Chest Pain in Japan: When to Call an Ambulance (119) + What to Say

Last updated: 2026-03-04

Chest pain can be a warning sign of a life-threatening emergency. You don’t need to “figure out what it is” first—your job is to act fast when red flags appear.

General info, not medical advice. If you think it could be serious, treat it as an emergency.

Quick Answer (TL;DR)

Call 119 immediately if you have chest tightness/pressure lasting 2–3 minutes, sudden sharp chest/back pain, or chest symptoms with breathing trouble.
In Japan, 119 is for ambulance/fire, and the dispatcher will ask your location, symptoms, age, and contact number.
If you’re unsure whether to call 119, Japan also has emergency advice lines (e.g., #7119 in some areas).
Foreign visitors can call Japan Visitor Hotline (24/7) at 050-3816-2787 (from overseas: +81-50-3816-2787) for assistance.

30-Second Decision Box

Call an ambulance (119) now if any of these apply

Chest tightness or pressure lasting 2–3 minutes
Sudden sharp pain in the chest or back
Chest pain with sudden shortness of breath / difficulty breathing
Chest pain with collapse / fainting / confusion / unusual behavior

If you’re in a hotel, tell the front desk: “Please call 119. Medical emergency.”

Not sure (mild, brief, stable)?

If symptoms are mild and you’re stable, you can consult an emergency advice center (often #7119, depending on area).
But if pain is new, worsening, or feels “wrong,” don’t wait—call 119.

How to call 119 (what the dispatcher will ask)

When you call 119, the operator typically asks:

Fire or medical emergency?
Location (address or landmark)
What happened / symptoms
Age
Name and contact number (so crews can find you)

If you don’t know your exact address, give a nearby building or intersection.

What to say (copy-paste)

Use short, clear lines:

“Medical emergency.”
“I have chest pain.”
“My location is: [hotel name / landmark / address].”
“It started [X minutes/hours] ago.”
“I’m [age].”

What to do while waiting

Safe, practical steps:

Stop moving and sit upright (don’t push through pain).
Loosen tight clothing around neck/chest.
If you have a prescribed chest-pain medication (e.g., nitroglycerin), use it exactly as prescribed.
Don’t drive yourself if symptoms are significant or worsening—ambulance is safer.

If the person becomes unresponsive or stops breathing, call 119 and begin CPR if trained.