Bulk SMS to Japan
Send bulk SMS online to Japan from your browser or the API for $0.01144 per message, with a delivery report for every number, scheduling up to 60 days ahead and automatic refunds for texts that cannot be delivered.
Bulk SMS in Japan
Who sends bulk SMS to Japan?
Japan is an East Asian island nation with Tokyo as its capital, known for its technology, manufacturing, and tourism industries. Retailers, banks, and transport companies frequently send bulk messages. These messages often include promotional offers, account updates, and travel alerts. Text messages are effective in Japan because they are widely used for communication, even in busy cities like Osaka or Kyoto, where emails might be overlooked.
Retailers
Send discount alerts for electronics stores in Akihabara, including product availability and store hours.
Banks
Notify customers in Yokohama about changes to online banking services or security updates.
Transport services
Inform passengers in Kyoto about train delays, route changes, and alternative travel options.
Hotels
Provide check-in details and local attraction information for guests staying in Osaka.
Sending to Japan: numbers, alphabet and timing
Number format
How do Japan mobile numbers look?
A typical mobile number in Japan has 10 digits after the calling code +81. At home people write it with a leading 0, as in 090-1234-5678, and that 0 is dropped in the international form: +81 90 1234 5678. Spaces, dots, dashes and brackets in your list are removed automatically.
Alphabet
Which alphabet do messages to Japan use?
Most people in Japan read Japanese, and text in Japanese (kana and kanji) always travels as Unicode: 70 characters fit in one SMS and longer messages are split into parts of 67 characters. A 140-character text in Japanese (kana and kanji) costs two segments, while English or other plain Latin text to the same numbers fits 160 characters per SMS.
Time zone
What time do messages arrive in Japan?
Japan keeps UTC+9 all year, with no clock change, so 10:00 in Tokyo is always 01:00 UTC. Late morning and early evening on working days are the usual hours for marketing texts there, while codes and alerts go out the moment they are needed. The scheduler works in your browser's time zone and shows the conversion.
Costs
What does a bulk SMS campaign to Japan cost?
Every segment to Japan costs $0.01144. A longer message is charged per segment, and the composer shows the segment count as you write.
| Messages | 1 segment | 2 segments |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | $1.14 | $2.29 |
| 1,000 | $11.44 | $22.88 |
| 5,000 | $57.20 | $114.40 |
| 10,000 | $114.40 | $228.80 |
| 50,000 | $572.00 | $1,144.00 |
Bulk SMS to other countries in East and Southeast Asia
Questions
Bulk SMS to Japan: questions and answers
How much does bulk SMS to Japan cost?
Each SMS segment to Japan costs $0.01144. 1,000 single-segment messages cost $11.44, 10,000 cost $114.40, and a $40 top-up covers about 3,496 messages. Messages that cannot be delivered are refunded to your balance.
How do I format Japan phone numbers for a bulk SMS list?
A typical mobile number in Japan has 10 digits after the calling code +81. At home people write it with a leading 0, as in 090-1234-5678, and that 0 is dropped in the international form: +81 90 1234 5678. Spaces, dots, dashes and brackets in your list are removed automatically.
How many characters fit in one SMS to Japan?
Most people in Japan read Japanese, and text in Japanese (kana and kanji) always travels as Unicode: 70 characters fit in one SMS and longer messages are split into parts of 67 characters. A 140-character text in Japanese (kana and kanji) costs two segments, while English or other plain Latin text to the same numbers fits 160 characters per SMS.
When should I schedule bulk SMS to Japan?
Japan keeps UTC+9 all year, with no clock change, so 10:00 in Tokyo is always 01:00 UTC. Late morning and early evening on working days are the usual hours for marketing texts there, while codes and alerts go out the moment they are needed. The scheduler works in your browser's time zone and shows the conversion.
What language should I use for messages?
Japanese is preferred for local audiences, while English works well for tourists and international visitors.
Are there peak seasons for sending messages?
Cherry blossom season in spring and New Year holidays are busy periods when businesses send more messages.
Can one campaign include Japan and other countries?
Yes. A campaign can mix numbers from any of the 227 destinations. The console reads each calling code, prices every number at its own country's rate and shows the cost per country before you send.
Start sending to Japan
Japan is one of 227 destinations on one balance. Top up from $40 and send your first campaign today.
Create account