Safety and lost property
Earthquakes, emergencies and help on trains
In a strong earthquake trains stop at once and stay stopped until staff have checked the line, which can take a long time. Stay in the car and follow the crew; never climb down to the tracks on your own. Use the SOS/emergency call button in the car or the emergency stop button on the platform in a real emergency. Dial 110 for police and 119 for fire or ambulance; JNTO runs a 24-hour visitor hotline (050-3816-2787) and the Safety tips app.
Checked a while agoWe last checked the official sources for this guide on 2026-10-10. Prices and rules may have changed since: check the official page before you rely on it.
If an earthquake hits while you are on a train
- In a strong quake (for example after an Earthquake Early Warning) the train makes an emergency stop and service is suspended. [1]
- Staff must inspect the whole affected section before trains move again, so the restart can take a long time. Stations get crowded right after service resumes. [1]
- If a Tokyo Metro train stops in a tunnel, do not get out on your own: follow the crew's announcements. [2]
- Never climb down to the tracks: on the Ginza and Marunouchi lines a third rail beside the track carries 600 V. [2]
- If the train is stuck for a long time, crew and station staff will walk passengers to the nearest station. Wait in the car until staff tell you what to do. [2]
Emergency buttons in the car
- If you feel ill, or see trouble or a suspicious item on a JR East train, press the SOS button in the car or by the doors. On most cars you can then talk to the crew. [3]
- Tokyo Metro cars have an emergency call unit (非常通報装置): press the button, and when the lamp lights up, tell the staff what is happening. [4]
On the platform
Emergency numbers and help in English
- Police: dial 110. [6]
- Fire and ambulance: dial 119. [6]
- JNTO's Japan Visitor Hotline helps in English, Chinese and Korean 24 hours a day with accidents, illness and natural disasters: 050-3816-2787 (from abroad +81-50-3816-2787). [6]
- Install the Japan Tourism Agency's "Safety tips" app: it pushes earthquake early warnings, tsunami and weather warnings in English and 14 other languages. [7]
- If you see or hear an Earthquake Early Warning alarm on your phone, TV or radio, stay calm and protect yourself first, even if you feel no shaking yet. [8]
- The Japan Meteorological Agency publishes weather, earthquake, tsunami and volcano information in English and other languages. [9]
Applies to
JR East (East Japan Railway Company), Tokyo Metro
Sources and quotes checked 2026-10-10
- www.jreast.co.jp/saferelief/operationguide/pdf/earthquake.pdf
緊急停車し運転を見合わせます。運転を再開するため
までに相当の時間がかかります
- www.tokyometro.jp/safety/attention/index.html
もし、電車がトンネル内に停車した場合は、みだりに車外に出ずに乗務員の車内放送にしたがってください。
特に銀座線・丸ノ内線はレールの横にある第三軌条（線路脇にある電力を供給するためのレール）に電気（600Ｖ）が通じていますので、とても危険です。
電車が長く停車する場合には、乗務員や駅係員が乗客の皆様を安全な最寄り駅まで歩行で誘導しますので、係員の指示があるまで車内でお待ちください。
- www.jreast.co.jp/saferelief/operationguide/pdf/emergency.pdf
客室内やドア付近に設置されているSOSボタン を押して乗務員にお知らせください。
- www.tokyometro.jp/safety/prevention/station/index.html
ランプが点灯したら、係員と通話することができます。状況をお知らせください。
お客様がホームから転落された場合などの緊急時にボタンを押すことで、非常停止合図表示器が点滅するとともに、ブザーが鳴動し、列車に対して緊急停止を報知します。
- www.jreast.co.jp/company/csr/safe-cx/safety-efforts/safety-request/
大変危険ですので絶対に線路には降りず、駅係員にお声がけください。
- www.japan.travel/en/plan/hotline/
Police Urgent 110
Fire/Ambulance Urgent 119
Phone Number 050-3816-2787 From Overseas +81-50-3816-2787 Service Hours 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
- www.jnto.go.jp/safety-tips/eng/app.html
“Safety tips”: the push-enabled information alert app for foreign tourists
- www.jnto.go.jp/safety-tips/eng/index.html
When you see or hear an Earthquake Early Warning, you should remain calm and ensure your safety first depending on the situation, even if you do not feel the vibrations.
- www.jma.go.jp/jma/kokusai/multi.html
Weather (weather, heavy rain, high temperature, etc.)/earthquake/tsunami/volcano information
Review status: draft_unreviewed.