Japan Emergency Info : Japan  

Japan Emergency Info - Travel guide

Japan

Emergency Info

Japan is known for its clean, safe urban areas and for the quality of its healthcare and public safety infrastructure. Still, as is the case with travel in any unfamiliar place, it always pays to exercise common sense, and to be familiar with the resources at your disposal should you experience problems or need assistance. The links below will take you to information that may be useful should something unexpected happen while you are in Japan.

Again, common-sense precautions are your best assurance of a safe, healthy trip: Do not carry more cash than you need—use credit cards or traveler’s checks. Place your valuables with your hotel’s front desk or in-room safe. Register your travel itinerary with your country’s embassy when you arrive. If you’re on medication, be sure to bring enough for the duration of your travel, along with a copy of any doctor’s prescriptions. Be sure to have proof of travel and/or health insurance. Keep copies of your passport, tickets, and other travel documents in a separate place from the originals. These and other steps will give you the peace of mind you need to truly relax and enjoy your visit to this fascinating country.

Accident, Theft, or Other Emergency

In an emergency, your country’s embassy is often a good first point of contact. If you lose your passport, you will need to contact your embassy to arrange a replacement (always carry a copy of your passport in your luggage and separate from your other documents; keep a copy at home, as well, in case your luggage is lost or stolen). While embassy staff are limited in the other services they can provide, and are required to follow local laws at all times, they may have other information and resources to offer the traveler in need. The link below provides a list of all major embassies located in Japan, along with their addresses and phone numbers.

If you should lose your credit card, traveler’s checks, or your airline ticket, contact the issuers directly to arrange for replacements. We recommend that you keep a list of toll free numbers for the issuers of your cards and tickets separate from those items themselves, but if you have not done so, here are links to contact information for major credit card companies and airlines with offices in Japan.

Theft, car accidents, and other emergencies can occur anywhere, and can happen to even the most careful traveler. If the incident occurred in your hotel, you should contact the front desk manager or concierge first, and they can help you take the necessary steps. If you are in your hotel during an earthquake or other natural disaster, again, follow the instructions of the hotel staff to assure your safety. In other cases, you may need to report the incident to the local police; the pages below give further information and advice on dealing with theft, accidents, and other emergencies.

The Police Box (“Koban”) System

To report a crime, accident, or other emergency, dial ‘110’ from any telephone. In Tokyo, an English-language line to the Metropolitan Police is available from Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m., at 03-3501-0110.

Your best resource for contacting the police, getting directions if you are lost, or for reporting a lost or stolen item, is your nearest “Koban,” or police box. This network of “mini police stations” is unique to Japan, and they can be found in virtually every neighborhood throughout the country—there are over 1,200 Koban in Tokyo alone. While not all Koban are staffed 24 hours a day, most of the police boxes located in heavily populated areas will have an officer on duty. In the most popular tourist areas—Ginza, or Shinjuku, for example—there may be someone who can help you in English, and they may have forms and other documents available in English as well.

Look for the KOBAN sign, with its distinctive red light, whenever you need police help with:

• Reporting a loss, theft, or other crime
• Reporting an automobile accident
• Directions to businesses and attractions
• Other emergency-related questions

If you are unable to find a police box, ask at your hotel or other local business—most people will know where the nearest one is located in their neighborhood.

If You Become Ill

Medical emergencies in a foreign country can be a frightening experience. Fortunately, Japan has an advanced medical services infrastructure, and in most urban areas you will be able to find a major hospital or clinic with at least some ability to communicate with you in English. Travelers with pre-existing conditions are strongly encouraged to carry copies of any prescriptions, along with enough medicine, if any, for the duration of your stay. All visitors should also carry proof of medical insurance, either private or public, as well as a list of any medications or substances to which you have a known allergy, along with a notation of your blood type.

In Japan, common over-the-counter drugs and prescription medicines are available only at drug stores, most of which have a pharmacist on duty, and not at convenience stores or supermarkets. You are generally permitted to bring into the country such over-the-counter and prescription medications as are generally available overseas, in quantities sufficient for personal use (there are some restrictions on medications containing stimulants, even if available over-the-counter elsewhere. See the Japan Customs information page for more information). The strength and composition of common drugs, including pain relievers and cold remedies, may differ from standards in your home country; consult with a pharmacist on duty, or a doctor if you are visiting one.

Japan has no requirements for pre-travel inoculation against known diseases, however, if you are arriving from a country where there is a threat of avian flu (so-called “bird flu”), SARS, or other epidemic disease, you may be asked to visit the Health Office at the airport upon your arrival.

Many large hotels have access to on-call medical services; some may have an in-house doctor or clinic—inquire at the front desk. If your illness requires hospitalization or other more advanced care, there are facilities around the country prepared to handle the foreign visitor. Below is a link to a list of such facilities.

If you are unable to immediately contact English-speaking services, this link below provides some common phrases you can use to communicate with Japanese-speaking staff. In Japan, ambulance services are provided by the fire department; dial ‘119’ from any phone to request an ambulance.

Some medical information is also available for visitors to Japan via telephone, with service provided in English and in many other languages.

The AMDA International Medical Information Center

The AMDA International Medical Information Center provides telephone services to foreigners in Japan in several languages. They can provide introductions to medical facilities with staff who speak the patient's language, and also explain the health care system to callers.

Tel: Tokyo 03-5285-8086(office)
Tel: Tokyo 03-5285-8088(consultation)
Tel: Osaka 06-4395-0555
Tel: Machida 042-799-3759

Other Useful Information

For the Disabled Traveler

At major train stations, airports, and hotels, as well as in most newer shopping centers and theaters in the city, the disabled traveler or wheelchair user should have little trouble in getting from place to place. About 35% of Japan’s train stations are completely accessible, and work continues to improve accessibility at other public facilities, including the installation of elevators, wheelchair ramps, and other accommodations. Barrier-free toilets are now available in about half of all train stations, and you will also find them in most newer buildings. Most major urban hotels will also have wheelchair accessible rooms and public areas, though smaller “business hotels” and more traditional Japanese-style inns may not be accessible. If you have special needs, always check with your travel agent or directly with the facility before making your reservations.