How to Visit a Hospital as a Tourist in Japan

When to Go Where

Emergency Room (救急 Kyūkyū) — Life-Threatening

Call 119 for ambulance if:

• Severe chest pain
• Difficulty breathing
• Unconscious or unresponsive
• Severe bleeding
• Suspected stroke (facial drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulty)
• Severe allergic reaction
• Major injury (broken bones, head trauma)

Ambulance is FREE in Japan. No charge for the ride or emergency treatment.

What to say when calling 119: “Kyūkyū desu. Eigo hanasemasu ka?” (救急です。英語話せますか？) “Emergency. Do you speak English?”

They’ll ask:

• Your location
• What happened
• Patient’s condition

If you can’t speak Japanese: Stay calm. Say “English” repeatedly. They’ll connect you to an interpreter.

Hospital (病院 Byōin) — Serious but Not Life-Threatening

Go to a hospital for:

• High fever (over 39°C) with severe symptoms
• Severe pain (abdominal, back, etc.)
• Suspected fracture
• Deep cuts needing stitches
• Severe vomiting or diarrhea with dehydration
• Chest pain (not severe enough for ambulance)

Hospitals have:

• Emergency departments
• Specialists
• X-ray, CT, MRI
• Inpatient facilities

Cost: ¥10,000-¥30,000+ depending on tests and treatment

Clinic (クリニック Kurinikku) — Minor Issues

Go to a clinic for:

• Common cold, flu
• Mild fever
• Sore throat
• Rash or skin irritation
• Minor cuts or burns
• Upset stomach
• Headache
• Allergies

Clinics are:

• Smaller, faster
• Cheaper (¥5,000-¥10,000)
• Walk-in or appointment
• Usually close by 18:00-19:00

Cost: ¥5,000-¥10,000 for consultation + medication

Pharmacy (薬局 Yakkyoku) — Over-the-Counter Only

Go to a pharmacy for:

• Pain relievers (headache, muscle pain)
• Cold medicine
• Stomach medicine
• Antihistamines (allergies)
• Band-aids, first aid supplies

You CANNOT get:

• Antibiotics (need prescription)
• Strong pain medication (need prescription)
• Most prescription drugs from your home country

Major pharmacy chains:

• Matsumoto Kiyoshi (マツモトキヨシ) — everywhere, some English
• Welcia (ウエルシア) — large selection
• Sugi Pharmacy (スギ薬局) — common in Tokyo

Pharmacists speak limited English, but packaging often has English labels.

Finding English-Speaking Hospitals in Tokyo

St. Luke’s International Hospital (聖路加国際病院)

Best for: Comprehensive care, high English proficiency

• Address: 9-1 Akashi-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-8560 (中央区明石町9-1)
• Phone: 03-5550-7166 (International Patient Services)
• Nearest Station: Tsukiji Station (Hibiya Line, Exit 3a) — 7 min walk
• Hours: Outpatient 8:30-11:00 (registration), Emergency 24/7
• Languages: English, Chinese, Spanish
• Specialties: General medicine, surgery, obstetrics, pediatrics
• Accreditation: JCI (Joint Commission International)

Cost estimate: ¥15,000-¥25,000 for initial consultation + tests

Notes: Highly regarded, popular with expats. Can be crowded. Bring cash or credit card.

Tokyo Medical and Surgical Clinic (TMSC)

Best for: Primary care, walk-ins, English-speaking doctors

• Address: 32 Shiba Koen Building 2F, 3-4-30 Shiba, Minato-ku (港区芝3-4-30)
• Phone: 03-3436-3028
• Nearest Station: Onarimon Station (Mita Line) — 3 min walk
• Hours: Mon-Fri 9:00-13:00, 14:00-17:00 | Sat 9:00-13:00
• Languages: English (native English-speaking doctors from US, UK, Australia)
• Specialties: Primary care, pediatrics, women’s health, dermatology, sports medicine

Cost estimate: ¥10,000-¥18,000 for consultation

Notes: Very popular with tourists and expats. Book online or call ahead. Accepts credit cards.

Sanno Hospital (山王病院)

Best for: Comprehensive hospital care, English support

• Address: 8-10-16 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo (港区赤坂8-10-16)
• Phone: 03-3402-3151
• Nearest Station: Aoyama-Itchome Station (Exit 4) — 5 min walk
• Hours: Outpatient 8:30-11:30 (registration), Emergency 24/7
• Languages: English, Chinese
• Specialties: General medicine, surgery, cardiology, obstetrics

Cost estimate: ¥12,000-¥20,000 for consultation + tests

Notes: Part of International University of Health and Welfare. Good for complex cases.

American Clinic Tokyo

Best for: American-style primary care

• Address: 1-7-8 Akasaka, Minato-ku (港区赤坂1-7-8)
• Phone: 03-6441-0969
• Nearest Station: Tameike-Sanno Station — 3 min walk
• Hours: Mon-Fri 9:00-12:30, 14:00-17:30 | Sat 9:00-12:30
• Languages: English (American doctors)
• Specialties: Primary care, pediatrics, vaccinations

Cost estimate: ¥15,000-¥20,000

Notes: Familiar to Americans. Accepts some U.S. insurance (check first).

Tokyo Saiseikai Central Hospital

Best for: Emergency care, comprehensive services

• Address: 1-4-17 Mita, Minato-ku (港区三田1-4-17)
• Phone: 03-3451-8211
• Nearest Station: Mita Station (Exit A9) — 3 min walk
• Hours: Emergency 24/7
• Languages: English (limited, interpretation available)

Cost estimate: ¥10,000-¥25,000

Notes: Large hospital. English support varies by department.

What to Bring

Essential

1. Passport — Required for registration (foreign patients)
2. Cash — ¥10,000-¥20,000 minimum
   • Many hospitals don’t accept credit cards for outpatient visits
   • ATMs may not work with foreign cards
3. Travel insurance card — If you have it
   • Bring policy number and emergency contact
   • Most Japanese hospitals require upfront payment, then you claim reimbursement

Helpful

4. List of medications — Write down what you’re taking (name, dosage)
5. Allergy information — Drug allergies, food allergies
6. Medical history — Major conditions, surgeries
7. Symptom notes — When symptoms started, severity (1-10 scale)
8. Hotel card — For address (if they need to contact you)

Translation Help

9. Translation app — Google Translate works offline if you download Japanese
10. Symptom cards — Print or screenshot common phrases (see below)

The Hospital Visit Process

Step 1: Registration (受付 Uketsuke)

At the reception desk:

1. Show your passport
2. Fill out registration form (often has English version)
   • Name, date of birth, address (hotel is fine)
   • Symptoms
   • Insurance information
3. Pay registration fee (¥2,000-¥5,000)

They’ll give you:

• Patient card (診察券 shinsatsu-ken)
• Number or pager
• Estimated wait time

Step 2: Wait

Waiting room:

• Can be 30 minutes to 2 hours
• Your number will be called (watch the screen)
• Bring a book or phone charger

If you don’t understand the announcement:

• Watch for your number on the screen
• Ask staff: “Watashi no ban desu ka?” (私の番ですか？) “Is it my turn?”

Step 3: Consultation (診察 Shinsatsu)

Doctor will:

1. Ask about symptoms
2. Examine you (blood pressure, temperature, listen to chest, etc.)
3. Order tests if needed (blood test, X-ray, etc.)
4. Diagnose
5. Prescribe medication or treatment

If doctor doesn’t speak English:

• Hospital may provide interpreter (ask at reception)
• Use translation app
• Point to symptom cards

Tests happen same day — you’ll wait for results (30 min - 2 hours).

Step 4: Payment (会計 Kaikei)

After consultation:

1. Go to payment counter (会計 kaikei)
2. Wait for your number to be called
3. Receive itemized bill
4. Pay (cash or credit card if accepted)
5. Get receipt for insurance claim

Bill includes:

• Consultation fee (初診料 shoshin-ryō): ¥3,000-¥5,000
• Tests (検査 kensa): ¥2,000-¥10,000+
• Treatment (処置 shochi): varies
• Medication (薬 kusuri): ¥1,000-¥5,000

Step 5: Pharmacy (薬局 Yakkyoku)

If you received a prescription (処方箋 shohōsen):

1. Take prescription to pharmacy (usually next door or nearby)
2. Give prescription to pharmacist
3. Wait (10-20 minutes)
4. Receive medication with instructions
5. Pay (separate from hospital bill)

Pharmacist will explain:

• How to take medication (dosage, timing)
• Side effects
• Duration

Instructions are often in Japanese. Ask for English explanation or use translation app.

Costs Without Insurance

Typical Costs (Self-Pay)

Service	Cost
Initial consultation (first visit)	¥3,000-¥5,000
Follow-up consultation	¥2,000-¥3,000
Blood test	¥3,000-¥8,000
X-ray	¥3,000-¥6,000
CT scan	¥15,000-¥30,000
MRI	¥25,000-¥50,000
Prescription medication (3-7 days)	¥1,000-¥5,000
Emergency room visit	¥10,000-¥20,000
Ambulance	FREE

Example Scenarios

Common cold:

• Consultation: ¥4,000
• Medication: ¥2,000
• Total: ¥6,000

Stomach pain with tests:

• Consultation: ¥5,000
• Blood test: ¥5,000
• Medication: ¥3,000
• Total: ¥13,000

Suspected fracture:

• Consultation: ¥5,000
• X-ray: ¥5,000
• Cast/splint: ¥8,000
• Total: ¥18,000

Without Japanese insurance, you pay 100% of costs. Japanese residents pay 30% (insurance covers 70%).

Travel Insurance Claims

Most Japanese hospitals require upfront payment, then you claim reimbursement from your travel insurance.

How to claim:

1. Keep all receipts — itemized bills, pharmacy receipts
2. Get medical certificate — ask hospital for 診断書 (shindansho) if insurance requires it (may cost ¥3,000-¥5,000)
3. Submit claim — follow your insurance company’s process
4. Wait for reimbursement — usually 2-4 weeks

Some insurance companies have direct billing agreements with major hospitals. Call your insurance before visiting to check.

Emergency Numbers

Service	Number	Notes
Ambulance	119	FREE, say “Kyūkyū” (救急)
Police	110	For crimes, accidents
JNTO Tourist Hotline	050-3816-2787	English, 24/7, medical interpretation
AMDA Medical Information Center	03-5285-8088	English, Mon-Fri 9:00-17:00, medical advice
Tokyo Metropolitan Health and Medical Information Center	03-5285-8181	English, 24/7, hospital referrals

Useful Phrases

English	Japanese	Pronunciation
I need a doctor	医者が必要です	Isha ga hitsuyō desu
I have a fever	熱があります	Netsu ga arimasu
I have pain here	ここが痛いです	Koko ga itai desu
I feel nauseous	吐き気がします	Hakike ga shimasu
I have diarrhea	下痢をしています	Geri o shite imasu
I’m allergic to…	…にアレルギーがあります	…ni arerugī ga arimasu
Do you speak English?	英語を話せますか？	Eigo o hanasemasu ka?
How much does it cost?	いくらですか？	Ikura desu ka?
I need a receipt	領収書をください	Ryōshūsho o kudasai

Troubleshooting

Problem	Cause	Solution
Hospital won’t accept credit card	Many don’t for outpatient	Find ATM (7-Eleven, post office) or ask if nearby hospital accepts cards
Can’t communicate with doctor	No English-speaking staff	Call JNTO hotline (050-3816-2787) for phone interpretation
Bill is very high	Tests and procedures add up	Ask for itemized bill, check if travel insurance covers it
Pharmacy won’t fill foreign prescription	Japanese law requires Japanese prescription	See a Japanese doctor to get new prescription
Don’t have enough cash	Underestimated costs	Ask hospital if they accept credit card, or find ATM before paying
Wait time is 3+ hours	Hospital is crowded	Ask reception for estimate, consider going to a clinic instead
Need medication refill	Running out of prescription from home	See a doctor for new prescription — bring your medication bottle

FAQ

Q: Do I need travel insurance to visit a hospital?
A: No, but you’ll pay full cost without it (¥10,000-¥30,000+). Travel insurance is highly recommended.

Q: Can I use my home country’s health insurance?
A: Usually no. Most Japanese hospitals require upfront payment. You claim reimbursement from your insurance later.

Q: Will the hospital bill my insurance directly?
A: Rarely. Most require you to pay, then you submit a claim. Some major hospitals have agreements with certain insurers — call ahead.

Q: Can I get antibiotics without seeing a doctor?
A: No. Japan requires prescriptions for antibiotics. You must see a doctor.

Q: What if I can’t afford the hospital bill?
A: Hospitals may offer payment plans. Explain your situation. Contact your embassy if you need emergency financial assistance.

Q: Can I bring my own medication from home?
A: Yes, for personal use (up to 1 month supply for most medications). Bring prescription or doctor’s note. Some medications are restricted — check Japan Customs website.

Q: Do hospitals accept foreign credit cards?
A: Some do (Visa, Mastercard), but many outpatient departments are cash-only. Call ahead to confirm.

Q: How do I know if I need an ambulance or can take a taxi?
A: If it’s life-threatening (chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding), call 119. If you can walk and talk, a taxi to the hospital is fine.

Last verified: February 2026