Healthcare
Japan — Healthcare: Emergency Numbers
Japan uses two separate emergency numbers: 110 for police (established 1948) and 119 for fire, rescue, and ambulance (introduced 1950) — the same number covers both fire and medical emergencies, so callers must state which service they need. Both lines are free, operate 24/7 nationwide, require no area/exchange prefix, and have English-speaking operators available (via a third-party interpreter in many municipalities; the specific supported languages vary by municipality but English is generally included).
VerifiedGovernment / official sourceNational Police Agency / Fire and Disaster Management AgencyLast reviewed: 2026-07-18
Key facts
- Police: 110 (established 1948); Fire/Rescue/Ambulance: 119 (introduced 1950) — same number covers both, state which you need.
- Both numbers are free, 24/7, nationwide, no area prefix required.
- English support is available via third-party interpreter connection; exact language availability varies by municipality.
Common mistakes
- Assuming a single unified emergency number (like 911) exists — Japan splits police (110) from fire/ambulance (119).