Japan Travel Fixes
← Safety, Lost Children & Lost Items
Who do I contact about a lost item — the station, the police, or the shop?
If you left something on a train or bus, contact that line or company's lost-and-found office. If you lost it inside a store, start with that store. If you dropped something outdoors or think it may have been stolen, go to the nearest koban (police box). If you're not sure, a koban can point you the right direction.
Rail companies each run their own lost-and-found line by route, and the more detail you can give — which line, roughly what time, which part of the train — the easier it is to find.
For a lost phone, wallet, or other valuables, it's worth filing a police report early even if theft is only a possibility — insurance claims and replacement procedures often require one.
If you lose your passport, you'll also need to contact your home country's embassy or consulate in Japan in addition to filing a police report — see the separate article on finding your embassy.
Asking for help about a lost item at a koban
忘れ物をしました。相談できますか？
Wasuremono o shimashita. Soudan dekimasu ka?
I lost something. Can I get some help?