What is the cost to call China from Japan with Sayfone?

Sayfone offers transparent per-minute rates to China starting at 8¢/min. Transparent pricing, connection charges, or sign-up walls—you only pay for the minutes you use. Exact pricing is displayed before you place your call.

Do I need an app to call China from Japan?

No. Sayfone works directly from your browser, so there's no need to download or install an app. Simply open your browser, enter the phone number, and place your call.

Why do I need to drop the leading 0 from China area codes?

The leading 0 is part of China's domestic dialing format. When you add the country code (86), the system already recognizes it as an international call, so the leading 0 is omitted. For example, Beijing's domestic code is 010, but internationally it's dialed as 10.

Can I call mobile numbers in China from Japan?

Yes. Chinese mobile numbers always start with 1 (e.g., 138, 139, 147, 150, etc.). Dial them the same way: 010-86 followed by the full 11-digit mobile number (beginning with 1).

What's the time difference between Japan and China?

China is 1 hour behind Japan. When it is 3:00 PM in Japan (JST), it is 2:00 PM in China (CST). China does not observe daylight saving time, and Japan does not either, so this difference remains constant year-round.

Are there any countries I cannot call via Sayfone?

Sayfone supports calling to most countries, including China. A small number of countries or regions may have restrictions due to international regulations or political reasons. You'll see the available rate (if any) when you enter the number.

Can I call toll-free numbers in China?

Toll-free numbers in China (those starting with 400 or 800) may not be reachable from international calls. If you need to reach a service, try calling their main office or looking for a standard local phone number on their website.

Quick Answer

How to Call China from Japan

Call China from Japan by dialing the international access code (010), country code (86), area code, and phone number. Sayfone offers transparent per-minute rates starting at 8¢/min to China.

Start calling

Cost tools

🇯🇵From Japan

To China🇨🇳

$0.08

Per minute

Country code

Call quality

Landline rate

$0.08/min

Mobile rate

$0.08/min

Same per-minute Sayfone rate for landline and mobile.

Average call quality

Steps at a glance

Dial 010 (Japan's international access code)
Enter 86 (China's country code)
Add the area code (without the leading 0 if calling a landline)
Enter the local phone number

Sources

1
ITU-T Recommendation E.164 – Numbering plan for the Public Switched Telephone Network
International dialing format reference

STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE

Dialing Steps for China

Follow these simple steps to connect your call from Japan to China.

1
Dial the International Access Code
Start by entering 010, Japan's international access code. This tells your phone you're making an international call.
```
010
```
2
Enter China's Country Code
Key in 86, the country code for China.
```
010-86
```
3
Add the Area Code
Enter the area code for the city or region you are calling in China. Common area codes are 10 (Beijing), 21 (Shanghai), 20 (Guangzhou), and 28 (Chengdu). When dialing internationally, do not include the leading 0 that is used for domestic calls.
```
010-86-10 (for Beijing)
```
4
Enter the Local Phone Number
Complete the call by dialing the 8-digit local phone number.
```
010-86-10-XXXX-XXXX
```

Dialing format reference

Use these patterns when entering a full international number to 86.

Mobile

+86 1XX XXX XXXX (where 1XX indicates the mobile carrier)

Landline

+86 [area code] XXXX XXXX

010-86-10-1234-5678 (Beijing landline)
010-86-21-5555-6666 (Shanghai landline)
010-86-138-0013-8688 (Mobile)

Major city area codes

Beijing10

Shanghai21

Guangzhou20

Chengdu28

Sources

1
Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (Japan) – International Telephone Service
Japan international dialing regulations
2
China – International Dialing Code 86
Country code reference

KEY DIALING RULES

Rules for Calling China from Japan

Important guidelines to ensure your call connects successfully.

Always Use 010 Before the Country Code

Japan's international access code is 010. You must dial this before the country code. Do not use +86 or 0086 if calling from a landline phone.

Drop the Leading 0 from China Area Codes

When calling from abroad, China's area codes are dialed without their leading 0. For example, Beijing's area code is 10, not 010. The leading 0 is only used for domestic calls within China.

China Mobile Numbers Start with 1

Mobile phone numbers in China begin with 1, followed by a digit indicating the carrier (e.g., 13x, 14x, 15x, 16x, 17x, 18x, 19x for major carriers). After dialing 010-86, enter the full 11-digit mobile number (starting with 1).

International Plus Format (Browser/Mobile Apps)

If using Sayfone or another browser-based dialer, you can enter the number in international format: +86 followed by the area code (without the leading 0) and the local number. For example: +86 10 1234 5678.

CALLING TIPS

Best Times to Call & Practical Tips

Time your calls strategically and follow simple etiquette guidelines for successful conversations.

Time & windows

Business Hours (China)

9:00 AM – 5:00 PM CST

Monday to Friday; best for business calls

Evenings (Japan Time)

7:00 PM – 10:00 PM JST

Often available for casual calls to China

🇯🇵Japan Current Time

Check local timeJapan Standard Time (JST) is UTC+9 year-round; no daylight saving

🇯🇵China Standard Time (CST)

UTC+8 year-roundChina does not observe daylight saving time; 1 hour behind Japan

🇯🇵Recommended Call Window

7:00 PM – 10:00 PM JSTCorresponds to 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM CST (good for evening personal calls)

Calling tips

Speak clearly and slowly, especially on international lines; network conditions can sometimes affect audio quality.
Confirm you've reached the correct person or department before discussing business details.
Have the local phone number written down before dialing to minimize connection delays.
Avoid calling late at night (after 11 PM CST in China); respect local quiet hours.
For business calls, use email to schedule in advance when possible to ensure availability.

Business etiquette

Greet in Mandarin or English depending on the recipient's preference: 'Nǐ hǎo' (你好) or 'Hello'.
Use formal titles (Mr./Ms.) unless invited to use first names.
Be mindful of cultural differences; business negotiations may take longer than expected.
Provide a clear reason for your call at the outset; Chinese business culture values directness.
Follow up important discussions with a written email summary.

Sources

1
World Time Zone Reference – Asia
Time zone and daylight saving information

TROUBLESHOOTING

Common Issues & Calling Restrictions

Solutions for connection problems and awareness of any calling limitations.

No Dial Tone or Call Won't Connect

If you hear no dial tone, verify the complete number including 010-86 and the area code. Double-check that you are not accidentally including a leading 0 before the area code when dialing internationally. Try again a few moments later if the line is busy. Network congestion during peak hours (9 AM – 6 PM CST) can occasionally cause delays.

Call Drops or Poor Audio Quality

International calls can sometimes experience brief disruptions. If audio is unclear, speak more slowly and ask the other party to do the same. If calls consistently drop, try calling at a different time or from a different phone line. Mobile connections may be less stable than landlines; use a landline if possible for important calls.

Area Code or Number Format Errors

Ensure you are using the correct area code for the city in China. Common error: including the leading 0 in the area code when dialing internationally (e.g., dialing 010 instead of 10 for Beijing). Verify the phone number length—Chinese landlines typically have 8 digits after the area code.

Special Numbers May Not Work

Some special numbers in China (such as government hotlines or premium-rate services) may not be reachable from international numbers. Standard landlines and mobile numbers work reliably. If you cannot reach a number, confirm it is a standard local or mobile number.

Sources

1
NTT Communications – International Calling Restrictions and Limitations
Information on Japan-China calling experience

Savings

See what you could save

Adjust the tools below to compare Sayfone with typical retail pricing for calls to China. Start with one call, then layer on monthly volume to see the bigger picture.

How to use these tools

Sayfone uses your live rate for calls to China — the same basis as the rest of this page.
First, estimate savings on a single call length. Then, model a full month of minutes versus typical retail benchmarks.
Retail competitor rows are illustrative — not a quote from any carrier.