There’s a good chance that if you lose something in Japan, you’ll be able to get it back again. Overall, people are fairly honest if they have come across something that’s not theirs and lost items are often turned into police and returned to their owners.
Of course this isn’t a guarantee. But if you have the right knowledge and language tools to navigate a situation where you have lost something, then that will help increase the chances of your lost item finding its way back to you.
Learn more in our article about what to do if you lose something in Japan and some helpful words and phrases.
What to do when you lose something in Japan
If you have lost something like your wallet, residence card, or passport and you’re unsure where you lost it, then you should go to your nearest kōban 交番, or police box. If no one has handed it in then you’ll be asked to file a police report.
If you have lost something inside a shopping mall, on a train, in a taxi, or other similar locations, we recommend contacting the specific place where you lost your item. All major train stations will have a lost and found counter and there will be service desks inside shopping malls. If they do not have your item, then visit your nearest police box.
There may be additional steps depending on what you have lost. If you have lost your wallet with credit cards inside, you will need to contact the issuer of your cards and cancel them as soon as possible. Similarly, if you have lost your phone then you will need to quickly get in touch with your mobile company. Report to your embassy if you have lost your passport and they will be able to advise you on your next steps.
For a lost residence card you will need to visit your local Immigration Bureau. You will need to reapply for a new residence card within 14 days of losing it. Take your police report along with an ID photo, passport and application form to the immigration centre. You can find all the information you need for reapplying for your residence card after losing it here.
In the event you lose your My Number card, you need to suspend it as soon as possible. You can do this by calling the Japan Agency for Local Authority Information Systems. The service is available in different languages – refer to the website linked for all the information.
You can find more information on what to do if you lose something in Japan on the official National Police Agency website.
Useful phrases
There are two words for a lost item:
忘れ物
わすれもの
Wasuremono
and
落し物
おとしもの
Otoshimono
忘れ物 refers to something you have lost by forgetting it. For example, you accidentally forgot your umbrella at the train station and now you can’t find it.
落し物 refers to an item you have lost without realising, such as a wallet that’s fallen out of your pocket.
I lost ~
~ を無くしました。
~ をなくしました。
~ o nakushimashita
Example:
I lost my bag.
鞄を無くしました。
かばん を なくしました。
Kaban o nakushimashita.
I dropped ~
~ を 落としました。
~ を おとしました。
~ o otoshimashita
Example:
I dropped my wallet.
財布を落としました。
さいふ を おとしました。
Saifu o otoshimashita.
I am looking for something I lost.
忘れ物を探しているんですが。
わすれもの を さがしているんですが。
Wasuremono o sagashiteirun desu ga.
Can I have a Lost Property Report please?
遺失物届受理証明書をください。
いしつ もの とどけ じゅり しょうめいしょ を ください。
Ishitsu mono todoke juri shōmeisho o kudasai.
Is there anyone who can speak ~?
~語を話せる方はいますか？
~ ご を はなせる かた は いますか?
~go o hanaseru kata wa imasuka?
Example:
Is there anyone who can speak English?
英語を話せる方はいますか？
えいご を はなせる かた は いますか？
Eigo o hanaseru kata wa imasuka?
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Contact us if you would like to start your journey living and studying in Japan.
