Japan tips: safety and emergencies

By the Japan Travel Costs team. Each tip links to an official or reputable source, last checked 2026-10-22. Anything we could not verify is left out or labelled. About us.

A quiet Kyoto street lined with traditional wooden houses

Japan is a safe place to travel, but write these numbers down before you need them.

  1. 1.Police: 110

    Call 110 for police emergencies, such as a crime or a traffic accident. It is free and runs 24 hours.

    Source: JNTO: Japan Visitor Hotline. Last checked 2026-10-22.

  2. 2.Fire and ambulance: 119

    Call 119 for fire or an ambulance. Ambulances are for urgent cases; for minor illness, take a taxi to a clinic.

    Source: JNTO: Japan Visitor Hotline. Last checked 2026-10-22.

  3. 3.Japan Visitor Hotline: 050-3816-2787

    JNTO runs a hotline 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, in English, Chinese and Korean, for emergencies, illness, disasters and general tourist information. From overseas, dial +81-50-3816-2787.

    Source: JNTO: Japan Visitor Hotline. Last checked 2026-10-22.

  4. 4.Lost something? Call the police lost and found

    JNTO lists the police lost and found number as 0570-550-142, and a police general information line in English at 03-3503-8484.

    Source: JNTO: Japan Visitor Hotline. Last checked 2026-10-22.

  5. 5.Turn on disaster alerts

    The Safety tips app sends earthquake early warnings and other alerts. During a typhoon, stay indoors and follow your hotel's instructions.

    Sources: JNTO: Safety tips app, JNTO: Weathering typhoons in Japan. Last checked 2026-10-22.

  6. 6.Avoid white-plate taxis

    Use licensed green-plate taxis only. Unlicensed white-plate cars are illegal.

    Source: JNTO: 10 Smart Travel Tips for Japan (2026 PDF). Last checked 2026-10-22.

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