Emergency Numbers and How to Call
Know 119 and 110, what to say first, and what to prepare before help arrives.
In Japan, the two numbers to memorize first are 119 for fire and ambulance and 110 for police. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs guide says both numbers are available 24 hours a day, and that they can be dialed from a landline, public phone, cellular phone, or PHS. It also says the ambulance service is free of charge, but should not be used for minor problems that could be handled by your own vehicle or a taxi Guide to Living in Japan, Guide to living in Japan. If you are at a public phone, pick up the receiver, press the red emergency button, and dial 119 or 110 without coins or a calling card Guide to living in Japan. For a newcomer, the most important habit is simple: if there is smoke or fire, a serious injury, a person who may be unconscious, or a crime in progress, call immediately and keep speaking slowly.
Emergency numbers at a glance
| Number | Use it for | Key detail |
|---|---|---|
| 119 | Fire, ambulance, sudden illness, or injury | 24 hours a day; free ambulance service; dialable from landlines, public phones, cell phones, and PHS. |
| 110 | Police, robbery, traffic accidents, or other crimes | 24 hours a day. |
| #7119 | Emergency consultation when you are unsure whether 119 is needed | Use when available in your area. |
| #8000 | Child medical consultation | For children; use when the case is urgent but not clearly 119-level. |
When you call 119, the dispatcher will ask what happened, where it happened, how old the patient is, and your name and callback number. The FDMA guide recommends starting with the fact that it is an emergency, then giving the municipality first; if you do not know the address, describe a large building, intersection, or other landmark. You should also say whether the person is conscious and breathing, what first aid you have already given, and whether the person has chronic conditions, a regular clinic, regular medicines, or a doctor's instructions How to Use an Ambulance Properly. If the situation is urgent, the ambulance can be dispatched before every question is completed, so do not waste time trying to make the explanation perfect. For cases that are urgent but not obviously 119-level, the same guide points people to #7119 for emergency consultation and #8000 for child medical consultation How to Use an Ambulance Properly.
Before help arrives, prepare the items the FDMA says are useful: your My Number card, health insurance card or clinic card, money, shoes, medicines you take every day, and, for infants, the Maternal and Child Health Handbook, diapers, a feeding bottle, and a towel How to Use an Ambulance Properly. If someone else is nearby, ask that person to go out and guide the ambulance in when the siren gets close, because that can shorten arrival time How to Use an Ambulance Properly. It is also smart to keep a short note on your chronic illnesses, the hospital or clinic you usually use, and the medicines you take regularly, so that the crew can act fast even if you cannot explain clearly. The guide also encourages basic first-aid training at a local fire station, because the minutes before the ambulance arrives are often the most important.
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Common Scams and Crime Prevention
See how Japan's biggest online scams work, where they start, and how money moves.
Police data show that online fraud is not a marginal problem. Between January and November 2024, SNS investment and romance scams together accounted for 9,265 cases and about 114.1 billion yen in losses. Investment scams alone made up 5,939 cases and about 79.47 billion yen, while romance scams made up 3,326 cases and about 34.64 billion yen SNS Investment and Romance Fraud Status as of End-November 2024. For someone new to Japan, the practical lesson is that a polished profile, fluent chat, or convincing backstory does not make an online request safe. Money-related chats deserve the same caution whether the other person says they are an expert investor, a celebrity, or someone falling in love.
What the 2024 police data show
| Scam type | Cases | Losses | Common entry point | Common money route |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SNS investment scams | 5,939 | About 79.47 billion yen | Banners or ads and direct messages; then Facebook, LINE, Instagram, X, TikTok, and investment sites | Bank transfer 86.5%; crypto assets 11.2% |
| SNS romance scams | 3,326 | About 34.64 billion yen | Direct messages and matching apps; then Facebook and Instagram are common | Bank transfer 74.7%; crypto assets 19.5%; e-money 5.1% |
The entry pattern is often the warning sign. For investment scams, the first contact was frequently a banner or advertisement or a direct message, and the conversation then moved into Facebook, LINE, Instagram, X, TikTok, investment sites, and other social channels. For romance scams, direct messages were the dominant entry point, and matching apps, Facebook, Instagram, and other social media were common starting points SNS Investment and Romance Fraud Status as of End-November 2024. The police report also shows that investment scams often use LINE as the main contact tool after the initial approach, which means the conversation can become private and look trustworthy very quickly. If the request starts online and then moves into a secret chat, a private group, or a money-transfer instruction, assume the risk has gone up.
The payment method is also useful for spotting danger. In the police data, investment scams mainly used bank transfers at 86.5%, then crypto assets at 11.2%; romance scams mainly used bank transfers at 74.7%, crypto assets at 19.5%, and e-money at 5.1% SNS Investment and Romance Fraud Status as of End-November 2024. The report also shows that scammers commonly pretend to be investors, other famous people, company employees or executives, and in romance cases they may also claim to work in arts and entertainment, medicine, or the military. A good rule is to stop before paying anything, save screenshots, and talk to a trusted person or official contact outside the chat. If the matter looks criminal, call 110; if you are unsure who to ask, the foreign-resident survey found that people prefer native-language consultation, nearby locations, and staff who understand residence status, taxes, pensions, and medical care Basic Survey on Foreign Residents in FY2023.
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Safety Information and Security Tips
Prepare for quakes, typhoons, traffic risks, and where to get help when you are stuck.
Japan's everyday safety planning starts with the country's main hazards: earthquakes, sometimes followed by tsunamis, and typhoons that usually occur between July and October. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs guide says earthquakes can cause fire, so after the shaking stops you should turn off heat sources such as gas stoves and heaters as soon as possible, close the main gas valve, unplug electric appliances, and switch off the circuit breaker when evacuating Guide to Living in Japan. The same guide says typhoons bring heavy storms and rainfall and can cause landslides and flooding, so knowing your evacuation route before bad weather starts is not optional Guide to Living in Japan.
Everyday safety rules
| Situation | What to do | Key detail |
|---|---|---|
| Earthquake | Turn off heat sources, close the main gas valve, unplug appliances, and switch off the breaker when evacuating | Fire is a major secondary risk after shaking. |
| Typhoon | Check the nearest shelter, avoid the seaside, prepare about 2 days of supplies, and keep away from windows | Typhoons usually come between July and October and can bring landslides and flooding. |
| Walking and cycling | Walk on the right, cross at safe crossings, ride bicycles on the left, use lights and helmets, and avoid alcohol, umbrellas, and phones | Bicycle liability insurance is required in many areas such as Tokyo or Osaka. |
| Driving and scooters | Drive on the left, wear seat belts, use child seats under 6, never use a phone, and report crashes to police | Specific small motorized bicycles have age, plate, insurance, and helmet rules. |
The MEXT disaster-preparedness sheet adds very practical details. It tells you to check the nearest shelter, avoid going to the seaside during a typhoon, prepare food and basic commodities for about 2 days, and keep away from windows; it also recommends placing cloth below windows. For emergencies, its checklist includes clothing and athletic shoes, matches or a lighter, candles, a helmet and gloves, a flashlight and batteries, a radio, medicine, a whistle, and valuables. The same sheet suggests keeping an emergency card with your name, blood type, birth date, nationality, contact numbers, acquaintances, embassy or consulate contacts, home-country contact, and a meeting place in case family members get separated Safe and Comfortable Living Japanese Course. Taken together, that means you should store the same information on paper and on your phone before you need it.
Safety also depends on how you move around town. The traffic guide says pedestrians should keep to the right, use sidewalks or marked walking lanes when available, cross at crossings or traffic lights, and wear bright or reflective clothing at night. Cyclists are generally supposed to ride on the left, use lights after dark, wear helmets, and avoid alcohol, umbrellas, and mobile phones; in many areas such as Tokyo or Osaka, bicycle liability insurance is required. Drivers must drive on the left, wear seat belts, use a child seat for children under 6, never use a mobile phone while driving, and never drive after drinking; specific small motorized bicycles also have age, plate, insurance, and helmet rules Traffic. For non-emergency help, the foreign-resident survey shows that many people first consult family, Japanese friends, or non-Japanese friends, and that native-language consultation near home with easy appointments is strongly preferred Basic Survey on Foreign Residents in FY2023.