrative districts such as the Maebashi City Hall area, Maebashi Station, and surrounding residential and commercial zones. The code is one of several NDCs used in Gunma Prefecture; neighboring areas use different codes, such as 0270 (Tatebayashi) and 0279 (Isesaki). The Maebashi exchange is operated by NTT East, the regional incumbent carrier, and supports both traditional PSTN and IP-based telephony services.

Overlay and Numbering Considerations

Currently, there is no overlay code for the 2788 area; the 0278 NDC is used exclusively for the Maebashi area. However, due to the gradual migration to IP telephony, some numbers may be assigned to VoIP providers, but they remain geographically associated with the Maebashi area for emergency services and number portability. Callers should note that when dialing from mobile phones, the area code is always required, even for local calls, because mobile numbers are non-geographic.

Caller Instructions

For local callers within Maebashi, dial the 6-digit subscriber number if the call is within the same exchange area. For callers from other parts of Japan, dial 0278 followed by the subscriber number. For international callers, dial the Japanese country code (+81), then the area code without the leading zero (278), followed by the subscriber number. Always verify the number length: after the area code, the subscriber number is 6 digits, making the total national number 10 digits (including the leading zero).