Make the location easy to explain

Osaka’s fire emergency number is 119. Tell dispatch that there is a fire, give the exact location and describe the situation as clearly as you can. Prepare the ward, neighbourhood, building name and floor in Japanese beforehand. A familiar landmark can help explain an entrance, but it should supplement the address rather than replace it.

The city guide includes short Japanese expressions and explains the fire department’s telephone interpretation arrangement. Keep the official page available when preparing your household contact sheet. If you require an accessible way to contact emergency services, check the department’s FAX119 or NET119 instructions in advance; the online system has a registration process.

Prepare the building information

Ask the building manager where exits, stairs and fire-safety instructions are located. Identify any household member who may need assistance and discuss a realistic arrangement before a fire occurs. Do not block an escape route with bicycles, furniture or moving boxes. Keep the address sheet somewhere visitors and other household members can find it.

When there is a real fire, prioritize getting to safety and follow emergency instructions. Do not return to collect a passport, take photographs or investigate the cause. Once safe, give responders any useful access information without putting yourself in danger. After moving home, update the contact sheet and review the new building’s arrangements; a plan from your previous apartment may have the wrong entrance or floor information.

Adapted and rewritten by Japanese.Pink from the City of Osaka’s Fire. The wording and organization have been edited. Source checked: 9 November 2026.