Koban – What to do at a police station in Japan?

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Koban (交番) are the small and famous police stations in Japan. The word koban can also refer to a small police unit. There are more than 6,000 police stations spread throughout Japan.

In these small urban stations, only a few police officers work, and they act preventively by advising and helping the local community. Koban are quite useful and you can turn to them if:

• You lost or found a valuable item
• You were robbed or threatened
• Someone tried to molest you
• You need to borrow money.
• To use a phone
• If you have an accident
• To find maps and directions

That’s right, if you have been robbed or lost your wallet, you can ask for help at a koban, they will analyze your case and even lend you money to get home.

The police stations are often located near stations, banks, and entertainment areas. They are built in strategic locations to prevent criminal activity, as well as to provide community support. Most of the time, koban are used to ask for information, find street addresses, and report a loss.

Curiosities about the koban

A koban can be found in almost every neighborhood. There are more than 1,200 police stations just in Tokyo. Unfortunately, not all are open 24 hours a day, but in a large number of koban you may be able to find at least one officer. Another curiosity is that most police stations in Japan have unique architecture, and are designed to blend in with the neighborhood or city.

In rural areas instead of koban, there are chuzaisho (駐在所) which are residences that have the same purpose, but only one officer and his family live there.

Each koban generally consists of four police officers. There are three officers under the command of a sergeant, working in three 8-hour shifts under the supervision of the area. Most of the time, the staff at a koban includes young and older officers.

The police stations usually have a red light or a pair of red lights above the doors, in addition to a five-pointed golden star. Officers also tend to have this five-pointed golden star on their shoulder in their uniform.

Communicating in a Koban

If you do not want to go to a police station, you can contact them through the numbers 110 (for emergencies) and 9110 (non-emergencies). Below we will leave some phrases and information items that will help you manage if you need to communicate in a koban:

最寄りの交番はどこにありますか？
Moyori no kōban wa doko ni arimasu ka?

Where is the nearest police station?

秋葉原の行き方を教えてください。
Akihabara no ikikata o oshiete kudasai.

Please give me directions on how to get to Akihabara.

パスポートを落としてしまいました。
Pasupōto wo otoshite shimaimashita.

I left my passport somewhere.

鞄を盗まれました。
Kaban wo nusumaremashita.

My bag was stolen.

痴漢に会いました。
Chikan ni aimashita.

I encountered a pervert.

電話を貸してください。
Denwa wo kashite kudasai.

Please, may I use the phone? (lend me).