The ability to place international phone calls is a valuable skill in an age where the business world is increasingly global. While email is efficient for quick and casual communications, there is no replacement for the personal touch of a phone call. Unlike U.S. numbers, which have a standard format with a three-digit area code and seven-digit phone number, Japanese numbers have a variety of formats.

With cell phone use on the rise, payphones are becoming a thing of the past. However, because not everyone owns a cell phone, has a signal or a charged battery, payphones are still around, albeit not as convenient as they once were. While the company that owns the payphone is in the business to make money, there are ways to make outgoing calls without having to pay for the call yourself.