Losing personal belongings is every traveler’s nightmare, but in Japan, more than half of lost items are eventually recovered. The latest statistics show that both lost-and-found reports and cash returns in Tokyo hit record highs, highlighting the efficiency of Japan’s lost property system.
TOKYO, JAPAN (MERXWIRE) – According to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, Tokyo police received a total of 4,538,244 found-item reports in 2025, a 3.0% increase from the previous year. The total value of found cash reached ¥4,508,820,000 (approximately ¥4.51 billion), up 0.5% from 2024, marking a historical high. The amount of cash successfully returned to owners also set a new record for the fourth consecutive year.
Meanwhile, the total number of lost-item reports was 4,850,775, up 2.0% year-on-year. Of the reported lost cash totaling ¥8,325,100,000, roughly ¥4,508,200,000 corresponded to reported found cash, indicating a recovery rate of about 54.2%, meaning more than half of lost money eventually returned to its owners.
Analyzing the types of lost items, “identification documents,” including driver’s licenses and credit cards, were the most common, with 819,602 reports (16.9%). Next were “cards and vouchers,” such as commuter IC cards and gift certificates, totaling 471,399 (9.7%). “Clothing and footwear” came in at 460,667 (9.5%), and “electronics” totaled 403,708 (8.3%). Other frequently reported items included wallets, umbrellas, bags, and smartphones.
Smartphones, in particular, were a notable category. A total of 225,236 phones were reported lost throughout the year, averaging more than 610 per day. Of these, 144,381 were found and handed over to the police, with approximately 119,516 successfully returned to their owners—nearly half.
Regarding cash management, of the ¥4.507 billion in found cash handled in 2025, about ¥3.23 billion was returned to owners, ¥587 million went to the finders, and ¥682 million became property of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.
The Consumer Aesthetics and Cultural Tourism Society Japan also advises that travelers who lose items in Japan can increase the chance of recovery by taking the following steps: promptly revisit the location where the item was lost, report the loss at a nearby police station or kōban, provide detailed information about the item and circumstances, and regularly follow up on the case or check police databases for matching found items.
Overall, Tokyo’s lost-and-found system is highly efficient. With strong reporting and return rates, travelers can be reassured that even if they lose something, there’s a good chance it will be recovered.
Media Contacts:
Consumer Aesthetics and Cultural Tourism Society Japan
PR Agency:
MERXWIRE INC.
Ada Huang
pr@merxwire.com
SOURCE: Consumer Aesthetics and Cultural Tourism Society Japan
