Call 119 for an ambulance or fire, and 110 for police. Give your location first. Before travelling, save your hotel’s Japanese address, insurance assistance number, medicine list and an emergency contact somewhere you can reach if your phone is lost.
| Need | First number/action | What to have ready |
|---|---|---|
| Ambulance or fire | 119 | location, what happened, age/condition, hotel address |
| Police, crime or accident | 110 | location, description, passport/insurance details if relevant |
| Disaster information | JNTO Safety Tips and JMA warnings | current location, onward route, hotel contact |
| Non-urgent care | hotel, insurer or official visitor help | symptoms, insurance, medicines/allergies |
| Lost passport | local police if needed, then your embassy/consulate | passport copy, police report if requested |
On arrival: Put your first hotel's address in both Roman letters and Japanese into Maps and a note. In an emergency, that is more useful than knowing the name of a neighbourhood.
If you need an ambulance or police
Call 119 for ambulance/fire and 110 for police. JNTO's current Emergency Guide includes practical wording for requesting an ambulance. Use the number when it is truly urgent; for a routine prescription question or minor issue, start with your hotel, insurer, or a clinic.
Speak slowly. Give your location first: hotel name, station exit, shop name, street address, or a map pin. Ask a staff member or bystander to help call if language is getting in the way. Keep the line open and follow the dispatcher.
In the app: On iPhone or iPad, open this guide in Goshuin Atlas and choose More → Add to Reminders for the emergency preparation checklist. Add deadlines in Apple Reminders before departure.
Non-emergency illness: act earlier than you think
Do not wait until a medication supply has run out or a fever has turned serious. Tell your insurer what is happening, then ask your hotel for a nearby clinic/hospital or help with the call. The Japan National Tourism Organization's Safety Tips site is the official visitor hub; it is a better starting point than social media during a disruption.
Take your passport, insurance details, medicine list and a translated description of allergies/conditions. A translation app is useful, but it is not a substitute for a medical assessment.
Lost wallet, passport, or phone
Option 1: lost but not stolen
Retrace the last station, shop, taxi or hotel. Ask staff about the lost-and-found process and note the time, route, vehicle or receipt. Japan's transport lost-property systems can be effective, but move quickly and keep your description specific.
Option 2: cards or phone exposed
Freeze cards through your bank immediately. Change crucial passwords from a safe device. For an eSIM or phone, contact the provider from a hotel computer/another device rather than waiting to “see if it turns up.”
Option 3: passport missing
Contact your embassy or consulate for replacement-travel-document instructions. A police report may be required depending on the circumstances. Keep digital copies of your passport and bookings separately from the originals: not only on the missing phone.
Watch out: Do not hand a found passport, wallet, or suspicious item to a random person online. Use the station, police box (kōban), hotel or the actual operator's official contact channel.
Related guides: Food Allergies in Japan (Pro); Bringing Medicine to Japan: Rules and Permissions (Pro).