When to Dial 119 in Japan

If you are new to Japan, one important thing to know is that emergency services do not all share a single emergency number. In some countries, one number connects callers to police, fire, and ambulance services. Japan takes a different approach.

In Japan, 119 is used for fires and medical emergencies requiring an ambulance. If there is a fire, someone has collapsed, or urgent medical assistance is needed, 119 is the number to call.

For police matters, however, you need a different number: 110. This should be used for reporting crimes, traffic accidents, suspicious activity, or situations where police assistance is required.

Because many visitors and new residents come from countries with a single emergency number, they may be surprised to learn there are two distinct numbers in Japan. However, if you mistakenly ring one instead of the other, the operator will help connect you with the appropriate service. Even so, it may cause a slight delay, so it is worth remembering which number to use.

Hopefully, you will never need either number. However, taking a few moments to remember 119 for fire and ambulance, 110 for police could save valuable time in an emergency.