Is Tokyo Safe for Tourists? What to Watch For and Who to Call (2026)

Save to My List My List

Researched guide · Checked on Nov 2, 2026

Tokyo has a reputation as a safe city, but a few things can still catch visitors out: street touts in nightlife areas, earthquakes, and getting sick without knowing where to go. Here is what to watch for, and the official numbers to save before you arrive.

Is Tokyo safe to visit? The short answer

Tokyo’s reputation for safety is a good start, but take the same care you would in any big city. You will see small police boxes, called koban, on many street corners; if you get into trouble and cannot call, go to one. The risks to plan for are practical ones: nightlife scams, natural disasters, and medical costs. The sections below cover each one, with links to our detailed guides.

Emergency numbers to save

Number	What it is for	Language and hours
110	Police: crimes, accidents	24 hours; available in English, according to Shinjuku Police
119	Ambulance and fire	24 hours
#9110	Police advice when it is not an emergency	Check the police website
050-3816-2787	Japan Visitor Hotline (JNTO): illness, disasters and travel information	24 hours, every day; English, Chinese, Korean
03-5285-8181	Tokyo medical information: hospitals with foreign-language staff	9:00–20:00 daily; English, Chinese, Korean, Thai, Spanish
0570-550-142	Tokyo police Lost and Found Center	Check the police website

If you need an ambulance and cannot call, show this to someone nearby: 救急車を呼んでください (kyūkyūsha o yonde kudasai, “Please call an ambulance”).

Nightlife: touts and overcharging

The main thing to avoid at night is the street tout. Shinjuku Police say that cases of people following touts and being overcharged at bars have been rising in Kabukicho, even though touting on the street is banned in Shinjuku. Their advice:

• Do not follow touts.
• On an all-you-can-drink plan, check that the drink you want is on the menu before you order. Drinks you buy for hosts or hostesses are charged separately.
• Check reviews of a bar online before you go.
• If you get into trouble, call 110 (available in English) or Shinjuku Police Station (03-3346-0110). If you cannot call, go to the nearest police box.

For a relaxed night out, see Tokyo at night and our Shinjuku guide.

Earthquakes and typhoons

Japan has earthquakes, and Tokyo’s official travel guide gives simple advice: stay calm, do not rush outside, and follow the instructions of hotel, restaurant and shop staff, who are trained for this. Before you go, install the Safety Tips app, which sends earthquake early warnings and tsunami warnings to foreign visitors. See earthquake safety in Tokyo and typhoons in Tokyo.

If you get sick or hurt

Call 119 for an ambulance in a serious emergency. For anything less urgent, the Tokyo medical information line (03-5285-8181) can tell you which hospitals and clinics have foreign-language staff. The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) adds a few things to know:

• You cannot choose which hospital an ambulance takes you to.
• Major hospitals accept credit cards, but clinics often take cash only.
• Without travel insurance, you may have to pay the full cost. Visitors who do not pay their medical bills may be refused entry to Japan in the future.

See seeing a doctor in Tokyo.

Lost something?

Ask at the nearest koban, or call the Tokyo police Lost and Found Center (0570-550-142). Train lines and airports have their own lost-and-found offices. See lost and found in Tokyo.

FAQ