Lost something on a Shinkansen, JR train, or Tokyo Metro? Complete guide to Japan's rail lost-and-found system — JR East, JR West, Tokyo Metro, and more.
Japan's rail network is extraordinarily well-organized — and its lost-and-found system matches. JR (Japan Railways) and private railway operators have dedicated lost property centers with high recovery rates. The challenge is that each operator runs its own system, all in Japanese. This guide covers the major networks and tells you exactly how to navigate each one.
When a train is cleaned at the end of a journey, staff collect any items left behind and hand them to the nearest station's lost-and-found window. Items are logged in an internal system and may be held at the station for a short period before being transferred to a central lost property office.
Key difference: in Japan, rail lost-and-found is separate from the police system. You report to the rail operator first. How long an operator holds an item before it moves on varies widely — for example, JR East maintains an internal lost-item search system before items are handled according to its procedures, while Tokyo Metro holds items at its Iidabashi lost-property office for up to 4 days before transferring them to the Metropolitan Police Department's Lost Property Center.
Shinkansen carriages are cleaned at terminal stations between each run. Items are often found soon after the train reaches its terminal station during cleaning. The process differs slightly between JR East, JR Central (Tokai), JR West, and JR Kyushu.
You need: the train name (e.g., Nozomi 123), departure station, arrival station, date and time, and your car/seat number (座席番号).
Call or visit the station where your Shinkansen terminated. If you know the train's final destination, that information can help staff locate the item. Items are held there first before transfer to the regional lost-and-found center.
Each JR region has a central lost property center. For Tokyo-area and Tohoku routes, contact JR East. For Nagoya/Osaka routes, contact JR Central. For the Sanyo Shinkansen (Shin-Osaka–Hakata), contact JR West. For the Kyushu Shinkansen (Hakata–Kagoshima-Chuo), contact JR Kyushu.
JR East's dedicated Lost & Found page (jreast.co.jp/en/info/lost.html) offers find chat — a 24-hour reception online inquiry with responses between 9:00–21:00 — plus phone support via the JR East Infoline in English, Chinese, and Korean. JR West offers an online lost-item inquiry (jr-odekake.net/railroad/service/left.html) — first-time inquiries are handled automatically 24h, with staffed follow-up and foreign-language support 9:00–19:00. Try these before calling a regional phone line. Both are more comprehensive in Japanese, though English support exists for JR East.
| Operator | Region | Phone | Online Support |
|---|---|---|---|
| JR East | Kanto (Tokyo, Yokohama), Tohoku, Koshinetsu (Nagano/Niigata) | +81-50-2016-1603 (JR East Infoline) | Yes — dedicated Lost & Found page with find chat (24h reception, replies 9:00–21:00) at jreast.co.jp/en/info/lost.html, plus English/Chinese/Korean phone support via the Infoline |
| JR Central (Tokai) | Nagoya, Shinkansen | +81-50-3772-3910 | LINE-based "find chat" (24h reception) — railway.jr-central.co.jp/left/ |
| JR West | Osaka, Kyoto, Hiroshima; Sanyo Shinkansen (Shin-Osaka–Hakata) | Region-specific — see below | Yes — online inquiry, jr-odekake.net/railroad/service/left.html (first inquiry automated 24h; staffed follow-up and foreign-language support 9:00–19:00; Japanese-first) |
| JR Kyushu | Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Kumamoto; Kyushu Shinkansen (Hakata–Kagoshima-Chuo) | +81-570-00-2937 | Yes — LINE-based "find chat", jrkyushu.co.jp/railway/lost/ (Japanese only) |
| JR Hokkaido | Sapporo, Hokkaido | +81-11-222-7111 (lost-item inquiries, 10:00–17:00 daily) | No dedicated English desk, but find chat (24h reception, replies 9:00–22:00, jrhokkaido.co.jp/lost/) and station counters are the first options for English-language support. Lost and Found Japan may also assist with Japanese-language communication. |
JR West: use the online inquiry first
(Current at the time of writing. Check the operator's website for the latest hours.) JR West offers an online lost-item inquiry service at jr-odekake.net/railroad/service/left.html — the first inquiry is handled automatically 24 hours a day, with staffed follow-up and foreign-language support available 9:00–19:00 (Japanese-first; try this before calling a regional phone line). If you prefer phone, JR West does not have a single nationwide number — each region has its own line: Kinki/Sanin area 0570-00-4146 (9:00–19:00, daily), Hokuriku (Kanazawa) 076-293-2234 (10:00–18:00), Okayama 086-221-1901 (10:00–19:00), Fukuyama 084-921-3033 (10:00–19:00), Hiroshima 082-261-5461 (10:00–19:00), Yamaguchi (Shin-Yamaguchi) 083-972-0625 (10:00–19:00).
Beyond JR, Tokyo Metro, and Toei, Japan has dozens of private railway operators — including Odakyu, Tokyu, Keio, Keisei, Seibu, and Tobu — each running its own independent lost-and-found system. As with JR, each operator generally maintains its own lost property center and station-level inquiry counters, but procedures, hours, and English-language support vary by company.
Check the operator's official website
If you lost something on a private line (Odakyu, Tokyu, Keio, Keisei, Seibu, Tobu, or another regional operator), the fastest path is usually the operator's own official website, which lists its current lost-and-found contact points, hours, and any online inquiry form. Station staff at the line's terminal or your arrival station can also point you to the correct office. If you are unsure which company operates the line you were on, Google Maps will show the operator name for any station or route.
Tokyo's subway system handles thousands of lost items every day. Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway are separate operators with separate systems — identify which line you were on before contacting them.
| Operator | Lines | Phone | Online |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo Metro | Ginza, Hibiya, Marunouchi, etc. | +81-570-033-777 (Customer Center, English support available) | tokyometro.jp/lang_en/support/lost/index.html |
| Toei Subway | Asakusa, Mita, Shinjuku, Oedo | +81-3-3816-5700 (Customer Center, all inquiries incl. lost items) | kotsu.metro.tokyo.jp/enq/wasuremono/ |
Tokyo Metro has dedicated English support
Tokyo Metro maintains an English-language lost and found page (tokyometro.jp/lang_en/support/lost/index.html) and its Customer Center offers English support. It is one of the more foreigner-friendly rail lost-and-found systems in Japan.
• Note the exact train (name/number), car number, seat number, and time of travel • Contact the final station of your train immediately • Call or email the correct regional JR / subway lost-and-found center • Submit an online inquiry with a photo of the lost item • Follow up every 2–3 days if no response • If the operator cannot locate it after their internal search period, ask about transfer to the police lost-and-found center • Contact Lost and Found Japan for Japanese-language communication and international shipping
(Current at the time of writing. Check the operator's website for the latest hours.)
| Organization | Phone | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| JR East Infoline | +81-50-2016-1603 | Daily 10:00–18:00 (English/Chinese/Korean), incl. lost and found assistance; dedicated Lost & Found page at jreast.co.jp/en/info/lost.html (find chat: 24h reception, replies 9:00–21:00) |
| JR Central (Tokai) | +81-50-3772-3910 | Weekdays 9:00–17:00, excl. weekends/holidays/New Year (LINE-based find chat 24h for Shinkansen) |
| JR West online inquiry | jr-odekake.net/railroad/service/left.html | 24h automated first inquiry; staffed follow-up and foreign-language support 9:00–19:00 (Japanese-first) |
| JR West (Kinki/Sanin) phone | 0570-00-4146 | Daily 09:00–19:00 — see region table above for other areas |
| JR Kyushu | 0570-00-2937 | Daily 10:00–16:00 (LINE-based find chat also available 24h, jrkyushu.co.jp/railway/lost/) |
| JR Hokkaido Info Center | +81-11-222-7111 | Daily 10:00–17:00 (lost-item inquiries); find chat available 24h (replies 9:00–22:00) at jrhokkaido.co.jp/lost/ |
| Tokyo Metro Customer Center (English support available) | 0570-033-777 | 09:00–17:00 (via three-way interpreting service) |
| Toei Subway Customer Center | +81-3-3816-5700 | Daily 09:00–20:00, all inquiries incl. lost items (foreign-language 3-way call: 03-3816-5711) |
Act as soon as possible
The sooner you report the loss, the better — items are most likely to still be in the carriage or at the arrival station immediately after the journey ends.
Identify the right operator
Japan has many rail operators. JR, Tokyo Metro, Toei, and dozens of private lines all have separate systems. Contacting the wrong one wastes precious time.
Keep your IC card or ticket
Your IC card (Suica/Pasmo) or paper ticket can prove your travel history — useful when filing lost item reports.
Do not assume it will be at the nearest station
Items found mid-journey may be held by the conductor and deposited at the terminal station — often far from where you were sitting.
Private lines are not JR
Odakyu, Keio, Tokyu, Hankyu — none of these are JR. They each have their own lost-and-found offices and procedures.
Use Google Maps to identify the line
Not sure what line you were on? Open Google Maps, enter your start and end stations, and it will show you the operator.
LostFoundJP contacts the lost-and-found center in Japanese, confirms your item with photos, and ships it directly to your home anywhere in the world. You only pay if we successfully recover it.
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