Japan is known for its clean, safe urban areas as well as the quality of its healthcare and public safety infrastructure. Still, it is a good idea to exercise common sense and to be familiar with what you should and can do during emergencies.
Common-sense precautions are your best assurance of a safe, healthy trip and give you a peace of mind:
Do not carry more cash than you need¡Xuse credit cards or traveler¡¦s checks.
Place your valuables in the in-room safe.
Register your travel itinerary with your country¡¦s embassy when you arrive (providing that you got one).
If you are on medication, be sure to bring enough for the duration of your travel, along with a copy of doctor¡¦s prescriptions.
Be sure to have proof of travel and/or health insurance.
Keep copies of your passport, tickets, and other travel documents in a separate place from the originals.
However, accidences do happen no matter how careful you are and it is better to know what you can do in case of an emergency. Your country¡¦s embassy is often a good first point of contact. If you lose your passport, you will need to contact your embassy to arrange a replacement. For this reason, always carry a copy of your passport in your luggage and separate from your other documents; keep a copy at home, just in case your luggage is lost or stolen. While embassy staff are limited in the other services they can provide, and are required to follow local laws at all times, they may still have other information and resources to offer the traveler in need.
Lost and theft
Should you have lost your credit card, traveler¡¦s checks, or your airline ticket, contact the issuers directly for replacements. We recommend that you keep a list of toll free numbers for the issuers of your cards and tickets separate from those items themselves.
Theft, car accidents, and other emergencies do occur, and can happen to even the most careful traveler. To report a crime, accident, or any other emergency, dial ¡¥110¡¦ from any telephone. In Tokyo, an English-language line to the Metropolitan Police is available from Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m., at 03-3501-0110.
 When you are hoping to get directions when you are lost or to report a lost or stolen item, your nearest ¡¥Koban¡¦ is your best resource in contacting the police. This network of ¡§mini police stations¡¨ is unique to Japan, and they can be found in virtually every neighborhood throughout the country. Although not all Koban are staffed 24 hours a day, most of the police boxes located in heavily populated areas will have an officer on duty.
Look for the KOBAN sign, with its distinctive red light, whenever you need help with:
Reporting a loss, theft, or other crime
Reporting an automobile accident
Directions to businesses and attractions
Other emergency-related questions
If you are unable to find a police box, ask at other local business¡Xmost people will know where the nearest one is located in their neighborhood.
Medical emergencies
Medical emergencies in a foreign country can be a worrisome experience. Fortunately, Japan has an advanced medical services infrastructure, and in most tourist areas you will be able to find a clinic with at least some ability to communicate with you in English. Travelers with pre-existing conditions are strongly encouraged to carry copies of any prescriptions, along with enough medicine, if any, for the duration of your stay. All visitors should also carry proof of medical insurance, either private or public, as well as a list of any medications or substances to which you have a known allergy, along with a notation of your blood type.
Common over-the-counter drugs and prescription medicines are available only at drug stores, having a pharmacist on duty at most circumstances, and NOT at convenience stores or supermarkets. You are generally permitted to bring such over-the-counter and prescription medications into the country as are generally available overseas, in quantities sufficient for personal use (there are some restrictions on medications containing stimulants to be brought into Japan). The strength and composition of common drugs, including pain relievers and cold remedies, may be differ in terms of standards from your home country; consult with a pharmacist on duty, or a doctor if you are visiting one.
If your illness requires hospitalization or other more advanced care, there are facilities around the country prepared to handle the foreign visitor. In Japan, ambulance services are provided by the fire department; dial ¡¥119¡¦ from any phone to request an ambulance.
Inoculation
Japan has no requirements for pre-travel inoculation against known diseases, however, if you are arriving from a country which is affected by the avian flu (so-called ¡§bird flu¡¨), SARS, or other outbreak disease, you may be asked to visit the Health Office at the airport upon your arrival.
Medical information on the phone
Some medical information is also available for visitors to Japan via telephone, with service provided in English and in many other languages.
The AMDA International Medical Information Center
The AMDA International Medical Information Center provides telephone services to foreigners in Japan in several languages. They provide introductions to medical facilities with staff speaking the patient's language, and also explain the health care system to callers.
Tel: Tokyo 03-5285-8086(office)
Tel: Tokyo 03-5285-8088(consultation)
Tel: Osaka 06-4395-0555
Tel: Machida 042-799-3759 |
