Lost Something in Japan? What to Do and Who to Call First

If you lose something in Japan, act fast and start where you last had it. Items are usually held by the operator first (the train company, taxi firm, shop or hotel) and only later move to the police, so the right first call depends on where you think it was left.

Japan does have a strong track record of getting lost things back to their owners, but the process is bureaucratic and mostly in Japanese. This guide explains who to contact, what to say, and how long things are kept.

How likely are you to get it back?

Better than in most places, though not guaranteed. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government reports that, per the Metropolitan Police Department, about 72.3% of the cash handed in to Tokyo police in the latest year it reported (about 3.2 billion of 4.5 billion yen) was returned to its owners. The same article says smartphones had the highest return rate of any category, at about 83%.

Those figures come from Tokyo and describe items that were handed in, so treat them as an encouraging sign, not a promise. Not everything is handed in, and items lost in other regions or on long trips can be harder to trace. The practical lesson: report quickly and describe the item well.

What should you do in the first hour?

Retrace your steps. Think about the last place you clearly had the item and the approximate time.
Contact that operator first (see below). Staff often log found items within hours.
Secure anything sensitive. If you lost a bank card, credit card or phone, contact the issuer or carrier to prevent misuse. The Tokyo police advise this on their lost-and-found page.
If you do not know where you lost it, go to the nearest koban (police box) or police station and file a lost property report.
Keep records. Note dates, times, train or taxi details and any reference numbers you are given.

If you are in danger, hurt, or the loss involves a crime such as a theft or assault, call 110 for police or 119 for fire or ambulance. These lines are for emergencies, not for lost-and-found queries. Moshimo does not replace emergency services, and your embassy can help with serious problems such as a lost passport.

Who do you contact for each type of loss?

Where you lost it	Who to contact	Notes
Train or station	The railway operator's lost-property office or a travel service center	Items are held only briefly before moving on
Taxi	The taxi company (check your receipt)	Receipts usually show company and car number
Shop, restaurant, attraction	The venue's service counter	Ask them to check their lost-property log
Hotel	The front desk	Call as soon as you notice
Unknown or street	Nearest koban or police station	File a lost property report

Trains and stations

Go to the station office if you have just left the train, since crews check trains at terminals. Each railway runs its own lost-property system, so look up the operator's lost-property page for the current phone number and hours, or ask at a travel service center in a major station. Phone numbers for individual railways are not listed here because they change and vary by operator. One rail-pass guide says JR staff hand found items to lost-and-found counters, where they are kept for around a week before going to police lost-and-found centers, and that major stations such as Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka have counters. Tokyo's own figures put items left on Tokyo trains at about 1 to 4 days at the operator, so call quickly.

When you call, have your train line and number, car number, seat if you have a reservation, departure and arrival stations and the time. Describe the item's color, brand and any distinguishing marks.

Taxis

Use your receipt. Japanese taxi receipts usually show the taxi company and the car number, so keep every receipt while you travel. If you no longer have it, your hotel front desk can often help identify the company. Guides suggest calling the company right away, since taxi firms typically hold items for a short time before passing them to police; one guide says about a week, but periods vary by company, so ask them directly.

Shops, restaurants and attractions

Ask at the service counter or staff area. Most businesses keep a simple log. Bring photo ID such as your passport, as you will likely be asked to prove the item is yours. Large shopping and amusement facilities hold items only briefly, again about 1 to 4 days according to the Tokyo government.

Hotels

Contact the front desk straight away and give your room number, dates and a description. Most hotels will hold the item for you. Ask what they need to verify it is yours. If you have already left, our guide to calling a Japanese hotel has phone scripts you can adapt.

Police and koban

Koban are small neighborhood police boxes. According to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, you file a lost property report at a police station or police box, and the form is available at any police office in English and on their website. Key details from their official page:

They cannot accept reports for items lost outside Japan.
Reports must be submitted in person, not by email or other means.
They contact you by phone if your item is found, and ask for a Japanese phone number. As a matter of principle, they do not make international calls.
Items found in Tokyo are first kept at koban or police stations for about two weeks, then moved to the central Lost and Found Center, where they are held for three months total from the report.

The police also run an online database of found items, but it is Japanese only and can be searched by item type and date. The National Police Agency maintains a directory of prefectural police lost-property sites, with limited English, where you can choose the prefecture.

The Tokyo Lost and Found Center number is 0570-550-142, listed on the Tokyo police page and by JNTO. Operating hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, except national holidays and December 29 to January 3. Outside Tokyo, look up the prefectural police through the National Police Agency directory.

What should you say in Japanese?

Short phrases go a long way:

"Wasuremono o shimashita." (忘れ物をしました。) - I left something behind.
"Otoshimono o shimashita." (落とし物をしました。) - I lost/dropped something.
"Saifu o nakushimashita." (財布をなくしました。) - I lost my wallet.
"Sono hen ni todoite imasu ka?" (届いていますか?) - Has it been turned in?
"Nihongo ga wakarimasen." (日本語が分かりません。) - I do not understand Japanese.

On a phone call, be ready to give the date, the time, where you were and a specific description. Repeat key numbers slowly.

What if you do not have a Japanese phone number?

The police say they call you to tell you your item was found, so a number matters. Give a hotel number if you are still staying there and the hotel agrees, or a local contact you trust. Our guide to a Japanese phone number for tourists covers the options. If you are going home soon, ask about the shipping route: the Tokyo police say items can be shipped to an address in Japan for a fee, after verification.

What documents will you need to pick it up?

For the Tokyo Lost and Found Center or a police station, the police list a valid ID (passport, residence card or driver's license), your lost property report if you did not file one, any notification letter you received and the reference number. If someone else is collecting, they need their ID, a copy of yours and a letter of authorization.

Frequently asked questions

How long should I wait before giving up?

In Tokyo, the police hold reported items for three months in total from the report. Operators, however, may hold things only for days, so check with them quickly and file with the police as well.

Can I report something lost in another country?

Not to Japanese police. The Tokyo police state they cannot accept reports for items lost outside Japan.

Can I report by email or phone?

The Tokyo police say they cannot accept lost property reports by email or other means and that you need to submit the form in person. Contact operators by phone or their own online forms where available.

What if I lose my passport?

First contact your country's embassy or consulate. The Tokyo police say to check with them whether you need a police certificate to have your passport reissued.

Who should I call if I am unsure?

Call the Japan Visitor Hotline on +81-50-3816-2787 (24 hours, English, Chinese and Korean, per JNTO) for help and information. For actual emergencies, call 110 or 119.

Let Moshimo make the call

When something is lost, the hardest part is often the phone call: a taxi company, a hotel front desk or a railway office that speaks only Japanese. In Moshimo you describe what you lost and where, review the request, and Moshimo calls the business in Japanese. The result comes back in the app. Outcomes depend on whether the business has the item and its own decisions, and Moshimo cannot guarantee recovery. Each new account has one eligible free Call for Me call. Get Moshimo

Sources

Last checked: 2026-09-29.