Quick Answer: If you feel unwell in Japan, call 119 for life-threatening symptoms; otherwise start at a nearby clinic. Bring your My Number health card or eligibility certificate, residence card, cash, and medication info. After the consultation, take your prescription to a pharmacy. Large hospitals may charge extra for first visits without a referral letter.
How do you choose between a clinic and a hospital?
In Japan, mild symptoms and first visits usually start at a clinic. Clinics specialize by field—internal medicine, dermatology, ENT, orthopedics—and handle colds, fever, hay fever, minor injuries, and skin issues.
Hospitals are better for hospitalization, surgery, detailed tests, and cases needing multiple departments. Large hospitals may charge extra for first visits without a referral letter, so unless it is urgent, the usual flow is to consult at a clinic first and get a referral if needed.
- First place to try
- Internal medicine clinic
- First place to try
- Dermatology
- First place to try
- ENT
- First place to try
- Orthopedics or emergency
- First place to try
- 119 (emergency)
| Symptoms / situation | First place to try |
|---|---|
| Cold, fever, stomach pain, hay fever | Internal medicine clinic |
| Itchy skin, eczema | Dermatology |
| Throat, nose, ear symptoms | ENT |
| Suspected fracture, severe pain | Orthopedics or emergency |
| Breathing difficulty, loss of consciousness, severe chest pain | 119 (emergency) |
For tourist medical costs and insurance, see the traveler medical payment guide.
What should you prepare before a visit?
Items commonly needed at reception include the following.
- My Number health card or eligibility certificate
- Residence card or other ID
- Cash or credit card
- Medication notebook or list of current medicines
- Notes on allergies, medical history, and pregnancy if relevant
- Notes on when symptoms started, temperature, and where it hurts
Paper health insurance cards are no longer issued for new applications after December 2, 2024; eligibility is now confirmed with a My Number health card or eligibility certificate. If insurance enrollment is not complete yet, you may pay the full amount first and apply for reimbursement later.
If you have just arrived and insurance or address registration is incomplete, check city hall registration early.
What is the flow from reception to consultation?
At a first visit, tell reception it is your first time. A typical flow looks like this.
- Reception — Insurance eligibility, ID check, and patient card creation
- Medical questionnaire — Name, address, contact, symptoms, allergies, history, current medicines
- Waiting room — Called by name or number; fever clinics may use a separate route
- Consultation — Briefly explain symptoms, onset, pain level, medicines, and allergies
- Payment and prescription — Pay at the desk and receive a prescription if needed
- Pharmacy — Submit the prescription at a nearby pharmacy and receive instructions
Prescriptions have an expiry date—usually a few days including the issue date—so going to the pharmacy soon after the visit is safest.
How do you describe symptoms in Japanese?
Short, specific phrases work better than long explanations.
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 具合が悪いです | guai ga warui desu | I feel unwell. |
| 熱があります | netsu ga arimasu | I have a fever. |
| ここが痛いです | koko ga itai desu | It hurts here. |
| めまいがします | memai ga shimasu | I feel dizzy. |
| アレルギーがあります | arerugi ga arimasu | I have an allergy. |
| この薬を飲んでいます | kono kusuri o nonde imasu | I take this medicine. |
| ゆっくり話してください | yukkuri hanashite kudasai | Please speak slowly. |
| 書いてもらえますか | kaite moraemasu ka | Could you write it down? |
If using a translation app, prepare notes on symptoms, duration, medicines, and allergies in advance.
What about nights, holidays, and emergencies?
For life-threatening symptoms—severe chest pain, breathing difficulty, unconsciousness, heavy bleeding, serious injury—call 119. When calling an ambulance, give your address, symptoms, age, and phone number.
If you are unsure how urgent it is, check your local emergency consultation line. Tokyo has an emergency consultation center; some regions have pediatric hotlines. JNTO’s medical institution search and Japan Visitor Hotline can help tourists and those needing multilingual support.
Night and holiday clinics are often listed on municipal websites. Search for your city name plus “night clinic,” “holiday clinic,” or “English hospital.”
What cultural context helps?
Japanese facilities often separate reception, consultation, billing, and pharmacy, so waits can feel long. Consultations may be short; having key information ready helps.
Follow facility rules on masks, quiet waiting areas, number calling, and questionnaires. If unsure, say at the start: “This is my first visit” or “I do not speak much Japanese.”
For the broader healthcare system, see the healthcare guide for Japan.
FAQ
Can I visit without insurance?
You can usually be seen, but you may pay the full amount. If enrollment is in progress, keep receipts and statements and check whether reimbursement applies.
How do I find English-speaking facilities?
Use JNTO’s medical search, municipal health sites, embassy lists, or employer or school referrals. Even when “English OK” is advertised, availability may vary by day or staff—calling ahead helps.
Can I go directly to a large hospital?
In an emergency, use emergency services. For non-urgent first visits without a referral, extra fees and long waits are common.
Do I get medicine at the hospital?
Usually you receive a prescription and collect medicine at an outside pharmacy, where insurance eligibility is checked again.
Do I need cash?
Larger hospitals increasingly take cards, but small clinics and pharmacies may be cash-only. Bringing cash on a first visit is safer.
What share do I pay with insurance?
With public health insurance, the typical out-of-pocket share at the window is about 30% for most adults. Lower rates apply for young children and some older adults. Exact amounts depend on insurance type, income, and high-cost medical care benefits.
Next Steps
- Note nearby internal medicine clinics, holiday hours, and night consultation numbers
- Keep My Number health card or eligibility certificate, medication notebook, and residence card together
- Prepare symptom notes in Japanese or English
- Use 119 in emergencies; use local consultation lines when unsure
Sources
- Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare — My Number Card for health insurance (verified June 26, 2026)
- JNTO — Medical institution search (verified June 26, 2026)
- Tokyo Fire Department — Emergency consultation center (verified June 26, 2026)