WHAT SHOULD INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS DO IF THEY FALL ILL IN JAPAN? AN A–Z GUIDE

While studying and living in Japan, international students may experience common health problems such as colds, fever, stomach aches, toothache, allergies or injuries in everyday life. For students who have only recently arrived in Japan and are not yet familiar with the Japanese healthcare system, finding a clinic or hospital, choosing the right department, making an appointment and paying medical expenses can seem complicated.

In reality, visiting a doctor in Japan is not particularly difficult once you understand the basic procedure and prepare the necessary information in advance. This guide explains the process step by step, from what to do when symptoms appear and how to find a suitable medical facility, to preparing documents, attending a consultation, paying medical costs and dealing with emergencies.

1. WHAT SHOULD YOU DO FIRST WHEN YOU FALL ILL?

The first step is to assess your condition.

If you only have relatively mild symptoms such as:

• A runny nose, cough or sore throat

• A mild fever

• Headache

• Mild stomach pain

• Tiredness

• Mild allergic symptoms

you may rest, monitor your condition and seek medical attention if the symptoms do not improve or become more severe.

If your symptoms are severe, persist for a prolonged period or significantly affect your ability to eat, sleep or carry out your daily activities, you should see a doctor rather than relying on self-medication for an extended period.

If you experience serious symptoms such as difficulty breathing, severe chest pain, loss of consciousness, heavy bleeding or a rapid deterioration in your condition, call 119 for an ambulance.

When calling 119, explain that you need an ambulance, provide your location and describe the symptoms as clearly as possible. Japan's government advises callers to provide their address as soon as possible so that an ambulance can be dispatched.

2. SHOULD YOU GO TO A HOSPITAL OR A CLINIC?

Not every illness requires a visit to a large hospital.

In Japan, international students can generally visit a suitable clinic depending on their symptoms and the medical department required.

Common departments include:

Choosing the appropriate department can make it easier to find the right medical facility.

3. HOW TO FIND A HOSPITAL OR CLINIC NEAR WHERE YOU LIVE

One useful official service is 医療情報ネット – ナビイ (Medical Information Net – Navi), operated by Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

The system allows users to search for hospitals, clinics, dental clinics and pharmacies throughout Japan. You can search by location, medical department, consultation hours and, in some cases, language support.

When searching, international students can:

1. Select the area where they live.

2. Set the search radius.

3. Select the type of medical facility.

4. Select the relevant medical department.

5. Check whether the facility is currently accepting patients.

6. Check whether foreign-language support is available.

7. Check the consultation and patient reception hours.

The 医療情報ネット system includes functions for finding medical facilities that are open at the time of the search, as well as facilities that provide medical services outside normal hours or at night, depending on the information available in each area.

Do not rely solely on the distance from your accommodation. Before travelling to a clinic or hospital, check its opening and patient reception hours and, where necessary, contact the facility directly to confirm that it can accept you.

4. CAN YOU SEE A DOCTOR IF YOU DO NOT SPEAK JAPANESE?

Yes, but it is a good idea to prepare how you will describe your symptoms beforehand.

Here are some useful Japanese phrases:

体調が悪いです。
I am not feeling well.

熱があります。
I have a fever.

お腹が痛いです。
I have a stomach ache.

喉が痛いです。
I have a sore throat.

頭が痛いです。
I have a headache.

いつからですか？
When did it start?

昨日からです。
Since yesterday.

薬を飲んでいます。
I am taking medication.

アレルギーがあります。
I have an allergy.

If your Japanese is limited, you can write down your symptoms on your phone or ask your school, friends or accommodation manager to help you contact the medical facility.

Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare also provides multilingual materials to support medical care for foreign patients, including materials in Vietnamese.

5. WHAT SHOULD YOU TAKE WITH YOU WHEN VISITING A DOCTOR?

Before leaving for the clinic or hospital, prepare:

• Your health insurance card or relevant insurance information

• Your My Number Card if you use it as your health insurance card

• Identification documents if required

• Your mobile phone

• Cash or another payment method accepted by the medical facility

• A list of any medication you are currently taking

• Information about any drug allergies

If you have previously visited the same medical facility, take any relevant medical documents or records you were given.

If you are unsure about the payment methods accepted by the facility, you can call and ask beforehand.

6. HOW MUCH DOES MEDICAL TREATMENT COST WITH HEALTH INSURANCE?

International students living in Japan generally need to be covered by an appropriate health insurance system. For people enrolled in 国民健康保険 (National Health Insurance), the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare provides guidance specifically for foreign residents in Japan.

For people under the age of 70, the standard co-payment under Japan's public health insurance system is generally 30%, although the actual amount depends on the individual's insurance status and applicable rules.

Therefore, you should not assume that every medical visit will cost exactly 30% of the total medical expenses.

Additional costs may include:

• Medication

• Medical tests

• X-rays or other examinations

• Treatment

• Other charges depending on your condition and treatment

For this reason, check your insurance status and make sure you have an appropriate amount of money available before visiting a medical facility.

7. WHAT IS THE PROCEDURE FOR SEEING A DOCTOR IN JAPAN?

The process will generally involve the following steps:

Step 1: Find a medical facility

Find a clinic or hospital that is appropriate for your symptoms.

Step 2: Check the consultation hours

Pay particular attention to patient reception hours, as these may differ from the facility's general opening hours.

Step 3: Make an appointment if required

Some clinics require appointments in advance. Check the clinic's website or telephone the facility before visiting.

Step 4: Go to reception

Present the required documents and insurance information.

Step 5: Complete the medical questionnaire

You may be asked to provide personal information, describe your symptoms and give details about your medical history, allergies and medication.

Step 6: See the doctor

Explain your symptoms, when they started and any changes in your condition.

Step 7: Undergo examinations if necessary

The doctor may recommend tests or other examinations depending on your condition.

Step 8: Receive the results and treatment instructions

The doctor will explain your condition and advise you about medication or further treatment.

Step 9: Pay the medical bill

After your consultation or treatment, pay the amount that is your responsibility.

Step 10: Collect your medication

If the doctor prescribes medication, follow the instructions provided by the medical facility regarding where and how to obtain it.

8. WHAT IF YOU BECOME ILL AT NIGHT, AT THE WEEKEND OR ON A PUBLIC HOLIDAY?

This is a situation that many newly arrived international students may encounter.

Do not assume that a clinic near your accommodation will be open at weekends, at night or on public holidays.

You can use 医療情報ネット to search for medical facilities that are currently open or provide medical services outside normal hours, depending on the area. The system allows searches by location, opening hours and medical department.

Japan also provides the telephone number 0570-000692 for information on medical facilities providing out-of-hours or holiday services listed through the relevant medical information system.

If the situation is a genuine emergency, do not spend time looking for a regular clinic. Call 119.

9. WHEN SHOULD YOU CALL 119?

The number 119 is used for emergencies requiring an ambulance.

Examples include:

• Severe difficulty breathing

• Loss of consciousness

• Severe chest pain

• Serious bleeding

• A serious accident

• A rapid deterioration in your condition

• Situations where you cannot safely travel to a medical facility yourself

When calling 119, try to clearly say:

救急です。
I need an ambulance.

Then provide:

• Your address

• Your symptoms

• The patient's age

• Whether the person is conscious and breathing, if known

• Your name and telephone number

The emergency operator may ask additional questions and provide first-aid instructions where necessary.

10. COMMON MISTAKES INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS SHOULD AVOID

Taking medication on your own for too long without seeing a doctor

If your symptoms do not improve or become worse, seek medical attention.

Going to a hospital without checking patient reception hours

A facility's opening hours and patient reception hours may be different.

Not bringing your insurance information

This can make the registration process more difficult or time-consuming.

Not telling the doctor about medication you are currently taking

This information may be important when deciding on appropriate treatment.

Avoiding medical care because you do not speak Japanese

Do not allow language difficulties to delay necessary medical treatment. Look for a facility that provides foreign-language support or ask your school or someone responsible for supporting international students for assistance.

Only looking for a hospital after you become ill

Ideally, once you have settled in Japan, save the address of a clinic near your accommodation, a suitable hospital and the emergency number 119 on your phone.

11. PREPARE A “HEALTH INFORMATION PACK” AFTER ARRIVING IN JAPAN

A simple but useful step is to save the following information on your phone:

• Your address in Japanese

• Emergency telephone number 119

• The name and address of a clinic near your accommodation

• The nearest hospital

• Your health insurance information

• Information about any medication allergies

• The names of medicines you are currently taking

• Your school's telephone number

• The telephone number of the person responsible for supporting international students

If you become ill at night or feel too unwell to search for information, having these details readily available can help you respond more quickly.

12. SUMMARY: 8 STEPS TO TAKE WHEN YOU BECOME ILL IN JAPAN

1. Assess your symptoms.

2. If you have signs of an emergency → call 119.

3. If it is not an emergency → identify the appropriate medical department.

4. Find a medical facility using 医療情報ネット (Navi).

5. Check consultation hours and foreign-language support.

6. Prepare your insurance information, identification and details of any medication you are taking.

7. Attend your appointment, undergo any necessary examinations and follow the doctor's instructions.

8. Pay the required medical costs and obtain medication as instructed.

International students do not need to feel overly anxious about visiting a doctor in Japan. The important thing is to understand the basic process, know how to find an appropriate medical facility and keep the necessary information readily available.

In particular, it is worth saving 医療情報ネット (Navi) on your phone. It can help you find hospitals, clinics and pharmacies based on location, medical department, opening hours and, where available, language support. The system is operated by Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and provides medical information across Japan.

CONTACT INFORMATION

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