Home > Useful References
Emergencies
Although Japan is modern and safe, it is always useful to be prepared. This chapter provides some background information and useful references for essential services and emergencies.
In case of Emergency
Call the following numbers in case of an emergency. (Toll-free)
Police Consultation Services in English
03-3501-0110 (8:30am-5:15pm/Mon-Fri)
Making an emergency call from a public phone
In the event of an emergency such as sudden sickness, fire, accident or crime involvement, please dial the emergency numbers for help. Even with public phones, you can call these numbers for free. Ambulances and fire engines are free of charge.
Koban
A Koban (local police box), is a small building where police officers are stationed 24 hours a day. The work if the police officers in a Koban includes, but is not limited to, patrolling the area, dealing with accidents/incidents, filing reports of lost and found property and giving directions.
Japan Helpline 
Provides assistance services for foreign residents, from simple questions to emergencies.
0570-000-911 24hrs., Daily
Tokyo English Life Line (TELL)
TELL offers anonymous telephone counseling in English for the international and Japanese community. Trained telephone counselors provide support on a wide range of issues.
03-5774-0992 9:00am-11:00pm, Daily
Fire and Disaster Management Agency
Living Information
Metropolitan Police Department
Tokyo Fire Department Multilingual Page
Earthquakes
Japan is extremely prone to earthquakes, so you should take the following precautions:
- Prepare an emergency survival kit with food supplies and your identity documents and keep them in a place that is easily accessible.
- Keep all exits clear and have large items such as your TV, computer, cupboards, and bookshelves fixed properly to prevent them from toppling. Secure any breakables.
- Learn how to extinguish any fires which can be caused by a small earthquake. Know where your local emergency centers are and check these locations for further information on earthquake preparedness.
Typhoons
The typhoon season in Japan is from August through October, so it is important to be aware of the hazards of strong winds and heavy rains. Below are some guidelines to follow so you can minimize possible damages.
- Close and lock windows properly.
- Move anything indoors that is breakable or that can be caught in a wind gust and thrown off a balcony. This includes plants, pots, and even some patio furniture.
- Check the TV or radio for updated weather reports and road conditions. Find out beforehand where English news is broadcast.
InterFM
On InterFM (76.1 MHz), disaster information will be broadcast in multiple languages in the event of an emergency.
Municipal Offices and Embassies
Here are some of the best resources for when you have any questions about your life in Japan. For further information, call your local municipal office directly or check on its website. If you live in the Yokohama area, call the Yokohama-shi Call Center.
Municipal Offices
Tokyo Metropolitan Government
03-5320-7744 (Foreign Resident’s Advisory Center, Mon-Fri 9:30am-12:00pm, 1:00pm-5:00pm)
| Adachi |
03-3880-5177 (Consultation Service for Foreigners, Mon-Fri 9:30am-12:00pm, 1:00pm-3:30pm) |
|---|---|
| Arakawa |
03-3802-3111 ext. 2145, 2146 (Consultation Service for Foreigners, 1st Thu of the month: 1:00pm-4:00pm) |
| Bunkyo |
03-5803-1200 (Consultation Service for Foreigners, Tue & Fri: 12:00pm-5:00pm) |
| Chiyoda |
03-3264-2111 ext. 2254 (Consultation for Foreigners, Mon, Wed, Fri: 8:30am-3:30pm) |
| Chuo | 03-3543-0211 |
| Edogawa |
03-3653-5151 (Consultation Service for Foreigners, Mon: 1:00pm-4:00pm) |
| Itabashi |
03-5375-3344 (Consultation Service for Foreigners, 1st & 3rd Fri of the month: 1:00pm-4:00pm, 2nd & 4th Fri of the month: 9:00am-12:00pm) |
| Katsushika |
03-5654-8617 (Consultation Service for Foreigners, Mon: 12:30pm-4:30pm) |
| Kita |
03-3908-1101 (Consultation Service for Foreigners, 2nd & 4th Tue of the month: 1:00pm-4:00pm) |
| Koto |
03-3647-2364 (Consultation Service for Foreigners, 2nd & 4th Thu of the month: 1:00pm-4:00pm) |
| Meguro |
03-5722-9187 (Consultation Service for Foreigners, Mon-Fri: 9:00am-12:00pm, 1:00pm-5:00pm) |
| Minato | 03-5472-3710 (Minato Call, Daily, 7:00am-11:00pm) |
| Nakano |
03-3389-1611 (Consultation Service for Foreigners, 2nd & 4th Thu of the month: 1:00pm-4:00pm) |
| Nerima |
03-3994-4725 (Consultation Service for Foreigners, Mon-Fri: 1:00pm-5:00pm) |
| Ota |
03-5744-1139 (Consultation Service for Foreigners, 2nd Thu of the month: 1:00pm-3:00pm) |
| Setagaya |
03-5432-2892 (Consultation Service for Foreigners, Mon-Fri: 8:30am-12:00pm 1:00pm-5:00pm) |
| Shibuya |
03-3463-1142 (Mon-Fri: 9:00am-5:00pm) |
| Shinagawa |
03-5742-6842 (Consultation Service for Foreigners, Tue: 9:00am-5:00pm) |
| Shinjuku |
03-5272-5060 (Consultation Service for Foreigners, Mon-Fri: 9:30am-12:00pm, 1:00pm-4:30pm) |
| Suginami |
03-3312-2111 (Consultation Service for Foreigners, Tue: 10:00am-12:00pm, Thu: 1:00pm-4:00pm) |
| Sumida |
03-5608-1616 (Consultation Service for Foreigners, Wed: 1:00pm-3:00pm) |
| Taito |
03-5246-1025 (Consultation Service for Foreigners, 1st & 3rd Thu of the month: 10:00am-12:00pm) |
| Toshima | 03-3981-1111 |
| Akiruno | 042-558-1111 |
| Akishima | 042-544-5111 |
| Chofu | 042-481-7111 |
| Fuchu |
042-366-1711 (Consultation Service for Foreigners, Mon-Fri: 8:30am-5:00pm) |
| Fussa | 042-551-1511 |
| Hachioji |
042-642-7091 (Consultation Service for Foreigners, Mon-Sat: 10:00am-5:00pm) |
| Hamura | 042-555-1111 |
| Higashi-Kurume | 042-470-7777 |
| Higashi-Murayama |
042-393-5111 ext. 2558 (Consultation Service for Foreigners, Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri: 9:00am-12:00pm, 1:00pm-4:00pm) |
| Higashi-Yamato | 042-563-2111 |
| Hino | 042-585-1111 |
| Inagi | 042-378-2111 |
| Kiyose | 042-492-5111 |
| Kodaira | 042-341-1211 |
| Koganei |
042-387-9818 (Consultation Service for Foreigners, 3rd Tue of the month: 10:00am-12:00pm) |
| Kokubunji | 042-325-0111 |
| Komae | 03-3430-1111 |
| Kunitachi |
042-576-2111 ext. 178 (Consultation Service for Foreigners, 2nd Mon of the month: 10:00am-12:00pm) |
| Machida |
042-722-4260 (Consultation Service for Foreigners, Thu & Sat: 1:30pm-3:30pm) |
| Mitaka |
0422-44-6600 (Consultation Service for Foreigners, 2nd Fri of the month: 1:00pm-4:00pm) |
| Musashimurayama | 042-565-1111 |
| Musashino |
0422-56-2922 (Consultation Service for Foreigners, Tue-Sat: 9:00am-5:00pm) |
| Nishi-Tokyo |
042-461-0381 (Consultation Service for Foreigners, Mon-Fri: 10:00am-12:00pm, 1:00pm-4:00pm) |
| Ome | 0428-22-1111 |
| Tachikawa |
042-527-0310 (Consultation Service for Foreigners, Wed&Sat: 1:00pm-4:00pm) |
| Tama |
042-355-2118 (Consultation Service for Foreigners, 1st&3rd Thu of the month: 1:30pm-4:30pm) |
Kanagawa Prefectural Government
045-324-2299 (Consultation Service Foreigners, 1st/3rd/5th Tuesdays of the month 9:00am-4:00pm)
| City of Yokohama |
045-664-2525 (Call center, English: Mon-Fri 10:00am-11:30pm, 12:30pm-4:30pm, 2nd&4th Saturdays: 10:00am-12:30pm) 045-633-3344 (Consultation Services for Foreigners, every Friday 1:00pm-4:00pm) |
|---|---|
| Aoba-ku | 045-978-2323 (Japanese only) |
| Asahi-ku | 045-954-6161 (Japanese only) |
| Hodogaya-ku |
045-337-0012 (Consultation Service for Foreigners, Mon-Sat: 10:00am-7:00pm, Sun: 10:00am-6:00pm) |
| Isogo-ku | 045-750-2323 (Japanese only) |
| Izumi-ku | 045-800-2323 (Japanese only) |
| Kanagawa-ku | 045-411-7171 (Japanese only) |
| Kanazawa-ku | 045-788-7878 (Japanese only) |
| Kohoku-ku | 045-540-2323 (Japanese only) |
| Konan-ku |
045-848-0990 (Consultation Service for Foreigners, 2nd & 4th Wed: 9:00am-1:00pm) |
| Midori-ku | 045-930-2323 (Japanese only) |
| Minami-ku | 045-743-8282 (Japanese only) |
| Naka-ku | 045-224-8181 (Japanese only) |
| Nishi-ku | 045-320-8484 (Japanese only) |
| Sakae-ku | 045-894-8335 (Japanese only) |
| Seya-ku | 045-367-5656 (Japanese only) |
| Totsuka-ku | 045-866-8484 (Japanese only) |
| Tsurumi-ku |
045-510-1818 (Japanese only) |
| Kawasaki City |
044-200-3939 (Kawasaki Contact center, Daily: 8:00am-9:00pm) 044-549-7000 (Consultation Service for Foreigners, Mon-Sat: 10:00am-12:00pm, 1:00pm-4:00pm) |
| Aso-ku |
044-965-5119 (Consultation Service for Foreigners, 1st & 3rd Thu of the month: 9:30pm-12:00pm) |
| Kawasaki-ku |
044-201-3132 (Consultation Service for Foreigners, 1st & 3rd Thu of the month: 2:00pm-4:30pm) |
| Miyamae-ku | 044-856-3113 (Japanese only) |
| Nakahara-ku | 044-744-3113 (Japanese only) |
| Saiwai-ku | 044-556-6666 (Japanese only) |
| Takatsu-ku | 044-861-3113 |
| Tama-ku |
044-935-3113 (Japanese only) |
| Atsugi City |
046-225-2100 (Consultation Service for Foreigners, Thu: 1:00pm-4:00pm) |
| Ayase City |
0467-77-1111 (Japanese only) |
| Ebina City |
046-231-2111 |
| Fujisawa City |
0466-25-1111 ext. 2573 |
| Hadano City |
0463-82-5111 |
| Hiratsuka City |
0463-23-1111 (Japanese only) |
| Sagamihara City |
042-769-8319
(Consultation Service for Foreigners, 3rd Wed of the month: 9:00am-12:00pm, 1:00pm-4:00pm) |
| Yamato City |
046-263-1261
(Consultation Service for Foreigners, Mon- Fri: 9:00am-12:00am, 1:00pm-5:00pm) |
| Yokosuka City |
046-822-2500
(Call center, 8:00am-8:00pm) |
| Zama City | 046-255-1111 |
Embassies in Tokyo
For a full listing of embassies in Japan, please check the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.
North America
|
Embassy of Canada 03-5412-6200 |
Embassy of Mexico 03-3581-1131 |
Embassy of the United States 03-3224-5000 |
Central and South America
|
Embassy of Argentina 03-5420-7101 |
Embassy of Bolivia 03-3499-5441 |
Embassy of the Federative Republic of Brazil 03-3404-5211 |
|
Embassy of Chile 03-3452-7561 |
Embassy of Colombia 03-3440-6451 |
Embassy of Cuba 03-5770-3182 |
|
Embassy of the Dominican Republic 03-3499-6020 |
Embassy of Ecuador 03-3499-2800 |
Embassy of Jamaica 03-3435-1861 |
|
Embassy of the Republic of Paraguay 03-3265-5273 |
Embassy of the Republic of Peru 03-3406-4243 |
Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela 03-3409-1501 |
Europe
|
Austrian Embassy 03-3451-8281 |
Embassy of the Republic of Belarus 03-3448-1623 |
Embassy of Belgium 03-3262-0191 |
|
British Embassy 03-5211-1100 |
Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria 03-3465-1021 |
Embassy of the Czech Republic 03-3400-8122 |
|
Embassy of Denmark 03-3496-3001 |
Embassy of Finland 03-5447-6000 |
Embassy of France 03-5798-6000 |
|
Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany 03-5791-7700 |
Embassy of Greece 03-3403-0871 |
Embassy of the Republic of Hungary 03-3798-8801 |
|
Embassy of Ireland 03-3263-0695 |
Embassy of Italy 03-3453-5291 |
Royal Netherlands Embassy 03-5776-5400 |
|
Royal Norwegian Embassy 03-3440-2611 |
Embassy of the Republic of Poland 03-5794-7020 |
Embassy of Portugal 03-5212-7322 |
|
Embassy of Romania 03-3479-0311 |
Embassy of the Russian Federation 03-3583-4224 |
Embassy of Spain 03-3583-8531 |
|
Embassy of Sweden 03-5562-5050 |
Embassy of Switzerland 03-5449-8400 |
Embassy of Ukraine 03-5474-9770 |
|
Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan 03-3760-5625 |
Oceania
|
Australian Embassy 03-5232-4111 |
New Zealand Embassy 03-3467-2271 |
Asia
|
Embassy of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh 03-5704-0216 |
Royal Embassy of Cambodia 03-5412-8521 |
Embassy of the People’s Republic of China 03-3403-3388 |
|
Embassy of India 03-3262-2391 |
Indonesian Embassy 03-3441-4201 |
Korean Embassy 03-3357-5970 |
|
Embassy of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic 03-5411-2291 |
Embassy of Malaysia 03-3476-3840 |
Embassy of Mongolia 03-3469-2088 |
|
Embassy of the Union of Myanmar 03-3441-9291 |
Embassy of Nepal 03-3713-6241 |
Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan 03-5421-7741 |
|
Philippines Embassy 03-5562-1600 |
Singapore Embassy 03-3586-9111 |
Embassy of Sri Lanka 03-3440-6911 |
|
Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam 03-3466-3311 |
Middle East
|
Embassy of Afghanistan 03-5574-7611 |
Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran 03-3446-8011 |
Embassy of the Republic of Iraq 03-5449-3231 |
|
Embassy of Israel 03-3264-0911 |
Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia 03-3589-5241 |
Embassy of the Republic of Turkey 03-3470-5131 |
Africa
|
Embassy of the Republic of Cameroon 03-5430-4985 |
Embassy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo 03-5820-1580 |
Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt 03-3770-8022 |
|
Embassy of Ethiopia 03-5420-6860 |
Embassy of the Republic of Ghana 03-5410-8631 |
Embassy of the Republic of Guinea 03-3770-4640 |
|
Embassy of the Republic of Kenya 03-3723-4006 |
Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco 03-5485-7171 |
Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 03-5425-8011 |
|
Embassy of the Republic of Senegal 03-3464-8451 |
Embassy of the Republic of South Africa 03-3265-3366 |
Tanzania Embassy 03-3425-4531 |
|
Embassy of the Republic of Tunisia 03-3511-6622 |
Embassy of the Republic of Uganda 03-3462-7107 |
