When you need it
This site offers information based on guidance from the police, fire departments, rental car companies, JAF and others, as a starting point when something goes wrong on your trip (as of September 2026; it isn’t an explanation of the law). Phone numbers and what each line handles can change. When you actually run into trouble, follow the instructions of the police and fire department, and the guidance of the company you rented from.
We’ve put the numbers to call and the Japanese phrases to use in an accident or a breakdown on one card.
For the steps themselves, see “Rental Car Accident or Breakdown in Japan — Three Steps, in This Order.”
Numbers
110 Police (accidents)
・The call is free.
・Say that it’s an accident, and what happened. They’ll ask you the rest, one question at a time (Osaka Prefectural Police).
・The police in Tokyo, Osaka and Hokkaido explain in their English-language guidance that if you can’t communicate in Japanese, they’ll connect you to an interpreter. Stay on the line and wait.
・If that doesn’t get through, call the Japan Visitor Hotline below. It gives advice in English, Chinese and Korean if you’ve had an accident or suddenly fall ill.
・If you call by mistake, don’t hang up; say 「間違いです」 (Machigai desu — “It was a mistake”). If you hang up without a word, a patrol car will come to check that you’re all right (Hokkaido Police).
・After the call, don’t leave the scene; wait somewhere safe until the police arrive.
119 Ambulance and fire
・Anyone in Japan can call an ambulance (Fire and Disaster Management Agency).
・In many areas, you can talk with an interpreter on the line. Not everywhere in Japan, though (Fire and Disaster Management Agency).
・First say whether it’s an ambulance or a fire, then where you are. Give your name and phone number too (see “Japanese” below).
The rental car company
・The number is on the paper you get when you rent the car.
・At Nippon Rent-A-Car, have your rental agreement in hand when you call.
JAF (road service)
・You can use JAF’s road service even if you’re not a member. Non-members pay a charge (JAF).
・#8139 or 0570-00-8139. 24 hours a day, all year round.
・From an IP phone, the 0570 number may not connect.
・If Japanese is hard for you, a free phone interpreter joins in, and you can have a three-way call in many languages. On the call, say which language you want interpreted.
・From an overseas mobile phone, JAF says to call a regional call center, not #8139 or 0570. Check the number on JAF’s English pages.
・What they’ll ask on the phone: the car’s model, license plate number and color / what the problem is / the place name, address or a landmark. For some kinds of service, they’ll ask to see your driver’s license.
The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) phone line for travelers
・Japan Visitor Hotline 050-3816-2787 (+81-50-3816-2787)
・24 hours a day, all year round. English, Chinese and Korean.
・Besides tourist information, it also gives advice if you’ve had an accident or suddenly fall ill.
How to tell them where you are
On ordinary roads
・A nearby store, intersection or station.
・In Osaka, the number on the blue plate marked “OPP” on traffic light poles is also a landmark to give them (Osaka Prefectural Police).
・If you don’t know the address, use a nearby building or intersection as a landmark (Fire and Disaster Management Agency).
・In Hokkaido, always give the name of the city, town or village (Hokkaido Police).
On the expressway
・On an emergency telephone, just lifting the receiver lets them know roughly where you are (NEXCO CENTRAL).
・The number on the distance markers (キロポスト, kilometer posts) that stand every 100 m on both sides of the road, the road name, and the direction you’re heading (JAF).
Japanese
Reporting an accident (from the Hokkaido Government’s guidance)
交通事故がありました。 (“There’s been a traffic accident.”)
(Kotsu jiko ga arimashita.)
○人がけがをしました。 (“[number] people are hurt.”)
([number] nin ga kega wo shimashita.)
場所は○○です。 (“The place is [place].”)
(Basho wa [place] desu.)
私は○○です。 (“I’m [name].”)
(Watashi wa [name] desu.)
連絡先は○○です。 (“You can reach me at [phone number].”)
(Renrakusaki wa [phone number] desu.)
What 119 asks you, and what you answer (from the Fire and Disaster Management Agency’s guidance)
「119、消防です。火事ですか、救急ですか？」 (“119, fire department. Is it a fire, or an ambulance?”)
→ 「救急です」 (Kyukyu desu. — “An ambulance.”)
If it’s a fire, say 「火事です」 (Kaji desu. — “A fire.”)
→ 「住所は○○○です」 (Jusho wa ○○○ desu. — “The address is [address].”)
→ 「私の名前は○○です。電話番号は○○です。」 (Watashi no namae wa ○○ desu. Denwa bango wa ○○ desu. — “My name is [name]. My phone number is [phone number].”)
The names of the parking violation papers (from Times Car Rental’s guidance)
交通反則告知書 (Notice of Traffic Violation) / 反則金の納付書 (Payment of Traffic Violation Fine) / 納付書・領収証書等 (Payment Slip & Receipt)
For details, see “Parking Ticket on Your Rental Car in Japan (Yellow Sticker) — Three Steps Before You Return It.”
※ Phone numbers and what each line handles can change.
