Need a Japanese Emergency Contact?
We’ll be that person, no judgment, no questions asked.
We started JapanContact after going through the same frustrating experience: needing a Japanese emergency contact just to rent an apartment or enroll in school, with no friends or family here to help. In Japan, many landlords won’t approve your apartment application unless you list a fluent, local, and reachable Japanese contact, even if everything else is in order.
Instead of asking coworkers, schools, or casual friends, we provide a reliable Japanese emergency contact service that landlords can trust. No awkward explanations, no judgment, just support.
Start ApplicationMade by foreigners in Japan, for foreigners in Japan.
How It Works
Submit Your Application
Fill out a short form with your basic information, including what you need the emergency contact for, such as renting a home, enrolling in school, or submitting immigration documents. You’ll also be asked to provide your own emergency contact (either in Japan or overseas). Don’t worry, this contact doesn’t need to be located in Japan. It’s just for emergencies and won’t be used in official documents.
Choose a Plan
Pay once and stay covered for a full year. No auto-renewals, no surprise charges. Want more coverage? You can get a discount at checkout when selecting a two-year plan.
Get Contact Info Instantly
Once your payment is confirmed, you’ll instantly receive your official emergency contact details by email. You can use them right away on apartment rental forms or school applications, giving you peace of mind during a stressful process.
We Handle Confirmation Calls
If a real estate company, school, or employer needs to confirm your emergency contact by phone, we’ll take care of it. Whether it’s a regular phone call or an automated system like Leopalace21’s, we’ll respond in Japanese and professionally confirm your details.
If an Emergency Happens
If someone tries to contact us as your emergency contact, we’ll answer the phone whenever possible and take down any important information. We’ll then try to get in touch with you directly using the details you provided. If we can’t reach you, we’ll attempt to contact the backup emergency person you listed in your application. Please note that while we aim to be responsive, this service is not a 24/7 emergency hotline.
Reminders & Renewals (Optional)
We’ll send you a reminder before your coverage expires. You’ll have the option to renew at that time, or you can extend your coverage anytime using the link in the original contact info email we sent you.
Renting in Japan Without a Local Emergency Contact: What Can You Do?
Renting an apartment in Japan can be surprisingly difficult, especially for newcomers. Even with your paperwork, visa, and funds ready, many people are caught off guard when the agent says:
Please provide a Japanese emergency contact.
「日本人の緊急連絡先を教えてください」
This usually means a native Japanese person who lives in Japan, speaks the language fluently, and can be reached by phone. It cannot be your teacher, coworker, or friend from overseas. Most landlords strongly prefer someone who understands the system and can respond appropriately.
Why Do Landlords Ask for This?
In Japan, landlords often require:
- A Japanese emergency contact (緊急連絡先): someone fluent, local, and reachable by phone in case of trouble.
They're not financially responsible like a guarantor, but landlords see them as a safety net. If something goes wrong, they want someone they can call who understands how things work here.
What If You Don’t Know Anyone?
You might think about asking:
- Your language teacher or employer (can be awkward)
- A friend or coworker (many don’t want to take on the responsibility)
- Someone you just met in Japan (not ideal for landlords)
But if you don’t have a fluent Japanese contact you can confidently list, your application might get rejected. Even if everything else looks good, that one missing piece can block your approval.
That’s Where JapanContact Comes In
Instead of asking someone for a favor, JapanContact provides a simple, professional solution. We act as your Japanese emergency contact, someone landlords can call and understand. After you apply and pay, we’ll immediately send you the contact info of a fluent Japanese speaker.
Whether it’s a regular call or an automated system like Leopalace21’s, we’ll respond in Japanese and confirm that we’re your emergency contact. No stress, no confusion.
It’s fast, reliable, and helps you move forward with your apartment application with confidence.
Who Is This For?
Our service is ideal if you:
- Just moved to Japan and don’t know anyone yet
- Need a Japanese emergency contact for apartment rental paperwork
- Were told by your agent that it must be a native Japanese speaker
How to Get Started
- Fill out the short form on our Apply page
- Submit payment online
- Receive the contact details of a real Japanese person to list on your rental application
We built JapanContact to help people rent in Japan without unnecessary stress. You shouldn’t miss out on an apartment just because you don’t have a local emergency contact. Let us be that person for you.
Simple, Transparent Pricing
Pay once and stay covered. No auto-renewal, no hidden fees. All plans include full use of our emergency contact info for your apartment rental or school application. Save more with a longer plan.
1 Year Plan
¥12,000
One-time payment
Use our emergency contact info for official documents, housing, or school for 12 months. No auto-renewal.
2 Year Plan(Save 10%)
¥21,600
One-time payment
Stay covered for 2 years and save 10%. Ideal for students and long-term residents. No auto-renewal.
FAQ
Why do I need an emergency contact in Japan?
Many Japanese landlords, schools, or institutions require you to provide a local emergency contact, usually a Japanese person. But if you’ve just arrived or don’t know anyone who can take on that responsibility, it can be a frustrating barrier. Our service solves this by acting as your official emergency contact in Japan. We handle calls and inquiries professionally and help you meet the requirements so you can move forward with housing, enrollment, or visa paperwork smoothly.
What is an emergency contact proxy?
It’s a person or service listed as your emergency contact for official purposes, such as renting an apartment, enrolling in school, or submitting visa paperwork. We act as that contact so you can fulfill those requirements.
Is this service legal and accepted in Japan?
Yes, our service is legal and operated by residents of Japan. While acceptance ultimately depends on each landlord, school, or agency, many of our customers have successfully used our emergency contact service for apartment rentals and related paperwork.
When are you available to take calls?
We monitor our dedicated emergency phone during the day and respond to all calls and messages as quickly as possible. If we miss a call, we always follow up promptly with the caller.
How long does it take to receive my emergency contact details?
You'll receive your official emergency contact information by email as soon as your payment is processed, usually within a few minutes.
Can you handle phone verifications from real estate agencies or companies?
Yes. Whether it’s an automated phone system or a call from a staff member, we take care of emergency contact confirmations as part of our service.
Who should I list as my emergency contact?
This can be anyone you trust, either in Japan or overseas. It doesn’t affect your ability to use our service. We’ll only reach out to them if there’s a genuine emergency and we can’t get in touch with you.
What if the school or real estate agency doesn’t accept your service?
We offer a full refund if your application is rejected specifically because they don’t accept our emergency contact service. Just email us proof of the rejection, such as a message or document from the agency, and we’ll process your refund. No questions asked.
What happens if someone contacts you after my coverage ends?
If someone tries to contact us after your coverage has ended, we’ll notify you that a contact attempt was made. After that, we won’t be able to assist or respond to any further inquiries.
What if I have a 2-year lease but only buy a 1-year plan?
If your coverage ends before your lease does, we’ll no longer be able to assist or respond to any emergency contact requests after your plan expires, even if your lease is still ongoing.
About Us
We’re a small team of long-term foreign residents in Japan who’ve all struggled with one thing: being asked for an emergency contact we didn’t have.
Whether you're renting an apartment, enrolling in a Japanese language school, or applying to a vocational school (専門学校), we’ll act as your emergency contact reliably and without hassle.
So we built JapanContact to be the service we wished existed. We're not a big company, just real people who understand the system, speak Japanese, and want to make life in Japan a little easier for others like us.