Seeing a doctor

Medical care is good and easy to reach. The language and the bill are the parts to prepare for.

What to know

• JNTO's "Guide for when you are feeling ill" lets you search for medical institutions that accept foreign visitors. It also explains how a visit works and which department matches your symptoms. It's in English, Chinese, Korean and Japanese.
• The Japan Tourism Agency publishes a guidebook on visiting a doctor, with a pointing sheet for describing symptoms when words fail.
• Treatment can be expensive, and some clinics don't take credit cards. Ask how to pay before you're seen, or carry enough cash.
• Since 2021, foreign visitors with unpaid medical bills in Japan can be restricted or refused entry on a later trip.
• AMDA International Medical Information Center offers advice and help with interpretation.
• The Japan Visitor Hotline (050-3816-2787) can help with illness 24 hours a day.
• Which facility you need depends on the time of day and how serious it is. If it's an emergency, call 119.
• This page isn't medical advice. If you're unsure, call the hotline or a doctor.

psst, save the pointing sheet as a photo on your phone. "Stomach" plus "since yesterday" covers a lot of ground.

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