Child Guidance Center Abuse Hotline (189): phone number and hours

A nationwide number for reporting to or consulting a child guidance center right away, for example when you think a child may be being abused. A call center asks where you live and then connects you to your nearest child guidance center, and you can call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, free of call charges. You can report or consult anonymously, and the identity of the caller and what you say are kept confidential.

• List of child guidance centers across Japan

  You can check the addresses and phone numbers of child guidance centers across Japan.

• LINE consultation for parents and children

  When you are worried about child-rearing or the relationship between parents and children, children (under 18) and parents or guardians can consult by LINE. You can consult anonymously (with your LINE icon and nickname), and what you discuss is kept confidential. Hours differ by local government.

• This number is not only for reporting suspected abuse but also for consultation. You are encouraged to rely on it when, for example, you feel "I might raise my hand against my child" or "I am being hurt by my parents."
• When you call, you first reach a call center. An operator asks for the postal code of where you live (or, if you do not know it, your address down to the town name) and transfers the call to the child guidance center responsible for that area. This has been the method for both landlines and mobile phones since December 22, 2025.
• You can report or consult without giving your name, and the identity of the caller and what is said are kept confidential.
• You may call even if you are not sure it is abuse, and you will not be blamed or punished if you turn out to be mistaken. Based on what you report, specialist staff check the situation of the child and family and consider the support needed.
• It is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with no call charges (free since December 3, 2019). Some IP phones cannot connect.

• Some IP phones cannot connect.
• Consultations other than abuse, such as child-rearing, foster parenting and young carers, are also accepted at the Child Guidance Center Consultation Dial (0120-189-783).

Your municipality (city, ward, town or village) also has counters for welfare, health and child-rearing concerns. Call the main number, explain what you want to discuss, and ask for the counter in charge.