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.
Whether you're moving, studying, or starting a new life here, we'll act as your local emergency contact — 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? 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. These can be used right away on housing forms, school applications, or other official documents.
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?
Moving to Japan is exciting — but renting an apartment can be frustrating, especially when you're asked for something you might not have: a local emergency contact.
Most foreigners are ready for things like key money, guarantors, and agent fees. But a lot of people are surprised when the real estate agent says:
Please provide a Japanese emergency contact.
That means a real Japanese person who lives in Japan, speaks the language fluently, and can be contacted by phone. It cannot be your friend from overseas, your language teacher, a tourist, or even a foreigner living in Japan. Most landlords will specifically require a native Japanese contact — someone they feel confident can communicate clearly if something happens.
Why Is This Required?
In Japan, landlords often require:
- An emergency contact (緊急連絡先): someone Japanese who can be contacted if there’s a problem and the landlord can’t reach you.
Unlike a guarantor, this person isn't financially responsible — but they still must be a reliable point of contact in Japan.
What If You Don’t Know Anyone?
You might consider asking:
- Your employer (can be awkward)
- Your school (may not want to be involved)
- A friend (many people don’t want to share their info)
If you don’t have a Japanese person you can confidently ask, you may get stuck during the application process.
That’s Where JapanContact Comes In
We provide a simple, no-hassle solution for foreigners who need a Japanese emergency contact for renting apartments or enrolling in school. After submitting your application and payment, we immediately send you the contact details of a native Japanese speaker who can act as your emergency contact in Japan. You just forward the info to your real estate agent or school — that’s it.
We’ll pick up the phone in Japanese if anyone calls and confirm that we’re your emergency contact. In the rare case of an actual emergency, we will do our best to reach out to you directly. If you don’t answer, we’ll also attempt to contact your overseas emergency contact as a backup.
It’s fast, reliable, and gives everyone — you and your landlord — peace of mind.
Who Is This For?
This service is ideal for:
- Newcomers to Japan without local connections
- Anyone who needs a Japanese emergency contact for apartment rental applications
- Anyone whose agent insists on a Japanese-speaking contact
How to Get Started
- Fill out the short form on our Apply page.
- Submit payment online.
- Instantly receive the contact information of a real Japanese person to forward to your agent.
JapanContact makes it easier for foreigners to rent an apartment in Japan by providing a reliable Japanese emergency contact. Renting in Japan shouldn’t be harder just because you don’t have local contacts. We’re here to help make the process smoother.
Simple, Transparent Pricing
Simple one-time payment. No auto-renewal. Discounts for multi-year coverage.
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 or 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—like 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 will 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 (like 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 hassle-free.
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.