Lost wallet or personal belonging while traveling in Japan? There’s no need to panic. Learn from our experiences and find out what to do and how to get help from the police in Japan.
The moment you realizes that you’ve lost wallet or belongings traveling internationally, it’s a sinking and uneasy feeling. Losing cash, credit cards, ATM cards, and IDs are some of the worst headaches especially in a foreign country. This is a very personal topic for me as I’ve been the beneficiary of Japanese people’s honesty and integrity three summers in a row.
By the end of this post, I hope the information we’ve provided will be handy when you travel to Japan and remember, don’t panic if you accidentally lose something while traveling there.
Tokyo Police Lost Property
38 million dollars. It’s a lot of money and that’s how much cash was turned into Tokyo Police Lost and Found in 2018. Similarly in 2017 and previous years over 30 million dollars were turned in annually, along with umbrellas, personal belongings, and 4 million other items. It’s mind-boggling to find out how much cash people have turned into the police just in Tokyo.
In Japan, the person who turns in the lost item can claim up to 20% of the item’s value (usually declined) when the owners retrieve it. After three months, if no one claims the items then the property can be claimed by the finder (besides items with personal info like credit cards, IDs). I will share my own stories below (3 years in a row) to give you a laugh and hopefully, it’ll encourage you to visit Japan if you’ve never done so.
Japan Lost Wallet Stories
2017 Hiroshima and Miyajima
I’ve mentioned this story before on our Hiroshima/Miyajima post. Here is a quick recap: Our family was traveling to Miyajima for the night from Hiroshima and the trip required a 30 min train ride from Hiroshima to Miyajimaguchi Station, and then a 17 min ferry ride. Our family made the trip around 3 pm in the afternoon and I was happily snapping pictures away for the blog while on the ferry. Halfway through the ferry ride, I was looking for my backpack with my laptop, all our passports, wallet, and everything else important besides my camera, and it was simply not on the boat.
I frantically searched both levels of the ferry boat and couldn’t find it. While I was freaking out a bit, our daughter suggested that we used the Find My iPhone function on Nami’s phone to locate mine. The good news was that it worked and we could locate my iPhone. The bad news was that it was moving along the train track heading south.
When the ferry reached Miyajima, we stayed on board and headed back to Miyajimaguchi Station. During this time, we kept tracking my iPhone and it seemed that the train had reached the end of the line at Iwakuni Station and was now heading back towards us. When we got to Miyajimaguchi Station, the train with my backpack had just passed and we informed the train station’s personnel what happened. Instead of asking the staff to retrieve my backpack at the next station, they calmly handed Nami a form to fill out. What? A form and not picking up my stuff? My brain was about to blow up at this point.
With sweat flowing down my back, I couldn’t believe what was happening. In the back of my mind, my backpack could be stolen anytime and the station personnel was very nonchalant about it. After Nami filled out the form, they asked if we would like to go to Hiroshima to retrieve the backpack. We said it did not make sense. If someone steals it while it’s on the train then what’s the point. They flatly said that never happened. Frankly, we were a bit shocked by the response.
We kept tracking the phone until it reached Hiroshima and the station personnel informed us that Hiroshima’s team had picked up my backpack and we could go retrieve it now. OMG, it’s a miracle. My backpack traveled on the train for one and a half hours and no one grabbed it. After thanking the station staff, we took the train to Hiroshima and retrieved my backpack from the lost and found, and happily continued with our journey to Miyajima (again).
2018 Nikko Toshogu
Some of you might have read about our recent post on Kegon Falls. The reality is I did not have fun at Akechidaira Plateau or Kegon Falls at all as my mind was on my lost wallet. I did learn a couple of things so hopefully, it’ll be helpful for you during your travel in Japan.
To start off, I have a habit of placing my wallet in the car door pocket. It’s easy to reach to pay for parking, etc. The specific car I rented for the Nikko trip had a door pocket but it wasn’t fully enclosed with an opening on the left side. I was aware of the opening but old habits die hard.
After visiting Toshogu and Shinkyo Bridge, we had soba noodles for lunch and I remember paying with cash from my wallet. We had left our car at Toshogu’s parking so my daughter and I went to retrieve the car while Nami and our son went to buy bread from Kayano Hotel Bakery. We got the car and picked up Nami and our son, and headed to Akechidaira Plateau. When we got there, I grabbed my wallet to pay for the ropeway. Hold on, where is my wallet? Oh no, not again!!!
My wallet had our entire travel fund (over $1,000 USD), my driver’s license, etc. Great, day two of six on the trip and I’ve lost our entire travel fund. Depression sets in and pretty much ruined the trip at that point for me. We continued to Kegon Falls and checked into our hotel. I kept thinking about where it could be. I knew I paid for lunch and then picked up the car. It must be in Nikko somewhere.
After we checked into our room at the hotel, I had Nami called the Nikko Police around 5 pm and she gave them a description of my wallet and content. Since we didn’t have a Japanese phone number, we left Nami’s mom’s number with the police as the contact. During the kaiseki dinner at the hotel around 6:30 pm, Nami’s mom FaceTimed and said Nikko Police called her and let her know that my wallet was found. However, they can’t guarantee the content inside. My heart was overjoyed with the news.
After dinner, we had to drive the crazy Irohazaka (いろは坂) at night and got to Nikko’s police station around 8:30 pm. We entered and they presented my wallet, with every single yen and all the cards still inside. This is incredible. They said someone had found it in Toshogu’s parking lot and turned it in. My prayer in the shrine must have been heard. We happily continued with our journey.
2019 Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
Yes, it happened again. We were at Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden and I paid for the entrance ticket with cash from my wallet. After walking through the beautiful park, we were about to head home so I grabbed my PASMO pass from my bag and placed it in my pocket. I like to have the PASMO out of the wallet and directly put in my pocket as it’s inconvenient to pull it out of the wallet each time passing through the station gates. When we got to the Shinjuku-Sanchome Station, I knew my PASMO was running low on funds so I went to grab my wallet in my camera bag. Oh no, it is not there! Not AGAIN! Depression sets in, losing my wallet in Tokyo. A city of 30 million people and millions of tourists. It’s hopeless.
I’ve learned to take out everything unnecessary from my wallet when I travel in Japan from previous years’ experience, like my Safeway and CVS cards, library card, etc. Only the essential cards are in, including a couple of credit cards, ATM card, California driver’s license. I was able to pause my credit cards and ATM card online very quickly. I’ve also learned from the previous two years to carry minimal cash and just get more from ATM when necessary. The only cards I really cared about is my California Driver’s license because I really don’t want to go line up at the DMV. We traced back our steps all the way from the station back to the park entrance but no luck.
We then headed back to Nami’s home in Yokohama from Tokyo, without my wallet. That night, after searching on the web, I told Nami that we need to file a police report in Tokyo since I lost it in Tokyo. The same day after dinner, Nami and I took a train to the closest Tokyo Koban (30 min away) and filed a report.
At the Koban, we filed the report on the wallet color, content, etc. The policeman entered in the information in the system on the computer, and halfway through, he looked up and told us someone had already turned it in. OMG!!! Is that really possible? Do people in Tokyo turn in stranger’s wallet? Once again, they made no promises with the contents inside. Since it was already Friday night, the lost and found was closed for the weekend but on Monday morning, we head to Shinjuku Sanchome Police Station to retrieve my wallet. At the police station, I got my wallet back, with all the cash, credit cards, and ID intact.
Recap: What to Do When You Lost Your Wallet in Japan
Before your trip:
- Before your trip, take a picture of all the cards and IDs in the wallet with your cell phone and upload it to the cloud or email them to yourself so you can retrieve it anywhere on any device. Don’t carry too much cash and unimportant cards in your wallet when you travel.
- Don’t carry too much cash. These days it’s very easy to find Seven-Eleven ATMs to get cash all over Japan. Typically Japanese bank ATMs do not work with foreign ATM cards.
After you lost your belonging
- As soon as you’ve realized you lost your belonging, find the nearest Koban (交番) where you lost it (search “koban” on Google map) and report it. For example, we couldn’t report the lost and found to Yokohama’s Koban for something we lost in Tokyo. We should have reported in Tokyo right away and it would have saved us an extra trip. Kobans are all over Japan and usually near station exits.
- Leave a Japanese contact number (hotel, ryokan, or someone you know) for the police to reach you.
Whenever I read in the local news how many cars get broken into in San Francisco every day, it makes me ponder about human behavior when I compare it our experiences in Japan. It makes me truly appreciate the Japanese culture and I asked Nami why the Japanese are so honest? She replies it’s because they believe in karma.
So the next time you find a wallet on the street or someone’s belonging, don’t throw it away or ignore it. Bring it to the local police because the person who lost it will really appreciate your simple gesture. At least I do.
I know this feeling so well! Upon our arrival to live here, with all the excess luggage we were trying to take care of on the train from the airport, I jumped off at Nagoya station, leaving my laptop backpack (with everything BUT identification inside! – MacAir, iPad, business docs etc.) … and I didn’t notice for 6 hours (!!!). When I did, our hotel concierge made all the right phone calls and the backpack, having been taken into lost and found in Gifu was put back on the train to Nagoya. Everything intact — it’s not the only time I’ve left something valuable behind, and everything has ALWAYS been returned, fortunately.
Hi Cynthia,
I don’t feel as bad now since you’re just like me! Hope everything is going well in Nagoya.
Americans are shocked (and embarrassed) by the honesty of the Japanese people. Especially when traveling in Japan. Embarrassed because they know in the U.S. lost belongings are seldom returned intact, if at all. I once had a department store employee chase me down the street to give me a paper receipt I had left on the counter. I had forgotten that I was in Japan where something as simple as a paper receipt, even if unwanted, is not simply left behind. I was humbled and a little ashamed of my American manners.
I think lost items in the US are pretty hopeless to get back. Best luck to get back lost valuables are probably a nearby pawn shop.
I had a similar experience in Vancouver Canada. I arrived for a conference and checked into the hotel and then went out a took a taxi to look around the city. when he brought me back to the hotel…I paid the fare and tip and went into the hotel…as I walked across the lobby, I realized I had left my wallet on the back seat of the taxi…i was distracted by Canadian money. I ran back but the door man told me the taxi had already left. He could see how upset I was..I explained my wallet held all my money and credit and ID…even my pass port. I was broke and in a foreign country where I knew no one The door man told me to go upstairs to my room and try not to worry….he was pretty sure it would be returned…..Sure enough in a little while I got a call…the driver had found my walllet. He was on his way to deliver another fare to the airport but when he was back….he would bring my billfold to the doorman. Sure enough…I got a call in my room….I went downstairs and out to the cab…who gave me my wallet. Whew! When I took out a tip…he said…..no no you tipped me already you dont have to tip me again.
I was flabbergasted . Honesty does survive in this hard hard world.
Hi Bond,
It’s so nice for the taxi driver to come back and return your wallet. Honesty does exist in North America after all!
Konichiwa…I had an experience with a lost wallet in Japan also. We were traveling by train and had a stop at Niigata station and there was a computer room there so I used the time to check my email accounts. Then we continued on our way to Akita. When we got there and checked into our hotel room I realized that my travel case with my passport and my wallet had been left behind in Niigata. I was panicked…I had left my credit cards, passport, cash and all my identification behind and a couple of hours had passed. I was sure they were gone! We called the Niigata station and the station master confirmed that my lost articles had been found and were in his office. I explained that I was now in Akita….he reassured me not to worry he would put my things on the next train. He took down the name of my hotel and room number. In a little more than an hour (altho it seemed like an eternity) we got a call from the local station master, that he now had my possessions and I could pick them up at my convenience. We got right over and picked up my things….which were all intact. I continue to be amazed that a lost wallet was transported to where I was and held safely until I could pick it up. Arigato Arigato Domo Arigato
I can really relate to the experience (wink) and it was so nice of the train master to send your wallet instead of you having to travel back to retrieve it. What a great story and thank you for sharing.
This is hysterical! And glad you were able to retrieve your ‘lost items’ so efficiently. The stats on the $$ at the Tokyo Police Station alone are staggering. Your article was an eye-opener on several accounts. Thanks for sharing and good luck on your next trip!! Travel safely!
Thank you for stopping by the read the post!
OR….Mr. JOC, give Nami the important stuff
Lol. She carries more cash than I do now when we travel. I can’t be trusted.
Thank you very much for this information! My husband and I will be traveling to Japan in November and I have printed out your advice! We will be sure to make copies of everything. Just one question: we can use our US ATM card at 7-11?
Yes, 7-11 are everywhere and they all have an ATM inside. Sometimes their ATMs are available as standalone at busy area like station entrances. They’re easy to spot.
Thank you for this info! And maybe you should get one of those chains for your wallet that were in style when my son was about 13 years old (20 years ago!!) You clip the chain to your pants!!
That was Nami’s suggestion but I can’t pull off the look!
My daughter (21 years old at the time) and I lived in Sendai for 14 months. (We now live in Hiroshima!) It was a pay day and I had given her my American bank card to take out cash and buy groceries. She had an appointment in the evening that required cash payment. A friend offered to give us a ride because it was raining. She went to pay and couldn’t find her wallet. They deferred her payment and we walked home. We arrived home around 7:30pm and searched the entire apartment for the wallet with no success. We then retraced her steps of the day and called our friend to ask if she had left it in her car. We could not find the wallet anywhere. We regrouped at home around 9:45pm and considered our options. At 10pm, our doorbell rang. It was her doctor. He had gotten off work and noticed a wallet in the middle of the street out in front of his practice. He said he only opened it to try to identify who it belonged to. It had her residency card with address inside, but no phone number. He drove across town, and delivered it to her. It was completely intact except for one zipper pull that broke off, probably having been run over in the street. Wow! That was an amazing example of the kindness and goodness of Japanese people.
Thank you for sharing the sweet story and what a kind doctor to drive all the way across town. Speaking of Hiroshima we miss Mitchan Okonomiyak!
These are three stories that are almost too fantastic to believe. Except that the events occurred in Japan. If it had been just about anyplace else on the planet, especially in America, all of those items would now be in the dark web. Japan is an amazing place with a culture that is similar to what I enjoyed while growing up in the 50s and 60s.
Several times I and/or my friends would find a wallet, purse, watch, or whatever. The first thing we always did was to contact the police. They would come to us, take the items, then either contact the owner or wait until the owner called them. We would never, EVER have considered doing anything else. That is just one more reason why I plan to move to Japan, permanently, in the near future. It will be like home coming to me.
I’ve studied the Japanese culture for a while now and I fully expected that you would have your wallet and whatever returned to you with nothing disturbed or missing. It’s just the way it is there. I have known of people who went shopping, left their bagged purchases behind in the street. (Attention span issues I would guess. LOL) When they went back to look for them the items were as they left them and leaning against a nearby tree, lamp post, or a store front wall and no one would touch them or even think about it. It gives me some hope that there is still some hint of civilization in the world. At least there is in Japan.
I am happy that all worked out for you.
It is a very unique culture. This past summer we had purchased dressing from a restaurant and they forgot to give it to us along with the food. We went back a week later just to check if they might believe us and give us the bottle. Not only did they have the bottle set aside they apologized for the mistake and included an extra bottle. It’s only a $5 dollar bottle but the honesty of the restaurant staff impressed us.
Only in Japan will you find the contents intact if you get your wallet back.
People in Japan are so honest and the chances of finding anything lost is great!
Thank you for sharing.
I couldn’t agree more.
I lost my small hip pocket wallet in Tokyo 3 years , I am not sure if I actually lost it per se of if I had my pocket picked. I had the usual drivers licence (Australian), credit cards etc. and a few hundred Yen. I found it missing after returning to my destination by train and previously used at at a JR station kiosk. It is so so difficult to converse in English in Japan,I however did get a little sense from the JR office at my station and they claimed it had not been turned in. Fortunately I was able to cancel my Credit Cards and had to get a new Licence and other cards when I arrived home. I lived in hope for a few months that someone would turn it into the Police and they may have mailed it to me in Australia or at least contact me, alas no such luck. My bank were able to give me a temporary credit card but that took 3 or 4 days and it was only that I was travelling with a friend that I had access to cash just for living expenses, food etc. without him I would have been desolate. I turned out pretty well but really a frightening experience and it was not helped by my travel insurance company who made it so so difficult to claim that I finally dropped my case.
Sorry to hear you lost your wallet. Did you try at the time filing a lost property report with Tokyo Police?
I agree the language part is difficult. If it wasn’t for Nami I wouldn’t be able to communicate with Nikko’s Police. My alternative would have been to ask the hotel concierge to help.
If it does happen again, remember to file a police report. The report does get filed and it works, each year 25 million dollars are returned to the owners.
Thank you for stopping by.
Cheers
Lost your wallet three times in Japan? I am sure this is a running joke in your family now, speculating if mom will lose her wallet or not on the annual trip to Japan. 🙂 Another tip is on Apple iPhone Notes it has a document scan function now, just create as many notes as needed under the “On My iPhone” and hit the “+” symbol and it can scan receipts, cards, paperwork, etc. and it is only on your iPhone. It can be printed or saved as PDF too.
Whenever Nami tells my mother-in-law she goes “mata” (again)? It is a running joke but I still get stressed when it happens (though less increasingly).
Thanks for the tip on the iPhone!
I tried this! What a great idea! Thanks!!!
Good morning.
I love all of yr articles on Japan and the recipes too.
Will there be a cook book printed as oppose to a ebook?
Hi Ardena,
We seriously considered and looked into doing a cookbook last year. However, we just don’t have the bandwidth to create it. We might eventually do a second ebook that can be printed as well but it’s not in the immediate plan.
Cheers
Very heartwarming to hear about how honest the Japanese people are. I can’t believe you had such luck for three years in a row.
Let’s hope there is not a 4th!
When we were living in Tokyo, one night we retuned home in a Taxi after an evening in a jazz club. My husband thought he had put his wallet into his jacket after paying the taxi but it must have gone to the floor instead. He didn’t look for it till the next morning before going to work. We were devestated. Then the door bell rang and it was the driver from the taxi, who gave us back the wallet he had found under the passenger seat while cleaning the cab in the morning. Nothing was missing and he refused to accept any reward. That is typical behavior for a Tokyo resident. I have never lived in another city where you don’t have to lock the door when you leave your house, for example. Obviously there are exceptions, as in any dealings with human society but the Japanese are a most eminently honest people.
What a nice taxi driver! We love spending summers in Japan because of how safe it is. Our kids can leave the house by themselves and play in the neighborhood all day without us worrying. It still surprises us when we see 4 or 5 year olds taking the subway by themselves, but it just goes to show how much faith the Japanese has in humanity.
I had a habit of falling asleep on the late night trains running from Shinagawa station back to Zushi. One night I got home and realized that I had left my camera bag with several thousand dollars of camera equipment on the train. The following morning, a Japanese coworker placed a few phone calls and by the afternoon, I was back on my way to Tokyo to retrieve my bag. Nothing was missing.
No wonder I have such a love for Japan and the Japanese people.
It’s amazing you got all the camera equipment back so quickly. I can only image how stressed you must have been.