Call #7119 – Medical advice when you’re not sure (Japan)

If you feel sick or get injured and you’re unsure whether you need an ambulance (119) or just a clinic/hospital visit, you can call #7119 for medical advice. This service is designed to help you decide what to do next.

What is #7119?

#7119 is a phone consultation service where trained medical staff (such as doctors, nurses, or emergency-trained staff) provide advice based on your symptoms. They may:

tell you whether you should call an ambulance,
advise first aid, or
guide you on when/where to seek medical care.

In some areas, if they judge it to be urgent, they may advise you to call 119, or connect you to emergency services depending on local operations.

When should I call #7119?

Call #7119 when you are worried but not sure it’s an emergency, for example:

You need guidance on what level of care is appropriate (clinic vs hospital vs ambulance)
Symptoms are uncomfortable but not clearly life-threatening
You’re unsure whether you need urgent care tonight

Important limitations (read this!)

Here’s the sharp truth: #7119 is not fully uniform nationwide.

Some regions operate it differently, and it may not be available everywhere. The national fire agency notes it is implemented in many regions (reported as 41 areas), not automatically everywhere.
Language support varies by region. For example, Tokyo provides a multilingual website interface and its own consultation system; other regions may be Japanese-only.
The consultation itself is generally free, but you pay the call charge (phone carrier fees).

What will they ask you?

Expect simple questions like:

Age / sex
Main symptom and when it started
Breathing status, consciousness, bleeding
Existing conditions, medicines, allergies (if relevant)

Tip: If you can, have these ready before you call:

your location (hotel name / nearest station / landmark)
your phone number
a short symptom summary

If you don’t speak Japanese

Some regions have better support than others. For instance:

Tokyo runs a consultation center and also offers an online triage guide with multilingual site options.
Sapporo’s emergency consultation center explicitly lists telephone interpretation for many languages.

Practical move: even if English isn’t guaranteed, try short phrases and stay calm. If you can, show a Japanese “card” (on your phone) to someone nearby to help you call.