How to Send an iMessage to Japan: Simple Steps for iPhone Users

A handy guide to staying in touch via iMessage with family living in Japan

Written by Hannah Dillon

Last Updated: January 16, 2024 Fact Checked

To send an iMessage to someone in Japan, the process is rather simple. You must have the Japanese phone number of your contact, which will start with the country code +81. The recipient must also have an iPhone with iMessage turned on to send the message as an iMessage, instead of a regular SMS message. As long as you and the recipient are sending iMessages (not SMS messages), sending and receiving messages is completely free.

Things You Should Know

Enter Japan's country code (+81) followed by a phone number to begin sending an iMessage to Japan.
The Japanese number must belong to an iPhone user for the message to go though as an iMessage.
Tap the blue arrow to send the message to its Japanese recipient.

Steps

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It's the green speech bubble icon located on your iPhone's home screen.
It's the pencil and paper icon in the top right corner of the Messages screen.

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Type in "+." Doing so will automatically fill out your country's exit code, and you'll want to do this if you're sending a message from outside of Japan.^{[1]
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- Alternatively, you can type in your full country exit code. Check http://www.howtocallabroad.com/codes.html for a list of all the country codes.
81 is the Japanese country code.
It's the blank field just above the right side of the keyboard.
Your iMessage will be sent to your recipient in Japan!

Community Q&A

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Question

How can I know the person's number?

Community Answer

You would have to ask them for it directly.

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