How to See a Doctor in Japan: Clinics, Hospitals and Pharmacies, the Visit Step by Step, Health Insurance Cards, Night-Time Advice (#7119) and Multilingual Materials

You have a fever, a stomachache, or an injury in Japan. Where should you go? In a new country, it is worrying not to know the types of hospitals or how reception works. This guide explains the basic steps for seeing a doctor and where to get advice at night or on holidays, based on official information.

We checked the official pages listed below on 9 November 2026. How health insurance cards work, the phone numbers and opening hours of advice services, and hospital rules can change. This guide is written, as far as possible, from content that can be confirmed on official pages, and anything we could not confirm is marked "check the official source". This guide does not guarantee that the information is correct or that it applies to your case. When you actually see a doctor, check the latest information from the hospital or your city, ward, town or village office. This guide does not give diagnoses or advise on which medicine to choose. Ask a doctor or pharmacist.

If your symptoms are severe, or you think your life may be in danger, call 119 without hesitation. How to call an ambulance is explained in the emergency and disaster guide.

First, where to go

The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) guide "Helpful guide when you feel sick" gives a guideline on where to go depending on your condition. This guide was made for foreign visitors to Japan, but the way it thinks about where to go is also useful for international students.

A "clinic (診療所)" is a local medical facility close to where you live. A "general hospital (総合病院)" is a relatively large facility with several departments. The size and the care offered differ from one facility to another. If you do not know which department to visit, look for a facility with a general medicine department (総合診療科), or ask at reception. This guide cannot decide for you which department to choose.

Pharmacies and drugstores

According to JNTO, if you do not need to see a doctor, you can ask at a nearby pharmacy or drugstore. As needed, you talk to a pharmacist or a registered salesperson (登録販売者). When no pharmacist is there, you may not be able to buy some types of medicine. You pay for medicine separately at the pharmacy.

If the hospital gives you an "outside prescription" (院外処方せん), take the prescription to a pharmacy to receive your medicine. The multilingual materials of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare include a Nepali explanation of the outside prescription (explained below).

Insurance cards and what you pay

How to join the insurance is in the guide to procedures after arriving in Japan. Here we only cover how to use it at a hospital.

According to Study in Japan (JASSO), under National Health Insurance, the insurance pays 70% of the total medical cost and you pay 30% (three-tenths). However, medical care that insurance does not cover is paid in full by you. When the hospital reception confirms your insurance eligibility (explained in the next section), this ratio applies.

What to show instead of an insurance card

According to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, all the previous health insurance cards expired on 1 December 2025. From 2 December 2025, you show the following at reception.

• If you have a My Number health insurance card (マイナ保険証), that is, a My Number Card registered for use as a health insurance card: use your My Number Card.
• If you do not have one: use a "Health Insurance Eligibility Certificate" (資格確認書). If you show it at the counter, you can receive insured care with the same share of the cost as before.

The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare states that people who do not have a My Number Card, or who have not registered it for this use, are issued a health insurance eligibility certificate free of charge, without applying. Ask the office of the city, ward, town or village where you are enrolled which one you will use and when it will arrive.

If reception has a card reader with face recognition, you place your card on it and confirm your identity by face recognition or a 4-digit PIN. Then you choose whether to let the hospital see your medical information, and reception is done. If it does not work, call a staff member. Depending on the hospital, you may also be able to show a health insurance eligibility certificate, a screen of Mynaportal (マイナポータル), or a "notice of eligibility information" (資格情報のお知らせ) (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare).

Do not tell your My Number Card PIN to anyone else. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare states that a hospital cannot write down or copy the My Number printed on the back of the card.

When insurance does not apply, and extra charges at some hospitals

Medical care outside insurance (care that insurance does not cover) is paid in full by you. Also, as the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's multilingual materials include "About selected medical care fees" (選定療養費について), some hospitals may charge an extra fee on top of the insured-care price. In which cases and how much depends on the hospital. Before your visit, check by phone or at reception.

When medical costs become high

According to JASSO, when your medical costs in one month are high, the part above your out-of-pocket limit is refunded later as "high-cost medical care benefit" (高額療養費). It also says there is a way to apply in advance for a "limit application certificate" (限度額適用認定証) before a hospital stay and similar care (so that what you pay at the counter is capped at the limit). Whether you need to apply in advance, for example when you use the My Number health insurance card, can differ by situation. The limit amount differs depending on income and other factors, so this guide does not give it. If you need to be hospitalised or have surgery, check with your city, ward, town or village office or the hospital.

The steps of a visit

It differs by hospital, but usually it goes like this. This is a guideline from this guide.

1. 1Check the opening hours. By phone or on the hospital's website, confirm the consultation hours and days off.
2. 2Check whether you need an appointment. Some hospitals require one, and others accept patients on the same day.
3. 3At reception, show what you use instead of an insurance card (My Number health insurance card or Health Insurance Eligibility Certificate).
4. 4Fill in the medical questionnaire. Write your symptoms, since when, the medicine you are taking, allergies and so on.
5. 5Wait for your turn. When your name is called, enter the consultation room.
6. 6See the doctor.
7. 7At the cashier, pay your share of the cost.
8. 8If medicine is prescribed, take the prescription to a pharmacy.

The page of multilingual materials from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has Nepali medical questionnaires (by department: internal medicine, dermatology, paediatrics, orthopaedics, dentistry and others) and a consultation application form. If you print them, fill them in and bring them before your visit, it is easier to explain. Whether the hospital will use that paper depends on the hospital.

What to take with you

• What you use instead of an insurance card (the My Number health insurance card, that is, a My Number Card registered for use as a health insurance card, or the health insurance eligibility certificate). If you are not sure the registration is done, check with your city, ward, town or village office.
• Check with the hospital whether you need ID such as your residence card.
• Cash. According to JNTO, large hospitals often accept credit cards, but clinics are often cash only.
• A note of the medicine you are taking and your allergies.
• A note of your symptoms in Japanese (or in a language that a person who can interpret can read).

If Japanese is difficult

Some medical facilities in Japan cannot support languages other than Japanese (JNTO). It is a good idea to ask about language support before you go. Asking a teacher at school or a friend who understands Japanese to go with you or to make the call is also one way.

If you feel unwell at night or on a holiday

Outside opening hours, some areas have a night-time medical care service (JNTO). Check where it is on the website of your city, ward, town or village, or your prefecture. We could not confirm a list of these services by area for this guide.

On the JNTO medical facility search, you can narrow the search to "24-hour, 365-day emergency care".

When you are not sure whether to call an ambulance (#7119)

According to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency, the "Emergency Safety Centre service (#7119)" (救急安心センター事業) is a phone service where you can get advice when you are not sure, because of a sudden illness or injury, whether to call an ambulance or go to a hospital right away. Doctors, nurses and emergency medical technicians respond. When the case is judged to be highly urgent, you are guided to be connected to 119 (or to call 119 again).

• 119: The number for calling an ambulance.
• #7119: The number for advice when you are not sure.

#7119 cannot be used everywhere in Japan. The Fire and Disaster Management Agency page says it is run in 42 areas nationwide. The ages covered and the opening hours also differ by area. For example, Tokyo and Osaka are described as covering all ages, 24 hours. In other areas, the hours may be limited. Check on the Fire and Disaster Management Agency page, or with your city, ward, town or village office, whether you can use it where you live and what its hours are. In many areas, for children under 15, advice by calling #8000 is recommended.

If your symptoms are so severe that you are not sure, for example you cannot breathe or you are drowsy and confused, do not call for advice. Call 119.

Advice services in foreign languages

Japan Visitor Hotline (JNTO)

According to the JNTO page, the Japan Visitor Hotline is 050-3816-2787, open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, in English, Chinese and Korean. In an emergency such as illness or a disaster, it can also guide you to medical facilities that can support foreign languages. As a rule, it does not provide three-way call interpreting or make reservations for you. This hotline is listed in guidance for foreign visitors to Japan, and the official page does not say whether international students can use it or whether it supports Nepali. If you are unsure, check with JNTO.

Medical facility search (JNTO)

On the JNTO page's medical facility search, you can narrow your search by area, language, department, credit card acceptance, 24-hour emergency care and more. Results are limited to 30 and are listed in order of straight-line distance. This can differ from the actual route. Even if a facility is shown as supporting a language, it may not support every language, so the page says to contact the facility before you go.

Prefecture advice desks (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)

The JNTO page tells you to contact the advice desk of the prefecture where you are staying, and it links to a page of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. However, that Ministry page gives information on "advice desks by area", and it also carries a notice that the former website of "prefecture advice desks for foreign residents" ended on 31 May 2023. Check for the latest desks on that Ministry page and on the websites of your city, ward, town or village, your prefecture and the international exchange association.

Nepali materials (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)

The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare page "Multilingual explanatory materials for foreigners" has many materials in Nepali. For example, the consultation application form, selected medical care fees, the outside prescription, the high-cost medical care benefit system, medical questionnaires for each department, and explanations of tests. They are useful before your visit and when you explain your situation.

Things to keep in mind

• Tell your school or someone who understands Japanese early if you are ill or injured.
• If you are not enrolled in insurance, you pay the whole medical cost yourself. If you are not enrolled, talk to your city, ward, town or village office early.
• If your symptoms are not severe, going to a clinic during opening hours may cost less and involve less waiting (a guideline from this guide).
• As a rule, you cannot choose the hospital an ambulance takes you to (JNTO, Fire and Disaster Management Agency).

Frequently asked questions

If I have insurance, how much do I pay at the hospital?

According to JASSO, under National Health Insurance, your share of insured care is 30% (three-tenths). Medical care that insurance does not cover is paid in full. Extra charges may apply, so check with the hospital.

What should I take to the hospital?

Take what you use instead of an insurance card (the My Number health insurance card or the health insurance eligibility certificate), cash, and a note of the medicine you take and your allergies. Clinics are often cash only (JNTO).

Can I see a doctor if I cannot speak Japanese?

You can, but foreign language support differs by hospital. Ask the hospital about language support before you go. You can also search by language on the JNTO medical facility search.

What should I do if I feel unwell at night?

If it is serious, call 119. If you are not sure, check whether #7119 is available where you live. In some areas it is not. Night-time medical service desks differ by area, so check the website of your city, ward, town or village.

Can I buy medicine at a pharmacy?

According to JNTO, for mild symptoms you can ask at a nearby pharmacy or drugstore. Some medicines cannot be bought without a pharmacist. Ask the pharmacist what you should take. This guide does not explain how to choose medicine.

What to do next

After you arrive in Japan, check with your city, ward, town or village office how far your insurance procedures have progressed and whether you can use what replaces the insurance card (the My Number health insurance card or the health insurance eligibility certificate). It is reassuring to find out, while you are well, where the night-time medical care service in your area is and whether #7119 is available. Procedures are in the guide to procedures after arriving in Japan, and the first week is in the guide to the first 7 days in Japan. For other places to get help, see the guide on where to get help. You can compare schools in the list of Japanese language schools. If you have questions about how to use this site, please contact us. You can contact us, but we do not guarantee admission or a visa. This site is free to use.