How to Get a Japanese Phone Number for SMS

• By SMSPool Admin
• June 14, 2025
• Guides

Most Japanese sites only allow Japanese phone numbers ( 81 phone number) to be used for SMS verification. Foreign numbers are often simply refused. With SMSPool, you get a genuine, non-VoIP Japanese phone number within seconds and without the need for ID, residency, or a SIM card.

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What Do People Use Japanese Phone Numbers For?

Phone verification is used by Japan-based platforms as a method of detecting that their users are local. A UK or US telephone number is declined on initial verification. Here are the main reasons people require Japan SMS verifications.

Pokémon Center Japan

One of the top reasons why foreign residents want a Japanese phone number is they want to be able to shop online at Pokémon Center Japan. Because it is the official Pokémon merchandise store, it holds lotteries for special edition cards, plush toys, and exclusive merchandise that disappear from shelves within minutes. To participate in any lottery or buy restricted items, your account needs to be verified with a Japanese mobile number.

Phone number verification must be done with a genuine 81 number and not with a VoIP or online number. After the verification, the phone number becomes linked with your account. Verification is done only once, and you can participate in every lottery hereafter with the same account. Learn more about Pokémon Center Japan SMS verification.

Premium Bandai

Premium Bandai is the official online store for Bandai collectibles including Gundam plastic models, figures from anime, and special limited edition items which are never sold outside of Japan. In order to sign up for Bandai Namco ID and gain access to the Premium Bandai store, one must be able to provide a real non-VoIP Japanese phone number for verification. Foreign phone numbers & Japanese VoIP phone numbers are not accepted. Only real non-VoIP phone numbers are accepted.

Mercari Japan

Mercari Japan is one of the largest second-hand marketplaces in the world. It lists items you will not find on eBay or Depop: vintage clothing, rare games, out-of-print figures, and electronics at a fraction of retail. Creating a Mercari Japan account requires a Japanese phone number to receive a verification code before you can buy or sell.

Yahoo! Japan Auctions and Shopping

Yahoo! Japan Auctions is one of the biggest and busiest auction platforms globally. Every day, lots of rare and unusual products from different categories, including sneakers, watches, and soft vinyl toys, are sold at Yahoo! Japan Auctions. Buyers and sellers need to verify their phones with a real non-VoIP Japan phone number in order to register.

Why Won't Japanese Sites Accept a Foreign Phone Number?

Japanese services are designed to cater primarily to the people living in Japan. Their SMS systems only work with sending verification codes to mobile numbers beginning with 070, 080, or 090. These are the mobile prefixes reserved for Japan, hence any UK ( 44) or US number ( 1) would be rejected at the format checking stage even before the code is sent.

Moreover, even if a website allows foreign numbers, the sending of text messages to international numbers is very unreliable. Texts can be delayed by several hours or even the users might not be seeing the texts. Since the majority of Japanese companies see Japan as their only market, they won't make efforts to fix this.

Almost all major Japanese platforms also block VoIP numbers. In fact, many VoIP numbers from online services are included in that. Platforms keep lists of number ranges associated with VoIP providers and reject them during the verification step.

Why Is It Hard To Get a Japanese SIM Card?

Non-residents looking to get a proper Japanese phone number face quite a challenge.

Japanese mobile carriers like NTT Docomo, SoftBank, and AU generally require a Japanese address, a residence card, and a visa valid for more than 90 days when getting a physical SIM card. Tourists and overseas purchasers aren't able to meet these requirements.

Airport eSIMs and tourist SIM cards are only for data usage. They provide internet connectivity but do not assign a Japanese phone number to you.

Prepaid SIMs with a number are available, but they require a Japanese in-person ID verification and cannot be purchased from overseas.

SMSPool changes all of this. You can instantly get a real, non-VoIP Japanese phone number online from a major carrier network, without any paperwork, no matter where you are in the world.

How SMSPool's Japan SMS Verification Works

SMSPool offers Japanese phone numbers picked directly from top Japanese carrier networks. As these are non-VoIP numbers, they are allowed by the Japanese services that refuse virtual numbers.

Our Japanese Numbers are only temporary and for single use. You only pay for the phone number. So, you are not tied to a subscription plan. The price is a small deduction from your SMSPool balance, which you can refill with a credit card, a debit card, or crypto.

How to Get a Japanese Phone Number on SMSPool

1. Register or log in to your SMSPool account. Head to SMSPool and create a free account, or log in if you already have one.
2. Top up your balance. Head to the SMSPool Deposit page and add funds using a card or crypto.
3. Go to the Order page. Head to the SMSPool Order Page.
4. Select Japan as the country. Use the country dropdown to choose Japan.
5. Choose the service you want to verify. Select the site or app from the service list. This must match what you are verifying. If it does not match, the code will not work.
6. Press Quick Purchase. A Japanese phone number will appear instantly.
7. Enter the number on the site you are verifying. Copy the number and paste it into the phone number field on the Japanese service.
8. Wait for the code. Within 60 seconds, the verification code will appear in your SMSPool dashboard.
9. Enter the code. Type the code into the site to complete verification.

What If I Need to Verify Again Later?

Japanese SMSPool phone numbers are temporary and cannot receive a second code. Once your verification is complete, the phone number will not remain active indefinitely.

For services that only require a one-time verification, like setting up a Pokémon Center Japan account, this is not a problem. Verify once, and your account is permanently tied to that number. You will not need to verify again.

FAQ

Can I use a Japanese phone number from SMSPool for Pokémon Center Japan? Yes. SMSPool provides non-VoIP Japanese phone numbers that are accepted by Pokémon Center Japan for account verification. Once verified, your account is permanently tied to that number and you can enter future lotteries without re-verifying.

Will this work for Premium Bandai? Premium Bandai blocks standard virtual numbers and only accepts real, non-VoIP numbers. SMSPool's Japan numbers are sourced from carrier networks and are verified to work with Premium Bandai verification.

Can I use SMSPool to verify a Mercari Japan account? Yes. Mercari Japan requires a Japanese phone number to create an account. SMSPool provides a non-VoIP Japanese number that passes Mercari's verification. Once verified, you can buy and sell on the platform straight away.

What is a non-VoIP Japanese phone number? VoIP numbers are generated by internet-based phone services and are blocked by most major Japanese platforms. Non-VoIP numbers are allocated by a real mobile carrier and are treated as legitimate by Japanese sites that reject VoIP ranges.

Are SMSPool's Japanese numbers virtual numbers? SMSPool's Japanese numbers are sourced directly from real mobile carrier networks, which makes them non-VoIP. Unlike standard virtual numbers generated by internet-based services, they are treated as legitimate by Japanese platforms. If a site has blocked you for using a VoIP number before, SMSPool's numbers will work where those didn't.

Can I receive Japan SMS verification codes without being in Japan? Yes. SMSPool delivers the verification code to your dashboard, which you access online from anywhere. You do not need to be in Japan, own a Japanese SIM, or have any connection to Japan other than your account.

How long does it take to get a Japanese SMS code? The number appears immediately after purchase. The code from the Japanese service should arrive within 2 minutes of you requesting it on their site.

What happens if no code arrives? Use the Resend option on the Order page to request the code again. If you have tried multiple times and no code arrives, the selected service may not match your verification target, or the service may have updated its verification method. Contact SMSPool support.

Can I use the same Japanese number for multiple verifications? No. Japanese phone numbers are allocated for a single verification. If you need to verify multiple accounts or multiple services, purchase a separate number for each one.

Can I use a Japanese phone number for financial services or banking? No. SMSPool numbers are not suitable for financial services, Japanese bank accounts, or government portals such as My Number Card applications.

Is there a limit on how many Japanese numbers I can buy? You can purchase multiple numbers as long as your account balance covers the cost. Each number is tied to a single service and a single verification.

How much does Japan SMS verification cost on SMSPool? Pricing is displayed on the Order page before you purchase and on this article Countries and services supported by SMSPool. You only pay per verification with no subscriptions or hidden fees.

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