Area Code 2879 – Nasukarasuyama, Tochigi

Overview of Area Code 2879

Area code 2879 is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) within the Japanese numbering plan, assigned to the city of Nasukarasuyama in Tochigi Prefecture, located in the northern Kanto region of Honshu. This code is part of the broader 0287 numbering area, which historically covered the Nasu region. In 2002, the area was split, and 2879 was designated specifically for Nasukarasuyama and its surrounding administrative districts, including the former town of Karasuyama and parts of the Nasu district.

The code serves a predominantly rural and semi-urban area, with Nasukarasuyama known for its agricultural production, traditional crafts, and scenic landscapes along the Naka River. The city is also home to several industrial parks, and the area code covers both residential and business landlines. As with all Japanese geographic numbers, 2879 is used exclusively for fixed-line services, including PSTN and fixed VoIP services that are registered to a physical address within the covered area.

Dialing Formats and Caller Instructions

For callers within Japan, the number must be dialed as 02879-XXXXX, where the leading '0' is the trunk prefix. The subscriber number is five digits long, making the total national significant number (NSN) 10 digits. For example, a local call to a business in Nasukarasuyama would be dialed as 02879-12345.

For international callers, the format is +81 2879-XXXXX, omitting the leading '0'. Thus, a caller from the United States would dial 011 81 2879-XXXXX, while a caller from the United Kingdom would dial 00 81 2879-XXXXX. It is essential to note that when dialing from abroad, the area code is used without the trunk prefix, and the plus sign (+) represents the international access code.

There are no overlay codes in this region; 2879 is the sole area code for Nasukarasuyama. Calls from other parts of Japan to 02879 numbers are charged at national rates, and calls from mobile phones are treated as standard geographic calls. For emergency services, callers should always dial 110 (police) or 119 (fire/ambulance), regardless of the area code.

Numbering and Regulatory Context

Under the ITU-T E.164 recommendation, Japan's country code is +81, and the NDC length varies from 1 to 5 digits. The 2879 code is a five-digit NDC, which is relatively rare and indicates a smaller geographic service area. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) oversees the allocation of these codes, ensuring that they remain geographically significant for fixed-line services. As of 2024, there are no plans to phase out geographic codes in Japan, though the adoption of IP telephony continues to grow.