What is the Consumer Hotline for Tourists?

The Consumer Hotline for Tourists is a consumer consultation service for foreign visitors to Japan operated by the National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan, Incorporated Administrative Agency of Japan.

About Telephone Consultations

• The telephone consultations we offer take place between three parties--you (the consumer), an interpreter, and a staff member. When you call, the first person you will speak to is the interpreter.
• Calls made to the hotline are toll calls for which you must pay the charges.
• Consultations are, as a rule, only for the person facing the specific issue. Please do not call on behalf of another person.
• All calls are recorded in order to properly ascertain the details of the situation.
• At the start of the call, you may be asked for your personal information (name, country, etc.).
• If you intentionally hang up, the consultation is over at that point. You will not receive a call back.

About the Handling of Personal Information from a Consultation

• The personal information that is obtained through the consultation will be used only for the consultation and not for any other purpose without your consent.
• The personal information obtained will not be provided to any third party without your consent. If, however, a court or law enforcement, for example, requests that information, it may be provided as required to comply with applicable laws and regulations.
• The information we acquire, including personal information, may be registered, after removing identifiers, in our nationwide consumer information system known as PIO-NET (Practical Living Information Online Network System) to help in producing statistical materials, consultation case studies, and the FAQ on our website.
• Please be aware that any data, papers, or other materials provided to us will not be returned, as a rule.

What is National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan

To contribute to the stability and improvement of the lives of the people, the National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan takes a comprehensive perspective to provide information and conduct research on lives of the people, and implements procedures for the legal settlement of important consumer disputes.

Established: October 1, 2003

Related Law: Established under the Act on National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan (Act No. 123, December 4, 2002)

Address: 3-1-1Yaei, Chuo-ku, Sagamihara-shi, Kanagawa (Sagamihara Office)
    3-13-22 Takanawa, Minato-ku, Tokyo (Tokyo Office)

Web Site: https://www.kokusen.go.jp/