kōban 交番

Tiny police boxes that are part information center, part lost-and-found, and part therapist office.

• Common sightings: Near train stations, at major intersections, and that corner you’ve passed three times trying to find the hotel.
• Lost your left shoe? Lost items have a 73% chance of ending up at a kōban because Japan’s honesty level is set to maximum.
• Lost yourself? Saying すみません、ホテル？ Sumimasen, hotel (Excuse me, hotel?) will activate the officer’s tourist-rescue mode.