How to Call an Ambulance in Japan: 119, Costs & Emergency Steps (2026)
Call 119 for a serious medical emergency in Japan. This 2026 resident guide explains when to call, what to say, language support, #7119, costs, what to prepare, and what happens after the ambulance arrives.
For a serious or rapidly worsening medical emergency in Japan, call 119. Say that it is a medical emergency, give the location first, then explain what happened, the patient’s age, consciousness and breathing, and your callback number. Do not delay because your Japanese is limited: many fire departments use multilingual support, but local availability differs. Calling 119 and requesting a public ambulance does not itself cost money; hospital examination, treatment, medicines and other medical care are billed separately. If the person is stable and you are genuinely unsure whether an ambulance is necessary, check whether #7119 is available in your area or use an official emergency-assessment service such as Q-Suke.
When You Should Call 119 Immediately
Japan’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency (FDMA) advises calling 119 without hesitation when sudden illness or injury may be serious. You do not need to be certain of the diagnosis before calling. What matters is the severity of the warning signs and whether the person is deteriorating.
Particularly urgent patterns include loss or impairment of consciousness, severe breathing difficulty, stroke-like symptoms, major bleeding, a serious burn, continuous seizure, choking with breathing difficulty, drowning, a fall from height, or a high-impact traffic accident. Sudden severe chest or back pain, a sudden severe headache, vomiting blood, black or bloody stool, and other major departures from the person’s normal condition can also require an ambulance.
If the person is not breathing normally, is unresponsive, or is rapidly becoming worse, call 119 first and follow the dispatcher’s instructions. Do not spend time searching the internet, arranging private transport, or collecting documents before making the call.
- Unresponsive, difficult to wake, suddenly confused, or repeatedly losing consciousness
- Breathing has stopped, is extremely weak, or is severely difficult
- Sudden facial droop, speech difficulty, one-sided weakness or numbness, or sudden major vision disturbance
- Sudden severe chest or back pain, severe breathlessness, or strong chest pressure
- Heavy bleeding, wide or severe burns, drowning, fall from height, or high-impact accident
- Continuous or repeated seizure, or no return of consciousness after a seizure
- Choking with breathing difficulty or loss of consciousness
- Any rapid, marked, or unusual change that makes the person appear seriously ill
How to Call 119 Step by Step
The general FDMA call flow is simple: identify the call as a medical emergency, give the location, explain what happened and the patient’s condition, give the patient’s age, then provide your name and a callback number. In a high-priority case, an ambulance may be dispatched before the operator has finished asking every question.
Give the location early. Start with the municipality or ward and then the street address, building name, floor and room number. If you do not know the exact address, describe a nearby station exit, intersection, shop, school, landmark or clearly identifiable building.
Keep your medical explanation short at first. State who is ill or injured, what happened, when it started, whether the person is conscious, whether breathing is normal, and whether there is major bleeding. The dispatcher can then ask targeted follow-up questions.
- Say: “Kyūkyū desu” (救急です) — “Medical emergency.”
- Give the exact location or the best landmark you can provide.
- Describe what happened and the most important symptoms.
- State the patient’s age or approximate age.
- State whether the patient is conscious and breathing normally.
- Give your name and a phone number that will remain reachable.
- Stay on the line and follow first-aid instructions.
If You Do Not Speak Japanese
Limited Japanese should not stop you from calling 119 in a genuine emergency. Start with a few high-value words: “Ambulance,” “Medical emergency,” “English, please,” and your location. A nearby Japanese speaker can help if available, but do not delay an urgent call while searching for someone.
FDMA promotes three-way telephone interpretation for foreign-language 119 calls and emergency scenes. The service is designed to connect the caller, fire department and an interpretation center, but implementation and supported languages are not identical in every jurisdiction. Local fire departments may also use multilingual emergency communication tools.
A practical emergency note on your phone can save time. Store your home address in Japanese, building access details, date of birth, allergies, chronic conditions, current medicines, usual clinic or hospital, and an emergency contact. Avoid relying on a translation app when the patient’s breathing or consciousness is worsening.
- 救急です — Kyūkyū desu — Medical emergency
- 住所は…です — Jūsho wa … desu — The address is …
- 意識がありません — Ishiki ga arimasen — The person is unconscious
- 呼吸が苦しいです — Kokyū ga kurushii desu — The person is having difficulty breathing
- 英語をお願いします — Eigo o onegaishimasu — English, please
What to Do While the Ambulance Is Coming
Stay with the patient and watch for changes in breathing, consciousness, bleeding and seizure activity. If the dispatcher gives first-aid instructions, follow them. When possible, put the phone on speaker so your hands remain free.
If other people are present, divide the work. One person can stay with the patient, another can unlock the entrance and guide the crew, and another can collect essential medical information. FDMA specifically recommends sending someone to the expected arrival point when possible so the crew can reach the patient faster.
Do not move a seriously injured person unnecessarily unless there is an immediate danger at the scene. Clear obstacles, move pets away, unlock gates and doors, and make space for a stretcher.
- Follow dispatcher instructions for CPR, AED use, bleeding control or other first aid
- Unlock the building entrance, front door, security gate and elevator access when possible
- Send someone to the road, lobby or entrance to guide the crew
- Keep the caller’s phone switched on and reachable
- Note the exact time symptoms began or the person was last known well
- Do not stop critical first aid just to search for documents
What to Prepare for the Ambulance Crew
Prepare useful information only after the emergency call is underway and only if it does not delay care. The ambulance crew will benefit from a concise picture of the patient’s medical background and what changed today.
When the crew arrives, explain what happened, when symptoms began, changes since the 119 call, first aid already performed, current medicines, allergies, chronic diseases, usual medical provider, and any possibility of pregnancy, poisoning or trauma.
For residents using My Number Card health-insurance functions, have the card or other current insurance information available if it is easy to reach. The emergency comes first; missing documents are not a reason to delay 119.
- My Number Card used for health insurance, or other current insurance information
- Residence card or passport if readily available
- Patient registration card for the usual clinic or hospital
- Medication notebook, medicine packages, and current dosing information
- Allergies, chronic conditions, operations and relevant doctor instructions
- Phone, charger, shoes and a small amount of money
- For a young child: maternal and child health handbook and essential care items
Children, Babies and Pregnancy
For children, severe breathing difficulty, blue or very pale color, poor responsiveness, persistent seizure, choking, serious head injury, major trauma, or another clearly abnormal condition can justify calling 119 immediately. FDMA specifically treats an altered condition in an infant under three months as an important warning sign.
If a child is stable but you are unsure what to do during holidays or at night, #8000 is the nationwide short number for the Child Medical Telephone Consultation service. It connects callers to the prefectural consultation service, where doctors or nurses provide advice. Operating hours and alternate telephone numbers differ by prefecture, so check the current local details.
During pregnancy, collapse, severe breathing difficulty, major bleeding, seizure, serious injury or another immediate threat warrants 119. For labor or pregnancy symptoms that are not an immediate emergency, contact the maternity facility managing the pregnancy and follow its instructions.
When to Use #7119, Q-Suke or Medical Information Net Instead
#7119 is intended for sudden illness or injury when the person is stable but you are unsure whether an ambulance or immediate hospital visit is necessary. Depending on the participating service, medical or emergency professionals can advise on urgency, first aid and where to seek care; a high-risk consultation can be escalated toward 119.
#7119 is not operated under identical conditions nationwide. FDMA publishes participating-area information, and service hours, coverage and language support can differ. If a person has a clear emergency warning sign, do not use #7119 as a reason to postpone 119.
FDMA’s Q-Suke is a nationwide emergency-assessment tool that guides users through symptoms and urgency. For non-life-threatening situations where self-transport is safe, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare’s Medical Information Net can search for hospitals and clinics, including facilities currently open or providing holiday and night care.
- Use 119 for serious warning signs or rapid deterioration
- Use #7119 where available when the person is stable but urgency is unclear
- Use Q-Suke as a decision aid, not as a substitute for emergency services or medical examination
- Use Medical Information Net to find an appropriate medical institution when emergency transport is not required
NET119 and Other Accessibility Options
NET119 is an official emergency reporting system for people who have difficulty making a voice 119 call because of hearing or speech disabilities. Users access a web-based service from a smartphone or similar device, indicate whether the emergency is medical or fire-related, send location information, and then communicate with the fire department by text chat.
NET119 requires advance registration with the local fire department. Residents who may need it should complete registration before an emergency and confirm how their local fire department operates the service.
FDMA also promotes multilingual communication measures for emergency crews, including three-way interpretation and the emergency VoiceTra system used by many fire departments. These tools support communication but should not be assumed to be identical everywhere.
Ambulance Cost, Hospital Bills and Destination
Calling 119 and requesting a public ambulance does not itself cost money. Official municipal guidance, including current English-language information from Yokohama, states that there is no charge to call 119 and request a fire engine or ambulance.
That does not mean the entire emergency visit is free. Examination, tests, treatment, medicines, hospitalization and other medical services at the receiving hospital can generate charges under the normal health-insurance and medical-payment rules.
An ambulance is not a taxi to a hospital of your choice. The crew assesses the patient and works to identify a medical facility that can accept and appropriately treat the case. A preferred hospital can be mentioned, especially if it has relevant medical history, but acceptance and destination depend on the emergency and available medical resources.
Prepare Before an Emergency
The most useful preparation is simple: know 119, save your address in Japanese, keep essential medical information current, and learn where your building’s AED and emergency exits are. If you live with family, roommates or coworkers, make sure more than one person can provide the address and unlock the entrance.
Avoid common delays: waiting for perfect Japanese, trying to drive a critically ill person yourself, calling an ambulance merely because transport is inconvenient, or spending too long deciding on a hospital. In a true emergency, the goal is rapid access to emergency services; in a stable non-emergency, use the appropriate advice and medical-search channels.
Review this information after moving, changing medicines, developing a new allergy or chronic condition, or changing your emergency contact. Five minutes of preparation can remove several points of friction during a real emergency.
- Save your address in Japanese and English
- Keep an updated medication and allergy list
- Store an emergency contact and your usual clinic or hospital
- Know the building entrance procedure and AED location
- Confirm local #7119 availability and #8000 details if you have children
- Register for NET119 in advance if you are eligible and may need it
FAQ
Is 119 available from a mobile phone in Japan?
Yes. You can call 119 from a mobile phone for a fire or medical emergency. Give the location as precisely as possible and keep the phone reachable because the fire department may need to call back if the crew cannot find you.
Does it cost money to call an ambulance in Japan?
Calling 119 and requesting a public ambulance does not itself carry a charge. Hospital examination, treatment, tests, medicines and hospitalization are separate medical services and may cost money.
What should I say first when calling 119?
Say that it is a medical emergency — “Kyūkyū desu” (救急です) — and give the location. Then explain what happened, the patient’s age, consciousness and breathing, and your callback number. Follow the dispatcher’s questions and first-aid instructions.
Can I call 119 if I do not speak Japanese?
Yes. Do not delay a genuine emergency because of language. Use short words such as “Ambulance,” “Medical emergency,” and “English, please,” then give the location. Many fire departments use multilingual interpretation or communication tools, but local language support varies.
Should I call #7119 instead of 119?
Use 119 for clear emergency warning signs or rapid deterioration. #7119 is for situations where the person is stable but you are unsure whether an ambulance or immediate hospital visit is necessary. Availability and operating conditions vary by area.
Can I choose which hospital the ambulance takes me to?
You can tell the crew about a preferred or usual hospital, but the destination depends on the patient’s condition, the treatment required, hospital acceptance and local emergency resources. An ambulance does not guarantee transport to a specific hospital.
Official References
- FDMA — A Guide for Ambulance Services
- FDMA — Ambulance Guide for Foreign Visitors
- FDMA — #7119 Emergency Consultation Overview
- FDMA — #7119 Participating Areas
- FDMA — Q-Suke Emergency Assessment Tool
- FDMA — Three-Way Interpretation for 119
- FDMA — NET119 Emergency Reporting System
- MHLW — #8000 Child Medical Telephone Consultation
- MHLW — Medical Information Net
- Yokohama City — Calling Emergency Services
- Osaka City Fire Department — How to Call 119 (2026)
Final Thoughts
In a serious medical emergency in Japan, the essential sequence is simple: call 119, give the location, describe the patient’s condition, and follow the dispatcher’s instructions. Do not let uncertainty about Japanese, insurance documents or ambulance cost delay an urgent call. For stable situations where the urgency is genuinely unclear, use the official advice and medical-search services available in your area. Prepare your address and medical information before you ever need them.