Before visiting Japan, save a few Japanese phrases for emergencies, medical help, police, evacuation and disasters. The most useful phrase is 助けてください (tasukete kudasai), meaning “Please help me”. For an urgent ambulance or fire emergency, call 119; for urgent police assistance, call 110; and for an emergency at sea, call 118. Speak slowly, show your location and follow official instructions.
Table of Contents
- Emergency numbers to save before Japan
- The most important Japanese emergency phrases
- Medical phrases and ambulance help
- Food allergies, medication and prescriptions
- Police, danger and lost-property phrases
- Earthquake, tsunami and evacuation phrases
- How to explain your location
- Official emergency resources for visitors
- Final safety checklist
- Frequently Asked Questions
Disclaimer: This article provides general travel information only. It is not medical advice, emergency-service advice, professional interpretation or a substitute for instructions from Japanese authorities. In an immediate emergency, call 119 for ambulance or fire services, 110 for police, or 118 for maritime emergencies. If you cannot communicate clearly, show your location and use short phrases, but always follow emergency personnel, local authorities, accommodation staff and transport operators.
You do not need to speak fluent Japanese to travel safely in Japan. However, learning a small number of clear phrases can help you attract attention, explain a basic problem and understand important words on signs or public announcements. This is especially valuable if you are away from a major tourist area, have limited mobile data or need help before you can access a translation app.
The phrases in this guide include Japanese characters, romanised pronunciation and plain-English meanings. Romanisation is only an approximate pronunciation guide. In a serious emergency, your priority is to call the appropriate number, give your location and explain the immediate problem as simply as possible.
Emergency numbers to save before Japan
| Number | Use it for | When to call |
|---|---|---|
| 119 | Ambulance and fire service | Serious illness, serious injury, breathing difficulty, fire or another immediate medical emergency. |
| 110 | Police | Crime, assault, serious road accident, immediate danger or urgent police assistance. |
| 118 | Japan Coast Guard | Maritime accidents, a person in danger at sea or another urgent coastal emergency. |
| 050-3816-2787 | JNTO Japan Visitor Hotline | 24-hour visitor assistance for illness, disasters, accidents and travel-related emergencies; not an emergency dispatch line. |
Call 119, 110 or 118 before trying to find a phrasebook if there is immediate danger. The JNTO Japan Visitor Hotline, 050-3816-2787, operates 24 hours a day and offers support in English, Chinese, Korean and Japanese. It can provide useful visitor assistance, but it does not replace an ambulance, fire service, police officer or coast guard response.
The most important Japanese emergency phrases
These phrases are short enough to say, show on your phone or enter into a translation app. If your pronunciation is uncertain, point to the Japanese text. Keep the message simple and use gestures or your map location where helpful.
| Japanese | Romanisation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 助けてください | Tasukete kudasai | Please help me. |
| 緊急です | Kinkyū desu | It is an emergency. |
| 救急車を呼んでください | Kyūkyūsha o yonde kudasai | Please call an ambulance. |
| 警察を呼んでください | Keisatsu o yonde kudasai | Please call the police. |
| 火事です | Kaji desu | There is a fire. |
| 事故です | Jiko desu | There has been an accident. |
| 英語を話せる人はいますか？ | Eigo o hanaseru hito wa imasu ka? | Is there anyone who speaks English? |
助けてください (tasukete kudasai) is the key phrase to remember. It is polite and direct. If you cannot say the full phrase, 助けて (tasukete) means “Help me”. You can add a single useful word, such as けが (kega, injury), 火事 (kaji, fire) or 地震 (jishin, earthquake).
Medical phrases and ambulance help
Call 119 for an ambulance if someone is unconscious, having difficulty breathing, seriously injured, severely bleeding, experiencing a suspected severe allergic reaction or facing another potentially life-threatening medical emergency. Do not rely on phrases alone in a serious situation.
| Japanese | Romanisation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 救急車を呼んでください | Kyūkyūsha o yonde kudasai | Please call an ambulance. |
| 医者が必要です | Isha ga hitsuyō desu | I need a doctor. |
| 具合が悪いです | Guai ga warui desu | I feel unwell. |
| けがをしました | Kega o shimashita | I am injured. |
| 痛いです | Itai desu | It hurts. |
| 息が苦しいです | Iki ga kurushii desu | I am having difficulty breathing. |
| 熱があります | Netsu ga arimasu | I have a fever. |
| 病院はどこですか？ | Byōin wa doko desu ka? | Where is the hospital? |
If you are in pain, point to the affected area and say 痛いです (itai desu). Keep the description straightforward. For example, point to your ankle, chest, head or stomach. Avoid attempting a long explanation if the situation is urgent; calling 119 and showing your location is more important.
Food allergies, medication and prescriptions
Food allergies and medication allergies must be kept separate. The phrase for a food allergy is different from the phrase for an allergy to medication. If you have a severe allergy, carry a written allergy card in Japanese, bring sufficient prescribed medication in its original packaging and keep your travel-insurance medical-assistance number accessible.
| Japanese | Romanisation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| アレルギーがあります | Arerugī ga arimasu | I have an allergy. |
| 食物アレルギーがあります | Shokumotsu arerugī ga arimasu | I have a food allergy. |
| 薬のアレルギーがあります | Kusuri no arerugī ga arimasu | I have an allergy to medication. |
| この薬を飲んでいます | Kono kusuri o nonde imasu | I take this medication. |
| 薬局はどこですか？ | Yakkyoku wa doko desu ka? | Where is a pharmacy? |
Do not rely only on a verbal phrase for a severe allergy. Save the allergen name in Japanese, show a translated allergy card before ordering food and make sure your companions know what to do if you become unwell. If you develop breathing difficulty, collapse, swelling of the throat or other severe symptoms, call 119 immediately.
Police, danger and lost-property phrases
Call 110 when there is a crime in progress, assault, serious road accident, immediate threat or another urgent need for police. A local police box, called a 交番 (kōban), can assist with non-urgent matters such as lost property, directions or general local police help.
| Japanese | Romanisation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 警察を呼んでください | Keisatsu o yonde kudasai | Please call the police. |
| 危険です | Kiken desu | It is dangerous. |
| 怖いです | Kowai desu | I am frightened. |
| 財布をなくしました | Saifu o nakushimashita | I have lost my wallet. |
| パスポートをなくしました | Pasupōto o nakushimashita | I have lost my passport. |
| 盗まれました | Nusumaremashita | It was stolen. |
| 交番はどこですか？ | Kōban wa doko desu ka? | Where is the police box? |
If your passport is stolen, report the theft to police and contact the British Embassy in Tokyo using the official contact details below. If a passport or wallet is simply lost, speak with hotel staff, the relevant railway operator or a local kōban. Keep a secure digital copy of your passport photograph page, travel-insurance certificate and emergency contacts before travelling.
Earthquake, tsunami and evacuation phrases
Japan uses clear emergency signage and local announcements, but recognising these words can help you understand what is happening. During an earthquake, protect your head and neck, stay away from windows and falling objects, and follow instructions from staff and local authorities. If evacuation is required, use stairs rather than lifts.
| Japanese | Romanisation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 地震 | Jishin | Earthquake |
| 津波 | Tsunami | Tsunami |
| 避難してください | Hinan shite kudasai | Please evacuate |
| 避難所 | Hinanjo | Evacuation shelter |
| 非常口 | Hijōguchi | Emergency exit |
| 高い場所へ避難してください | Takai basho e hinan shite kudasai | Please evacuate to higher ground |
| 大丈夫ですか？ | Daijōbu desu ka? | Are you all right? |
The word 避難 (hinan) means evacuation. If you hear or see 避難してください, it means “Please evacuate”. A 避難所 (hinanjo) is an evacuation shelter, and 非常口 (hijōguchi) means emergency exit.
If you are near the sea, a harbour, a river mouth or another low-lying coastal area and feel strong or long-lasting shaking, move to higher ground or inland as soon as it is safe to do so. Do not wait to watch the sea, return for luggage or rely on social-media posts. Follow local evacuation signs and official instructions.
How to explain your location
In an emergency, responders need to know where you are. Before leaving your hotel, ryokan or holiday apartment each day, save a screenshot of its name, address and telephone number. If you are outdoors, show your map location, identify a nearby station or point to the name of a visible shop, attraction or street.
| Japanese | Romanisation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ここにいます | Koko ni imasu | I am here |
| この住所です | Kono jūsho desu | This is the address |
| 駅の近くです | Eki no chikaku desu | I am near the station |
| ホテルにいます | Hoteru ni imasu | I am at the hotel |
| 私の名前は [name] です | Watashi no namae wa [name] desu | My name is [name] |
| 電話番号は [number] です | Denwa bangō wa [number] desu | My telephone number is [number] |
If speaking is difficult, show your phone to a member of staff, police officer, hotel receptionist or another nearby person. Keep the message short: “ambulance”, “injured”, “police”, “earthquake” or “hotel”. For an immediate emergency, call 119 for ambulance or fire services, 110 for police, or 118 for emergencies at sea.
Official emergency resources for visitors
Save these official resources before travelling. Each link opens in a new browser tab.
- JNTO Safety Tips for Travellers
- JNTO: What to Do During an Earthquake
- JNTO: Staying Safe in Japan
- British Embassy Tokyo: official contact information
Save the JNTO Japan Visitor Hotline: 050-3816-2787. It operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and provides support in English, Chinese, Korean and Japanese. The hotline can help visitors with information and assistance relating to illness, accidents and natural disasters, but it is not a substitute for calling 110, 119 or 118 during an immediate emergency.
Final safety checklist
- Save 119 for ambulance and fire emergencies
- Save 110 for urgent police assistance
- Save 118 for emergencies at sea
- Save the JNTO Japan Visitor Hotline: 050-3816-2787
- Keep your hotel name, Japanese address and phone number saved offline
- Carry a charged power bank and a small amount of yen
- Download the official Safety Tips app before travelling
- Follow local authorities, emergency services, hotel staff and transport operators during an incident
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I say “earthquake” in Japanese? Earthquake is 地震, pronounced jishin.
- How do I say “please evacuate” in Japanese? “Please evacuate” is 避難してください, pronounced hinan shite kudasai.
- How do I say “please call an ambulance” in Japanese? Say 救急車を呼んでください, pronounced kyūkyūsha o yonde kudasai. In an immediate emergency, call 119.
- What does hinanjo mean? 避難所, pronounced hinanjo, means an evacuation shelter.
Disclaimer: This article is general travel information only and is not emergency, medical, legal or professional translation advice. In an immediate emergency in Japan, call 119 for ambulance or fire services, 110 for police, or 118 for maritime emergencies. Always follow instructions from Japanese authorities, emergency personnel, accommodation staff and transport operators.