Area Code 9947 – Shibushi, Kagoshima

Overview of Area Code 9947

Area code 9947 is a geographic telephone prefix within the Japanese numbering plan, specifically allocated to the city of Shibushi (志布志市) in Kagoshima Prefecture, located on the southeastern coast of Kyushu. This code is part of the national dialing system administered by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) and follows the ITU-T E.164 standard for international dialing.

In the Japanese numbering plan, geographic area codes are assigned to specific regions, and 9947 covers the administrative area of Shibushi City, which includes the former towns of Shibushi, Ariake, and Matsuyama that merged in 2006. The code is used for fixed-line (PSTN) and fixed VoIP services that are registered to this geographic area.

Dialing Formats

When dialing within Japan, callers must use the area code followed by the subscriber number. For local calls within the same area code, the area code is often omitted, but for clarity and consistency, it is recommended to include it. The typical local number length is 6 to 7 digits, resulting in a total national significant number (NSN) length of 10 digits when including the area code.

• National dialing (from within Japan): 0-9947-XX-XXXX (replace X with the subscriber number)
• International dialing (from outside Japan): +81-9947-XX-XXXX

For example, a local number in Shibushi might be 9947-52-1234. To call this number from Tokyo, you would dial 09947-52-1234. From the United States, you would dial 011-81-9947-52-1234.

Geographic Coverage and Administration

Shibushi City is the primary city served by this code. The area is known for its port and agricultural industry. The code is administered by NTT West, the regional telecom operator, but since 2001, other carriers have been allowed to offer fixed-line services in the area, and number portability is available.

There are no overlay codes for this area; 9947 is the sole area code for Shibushi. However, neighboring areas have different codes, such as 099 (Kagoshima City) and 0986 (Miyakonojo, Miyazaki).

Caller Instructions

For callers within Japan: Always dial the area code (including the leading 0) when calling from a different area code. For local calls, you may omit the area code if your phone line is registered in the same area, but using the full number is safe.

For international callers: Dial the international access code (e.g., 011 from the US, 00 from most countries), then Japan's country code 81, then the area code without the leading 0 (i.e., 9947), followed by the subscriber number.

Note that when calling from a mobile phone in Japan, it is standard to include the area code even for local calls.