East Asia
Is Japan safe?
L1Exercise normal precautions
Is Japan safe?
One of the world's safest countries: violent crime is rare and lost items often come back. Earthquakes, typhoons and summer heat are bigger risks than people.
Key facts
- US travel advisory: Level 1: Exercise normal precautions, updated 2025-05-14.
- Homicide rate: 0.2 per 100,000 people (2023, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths: 3.6 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 110 · Ambulance 119 · Fire 119 · Tourist police 050-3816-2787.
- Solo women: Very safe alone, day and night. Groping on packed trains happens; rush-hour women-only cars help. Drink spiking in nightlife districts is rare.
Risks, scams and laws
Main risks
- Earthquakes and tsunamis; learn the local evacuation route on arrival
- Typhoons Aug–Oct can cancel flights and trains
- Heatstroke in humid Jul–Aug, especially on hikes
- Bear encounters in rural Tohoku and Hokkaido have risen sharply
Common scams
- Kabukicho and Roppongi touts lead visitors to bars with inflated bills
Laws visitors break by accident
- Short-term visitors must carry their passport at all times; police may ask for it.
- Adderall and strong pseudoephedrine decongestants are banned; check medicines before packing.
- Cannabis, including CBD with THC, is illegal; using it has been a crime since Dec 2024.
Safety by place in Japan
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Tokyo | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Kyoto | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Osaka | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Hiroshima | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Nara | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Sapporo | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Okinawa | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Hakone | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Fukuoka | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Kawaguchiko | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Niseko | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Yokohama | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Kanazawa | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Takayama | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Nagoya | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Nikko | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Kamakura | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Kobe | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Hakuba | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Ishigaki | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Nagasaki | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Shirakawa-go | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Miyakojima | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Hakodate | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Otaru | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Beppu | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Matsumoto | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Koyasan | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Furano | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Sendai | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Yakushima | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Kagoshima | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Naoshima | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Kumano Kodo | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Kinosaki Onsen | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Nozawa Onsen | 5/5 · Very safe |
Quick answers
Is Japan safe for tourists?
One of the world's safest countries: violent crime is rare and lost items often come back. Earthquakes, typhoons and summer heat are bigger risks than people.
Is Japan safe for solo female travelers?
Very safe alone, day and night. Groping on packed trains happens; rush-hour women-only cars help. Drink spiking in nightlife districts is rare.
What is the emergency number in Japan?
Police 110 · Ambulance 119 · Fire 119 · Tourist police 050-3816-2787.
Safety by place
Sources
- World Bank: intentional homicides
- US State Department travel advisory
- Immigration Services Agency: Digital Nomad status
- Visit Japan Web (Digital Agency)
- Japan Tourism Agency: tax-free shopping
- Seven Bank: overseas cards at ATMs
- Speedtest Global Index: Japan
- World Bank open data
Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.