Seeing a doctor in Japan as a tourist: finding and booking a clinic
Short answer: in an emergency, dial 119 — it is free and runs 24 hours. For anything less urgent, the Japan National Tourism Organization runs a free 24-hour Japan Visitor Hotline on 050-3816-2787 (English, Chinese, Korean) and an online search of medical institutions by department and language. What neither does is book the appointment for you: most clinics take bookings by phone, in Japanese. YOROZU finds a clinic that will see you, calls to book it in Japanese and sends you the directions, for ¥3,000 per case. We do not give medical advice.
119 or a clinic?
Call 119 for chest pain, difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness, heavy bleeding, a serious fall or anything that feels life-threatening. The ambulance is free. Operators can often connect an interpreter, but say "kyūkyū desu" (救急です — "it's an emergency") and your location first.
For a fever, a stomach bug, an infected cut, a sprain or a prescription you ran out of, a local clinic (クリニック or 医院) is usually faster than a large hospital. Large hospitals in Japan are set up for referred patients, and many add a surcharge if you arrive without a referral letter from a clinic.
Free help you can use yourself
JNTO's website lets you search medical institutions by clinical department and by the languages they handle. The Japan Medical Association also runs a portal for international patients. Both are good places to start. Their limit is the same: they tell you where to go, but you still have to phone the clinic, explain what is wrong and agree a time — usually in Japanese.
What it costs, and what to bring
Visitors are not covered by Japanese public health insurance, so you pay the full cost at the counter and claim it back from your travel insurance afterwards. Bring your passport, your travel insurance details, a payment card and some cash (smaller clinics do not always take cards), and a list of any medicines you take. A prescription written abroad generally cannot be filled at a Japanese pharmacy; you need a prescription from a doctor in Japan.
Why booking is the hard part
Clinic receptions in Japan are small and busy. Many take appointments only by phone, keep short or split opening hours and close on Sundays, and the receptionist will ask about symptoms, how long you have had them and whether you have insurance — all in Japanese. Turning up without calling often means a long wait or being told the doctor cannot see you that day.
What YOROZU does — and doesn't
Tell us where you are, what kind of problem it is and when you can go. We find clinics near you that accept foreign patients, call them in Japanese to check they can see you, book the time, and send you the clinic's address in Japanese so you can show it to a taxi driver. If you want help during the consultation, we can join a three-way call as a live interpreter.
We do not diagnose, recommend treatments or choose medicines, and we are not an emergency service. If it is urgent, call 119.
Need a clinic booked?
Message us with your location and the kind of problem. A person in Tokyo calls the clinic in Japanese for you.
Ask us — free to askClinic search and booking ¥3,000 per case · Live interpreter ¥1,500 per session · Replies 9:00–18:00 Japan time; outside those hours replies may take longer
Frequently asked
Can tourists see a doctor in Japan without Japanese health insurance?
Yes. Clinics and hospitals treat visitors, but without Japanese public health insurance you pay the full cost yourself at the counter. Keep the receipt and any medical certificate so you can claim on your travel insurance.
How do I find an English-speaking doctor in Japan?
Use the Japan National Tourism Organization search for medical institutions by department and language, or call JNTO's Japan Visitor Hotline on 050-3816-2787 (24 hours, English, Chinese and Korean). The hotline gives information; it does not book the appointment or interpret during your visit.
What number do I call for an ambulance in Japan?
Dial 119. It is free and works from any phone. Say "kyūkyū desu" (救急です) and give your location. For anything urgent, call 119 first — never wait for a booking service in an emergency.
Can YOROZU book a clinic appointment for me?
Yes. We look for a clinic near you that accepts foreign patients, call in Japanese to confirm they can see you and book the time, then send the address in Japanese for a taxi driver. It costs ¥3,000 per case. If you need someone on the line during the consultation, our live interpreter is ¥1,500 per session.
Do you give medical advice?
No. We are not doctors and do not diagnose, recommend treatments or choose medicines. We find a clinic, make the call and help with the language. Medical decisions are between you and the doctor.