Japan guide

If something goes wrong

Police & lost things

Japan has small police posts called kōban on many street corners. Officers help with lost property, directions and reporting crimes — no appointment needed. Call 110 for an emergency.

7 steps · 3 common mistakes· Show in Japanese (5)
A small police box (kōban) in Ginza, Tokyo, with its sign above the door.

Photo: Haydn Blackey / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Lost something?

A traveller talks to a police officer outside a small police box (kōban) with a red lamp on the roof.

Lost property is often handed in. Your best chance is to report it quickly.

Step by step

  1. Retrace your steps: ask the shop, station or taxi company first.

  2. Go to the nearest kōban or police station and file a lost property report.

  3. Describe the item, where and when you lost it, and give a Japanese phone number or your hotel's — police don't call abroad.

  4. Lost on a train? Ask at the station office of the train line.

Common mistakes

  • Waiting until the day you fly home.
  • Giving only an overseas phone number.

Robbery or theft

Step by step

  1. If you're in danger or it's just happened, call 110.

  2. Otherwise go to a kōban and report it.

  3. Contact your card issuer to block any stolen cards.

Common mistakes

  • Chasing a thief yourself.

Keep the report number

For travel insurance or a new passport you'll need proof that you reported the loss. Ask the officer to write down the report's receipt number.

Good to know: For non-urgent questions to the police, call #9110 (in Tokyo, English is available). Lost something in Tokyo? The Metropolitan Police Lost and Found Center is 0570-550-142.

Find one near you

Opens your map app and searches around where you are. The Japanese is there to show someone if you need directions.

Sources

Sources (checked 2026-11-04). Facts, numbers and prices on this page come from these official pages.

  1. Tokyo Metropolitan Police DepartmentFor Visitors to Tokyo(opens in a new tab)Tokyo Metropolitan Police: crime safety advice for visitors
  2. Tokyo Metropolitan Police DepartmentWhat should I do if I lost my property?(opens in a new tab)Tokyo Metropolitan Police: what to do if you lose something
  3. National Police AgencyMeasures to Combat Trafficking in Persons(opens in a new tab)National Police Agency: measures against human trafficking
  4. Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)Staying Safe in Japan(opens in a new tab)JNTO: staying safe and what to do in an emergency
  5. Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)Japan Visitor Hotline(opens in a new tab)JNTO: the 24-hour Japan Visitor Hotline for travellers
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