Emergency Numbers — What to Know
Japan uses 110 for police and 119 for fire and ambulance. There is no unified emergency number like 112 — you must call the correct line. When calling 119, state "kyūkyū" (ambulance) or "kaji" (fire). Operators speak Japanese; English-language support is improving but not guaranteed. The Tokyo Metropolitan Ambulance Service dispatches free ambulances — response times in central Tokyo average 7–10 minutes. For English-speaking police assistance, call the Japan Helpline (0570 000 911) or the AMDA International Medical Information Centre (03 6233 9266), which provides free medical interpretation and hospital referrals.
Non-Emergency Resources
Tokyo's #7119 (Medical Consultation) line provides 24/7 triage advice and can dispatch an ambulance if needed — available in English. For non-emergency police matters, visit a kōban (police box) — small police stations on nearly every major intersection, staffed 24/7. Pharmacies (yakkyoku) are common; chains like Matsumoto Kiyoshi and Sugi Drug sell over-the-counter medication. Note that many Western medications are restricted in Japan — bring prescription documentation. The TELL Lifeline (03 5774 0992) provides English-language counselling.
Emergency Phrases
| English | Local |
|---|---|
| Help! | 助けて！(Tasukete!)tah-soo-KEH-teh |
| Call an ambulance | 救急車を呼んでください (Kyūkyūsha wo yonde kudasai)kyoo-kyoo-shah woh YOHN-deh koo-dah-SIGH |
| I need a doctor | 医者が必要です (Isha ga hitsuyō desu)ee-SHAH gah hee-tsoo-YOH dess |
| Where is the hospital? | 病院はどこですか？(Byōin wa doko desu ka?)BYOH-een wah DOH-koh dess kah |
| Fire! | 火事だ！(Kaji da!)KAH-jee dah |
| Police! | 警察！(Keisatsu!)KAY-sah-tsoo |
Practical Tips for Tourists
Tokyo's hospitals range from small clinics to major university hospitals. St. Luke's International Hospital (聖路加国際病院) in Tsukiji is the top choice for English-speaking visitors — it has a full international department. Tokyo Adventist Hospital and National Centre for Global Health and Medicine also provide English-language care. Japanese hospitals require upfront payment; carry your travel insurance card and passport. Credit cards are accepted at major hospitals; smaller clinics may require cash.
Japanese SIMs and eSIMs are available at Narita and Haneda airports from providers like IIJmio, Mobal, and Sakura Mobile. Pocket Wi-Fi rental is extremely popular and provides reliable coverage. Emergency calls (110, 119) work from any phone. Free Wi-Fi (Japan Wi-Fi) is available at train stations, convenience stores (7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Lawson), and most hotels.
Tokyo is one of the safest major cities in the world — violent crime against tourists is extremely rare. Lost property is routinely returned; check the nearest kōban or the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Lost Property Centre. Earthquake preparedness is important: familiarise yourself with evacuation routes at your hotel and download the Safety Tips app from the Japan Tourism Agency for multilingual earthquake/tsunami alerts.
🇯🇵 See all Japan emergency numbers
