Sending a fax to Japan from faxio.app works the same way as a fax within the US: upload the document, choose the country, type the number, pay $2.99. The part people get wrong is the number. Japanese fax numbers are usually written with a leading 0, and that 0 has to go once +81 is in front of it.
- Country code: +81
- What to type: +81, then the number without its leading 0
- Price: $2.99 per fax of up to 10 pages, the same as a fax within the US
Table of Contents
- The country code and number format
- Numbers that will not work
- How to send the fax, step by step
- What it costs
- If the fax does not go through
- Frequently asked questions
The country code and number format
Japanese landline numbers have 10 digits and start with 0 when dialled inside Japan: 03 for Tokyo, 06 for Osaka, 052 for Nagoya. They are usually written with hyphens, such as 03-xxxx-xxxx. From abroad the 0 is left off and +81 takes its place.
| Written in Japan | Type after choosing Japan (+81) | Dials as |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo: 03-xxxx-xxxx | 3 xxxx xxxx | +81 3 xxxx xxxx |
| Osaka: 06-xxxx-xxxx | 6 xxxx xxxx | +81 6 xxxx xxxx |
The hyphens can stay or go; only the digits are used. What has to go is the 0 at the start.
Spaces, dashes and brackets in the number do not matter; Faxio uses only the digits. Do not type 81 again in the number box, because the Country list already adds +81.
Numbers that will not work
Faxio does not send to mobile or premium-rate numbers in any country. Japanese mobile numbers start with 070, 080 or 090. Freephone numbers starting 0120 or 0800 may not be reachable from outside Japan; ask the recipient for a regular fax number with an area code.
Also make sure the number is a fax line. Many organisations list a phone number and a fax number side by side, and a voice line will ring without a fax machine ever answering.
How to send the fax, step by step
- Get the document ready. A PDF is simplest; JPG, PNG and phone photos are accepted too. One fax holds up to 10 pages.
- Open faxio.app/send and drop the file in, or click to upload. You can add up to 10 documents.
- Choose Japan (+81) in the Country list. It is listed under Most used, near the top.
- Type the fax number without the leading 0, for example
3 xxxx xxxx. - Add a subject if you want a cover page, and an email address if you want the delivery confirmation sent to you. The confirmation is useful as proof of transmission.
- Press Send fax (or Buy credits & send if you have no credits yet) and pay by card. The fax appears under Your faxes, and its status moves from Sending to Delivered, usually within a few minutes.
The Faxio Android app sends to the same countries at the same price.
What it costs
Faxio charges the same for every destination, so a fax to Japan costs the same as one within the US:
| Option | Price | Per fax |
|---|---|---|
| 1 fax (up to 10 pages) | $2.99 | $2.99 |
| 5 faxes | $9.99 | $2.00 |
| 15 faxes | $24.99 | $1.67 |
There is no subscription, and credits never expire. If you fax abroad every week, the Unlimited plan is $14.99/month; up to 5 faxes a day on it can go abroad, within its fair use of 15 faxes a day and 100 a month. The details are on the pricing page.
If the fax does not go through
Busy lines are retried automatically. If the fax still cannot be delivered, it is marked Failed and the credit goes back to your balance automatically, so a failed fax costs nothing. Fix the cause and send it again.
The usual causes on a fax to Japan:
- The leading 0 is still in the number. Remove it and resend.
- It is a voice line or a mobile number. Check with the recipient that it is a fax line on a landline.
- The machine is switched off or out of paper. Office fax machines are often unattended outside business hours, so check the local time in Japan before you send.
- A communication error on a long route. International lines are more prone to these than domestic ones, and a retry often works. Splitting a long document into shorter faxes can also help.
For what each error means, see why a fax is not going through. For file formats and delivery statuses in general, see how to send a fax online.
Frequently asked questions
What is the country code for faxing Japan?
+81. Choose Japan (+81) in the Country list on faxio.app/send and the code is added for you; then type the rest of the fax number without the leading 0.
Do I drop the 0 when faxing Japan?
Yes. Choose Japan (+81) in the Country list, then type the number without its leading 0. A Tokyo number written 03-xxxx-xxxx is typed as 3 xxxx xxxx, which dials +81 3 xxxx xxxx.
Can I fax a Japanese 0120 number?
Usually not from abroad: 0120 and 0800 freephone numbers may not be reachable from outside Japan. Ask for the recipient's regular fax number, such as one starting 03 or 06, and drop the 0 when you type it.
How much does it cost to send a fax to Japan?
$2.99 for one fax of up to 10 pages, the same price as a fax within the US. Bundles of 5 for $9.99 and 15 for $24.99 bring it to $2.00 or $1.67 a fax, and credits never expire.
What happens if my fax to Japan fails?
Busy lines are retried automatically. If the fax still cannot be delivered, it is marked Failed and the credit goes back to your balance automatically, so a failed fax costs nothing.