Start with the emergency and your location
- 01What happened
Say ambulance, fire or the police emergency you are reporting.
- 02Where you are
Give the address, building, floor or a clear nearby landmark.
- 03Stay on the call
Answer questions and follow the dispatcher’s instructions.
For an ambulance, explain who needs help and what is happening. Be ready to give a callback number if asked. If you do not know an address, look for the accommodation name, station name, building entrance or a nearby landmark. Ask someone nearby to help identify the location.
If you cannot explain in Japanese
Ask for English, speak slowly and give your location early. Language support varies by area and service; do not wait for a guarantee of interpretation before seeking urgent help. Ask hotel, station or shop staff to help communicate if someone is available.
Show a request to call an ambulanceOpen a Japanese phrase card Show a request to call the policeOpen a Japanese phrase cardThese phrase cards are a communication aid. They do not place a call or replace the emergency service. If help is urgent, call the appropriate emergency number or ask someone nearby to call.
If your phone cannot place the call
A data-only eSIM, a messaging app or pocket Wi-Fi does not guarantee ordinary emergency calling. Ask a nearby person or staffed facility to call. Use a suitable public phone if available and follow its emergency instructions. Do not walk away from needed help just to search for a better internet connection.
Visitor support for non-emergencies
The JNTO Japan Visitor Hotline: 050-3816-2787 operates 24 hours a day, every day, with English, Chinese and Korean support. From overseas, use +81-50-3816-2787. It helps visitors find assistance; it is not the emergency dispatch line for police, fire or ambulances.
For an ordinary lost item, contact the place or operator first, then the police as appropriate. For a missing passport, use the passport recovery steps and your own embassy. Do not use 110 or 119 for routine itinerary or booking questions.
Keep the numbers within reach.
An English card with 119, 110 and the visitor hotline. Recheck the numbers before travel.
Are 110 and 119 the numbers to dial from another country?
These are emergency numbers for calls within Japan. If you are overseas, use the appropriate local emergency service or an official international contact for the situation.
Sources & checks
Sources checked 22 Sept 2026. For changing details, confirm with the responsible organization.
- JNTO · Japan Visitor Hotline110 police; 119 fire/ambulance; visitor hotline number, hours and languages
- FDMA · Calling an ambulance119, ambulance/fire distinction, location and dispatcher questions
Review interval: 30 days. This page is not a live status feed. Check time-sensitive details with the linked authority before acting.