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Medical care and urgent help

Health & emergency

Know when to call 119 or 110, find suitable medical care and prepare the information staff will need.

Health & emergency illustrated guide

What do you need to solve?

Health and emergency help choices in Japan for urgent calls, medical care, pharmacy visits, and earthquake or typhoon guidance
Emergency? Open the 119 and 110 instructions first I need medical care. Find medical help I need to buy medicine. Prepare for a pharmacy visit An earthquake or typhoon affects my trip. Open disaster guidance
Before you need help: three things to prepare
  • Keep medicine labels and relevant medical information available offline.
  • Save your accommodation address and emergency contacts.
  • Check how to contact your insurer and arrange payment before non-urgent treatment.
Prepare for medical costs and insurance →
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Japan Joy Guide

Guides in this category

Heatstroke first aid and heat-risk guidance for travelers in Japan Heatstroke help in JapanRecognize heat illness, cool the person safely, know when to call 119 and check Japan’s seasonal heat-information service before outdoor travel.Read the guide → Autumn hiking safety in Japan with bear, weather and route tips Autumn hiking safety in JapanCheck bear sightings, daylight, weather and trail conditions before a fall hike in Japan. Know when to turn back and why bear spray cannot fly.Read the guide → Travel insurance documents, medical protection and Japanese yen prepared for a trip to Japan Medical costs and travel insuranceUnderstand self-pay medical costs, cashless insurance, reimbursement and the 2026 unpaid-bill reporting change before traveling to Japan.Read the guide → Earthquake and typhoon safety steps for travelers in Japan Earthquake and typhoon safetyProtect yourself during shaking, respond to tsunami warnings and handle transport disruption during a typhoon.Read the guide → Traveler choosing over-the-counter medicine at a pharmacy in Japan Buying medicine in JapanExplain your symptoms, choose the right pharmacy counter and use over-the-counter medicine safely.Read the guide → Prescription medicine and documents prepared for travel to Japan Bringing medication to JapanCheck quantity limits, prohibited ingredients, advance permission and Yunyu Kakunin-sho before you fly.Read the guide → Traveler searching for an appropriate medical institution in Japan I need to see a doctorFind appropriate care, prepare for a clinic visit, and know when to call 119.Read the guide →
Official resources

Check current information

Traveler using the official medical institution search to find a hospital or clinic in Japan Medical institution searchFind medical institutions by area, language, department and available services.Open official site → Multilingual Japan Visitor Hotline operator providing 24-hour emergency assistance Japan Visitor HotlineGet 24-hour help with illness, accidents, disasters and tourism emergencies.Open official site → Traveler checking disaster, transport, crime prevention and health alerts in the Safety Tips app Safety Tips appReceive official earthquake, tsunami and weather warnings for travelers.Open official site →