J-Pedia

In an emergency

Japan is unusually safe — violent crime is rare and casual theft is uncommon — but knowing who to call before something happens matters more than the risk itself. Here are the numbers, the natural-disaster basics, and where to find help in English.

SIGHTSEEING — EMERGENCYLAST UPDATED — SEPTEMBER 2026

THE SHORT VERSION

Japan consistently ranks among the safest countries for travelers. You can walk most cities late at night, lost wallets are often handed in to a police box (koban), and scams are limited to a handful of nightlife districts. Prepare for earthquakes and typhoons, carry travel insurance, know that 110 reaches the police and 119 an ambulance, and you have covered the essentials.

CRIME & STAYING SAFE

Pickpocketing & bag theft

Rare but not unknown in crowded tourist areas and busy trains — keep your bag closed and in front of you, do not leave a phone on a restaurant table

Nightlife districts

Avoid following a tout into a bar or club, especially in Kabukicho (Shinjuku) and Roppongi — a minority of venues run inflated bills, drink spiking and forced-payment scams

If something goes wrong

Look for a koban (neighborhood police box), usually near stations and major intersections. Officers help with directions, lost property and reporting theft. Call 110 for anything urgent

Choose bars yourself and never go with someone who approaches you on the street.

EMERGENCY NUMBERS

Police110

Theft, assault, lost property, traffic accidents. Ask for an English-speaking operator, speak slowly, and give your location first.

Fire & ambulance119

The same number for both. Say "kyukyu" for ambulance or "kaji" for fire. Calling an ambulance is free; the hospital treatment is not.

Coast guard (at sea)118

Accidents or trouble on the water, including at the beach.

Japan Visitor Hotline (JNTO)050-3816-2787

Run by the tourism board, 24 hours, in English, Chinese and Korean. Covers accidents, illness, natural disasters and general trouble. Confirm the current number on the JNTO website before you travel.

EMBASSY & CONSULATE

For a lost passport, an arrest, or a death abroad, contact your country’s embassy or nearest consulate — most are in Tokyo, with additional consulates in Osaka, Sapporo, Fukuoka and other major cities. Search “[your country] embassy Japan” to find the current address and emergency phone line, and register your trip with your government if that service is available before you fly.

EARTHQUAKES

During the shaking

Get under a sturdy table, cover your head and hold on.

Stay away from windows and anything that can fall.

Do not run outside while it is shaking — most injuries come from falling glass and objects near the exits.

If you are outdoors, move away from buildings, walls and power lines into an open space.

Early warning

Japanese phones receive an Earthquake Early Warning — a loud, distinctive alarm that can sound a few seconds to a minute before strong shaking arrives. Install the free Safety Tips app (published for the Japan Tourism Agency) to get the same alerts, plus tsunami and weather warnings, in English.

After, and tsunami

Expect aftershocks.

In a hotel, follow staff instructions and head to the designated evacuation area (hinan basho) if told to.

If you are on or near the coast and feel a long or strong quake, do not wait for an official warning — move to high ground or a tall building immediately.

TYPHOONS & WEATHER

Typhoon season runs roughly from June to October, with the peak in August and September. A major typhoon can shut down trains and flights — railways now announce a planned suspension (keikaku unkyu) a day in advance. If one is forecast:

Build in a buffer day if a typhoon is forecast during your trip.

Stock up on water and snacks.

Check the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) forecast rather than social media.

MEDICAL CARE & LANGUAGE

Finding a hospital that speaks your language

JNTO’s searchable directory of medical institutions, filterable by language and specialty; the AMDA International Medical Information Center for multilingual phone support; or the Japan Visitor Hotline above

Medication

Bring your regular medication in its original packaging with a copy of the prescription. Some drugs routine elsewhere (certain cold medicines, strong painkillers, ADHD medication) are restricted or banned — check with a Japanese embassy and apply for a yakkan shoumei import certificate if needed

WHY YOU WANT TRAVEL INSURANCE

Japan has excellent hospitals, but as a non-resident you pay the full cost up front, and a hospital may ask for a deposit before treating a non-emergency. The ambulance is free; a few nights in hospital, a scan, or a medical evacuation flight are not. Travel insurance that covers medical treatment and emergency evacuation is the single most important thing to sort before a trip — far more than any crime risk. A dedicated guide to choosing a policy is coming; until then, make sure any policy you buy explicitly covers medical costs and repatriation.

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