Can I call 110 or 119 even if I don't speak Japanese?

Yes. For 119, a three-way simultaneous interpretation service via a telephone interpretation center is available 24/7. As of January 2025, 673 out of 720 fire departments nationwide have implemented this. 110 also supports three-way calls with interpretation centers.

How can I find a hospital that offers services in a foreign language?

Use the medical facility search tool provided by the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO). You can filter results by region, available languages, medical departments, and credit card acceptance.

What happens if I return home without paying my medical bills?

For unpaid bills incurred on or after April 1, 2026, information is shared with the Immigration Services Agency if the amount is 10,000 yen or more (previously 200,000 yen). This information can be used as a basis for denying entry upon your next visit.

Is there a 24-hour consultation service?

The Japan Visitor Hotline (050-3816-2787, or +81-50-3816-2787 from overseas) is available 24/7. The TIC Call Center, established in April 2026, is a sightseeing information desk-service operating from 9:00 to 17:00 and is not a replacement for the 24-hour hotline.

Emergency Assistance in Japan

Q: Is travel insurance mandatory?

It is not mandatory. However, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare strongly recommends enrolling in private medical insurance with sufficient coverage. Note that unpaid medical bills can impact your future entry into Japan.

In Japan, you can reach the police and emergency services using three-digit numbers. The real challenge isn't just remembering the numbers, but navigating the subsequent steps, such as communicating in Japanese, dealing with medical treatments, payments, or disaster updates. This article is designed to help you prepare for those situations.

What You Will Learn in This Article

Emergency numbers for police, fire, and sea, and how language barriers are handled
How to find medical facilities that support foreign languages
Medical fees and insurance-related rules (including significant changes in April 2026)
Reliable information sources for earthquakes and typhoons
24-hour consultation services

At the end, there is a checklist of things you can complete before your departure.

Emergency Numbers

Number	Contact	Use Case
110	Police	Crimes, theft, traffic accidents, or personal danger
119	Fire / Ambulance	Fires, injuries, sudden illness, or calling an ambulance
118	Coast Guard	Maritime accidents, distress at sea, oil spills, or suspicious vessels

You do not need to dial an area code for these numbers. 118 has been operational since May 1, 2000, and can be reached from landlines, public phones, mobile phones, and marine phones.

Language support is provided via professional interpreters. For 119 calls, a three-way simultaneous interpretation service is available 24/7, assisting both the caller and the emergency responders. As of January 1, 2025, 673 out of 720 fire departments across Japan have implemented this system. Emergency responders also utilize "Kyukyu Voice," a multilingual voice translation app that supports 15 languages. For 110 calls, police officers who speak foreign languages are stationed in the communications command room, and three-way calls are held with an interpretation center.

A fire engine parked in a residential area — 119 connects to both fire and ambulance services

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This system adds an interpreter to standard Japanese services; it is not an English-only hotline. Your first priority is to communicate your location. Use a map app to confirm your current position and provide the name of your hotel, a nearby building, a shop, or a major intersection.

If You Feel Unwell

To find medical facilities that can assist you in a foreign language, use the search tool provided by the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO). You can filter by region, available languages, medical department, and whether they accept credit cards. The service is available in five languages: Japanese, English, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), and Korean. The page also lists the numbers for 119, 110, and various consultation desks.

JNTO: When you feel unwell (Medical facility search)

This search tool is based on a list of "medical institutions accepting foreign patients" maintained jointly by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and the Japan Tourism Agency. Medical institutions are invited to register twice a year (in May and November), and the results are published on the JNTO website.

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Previously, this guide referred to japanhospitalsearch.org as the "official hospital search." While that site is still active, it is operated by Medical Excellence JAPAN, an industry organization focused on promoting medical tourism. Because it is not a public service specifically for travelers falling ill during a trip, we have replaced it with the JNTO search tool.

AMDA International Medical Information Center is an NPO that provides medical consultation in multiple languages. Please note that they do not operate 24 hours; their availability and languages vary by day. Check their official website for current contact details and hours before calling.

AMDA International Medical Information Center

Hospital reception desk — Bring your passport and insurance documents for your visit

Insurance is Not Mandatory, but Unpaid Bills Affect Future Entry

There is no requirement for travelers to hold medical insurance. However, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare "strongly recommends enrolling in private medical insurance with sufficient coverage." The ministry also notes that failing to pay medical expenses can lead to stricter entry procedures during future visits to Japan.

The system is as follows: Since May 10, 2021, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has collected data on foreign visitors with unpaid medical bills and shares this with the Immigration Services Agency. This information can be used to deny entry upon your next visit. For unpaid bills incurred on or after April 1, 2026, the reporting threshold has been lowered from 200,000 yen or more to 10,000 yen or more.

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10,000 yen is a relatively small amount that could be reached even after a single clinic visit. Returning home without paying your bills may impact your ability to re-enter Japan in the future. While insurance is not mandatory, the practical benefit of having it has become much more significant since April 2026.

During Earthquakes or Typhoons

The best way to prepare is to have your information sources ready before you arrive.

*Safety tips**: A disaster prevention app for travelers supervised by the Japan Tourism Agency. Available in 15 languages since October 2014, it provides push notifications for earthquake warnings, tsunamis, weather warnings, volcanic activity, typhoons, heatstroke, and evacuation orders. It also includes flowcharts and communication cards.
Japan Meteorological Agency Multilingual Portal: Provides information on warnings, typhoons, tsunamis, earthquakes, and volcanoes in 16 languages.
JNTO Japan Safe Travel (X): Provides real-time updates during disasters.
Japan Safe Travel Information (JNTO)

If an actual earthquake or typhoon occurs, follow the flowcharts in the Safety tips app, the instructions from your accommodation, and any evacuation orders from local authorities.

Signage for earthquake preparedness — Set up your information sources before arriving in Japan

Consultation Services

Service	Phone Number	Availability	Details
Japan Visitor Hotline (JNTO)	050-3816-2787 (From overseas: +81-50-3816-2787)	24/7/365	Accidents, sudden illness, natural disasters, and general tourism
JNTO TIC Call Center	050-3416-0010	9:00–17:00 (365 days)	General tourism information

The Japan Visitor Hotline supports English, Chinese, and Korean (and Japanese, according to the Japan Tourism Agency website).

The TIC Call Center is a tourism information desk established on April 1, 2026. It is not a replacement for the Japan Visitor Hotline. For emergencies or general inquiries outside of TIC hours, the 24-hour Japan Visitor Hotline remains the primary contact.

Traveler receiving information at a support desk — There are separate services for 24-hour emergencies and daytime tourism info

Pre-Departure Checklist

Install the "Safety tips" app and enable notifications.
Bookmark the Japan Meteorological Agency Multilingual Portal and the JNTO medical facility search.
Save the numbers 110, 119, 118, and 050-3816-2787 on both your phone and in a physical note.
Purchase travel insurance and note your policy number and the insurance company's emergency contact.
Keep a copy of your passport in a separate location from the original.
Ensure you have a reliable way to communicate (emergency calls are primarily voice-based).
Locate the contact information for your country's embassy or consulate.

For a Smooth Trip

For details on entry procedures, see Visas and Entry Procedures. For information on local etiquette, see Public Manners in Japan.

Please remember these three things: 1. 110, 119, and 118 can be used with an interpreter for non-Japanese speakers. 2. You can find medical facilities via the JNTO search tool. 3. As of April 2026, unpaid medical bills of even 10,000 yen can affect your future entry into Japan. Having these numbers and links ready before you depart will make any emergency much easier to manage.