Helplines Open Now

A directory of free helplines in Japan run by the government, municipalities and support organizations. Services that are open right now (Japan time) are shown first.

This information reflects details published as of August 2026.

These services are answered in Japanese unless a language note says otherwise.

In an emergency

If there is danger to life or any other emergency, do not hesitate to call 110 (police) or 119 (ambulance / fire).

110 (police) 119 (ambulance / fire)

All services

  1. Free 24-hour telephone counseling for any kind of problem, with dedicated lines for foreign languages, domestic violence and sexual minorities.

    Phone

    0120-279-338

    24 hours

    Details

  2. Free 24-hour crisis phone line for people who feel like they cannot go on living. Support is in Japanese.

    Phone

    0120-061-338

    24 hours, every day

    Details

  3. Telephone counseling by trained volunteers (in Japanese). The consultation is free; the navi-dial number charges normal call fees.

    Phone (Navi-dial)

    0570-783-556

    Every day 10:00-22:00

    Phone (Toll-free)

    0120-783-556

    Every day 16:00-21:00; on the 10th of each month 8:00 to 8:00 the next morning

    Details

  4. A nationwide number that connects you to the public mental-health telephone service of the prefecture or designated city you are calling from (in Japanese).

    Phone

    0570-064-556

    Days and hours differ by prefecture

    Details

  5. Free and confidential chat counseling (LINE / web chat) for people who feel life is too hard to bear (in Japanese).

    LINE & social

    Official site (@yorisoi-chat)

    Mon & Fri 6:00-22:30, other days 8:00-22:30 (new chats accepted until 22:00)

    Chat

    Official site

    The web chat has the same hours

    Details

  6. Free, anonymous chat counseling available 24/7, open to everyone regardless of age or gender (in Japanese).

    Chat

    Official site

    24 hours, 365 days

    Details

  7. Free, anonymous real-time chat counseling (web chat / LINE) staffed by counselors, available every day from 7:00 (in Japanese).

    Chat

    Official site

    Every day 7:00-23:50 (new chats accepted until 23:00; up to 50 minutes, once per day)

    LINE & social

    Official site (@kokorohotchat)

    LINE has the same hours

    Details

  8. Free phone and chat counseling exclusively for children up to age 18 (in Japanese). You do not have to give your name.

    Phone

    0120-99-7777

    Every day 16:00-21:00 (closed Dec 29 - Jan 3)

    Chat

    Official site

    Mon-Sat 16:00-21:00; 4th Sunday 16:00-18:30 (closed Dec 29 - Jan 3)

    Details

  9. Free 24-hour phone line where children and parents can talk about bullying and any other SOS (in Japanese).

    Phone

    0120-0-78310

    24 hours, year-round

    Details

  10. Free phone consultation on children's rights issues such as bullying and abuse (in Japanese). Adults worried about a child can also call.

    Phone

    0120-007-110

    Weekdays 8:30-17:15

    Details

  11. A nationwide 3-digit number to report or discuss suspected child abuse; it connects to the nearest child consultation center. Toll-free and anonymous calls are accepted (in Japanese).

    Phone

    189

    Hours are not stated on the official site (check the official site for the latest information)

    Details

  12. A LINE-based service where children under 18 and their parents can talk about parenting and family issues, anonymously if preferred (in Japanese).

    LINE & social

    Official site

    Hours differ depending on where you live

    Details

  13. A nationwide number for consultations on human-rights issues such as discrimination, abuse and harassment (in Japanese).

    Phone

    0570-003-110

    Weekdays 8:30-17:15

    Details

  14. A nationwide number that connects victims of spousal or partner violence to the nearest support center (in Japanese).

    Phone

    #8008

    Available only during the hours of the center you are connected to

    Details

  15. Consultation on domestic violence by phone (24 hours), chat (12:00-22:00) and web form. The chat supports 10 languages.

    Phone

    0120-279-889

    24 hours, 365 days

    Chat

    Official site

    Every day 12:00-22:00

    Details

  16. A toll-free nationwide number that connects victims of sexual crime or violence to the nearest one-stop support center, which works with medical, psychological and legal specialists (in Japanese).

    Phone

    #8891

    Hours differ by center (some operate 24 hours)

    Details

  17. Anonymous chat counseling about sexual violence, open to any age, gender or sexuality, with foreign-language support.

    Chat

    Official site

    Every day 17:00-21:00

    Details

  18. A nationwide number that connects victims of sexual crime to their prefectural police consultation desk. Any gender or age; anonymous calls accepted (in Japanese).

    Phone

    #8103

    Hours depend on the desk (outside office hours and on weekends/holidays, duty officers respond)

    Details

  19. A nationwide number for non-emergency police consultations, such as stalking, domestic violence or neighborhood trouble (in Japanese).

    Phone

    #9110

    Hours depend on your prefectural police desk

    Details

  20. Free, anonymous mental-health support by phone and LINE for workers, their families and HR staff (in Japanese).

    Phone

    0120-565-455

    Weekdays 17:00-22:00 (until 21:50), Sat & Sun 10:00-16:00 (until 15:50); closed on national holidays and Dec 29 - Jan 3

    LINE & social

    Official site

    LINE: weekdays 17:00-22:00 (until 21:30), Sat & Sun 10:00-16:00 (until 15:30); closed on national holidays and the year-end break

    Details

  21. A free, anonymous phone service for problems with working conditions, such as illegal overtime or unpaid wages, open to both workers and employers.

    Phone

    0120-811-610

    Mon-Fri 17:00-22:00, Sat/Sun/holidays 9:00-21:00 (closed Dec 29 - Jan 3)

    Details

  22. A nationwide 3-digit number that connects consumer problems (products, services, contracts) to your nearest consumer affairs center (in Japanese).

    Phone

    188

    Hours depend on the local center. On weekends and holidays, when local centers are closed, the National Consumer Affairs Center answers 10:00-16:00 (except the year-end break)

    Details

  23. Support by women for girls and young women in their teens and twenties who are struggling, via LINE, e-mail and phone (in Japanese).

    LINE & social

    Official site (@bondproject)

    Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat 14:00-22:00 (accepted until 21:30). Mon & Fri for girls in their teens and twenties; Wed & Sat for elementary to high-school girls only

    Phone

    080-9501-5220

    Mondays 16:00-19:00

    Details

  24. A phone line where doctors, nurses and paramedics help you decide whether to call an ambulance or see a doctor right away for sudden illness or injury (in Japanese).

    Phone

    #7119

    Hours depend on your region

    Details

Compare services at a glance

This information reflects details published as of August 2026.

ServiceHow to talkHoursForFeeLanguages
Yorisoi HotlinePhone: 0120-279-33824 hoursAnyoneFree (toll-free number)Japanese, plus a dedicated foreign-language line (English, Chinese, Korean, Thai, Tagalog, Spanish, Portuguese, Vietnamese, Nepali, Indonesian and more)
#Inochi SOSPhone: 0120-061-33824 hours, every dayAnyoneFree (toll-free number)No information
Inochi no Denwa (Lifeline Japan)Phone: 0570-783-556 (Navi-dial)Phone: 0120-783-556 (Toll-free)Every day 10:00-22:00Every day 16:00-21:00; on the 10th of each month 8:00 to 8:00 the next morningAnyoneConsultation free (0570 number charges call fees; 0120 number is toll-free)No information
Mental Health Consultation Dial (0570-064-556)Phone: 0570-064-556Days and hours differ by prefectureAnyoneCall fees apply (navi-dial; flat-rate plans do not apply)No information
Ikizura Bit (LINE / web chat)LINE & social: Official site (@yorisoi-chat)Chat: Official siteMon & Fri 6:00-22:30, other days 8:00-22:30 (new chats accepted until 22:00)The web chat has the same hoursAnyoneFreeNo information
Anata no Ibasho (A Place for You)Chat: Official site24 hours, 365 daysAnyoneFreeNo information
Kokoro Hot ChatChat: Official siteLINE & social: Official site (@kokorohotchat)Every day 7:00-23:50 (new chats accepted until 23:00; up to 50 minutes, once per day)LINE has the same hoursAnyoneFreeNo information
Childline JapanPhone: 0120-99-7777Chat: Official siteEvery day 16:00-21:00 (closed Dec 29 - Jan 3)Mon-Sat 16:00-21:00; 4th Sunday 16:00-18:30 (closed Dec 29 - Jan 3)ChildrenFree (no call charges)No information
24-hour Children's SOS DialPhone: 0120-0-7831024 hours, year-roundChildrenFree (no call charges)No information
Children's Rights Hotline (0120-007-110)Phone: 0120-007-110Weekdays 8:30-17:15ChildrenFreeNo information
Child Abuse Hotline 189Phone: 189Hours are not stated on the official site (check the official site for the latest information)AnyoneFree (call charges abolished on Dec 3, 2019)No information
Parent-Child Consultation LINELINE & social: Official siteHours differ depending on where you liveChildrenFees are not stated on the official siteNo information
Human Rights Hotline (0570-003-110)Phone: 0570-003-110Weekdays 8:30-17:15AnyoneCall fees apply (navi-dial)No information
DV Consultation Navi (#8008)Phone: #8008Available only during the hours of the center you are connected toWomenNormal call fees apply (same as calling a landline)No information
DV Soudan PlusPhone: 0120-279-889Chat: Official site24 hours, 365 daysEvery day 12:00-22:00WomenThe phone line is a toll-free 0120 numberChat available in 10 languages (see the official site)
One-Stop Support Center for Sexual Violence Victims (#8891)Phone: #8891Hours differ by center (some operate 24 hours)AnyoneToll-free (some IP phones cannot connect)No information
Cure TimeChat: Official siteEvery day 17:00-21:00AnyoneFees are not stated on the official site (chat service)Chat is available in Japanese and foreign languages (e-mail in Japanese only)
Sexual Crime Victim Hotline (#8103)Phone: #8103Hours depend on the desk (outside office hours and on weekends/holidays, duty officers respond)AnyoneToll-free (IP phones may incur charges or fail to connect)No information
Police Consultation Line (#9110)Phone: #9110Hours depend on your prefectural police deskAnyoneNormal call fees applyNo information
Kokoro no Mimi (phone / LINE support for workers)Phone: 0120-565-455LINE & social: Official siteWeekdays 17:00-22:00 (until 21:50), Sat & Sun 10:00-16:00 (until 15:50); closed on national holidays and Dec 29 - Jan 3LINE: weekdays 17:00-22:00 (until 21:30), Sat & Sun 10:00-16:00 (until 15:30); closed on national holidays and the year-end breakWorkersFree (toll-free number)No information
Working Conditions HotlinePhone: 0120-811-610Mon-Fri 17:00-22:00, Sat/Sun/holidays 9:00-21:00 (closed Dec 29 - Jan 3)WorkersFree (toll-free from landlines and mobiles)Available in 13 languages: English 0120-531-401 and Chinese 0120-531-402 among others (days differ by language)
Consumer Hotline (188)Phone: 188Hours depend on the local center. On weekends and holidays, when local centers are closed, the National Consumer Affairs Center answers 10:00-16:00 (except the year-end break)AnyoneCall fees apply (they vary by carrier; a fee announcement plays before connecting)No information
BOND ProjectLINE & social: Official site (@bondproject)Phone: 080-9501-5220Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat 14:00-22:00 (accepted until 21:30). Mon & Fri for girls in their teens and twenties; Wed & Sat for elementary to high-school girls onlyMondays 16:00-19:00WomenFees are not stated on the official site (the 080 phone number incurs call charges)No information
Emergency Medical Consultation Center (#7119)Phone: #7119Hours depend on your regionAnyoneThe official page does not state call feesNo information

Some services have different hours on Japanese national holidays and at year-end. The automatic status does not account for holidays.

Hours and services may change. Always check each official website for the latest information. (Hours verified on: 2026-08-12)