Expat Japan Guide

Emergency Services in Japan for Foreigners: What to Do in a Crisis (2025)

In an emergency, the last thing you want to be doing is searching for phone numbers. Japan’s emergency services work well — but they operate in Japanese, and the system has quirks foreigners often don’t know about. Bookmark this before you need it. Essential Emergency Numbers Number Service Notes 110 Police (警察) Crime, accidents, lost persons 119 Fire and Ambulance (消防/救急) Fires, medical emergencies 118 Coast Guard (海上保安庁) Maritime emergencies #7119 Medical consultation hotline Available in some regions; advice on whether to go to ER Calling 110 (Police) Call 110 for: ...

May 25, 2026 · 4 min · Expat Japan Team