ESSENTIALS
Clinic or hospital, the "no referral" fee, what to bring, and how prescriptions work.
If you need emergency medical help in Japan, call 119 for an ambulance and seek immediate emergency care. The Japan Visitor Hotline, 050-3816-2787, offers visitor assistance 24 hours a day; it is not ambulance dispatch. JNTO: emergency numbers and visitor hotline
For a planned visit, the useful first step is to confirm how the facility accepts patients and what reception needs from you. This guide explains that process; it does not select a medical department, test or treatment for you.
Use the official search in Finding a hospital in your language, then confirm details directly with the facility. A search listing does not guarantee availability. JNTO: facility search and contact guidance
These are questions to send reception, not promises about every facility:
For travel insurance, ask the insurer whether it needs to approve the visit first, whether it can arrange direct billing and which documents to keep. JNTO explains that cashless arrangements depend on the insurer. JNTO: insurance and payment
A referral letter passes information from another medical institution to the hospital you will visit. Some hospitals charge an additional fee when patients attend without a referral; this is separate from the usual patient share for insured care. The policy does not mean every clinic visit requires a referral. MHLW: additional charges without a referral
You may see 選定療養費 (sentei ryoyohi) on the hospital's information sheet. MHLW's English form explains the additional first-visit charge without a referral but leaves the amount for the hospital to fill in. Ask the hospital which current rule and exceptions apply to you. MHLW: English explanation form
An appointment, a referral and confirmation of insurance are separate things to check. Ask reception about each one before travelling for a planned visit.
Confirm this packing checklist with the facility:
Residents can use Health insurance documents for residents to identify their current proof of coverage. If you will bring medicine from abroad, check Bringing medicines into Japan before travelling.
JNTO describes a common sequence: reception, a medical questionnaire, consultation, payment and collecting prescribed medicine. Ask reception where to go next because facilities may organize the steps differently. JNTO: reception to payment
If you need help understanding, ask how language assistance can be arranged before discussing medical decisions. MHLW publishes multilingual questionnaires and explanation forms for medical institutions; confirm which forms your facility accepts. MHLW: multilingual medical forms
Before leaving, ask how you will receive results, who to contact with questions, how to arrange any requested follow-up and which receipts or documents your insurer needs. The healthcare professional determines what examination or treatment is appropriate.
Ask where to take the prescription and check its expiry date before leaving. Prescriptions issued by Japanese insurance medical institutions are usually valid for four days, including the issue date, weekends and holidays; a doctor or dentist may specify a different period in particular circumstances. MHLW: prescription validity
An outside pharmacy may charge separately, while some facilities supply medicine in-house. Ask what is included in the facility's bill. JNTO: prescriptions and pharmacy payment
Ask the pharmacist to explain the instructions and answer questions about using the medicine. Do not change a prescribed regimen based on this guide.
Contact the hospital first when possible; its listing does not confirm that it can accept you. JNTO: contact facilities before visiting
Treat the charge and the acceptance decision as separate questions: ask whether the facility will accept your visit before making travel arrangements.
Care Compass Japan provides navigational guidance, not medical diagnosis or treatment advice. If you are experiencing symptoms, please consult a qualified healthcare professional or visit an accredited hospital/clinic.
Sources checked on 18 October 2026. Next review: 18 January 2027, or earlier if official guidance changes. Written with AI-assisted research and drafting. No sponsorship.
Information provided for planning purposes only. No diagnosis, treatment recommendations, or direct booking services.
PRACTICAL SUPPORT
Contact the healthcare provider or responsible public office first. If you need language support, ask which interpreting arrangements it accepts. Confirm availability and any fees directly.
Care Compass Japan does not book care, make a referral or send your medical records through these links.