HOME Disasters, sudden illnesses and accidents: A list of useful spots in reliable tourist destinations if trouble strikes during your trip
Disasters, sudden illnesses and accidents: A list of useful spots in reliable tourist destinations if trouble strikes during your trip

Disasters, sudden illnesses and accidents: A list of useful spots in reliable tourist destinations if trouble strikes during your trip

Last updated: 10 April 2020

Japan is known in the world for its numerous natural disasters. Of course, it's ideal to complete a trip without running into any problems, but it never hurts to assume the possibilities.

"Where should I go if I encounter a disaster and run into a problem while traveling in Japan?"

In this article, we will introduce "spots that can be used in case of trouble", such as hospitals, police stations, and shelters in each popular tourist destination for foreigners visiting Japan. Be sure to remember these, as they are the places you should go to when you run into troubles like injury, poor physical condition or natural disasters like earthquake and typhoon.

■Asakusa Area

・Head to the Asakusa Shrine should a strong earthquake occur while sightseeing around Asakusa
If a major earthquake occurs during your tour in Asakusa, head to the Asakusa Shrine, which is considered to be a temporary shelter. During an emergency, the east side of the Sensoji Temple main road located near the Asakusa Shrine will turn into a first aid station, where you can have your injuries treated. In case of unfortunate events, it's best to check the location of the evacuation shelters beforehand.

  • Asakusa Shrine
    • Address 2-3-1, Asakusa, Taitou-ku, Tokyo, 111-0032
      View Map
    • Nearest Station Asakusa Station (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line / Toei Asakusa Line / Tobu Isesaki Line (Tobu Skytree Line) / Tsukuba Express)
      7 minutes on foot
    • Phone Number 03-3844-1575

・Kaminarimon Police Station, located next to Kaminarimon
Kaminarimon Police Station is located right next to Kaminarimon. This station near Kaminarimon, a popular tourist destination, acts as an information desk and resolves problems for several tourists. Due to this, they often interact with foreigners, and they may also use foreign language books to deal with languages aside from English. Be sure to ask this station for help when you're in a bind.

  • Asakusa Police Box
    浅草警察署 雷門交番
    • Address 1-3-1, Asakusa, Taito Ku, Tokyo To, 111-0032, Japan
    • Nearest Station Walk straight from Asakusa Station
    • Phone Number 03-3871-0110

■Shinjuku Area

・If you get lost in a popular tourist destination, visit the Tokyo Tourist Information Center Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office
If you're not sure how to get to popular tourist spots in Shinjuku, try asking at the Tokyo Tourist Information Center Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office. The Tokyo Tourist Information Center is in the tourist information desk on the north side of the 1st floor of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building No.1. In addition to providing information on transportation access for travelers coming to Tokyo, it also offers various services such as introduction of sightseeing routes, sales of goods and tickets, and currency exchange. If you ever lose your way in Shinjuku, be sure to head to the Tokyo Tourist Information Center?

・Check the evacuation site Shinjuku Central Park
Check out the Shinjuku Central Park, an evacuation site in case of a disaster near the Shinjuku Station. The Shinjuku Central Park is about a 10-minute walk from Shinjuku Station, a 5-minute walk from Nishi-Shinjuku Station, and a 1-minute walk from Tochomae Station. Usually, there's an entrance fee to the park, but it is free of charge in the event of a disaster. In case of emergency, it is recommended that you check the location when you visit Shinjuku.

・"Tokyo Medical University Hospital" that supports English
The Tokyo Medical University Hospital is a general hospital in Shinjuku that can cater to English speakers. There are also doctors who can speak English, so you can undergo a smooth medical examination.

  • Tokyo Medical University Hospital
    東京医科大学病院
    • Address 6-7-1, Nishishinjuku , Shinjuku Ku, Tokyo To, 160-0023, Japan
    • Nearest Station Walk straight from the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line Nishishinjuku Station, a 10-minute walk from the Toei Oedo Station Tochomae Station
    • Phone Number 03-3342-6111

■Akihabara Area

・ADORES EXCHANGE Akihabara can cater to English speakers and has WiFi
There is an increasing number of shops that support electronic money but sightseeing in Japan often requires cash. A convenient place for shopping while in Akihabara is the foreign currency exchange center ADORES EXCHANGE, which is a 1-minute walk from Akihabara Station Electric Town Entrance. It's open until 9 pm every day of the year. Their staff can also speak English and they also have WiFi.

・If you need help, go to the Mansei Police Station, Akihabara Police Box
The nearest police box from Akihabara Station is the Mansei Police Station Akihabara Police Box.
Speaking of Akihabara, it is famous not only for home appliances but also as a “subculture city” adored by people who like manga and anime. Recently, Japanese manga and anime have been highly appreciated both in Japan and overseas, and many people come to Akihabara. However, due to this, there has been a lot of news about the increase in trouble in this area. If you run into one, consult with a nearby police box immediately.

  • Manseibashi Police Box
    万世警察署 秋葉原交番
    • Address 4-14-1, Sotokanda, Chiyoda Ku, Tokyo To, 101-0021, Japan
    • Nearest Station A 5-minute walk from JR Akihabara Station
    • Phone Number 03-3257-0110

■Ikebukuro Area

Tourist Information Center that supports foreign languages
There are tourist information desks around Ikebukuro Station that can provide travel information in foreign languages. WiFi is also available, so try to talk to them about your travel plans and the itinerary of the spots you want to visit.

Ikebukuro Station East Exit Police Box with full-time female police officers
The Ikebukuro Station East Exit Police Box is near the Ikebukuro Station East Exit. As the name suggests, it is located in front of the east exit of Ikebukuro Station and is a police box that looks like the face of an owl, considered to be a popular tourist attraction in Ikebukuro. The Ikebukuro Station East Exit Police Box is a widely known police box that mostly gives out directions, handles lost items, and receipt of damage reports. A female police officer is always on duty and it also has a women's consultation desk. If you encounter a problem around the east exit of Ikebukuro, head immediately to the owl police box.

  • Ikebukuro Police box
    池袋駅東口交番
    • Address 1-27-7 Minamiikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 171-0022
    • Nearest Station Walk straight from any line in the Ikebukuro Station
    • Phone Number 03-3986-0110

■Shibuya Area

・Tokyu Tokyo Metro Shibuya Station Tourist Information Center is located right outside the ticket gate
The tourist information center is located near the Tokyu Denentoshi Line, Hanzomon Line Shibuya Station's Miyamasuzaka central ticket gate and Hachiko ticket gate. Of course, it also has a WiFi connection, and it is safe because it is a foreign tourist information center certified by the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO).

・The popular meeting spot Shibuya Ekimae Police Box
The Shibuya Ekimae Police Box is also famous as a meeting spot because it is near the Hachiko exit of Shibuya Station. Since it is in charge of Shibuya Station, which is used by about 3 million people a day, they receive an average of 2,000 direction inquiries per day and about 3,000 on a busy day. They can also accommodate foreign tourists. Visit the police box immediately in the unlikely event that the parties are unable to resolve their problem when they are involved in trouble.

  • Shibuya Crossing Police Box
    渋谷警察署 渋谷駅前交番
    • Address 2-1-1, Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo-to, 150-0043, Japan
    • Nearest Station Walk straight from any line of the Shibuya Station
    • Phone Number 03-3498-0110

A lot of people come to popular tourist spots, so there's always a possibility that you will run into some trouble. You may also get sick or encounter a disaster while sightseeing. In preparation for such a case, it is best to check for spots that can respond to certain problems around the sightseeing area in advance. Please check this article if you ever run into trouble in Asakusa, Shinjuku, Akihabara, Ikebukuro or Shibuya.

*This information is from the time of this article's publication.
*Prices and options mentioned are subject to change.
*Unless stated otherwise, all prices include tax.

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