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Types of Public Telephones and How to Use Them

Public telephones with a red emergency call button

a red emergency call buttonPublic telephones with a red emergency call button (green)

How to use (1) Normal Times

  1. Lift the receiver.
  2. Insert a telephone card or deposit coins, then you will hear a dial tone (continuous beep).
  3. Dial a number.
  • * Telephone cards cannot be used during a power outage (when the red light is off).
  • * If you deposit 100-yen coins, no change will be given. even if call charge is less than 100 yen.

How to use (2) Emergency calls (110:Police, 118:Marine Emargencies, 119:Fire,Ambulance)

  1. Lift the receiver.
  2. Press the emergency call button, then you will hear a dial tone (continuous beep).
  3. Dial the emergency number (110, 118, 119).
  • * Coins or telephone cards are not required

How to use (3) When toll-free calls are available during a time of disaster*

  1. Lift the receiver.
  2. Deposit coins, or insert a telephone card, then you will hear a dial tone (continuous beep).
  3. Dial a number.

Public telephones without a red emergency call button

Public telephones without a red emergency call button (green)Public telephones without a red emergency call button (gray)

How to use (1) Normal Times

  1. Lift the receiver, then you will hear a dial tone (continuous beep).
  2. Insert a telephone card or deposit coins.
  3. Dial a number.
  • * Telephone cards cannot be used during a power outage (when the screen display is off).
  • * If you deposit a 100-yen coin, no change will be given even if the call charge is less than 100 yen.

How to use (2) Emergency calls (110:Police, 118:Marine Emargencies, 119:Fire,Ambulance)

  1. Lift the receiver, then you will hear a dial tone (continuous beep).
  2. Dial the emergency number (110, 118, 119).
  • * Coins or telephone cards are not required

How to use (3) When toll-free calls are available during a time of disaster*

  1. Lift the receiver, then you will hear a dial tone (continuous beep).
  2. Dial a number.

How to use a public telephone during a power failure

Type of telephone/Service content Digital public telephone
(gray or green)
(ISDN lines)		 Analog public telephone
(green)
(Analog lines)		 Notes
Calls Coin Note 1 AvailableNote 2 Available If a power failure occurs during a call, the call will be interrupted and the coin or card will be returned. Redialing is necessary to resume a call.
Card Not available Not available
Emergency calls
(110, 118, 119)		 Available Available  
Free-dial calls Available Available An analog public telephone requires the insertion of a coin; the coin will be returned at the end of the call. Note 1
Display Display screen Not available -  
Other Volume control Available Not available  
Voice guidance Not available Not available  
  • * circle : Available, Not available : Not available, - : Not installed
  • Note 1: A public telephone cannot be used if its coin box is full.
  • Note 2: Because digital public telephones (colored gray) are powered by batteries, they cannot be used if the battery runs down.
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