The Dramatic Decline of Public Phones
The number of public phones managed by NTT East/West peaked at about 930,000 in 1984 but had fallen to roughly 130,000 by 2024 - about 86% removed. Usage has also plummeted, with the average daily calls per phone dropping below one.
The decline of public phones is a global phenomenon. Most of Britain's iconic red phone boxes have been removed, with survivors repurposed as Wi-Fi hotspots or AED (defibrillator) stations. In the United States, public phones have vanished rapidly as well - New York City removed its last public phone in 2020.
Why Public Phones Still Exist
Legally Mandated Installation
Under Japan's Telecommunications Business Act enforcement regulations, NTT is obligated to install public phones. Specifically, one phone is required roughly every 500 meters in urban areas and every 1 kilometer elsewhere. This designation as a "universal service" is the primary reason public phones have not completely disappeared.
However, a 2022 regulatory revision relaxed the standard to one per kilometer in urban areas. This is expected to lead to the removal of about 40,000 more public phones. Even so, approximately 90,000 will remain as a legal obligation.
Disaster Communication
The main reason public phones are called "the last lifeline" is their role in disaster communication. When a major disaster strikes, mobile base stations can lose power or suffer physical damage, and network congestion can make calls nearly impossible. During the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, mobile call success rates temporarily dropped below 10%.
Public phones, by contrast, connect directly to NTT's fixed-line network and receive priority line allocation during disasters. The fixed-line network is independent of the mobile network and unaffected by base station power outages. Furthermore, public phones receive power through the phone line (exchange power), so they operate even during blackouts. This is also an important factor when considering whether to cancel your landline.
During disasters, public phones become free to use. NTT activates free-call measures during major disasters, allowing calls without coins or phone cards. Emergency calls (110, 119) are free at all times.
A Safety Net for Those Without Mobile Phones
While mobile phone penetration is about 90%, roughly 10% of the population does not own one. For the elderly, the economically disadvantaged, and children, public phones may be the only way to make a call while away from home. Public phones along school routes play a particularly important role in children's safety during their commute. Teaching children phone safety, including how to use a public phone, remains valuable today.
A Generation That Does Not Know How to Use Public Phones
According to an NTT East survey, about 70% of teenagers have "never used a public phone." The basic sequence - pick up the receiver, insert coins, dial the number - is unknown to a growing number of young people. If a public phone becomes the only communication option during a disaster, not knowing how to use one renders it useless.
Here is how to use a public phone:
- Pick up the receiver: Lift the handset and listen for a dial tone ("tuuuu")
- Insert coins: Insert 10-yen or 100-yen coins (100-yen coins do not give change)
- Dial the number: Press the buttons to enter the recipient's phone number
- Talk: When the other party answers, the call begins. A warning tone sounds when time is running low
- Emergency calls: 110 and 119 can be dialed without inserting coins. Just pick up the receiver and dial
How to Find a Public Phone
Know where the nearest public phones are before an emergency. NTT East/West websites offer a public phone location search. You can also search "public phone" on Google Maps to see nearby locations pinned on the map.
Public phones tend to be installed near places where people gather: inside train stations, in front of convenience stores, at hospitals, city halls, and near schools. Rather than scrambling to find one during a disaster, check the nearest locations during normal times as part of your disaster preparedness. Recommended disaster preparedness kits should be complemented by securing communication options in your emergency plan.
The Future of Public Phones
The number of public phones will continue to decline, but they will not disappear entirely. Their role as a disaster communication tool remains indispensable as long as mobile networks cannot achieve 100% reliability. Meanwhile, new forms are being explored. NTT began testing "digital public phones" in 2023, considering next-generation units equipped with Wi-Fi and disaster information displays.
Even as migration to Hikari Denwa progresses, public phones retain a unique significance. Review our complete guide to emergency numbers and confirm your family's disaster communication plan.
Using Disaster Message Dial (171) from a Public Phone
When a major disaster causes network congestion and calls will not go through, NTT's "Disaster Message Dial (171)" is an essential tool. Knowing how to use 171 from a public phone is critically important for disaster communication.
How to Use 171 from a Public Phone
Here are the steps for using Disaster Message Dial from a public phone. If the phone has been made free during a disaster, no coins are needed.
- To record a message: Pick up the receiver, dial 171, press 1, enter your home phone number (including area code), record your message (up to 30 seconds)
- To play a message: Pick up the receiver, dial 171, press 2, enter the phone number of the person whose status you want to check, listen to the recorded message
The key point is that a landline phone number serves as the "key" for messages. If your family agrees in advance to "leave messages on 171 using our home landline number as the key," you can confirm each other's safety even when mobile phones are down. Households without a landline can use a family member's mobile number as the key instead.
Practice on the 1st and 15th of Every Month
Disaster Message Dial (171) is available for practice use on the 1st and 15th of every month. Actually operating 171 from a public phone during practice ensures you can use it confidently in a real emergency. We recommend making it a regular family drill to locate nearby public phones and practice using 171.
When to Use Web 171 Instead
NTT also provides "Web 171," an internet-based disaster message board where you can register and check safety information via text from a smartphone or computer. However, Web 171 requires an internet connection and will not work if base stations are down. Dialing 171 from a public phone uses the fixed-line network and functions even without internet. Know how to use both and choose based on the situation - that is the best preparation.
Landline FAQ also covers disaster communication. In densely populated areas like Tokyo's 03 area, expect long lines at public phones during disasters. Securing multiple meeting points and communication methods for your family is a fundamental part of disaster planning.