What to Do If You Lose Your Passport in Japan: Step-by-Step Guide for Tourists

Losing your passport in Japan is stressful, but the process to recover or replace it is straightforward. This guide shows you exactly what to do — from retracing your steps to filing a police report and visiting your embassy — so you can get back to your trip quickly.

1. First, Stay Calm and Retrace Your Steps

• Check your hotel reception, luggage room, or room safe.
• Ask at the place you last visited (museum, café, attraction ticket desk).
• If you used trains, contact the station Lost & Found counter.
• For taxis, contact the company with the vehicle’s plate number if you have it.

JR East Lost & Found (information in English):
👉 https://www.jreast.co.jp/e/customer_support/infolost.html

2. File a Police Report at the Nearest Koban

If the passport does not turn up, go to the nearest koban (police box) or full police station and file a lost property report. This certificate is often required by embassies to issue a replacement passport or emergency travel document.

3. Contact Your Embassy or Consulate

After you file the police report, contact your embassy/consulate. They will guide you through a replacement passport or an Emergency Travel Document if your flight is soon.

4. Apply for a Replacement or Emergency Travel Document

Procedures vary by country, but generally you will need to:

1. Submit the police report (lost property certificate).
2. Provide identity proof (passport photocopy, driver’s license, or national ID if available).
3. Fill out a replacement passport application provided by your embassy.
4. Provide two passport photos (photo booths are common in stations and malls).
5. Pay the applicable fees for a full passport or an emergency document.

Processing time (typical): Emergency travel document: 1–3 days / Full passport: 1–3 weeks. If you are flying soon, ask for an emergency document first.

5. Inform Your Hotel, Airline, and (If Needed) Immigration

• Hotel: They may need to rescan your new document for records.
• Airline: Your ticket might need your new passport number.
• Immigration: If your visa or landing permission was in the lost passport, consult the Immigration Services Agency for reissue procedures.

Immigration Services Agency of Japan:
👉 https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/

6. Helpful Phrases (Romaji)

• I lost my passport. — Pasupooto o nakushimashita.
• Where is the nearest police station? — Ichiban chikai koban wa doko desu ka?
• I need to contact my embassy. — Taishikan ni renraku shitai desu.

7. Summary

1) Retrace your steps, 2) file a police report, 3) contact your embassy, 4) apply for a replacement or emergency document, and 5) update your hotel/airline. Japan’s systems are efficient and embassies are experienced — you’ll be back on track soon.