Lost Something in Japan? Where to Ask and What to Say
If you lose something in Japan, there’s a good chance you’ll get it back. Retrace your steps first: ask at the shop, station or venue, because items are usually handed to staff. For things left on a train, contact the railway’s lost-property office. If you can’t find it, file a lost property report (遺失届, ishitsu todoke) at any police box (交番, kōban) or police station; items handed in are matched to reports. A few key phrases, a description of the item and a Japanese phone number or address make the process much easier.
Where to ask
| Where you lost it | Who to ask |
|---|---|
| Shop, restaurant, hotel | Call or go back and ask the staff. Many keep items for a few days before passing them to the police. |
| Train or station | Any station office, or the railway company’s lost-property centre. Note the line, the direction, the time and the car if you can. See Japanese for trains and getting around. |
| Taxi | The taxi company, using your receipt; it shows the company and often the car number. |
| Street or unknown | The nearest 交番 or police station. In Tokyo, police also run a central lost-property centre with an online search. |
Phrases you’ll need
| Japanese | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 財布を落としてしまいました。 | saifu o otoshite shimaimashita. | I’ve lost my wallet. |
| 電車に忘れ物をしました。 | densha ni wasuremono o shimashita. | I left something on the train. |
| 黒いリュックで、中にパソコンが入っています。 | kuroi ryukku de, naka ni pasokon ga haitte imasu. | It’s a black backpack with a laptop inside. |
| 十時ごろ、新宿行きの電車に乗っていました。 | jūji goro, shinjuku-iki no densha ni notte imashita. | I was on a train to Shinjuku at around ten. |
| 遺失届を出したいです。 | ishitsu todoke o dashitai desu. | I’d like to file a lost property report. |
| 見つかったら、ここに連絡してください。 | mitsukattara, koko ni renraku shite kudasai. | Please contact me here if it’s found. |
落とし物 (otoshimono) is something you dropped; 忘れ物 (wasuremono) is something you left behind.
What to have ready
- A clear description: colour, brand, size, what was inside and any distinctive marks.
- When and where: times and places, as precisely as you can. See telling the time and dates in Japanese.
- Contact details: a Japanese phone number or your hotel’s details.
- ID: you’ll need it to collect the item.
Important items
- Passport: report it to the police, then contact your embassy or consulate for a replacement or emergency travel document.
- Residence card: report it to the police and apply for a new card at immigration. There’s a deadline, so check the Immigration Services Agency’s guidance straight away.
- Bank cards and phone: call your bank and carrier to stop them. See opening a bank account in Japan and getting a phone in Japan.
When an item is returned through the police, the finder can ask for a reward, usually between 5 and 20 percent of the item’s value, though many people don’t. If you were robbed rather than lost something, tell the police; in an emergency call 110. See Japanese for emergencies.
How Hanabuddies can help
Our native tutors teach one-to-one online and can practise situations like this with you before your trip or move, so you can explain a problem calmly at a police box or station office. If you need help with an important call to a police station, a lost-property centre or an office in Japan, we can also provide an English–Japanese interpreter, online or in person. See interpreters for calls with Japanese offices.