In the event of a large-scale disaster, priority will be given to emergency communications such as those of the police and fire department. General communications will likely be restricted, meaning that cell phones are likely to have difficulty in connection.
Public telephones, on the other hand, are not subject to communication restrictions and are given priority even in the event of a large-scale disaster. Therefore, knowing the location of public phones around you and how to use them will help you reduce your risk in case of a disaster. Having multiple ways to contact your loved ones is very important for crisis management.
In the event of a large-scale disaster, calls from public phones will be free of charge if NTT West deems it necessary. With digital public telephones and newer analog public telephones, free calls can be made by lifting the handset. On the other hand, However, some analog public telephones, it is necessary to insert coins or a telephone card after lifting the handset. Don't worry, the coins or phone card you put in will be returned to you after the call.