Emergency in Japan!

If you’re in Japan and there’s an emergency, don’t panic! Dial 1-1-9. Pretty easy to remember, right, being that in the U.S., our emergency number is 9-1-1. But know, this is only for fires or when an ambulance is needed. When you need to contact the police, dial 1-1-0.

These numbers are good to know in case you are in need of emergency assistance while in Japan. On older pay phones, there may be a button that is just for emergencies where if you push it, it will connect you directly to a 1-1-9 operator. But with pay phones slowly disappearing, you may need to memorize these numbers. Another great thing to know is that the dispatch operators can speak English and other foreign languages so make sure you explain fully the emergency in your native language!