AIC LIFE GUIDE
A practical orientation to finding care in Japan. It does not diagnose symptoms or replace medical advice.
If someone may be in immediate danger or needs an ambulance, call 119. For a crime or immediate public-safety emergency, call 110. Do not use this guide to judge medical severity.
Start with the kind of help you need
Japan has clinics, hospitals, emergency services and local medical-information services. The appropriate next step depends on the situation, the service available locally and the instructions of a qualified medical professional. If you are unsure whether a situation is urgent, use an official local emergency or medical-information service where available, or seek urgent professional help.
Clinic
Often a local starting point for non-emergency consultation. Check opening hours, language support, appointment rules and accepted insurance proof directly with the provider.
Hospital
Hospitals provide a wide range of services. Some large hospitals may have referral-related charges or their own appointment rules. Confirm the provider’s current instructions before you go.
Emergency services
For a possible life-threatening emergency, call 119. For non-emergency questions, availability of telephone guidance varies by area; verify locally.
Before you go
- Check the provider’s current hours, appointment policy and language support.
- Take the current insurance verification document or method that applies to you, if available.
- Ask the provider or your municipality where to verify local medical information if you are new to the area.
Services, referral arrangements, charges and language support can differ by provider and municipality. This page does not estimate your treatment cost or tell you which provider must treat a particular condition.
Health insurance and the My Number Card
Health-insurance arrangements are separate from the question of where to seek medical care. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare provides multilingual material about using a My Number Card as health-insurance verification, including what to do when registration cannot be completed. Check the current official material and your insurer or municipality for the document or method that applies to you.
MHLW: My Number Card as your Health Insurance Certificate (foreign-language materials)
Related AIC guides
Official sources
- Fire and Disaster Management Agency: ambulance service guide
- MHLW: My Number Card health-insurance verification materials
Last verified: 26 August 2026. Medical access, provider policies and local services can change; confirm current local guidance.
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