Introduction
Knowing emergency numbers before traveling to Japan is simple, but very important.
Japan is a safe country for travelers, but emergencies can still happen. You may lose your passport, get sick, need an ambulance, report a crime, experience a natural disaster, or need help after a train delay or accident.
The main emergency numbers are easy to remember:
110 for police.
119 for fire or ambulance.
The Japan Visitor Hotline is also useful for travel support and emergency guidance.
This guide explains the most important emergency numbers in Japan, when to use them, and what to prepare before your trip.
Quick Answer
The key emergency numbers in Japan are:
- Police: 110
- Fire or ambulance: 119
- Japan Visitor Hotline: 050-3816-2787
- Lost and found support listed by JNTO: 0570-550-142
JNTO lists 110 for urgent police help and 119 for urgent fire or ambulance help. The Japan Visitor Hotline is available 24 hours a day for visitor support. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
Save these numbers before your trip.
Also save your hotel address, travel insurance number, passport copy, and emergency contact person.
Police: Call 110
Call 110 if you need urgent police help.
Use 110 for:
- Crime
- Theft
- Assault
- Traffic accident
- Serious trouble
- Dangerous situation
- Lost passport involving theft
- Emergency police assistance
Japan also has small neighborhood police boxes called koban.
Koban are useful for:
- Lost items
- Directions
- Local problems
- Reporting minor issues
- Asking for police help
If something is urgent, call 110.
If it is not urgent and you are near a koban, going there can be easier.
Fire or Ambulance: Call 119
Call 119 for fire, ambulance, or rescue assistance.
Use 119 for:
- Fire
- Serious illness
- Injury
- Traffic accident with injury
- Medical emergency
- Rescue situation
When calling 119, explain whether you need fire or ambulance help.
Useful simple phrases:
“Kaji desu.”
This means: There is a fire.
“Kyuukyuusha onegaishimasu.”
This means: Ambulance, please.
If you do not speak Japanese, stay calm and say “English please.” Some areas can connect interpretation support, though response systems may vary by location. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
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What to Say in an Emergency Call
In an emergency call, the most important information is your location.
Prepare to say or show:
- Where you are
- What happened
- Whether someone is injured
- Your phone number
- Nearby landmark
- Hotel name
- Station name
- Building name
- Address if available
If you cannot explain well, show your location on Google Maps to someone nearby and ask for help.
In Japan, addresses can be difficult, so landmarks are useful.
Good location examples:
- Hotel name
- Train station exit
- Convenience store name
- Department store name
- Temple or shrine name
- Street sign
- Building name
Japan Visitor Hotline
The Japan Visitor Hotline can help travelers with support information.
It is useful for:
- Accidents
- Illness
- Natural disasters
- Travel problems
- Tourist information
- Emergency guidance
The number is:
050-3816-2787
JNTO lists it as a 24-hour hotline for visitors. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
This is not a replacement for 110 or 119.
If you need urgent police, ambulance, or fire help, call 110 or 119 first.
Use the visitor hotline when you need travel-related assistance or guidance.
Lost Items
Japan is famous for a strong lost-and-found culture, but you still need to act quickly.
If you lose something, check:
- Train station office
- Police box
- Store counter
- Hotel front desk
- Taxi company
- Airport lost and found
- Train company lost and found
If you lost something on a train, note:
- Train line
- Station
- Time
- Direction
- Car number if possible
- Item description
If your passport is lost or stolen, contact the police and your embassy or consulate.
Lost Passport
A lost passport is serious.
If your passport is missing:
- Check your hotel, bag, and last places carefully.
- Report it to police if lost or stolen.
- Contact your embassy or consulate.
- Follow instructions for emergency travel documents.
- Contact your airline if needed.
Keep a photo or digital copy of your passport in a safe place before travel.
Also keep a separate copy of your travel insurance and emergency contacts.
Do not carry your passport loosely in an open pocket.
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Medical Help
If it is a serious medical emergency, call 119.
If it is not life-threatening, you can ask your hotel front desk, travel insurance company, or visitor support service for help finding a clinic or hospital.
Useful preparation:
- Travel insurance details
- Medication list
- Allergy information
- Passport
- Cash and credit card
- Hotel address
- Emergency contact person
Some clinics may have limited English.
Translation apps can help, but for serious medical issues, professional interpretation or insurance support is better.
Natural Disasters
Japan can experience earthquakes, typhoons, heavy rain, floods, landslides, snowstorms, and volcanic activity.
Before traveling, install or bookmark reliable emergency information sources.
Useful preparation:
- Save your hotel address.
- Know your nearest station.
- Keep phone charged.
- Carry a power bank.
- Follow official instructions.
- Avoid rivers, beaches, and mountain areas during warnings.
- Check transport updates during typhoons.
- Keep shoes and essentials near your bed in earthquake-prone areas.
During a major disaster, follow instructions from local authorities, hotel staff, station staff, and official announcements.
Safety Tips App and Official Information
Japan provides disaster and safety information for visitors through official travel safety resources.
JNTO’s emergency information promotes safety information and the Safety tips app for travelers. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
Before your trip, prepare:
- Emergency numbers
- Travel insurance contact
- Hotel address
- Embassy contact
- Offline map
- Power bank
- Important screenshots
Do not depend only on memory.
Save everything in your phone and keep some details offline.
Taxi, Hotel, and Station Help
In Japan, staff at hotels, train stations, airports, and tourist information centers can often help during non-police emergencies.
Ask staff if you need:
- Medical clinic information
- Lost item support
- Directions to a police box
- Taxi help
- Translation help
- Contacting a transport company
- Finding your hotel
Hotel front desks are especially useful because they know the local area.
If you are sick, lost, or confused, returning to your hotel or asking station staff can be a good first step.
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What to Save Before Your Trip
Before arriving in Japan, save:
- Police: 110
- Fire and ambulance: 119
- Japan Visitor Hotline: 050-3816-2787
- Hotel name and address
- Embassy or consulate contact
- Travel insurance emergency number
- Passport copy
- Medication list
- Allergy information
- Emergency contact person
- Airline contact
- Important booking confirmations
Take screenshots.
If your internet stops working, offline screenshots may still help.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
The biggest mistake is assuming Japan uses 911.
Japan uses 110 for police and 119 for fire or ambulance.
Another mistake is not knowing your location.
Emergency staff need to know where to send help.
Some travelers also forget to keep insurance details ready.
Do not wait until an emergency to search your email for a policy number.
Also, do not ignore small problems until they become big ones. If you lose your passport, medication, wallet, or phone, act early.
Best Recommendation for First-Time Visitors
For first-time visitors, the best emergency plan is simple.
Save the important numbers before your trip.
Keep your hotel address ready.
Carry travel insurance information.
Keep your phone charged.
Know that 110 is police and 119 is fire or ambulance.
If you are unsure what to do, ask hotel staff, station staff, police box staff, or call the visitor hotline for guidance.
Japan is safe, but preparation makes you safer.
Conclusion
Emergency numbers in Japan are easy to remember.
Call 110 for police.
Call 119 for fire or ambulance.
Use the Japan Visitor Hotline for travel support and guidance when it is not a direct police, fire, or ambulance emergency.
The most important thing in any emergency is your location. Save your hotel address, keep your phone charged, and prepare your travel insurance and passport details before your trip.
Most visitors never need emergency help in Japan.
But if something happens, knowing what number to call can make a stressful situation much easier to handle.
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