Japanese for Emergencies — Police, Ambulance & Lost Items | Nihongo to Japan

Japan is among the safest countries in the world, and most trips go smoothly. But should you lose your passport, have your wallet stolen or suddenly feel unwell, having a few key phrases ready is a huge help when you're flustered. Hopefully you'll never need them — but it's worth memorizing a few before you go.

Lost items & calling the police

• 警察を呼んでください (けいさつをよんでください) — Please call the police
• 財布をなくしました (さいふをなくしました) — I've lost my wallet
• パスポートをなくしました (ぱすぽーとをなくしました) — I've lost my passport
• 泥棒！ (どろぼう) — Thief! / Stop, thief!
• ここに置き忘れました (ここにおきわすれました) — I left it here (by mistake)

Feeling ill & seeing a doctor

• 救急車を呼んでください (きゅうきゅうしゃをよんでください) — Please call an ambulance
• 病院はどこですか？ (びょういんはどこですか) — Where is the hospital?
• お腹が痛いです (おなかがいたいです) — My stomach hurts
• 頭が痛いです (あたまがいたいです) — I have a headache
• アレルギーがあります (あれるぎーがあります) — I have an allergy
• 気分が悪いです (きぶんがわるいです) — I feel unwell
• 熱があります (ねつがあります) — I have a fever
• 薬を飲んでいます (くすりをのんでいます) — I'm taking medication
• 海外旅行保険に入っています (かいがいりょこうほけんにはいっています) — I have travel insurance

Getting help & communicating

• 助けてください (たすけてください) — Please help me
• 日本語があまりわかりません (にほんごがあまりわかりません) — I don't understand much Japanese
• 中国語の通訳はいますか？ (ちゅうごくごのつうやくはいますか) — Is there a Chinese interpreter?
• 台湾大使館（台北駐日経済文化代表処）に連絡したいです (たいわんたいしかんにれんらくしたいです) — I'd like to contact my country's embassy/representative office

Travel tips

• Emergency numbers in Japan: 110 (police); 119 (fire & ambulance) — save them in your phone
• If you lose your passport, report it at the nearest police station to get a loss certificate, then contact the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (Taiwan's representation in Japan — main office in Tokyo, with branch offices in Osaka, Yokohama, Fukuoka, Sapporo and Naha) to arrange emergency travel documents. Note: the separate Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association is Japan's office in Taiwan, not the place to seek help while in Japan
• Buy travel insurance before your trip, and keep a copy of your passport's photo page (printed or in the cloud) — handing it over speeds things up in an emergency

FAQ

Where do I go if I get sick in Japan?

For mild symptoms, buy over-the-counter medicine at a drugstore first; for more serious symptoms, go to a hospital ER (救急外来) or a clinic (クリニック). Medical costs in Japan are high, so get travel insurance that covers medical care before you go. Some large hospitals offer foreign-language interpreting — worth checking in advance.

How do I contact my government in an emergency in Japan?

If you're a foreign traveler, contact your country's embassy or representative office in Japan. Taiwanese travelers can reach the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office — Tokyo: +81-3-3280-7811 (Kanto & Tohoku); Osaka office: +81-6-6227-8623 (Kansai & western Japan). For a life-threatening emergency, Taiwan's 24-hour overseas emergency hotline dialed from Japan is 001-010-800-0885-0885. They can help with a lost passport, an emergency, or legal assistance. (Note: the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association is Japan's office in Taiwan, not the place to seek help while you're in Japan.)