Lost something in Nagasaki? A practical guide
Last checked: October 2026. Phone numbers and rules can change, so please check the official links.
1. Act quickly
In Japan, lost items are often handed in. But places like stations and bus offices keep them only for a short time, then send them to the police. Contact the place where you think you lost it as soon as you can. Have ready: the date and time, the route or place, and a clear description (color, brand, what was inside).
2. Who to contact
| Where you lost it | Who to contact |
|---|---|
| Nagasaki tram (streetcar), Lines 1 and 3 | Urakami depot office: +81-95-845-1178 (official page, Japanese) |
| Nagasaki tram, Lines 4 and 5 | Hotarujaya depot office: +81-95-801-7881 (same page) |
| JR trains and JR Nagasaki Station | JR Kyushu lost & found line: 0570-00-2937, 10:00–16:00 every day. You can also search through their LINE chat. (official page) |
| Nagasaki Airport building | Information desk, 1st floor: +81-957-52-5555, 8:45–19:30. Note: the airport says it cannot ship lost items overseas. (official page) |
| On a plane or cruise ship | Your airline or cruise line. |
| Hotel, shop, restaurant, taxi | That business directly. Keep your receipt: it shows the name and phone number. |
| Street, park, or not sure | Nagasaki Prefectural Police. Found items are listed in a national online search (Nagasaki Police lost & found, Japanese). |
0570 numbers may not work from overseas phones.
3. How the police handle lost items
- The police keep found items for 3 months from the day after they receive them. After that, you lose the right to claim it.
- Pickup is on weekdays, 9:00–17:00. Not on weekends, holidays, or Dec 29 – Jan 3.
- Who can pick it up: the owner, a family member living with the owner, or a person the owner has authorized with a letter of authorization (power of attorney). Bring ID.
- The person who found your item may ask for a reward of 5% to 20% of its value. This is part of Japanese law.
Source: Nagasaki Prefectural Police (Japanese).
4. Already left Japan?
This is the hard part. Many places in Japan cannot ship items abroad, and the police normally hand items over in person. Your options:
- Ask a friend in Japan to pick it up with your signed letter of authorization and a copy of your passport.
- Ask the place to send it to a Japanese address. For example, JR Kyushu says it can send items cash-on-delivery to people who live far away (within Japan). A friend or a forwarding service can then ship it to you.
- Use a lost item service. Several companies in Japan do this. We offer one for the Nagasaki City area: search $30, pickup only if found.
5. Things that are hard to ship
Cash, loose batteries, lighters, sprays and some liquids cannot go by international mail. Devices with built-in batteries (phones, earbuds) may have limits depending on the carrier and country. Passports go through the police and your embassy. For credit cards and phones, cancel or lock them first.