Calling Emergency Services in Japan | Guide 101

Are you looking for calling emergency services in Japan? Here’s a list you can refer to!

An emergency is inevitable. Anyone can face issues at any given point in time be it medical, fire, rescue or anything else. When you’re moving to a new place, it is very important to keep emergency helplines handy for your own good.

What are the numbers of calling emergency services in Japan?

You can use these numbers for calling emergency services in Japan:

• Medical Emergency (Ambulance): Dial 119
• Fire/Rescue: Dial 119
• Police: Dial 110

When I moved to Japan, I never thought about it and somehow nothing happened for a long time until my neighbour’s house caught fire.

 It was an emergency situation where the Japanese fire trucks and the ambulance came for the rescue. Thank god for these calling emergency services in Japan that saved my life from so many things!

There was smoke everywhere and the situation almost seemed out of control because of the delay in calling the emergency helplines. However, the firefighters controlled and handled the situation quite well and it was all well and good after 3-4 hours.

That’s when I decided to figure out and note down all the emergency numbers in Japan that might be of help! Calling emergency services in Japan is always helpful no matter what.

So if you require any emergency assistance in Tokyo or infact, anywhere in Japan, you’ll have to make a list of numbers you can reach out to in specific situations. Read on the information below with numbers that will help you out.

Without further ado, let’s move to the numbers for calling emergency services in Japan!

Calling Emergency Services in Japan

Here is a table listing all the emergency contact numbers in Japan that someone living in Japan should have handy:

Emergency	Emergency Numbers in Japan
Fire	119
Police	110
Ambulance	119
Coast Guard	118
Earthquake	171
Gas leak	118
Water leak	118
Power outage	118
Traffic accident	110
Lost child	110
Poison control	03-3260-0099
Suicide prevention	03-5286-9090

Japan Poison Information Center

Japan helpline numbers are of all types and this one is actually really an important one. You might not agree to this when I say it’s important but trust me, it is actually. 

Why? Because if you have kids in your house it’s not hard for them to go all mischievous and if at all by mistake, they’ve ingested poisonous substances this helpline is very helpful. 

Not only children but there are a few individuals who are sometimes suicidal and might often take this route of consuming poison. This helpline number will help you reach out to the most accurate people for your query or cause.

If there’s any kind of poison ingestion, please call the Japan Poison Information Centre for help and assistance for calling emergency services in Japan:

Tsukuba: 029-852-9999 (daily, 9 a.m.-9 p.m.)

Osaka: 072-727-2499 (daily, 24 hours)

Please note, these lines are Japanese language only and you might need assistance for your conversation with them. 

Medical Emergency Numbers in Japan

The following are the medical emergency numbers in Japan:

• Ambulance: 119
• Non-urgent medical: 7119
• Poison control: 03-3260-0099
• Suicide prevention: 03-5286-9090

You can call 119 for any medical emergency, including heart attack, stroke, severe bleeding, and unconscious person. 

7119 is a non-urgent medical line that can be used for things like broken bones, minor cuts, and colds. Poison control can be reached at 03-3260-0099, and suicide prevention at 03-5286-9090.

It is important to note that English-speaking operators may not be available at all times when calling 119. 

If you are not able to communicate in Japanese, it is helpful to have a written list of your symptoms and medical history with you. You can also try to speak slowly and clearly, and use simple words.

Medical emergencies are the most common type of emergency in Japan because of numerous reasons like health issues, injuries etc. It is quite convenient to just dial the ambulance number as it is always on time and available for all your emergency services.

I last called the ambulance in Japan when my grandfather fell extremely sick before he left the world. I remember this day quite vividly as my grandfather’s limbs were almost numb and he was gasping for breath.

I was panicking when I suddenly remembered I have a number of medical emergency in Japan. Soon, I dialed the number and the ambulance arrived within a few minutes. My granddad was taken to the hospital but unfortunately the doctors couldn’t save him. 

So, let’s get to calling emergency services in Japan for medical emergencies.

In case of medical emergencies, you can call the number 119 for an ambulance in Japan. If you’re not fluent in Japanese, there are also English-speaking operators on the helpline but it is not sure if they will be available on time or not. 

If there’s no English operator available, it’s better you learn some Japanese words for calling emergency services in Japan that will help you.

The operator will need to know your name, address and phone number. So this is how you can say it when calling emergency services in Japan:

…です。 (…desu, “My name is…”)

住所は…です。 (Juusho wa…desu, “My address is…”)

電話番号は…です。 (Denwa bangou wa…desu, “My phone number is…”)

However to explain the situation, the operator might ask you: どうしましたか? (Dou shimashita ka?, “What happened?”)

Here is a little something you can use to explain your situation when you’re calling emergency services in Japan:

Japanese sentence	Pronunciation	English translation
けがです	Kega desu	I’m injured
病気です	Byouki desu	I’m sick
交通事故です	Koutsuu jiko desu	There’s been a traffic accident.
胸が苦しいです	Mune ga kurushii desu	I’m having difficulty breathing
意識不明です	Ishiki fumei desu	(Someone) is unconscious
高熱です	Kounetsu desu	(I have) a high fever
出血です	Shukketsu desu	(Someone) is bleeding

You will need to inform the operator if you’re calling for an ambulance or for fire rescue. You will also need to inform him or her about what happened and the nature of the injury or the illness. Also, tell your location so that they can reach out to you. 

Try informing your name, address and phone number. I’ve already translated it in the above for you to make it easy!

So once the ambulance receives your call, the paramedics will decide which hospital you should be taken to. This is on the basis of your injury condition, location and sometimes availability. 

If you want to seek more information, you can check out the Tokyo Metropolitan Government website here!

Fire Rescue Emergency Contact in Japan

The fire/rescue emergency contact number in Japan is 119. You can call 119 for any fire, rescue, or other emergency. English-speaking operators are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

When calling 119, it is important to stay calm and speak clearly. State the nature of the emergency, give your location, and provide your name and phone number. Follow the instructions of the operator.

Here are some other fire/rescue emergency contact numbers in Japan:

• Tokyo Fire Department: 03-3405-6111
• Osaka Fire Department: 06-6948-1199
• Nagoya Fire Department: 052-958-1199
• Fukuoka Fire Department: 092-711-1199

You can also find a list of fire/rescue departments in Japan by visiting the website of the National Fire Agency of Japan.

Fire emergencies are very common especially if you’re living in the centre of the town on the main roads. The fire rescue team is quite active and responds pretty quickly in Tokyo or anywhere around for that matter.

These emergency numbers also have English operators so if you’re not a Japanese speaker, it won’t be an issue.

Ringing on 119 will connect you with the fire department and the ambulance is also dispatched from the local fire station. 

So if there is a fire or you want to rescue someone, dial 119 just like you would in the case of a medical emergency. It’s one of the most important calling emergency services in Japan. 

The ringer for both medical and fire is the same. However, when you state your problem, the call is carried forward according to it. For more information on the fire department, you can check out the Tokyo Metropolitan Government website.

Police Emergency Contact In Japan

Police Emergency Contact In Japan

The police emergency contact number in Japan is 110. You can call 110 for any police emergency, including crime, accident, or lost child. English-speaking operators are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

When calling 110, it is important to stay calm and speak clearly. State the nature of the emergency, give your location, and provide your name and phone number. Follow the instructions of the operator.

Here are some other police emergency contact numbers in Japan:

• Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department: 03-3501-0110
• Osaka Prefectural Police Department: 06-6942-1100
• Nagoya Prefectural Police Department: 052-951-1100
• Fukuoka Prefectural Police Department: 092-711-1100

You can also find a list of police departments in Japan by visiting the website of the National Police Agency of Japan.

Numbers of police stations are important to keep as emergencies can happen all the time. In case of theft, violence etc. you can use these numbers to call up the police and file a quick report against the perps.

If you need the police, dial 110, it is the Japan police number. You will need to inform the operator your name, what happened, where and when it happened for them to take further action. 

There are english operators but there is no guarantee if they’ll be available or not. This is one of the calling emergency services in Japan.

Emergency Numbers In Japan

What is the 911 number in Japan?

The 911 number in Japan is 119. It is the emergency number for all fire, ambulance, and rescue services in Japan. English-speaking operators are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

It is important to note that 119 is not the same as 911 in the United States. 911 is the emergency number for all emergencies in the United States, but 119 is only for fire, ambulance, and rescue services in Japan. If you need police assistance in Japan, you should call 110.

Why Does Japan Have 2 Emergency Numbers? 

Japan has two emergency numbers, 110 and 119, for historical reasons. 110 was the first emergency number in Japan, established in 1948. It was originally used for both police and fire emergencies. However, in 1950, a new emergency number, 119, was introduced for fire and ambulance emergencies. This was done to reduce the number of calls to 110 for non-police emergencies, such as fire and ambulance.

The two emergency numbers have remained in use ever since. 110 is still the number to call for police emergencies, while 119 is the number to call for fire, ambulance, and rescue emergencies.

There have been some calls to merge the two emergency numbers into a single number, but this has not been done yet. There are concerns that merging the two numbers could lead to confusion and delays in emergency response.

For now, Japan will continue to have two emergency numbers. It is important to remember which number to call for each type of emergency. If you are not sure which number to call, it is always best to err on the side of caution and call 110.

What is 112 number in Japan?

112 is not a valid emergency number in Japan. The emergency numbers in Japan are 110 for police and 119 for fire, ambulance, and rescue.

112 is a common emergency number in Europe and other parts of the world. It is used to reach the emergency services, such as the police, fire department, and ambulance. However, 112 is not used in Japan.

If you are in Japan and you need emergency assistance, you should call 110 for the police or 119 for fire, ambulance, and rescue.

Does 119 Japan speak English?

Yes, 119 Japan does speak English. English-speaking operators are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Emergency Ring Up 

Calling emergency services in Japan is very common when faced with troubles so do not hesitate or think twice when you’re faced with worse conditions. 

Keep this number of calling emergency services in Japan handy and just dial it up whenever you’re in trouble. Believe me, Japan’s services are top-notch and you’ll feel relieved at the end of your service. 

Hope my article Calling Emergency Services in Japan helped you! Make your own small list and keep it handy!