Need medical care in Japan?

This website helps you navigate medical care in Japan, from booking and reception to pharmacies, payment, and insurance claims. You’ll also find simple Japanese phrases, printable documents, and practical guidance to help you prepare before your trip, manage problems during your stay, and handle paperwork after you return home.

Helpful resources:
Open the claim kit (beta)
→ Organize your own records for your own travel insurance claim submission. (No signup. Browser-based. Keep your own records organized).

What this site helps you do

Understand how to see a doctor in Japan
Know what to bring, where to go, and how to pay
Show simple Japanese phrases and symptom notes on your phone—or bring a printed copy for reception and pharmacies

→ Start Here: 10 Essential Pages in This Website

In a medical emergency

Call 119 for an ambulance in Japan.

This website explains what to say, what will happen, and what to know about costs (Learn more).

Before you travel to Japan

When to Visit Japan: Weather, Crowds, and Seasonal Risks (Learn more)
Medicines to bring & non-prescription medicine in Japan (Learn more)
Travel insurance & costs (Learn more)
Travel Insurance for Japan: Global Providers vs Buy-in-Japan Options (Learn more)
Travel Insurance for Japan: How to Compare Plans (Cost & Coverage; Learn more)
Insurance Claim Documents in Japan: What to Ask For (Hospital + Pharmacy Checklist; Learn more)

After you arrive in Japan

Travel insurance after arrival: TOKIO OMOTENASHI and other buy-in-Japan options (Learn more)
When does coverage start if you buy after arrival? (Learn more)
Cashless medical service in Japan: how it works (Learn more)
What to do if you get sick before you are insured (Learn more)

How medical visits work in Japan

Choose a clinic or hospital (Learn more)
Reception and forms (Learn more)
Doctor visit (Learn more)
Payment (Learn more)
Pharmacy (Learn more)
Insurance claim (reimbursement): how to get reimbursed after your visit (Learn more)

After your trip: insurance claims &　reimbursements

Back home and trying to get reimbursed?
Here are practical, company-specific claim guides (and the general claim template if you’re not sure where to start).

Start here (works for any insurer)

Travel Insurance Claim Template (Japan)

Claim guides by company

Tip: The claim portal and requirements can vary by country/plan. Always follow the instructions in your policy confirmation email/app.

Find help by symptom

Choose a symptom to see what to do in Japan (and when to call 119).

See all symptoms

Why trust this site

This site is written by a graduate of Kyoto University, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and a medical translator.
Content is based on official Japanese sources, reliable medical websites, and various travel agencies.

Disclaimer

This website provides general information to help you navigate medical care in Japan. It does not provide medical advice and is not a substitute for professional medical evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment.
Medical services, availability, costs, and rules can vary by facility and region and may change over time. Always follow the instructions of healthcare professionals and consult official sources when needed.
If you think it’s an emergency, call 119. If you are unsure whether it’s an emergency, call #7119 (availability varies by area).

Privacy & legal information:
Privacy Policy

Information sources:
Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)
Fire and Disaster Management Agency (Japan)
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (Japan) (This website includes medical information of each prefecture)
Saitama International Association
Japanese Red Cross Medical Center
(Conversation phrases PDF) KUAS – “Japanese Conversation Tips for Visiting a Clinic”
Narcotics Control Department
Controlled Substances List
Japan Customs
Example of embassy guidance noting stimulants/prohibited nature (helpful for travelers)