Public Phones Can Apparently Be Used for Free During Major Disasters

It seems public phones can be used for free during large-scale disasters.

Free public phone measures
When a disaster on the scale where the Disaster Relief Act is expected to apply causes social disruption such as transportation shutdowns, and there is a possibility that mobile phone and landline call restrictions may be imposed by related carriers, public phone call charges may be made free* if it is deemed necessary after considering the overall situation.

Disaster Preparedness | NTT West

Summary: Public phones become free during large-scale disasters

It seems that when a disaster on the level of a major earthquake occurs, public phones become free to use.

Where public phones are located

You can search for public phones in Nishinomiya on NTT West’s “Public Phone Location Search,” which works kind of like Google Maps.

Also, when a disaster happens, public phones are specially installed at evacuation shelters and similar places (apparently these are called special public phones). These can also be used for free. They are mostly at elementary schools, junior high schools, high schools, community centers, and gymnasiums. You can search for them on Goo Map.

You can make calls on digital public phones without coins

The darker-colored public phones and the familiar green public phones that look a bit more advanced apparently let you make a call immediately without inserting coins. It feels just like using a regular phone at home.

For analog public phones like the one below, it seems you need to insert coins or a telephone card. Of course, since calls are free, your coins should be returned. The difference from digital public phones is that analog phones have the red emergency call button↓.

It’s true that public phones are easier to connect during disasters

During the earthquake disaster, even when you picked up the receiver, calls wouldn’t connect at all. The lines were completely overloaded.

Apparently, public phones are prioritized and are not subject to these line restrictions.

Also, since they seem to receive power through the telephone line, it’s amazing that you can make calls even during a power outage!

For people who don’t know how to use a public phone

These days, we have the smartphone generation. A little before that was the mobile phone generation. Further back was the pager generation.

Putting generational talk aside, there are probably quite a lot of people who have never used a public phone.

If you’ve never used one, I’m sure you’re imagining it’s way more difficult than it actually is, so here’s an explanation.

Just three steps!

1. Pick up the receiver
2. Insert coins (10 yen or 100 yen) or a telephone card
3. Dial the phone number

Using a public phone isn’t scary. It’s easy.

Frequently asked questions about public phones

Q. “What’s a receiver?”

A. This↓

Pick it up, hold it to your ear, and say “Hello?”

Q. “I only have a 50-yen coin.”

A. That won’t work. Keep a 10-yen or 100-yen coin with you. Or a telephone card is a flat card, so it won’t take up much space in your wallet. Oh, and you can’t use 500-yen coins either. Of course, 1-yen and 5-yen coins won’t work either.

Q. “What’s a telephone card?”

A. It’s a prepaid card that can be used in public phones. There are two types: 500 yen and 1000 yen. They’re sold at convenience stores. Just say, “Can I have a telephone card?”

Prepaid Business | NTT Card Solution – Giving shape to connections –

Q. “Even if you say phone number, I don’t remember any.”

A. Right, I get it. But people used to memorize them back in the day.

I recommend memorizing the phone numbers of family members you contact often, using mnemonics or whatever works. Please make sure to teach your children too. It might also be a good idea to have them carry a pass case with a note of phone numbers and a telephone card inside.

Finally

While writing this, I realized that even if you say “Can I have a telephone card?” at a convenience store, there’s a chance they might not understand. If you aim for a time when an older staff member is working, you can probably buy one with peace of mind.

Public phones can be used for free during disasters, so if you’re having trouble because your phone won’t connect, remember that public phones are an option.