Seeing a Doctor in Japan Without Japanese: Clinics, Costs & National Insurance — TokyoHelp
Seeing a Doctor in Japan Without Japanese: Clinics, Costs & National Insurance
You don't need Japanese to see a doctor in Japan. This guide covers choosing a clinic vs hospital, what to bring, the reception-to-pharmacy flow, the ~30% you pay with insurance, finding English/Chinese-friendly clinics, and what to do in an emergency.
9 min readChecked against official sources 2026-06-16
Getting medical care in Japan works differently from many countries. There's no GP gatekeeper sending you to a specialist with a referral first — in most cases you go straight to the clinic or department you need. The flip side is that nobody triages you, so figuring out where to go and which specialty to pick is up to you. Add a language barrier and many people put off care they should get. This guide walks through the whole process: picking the right place, bringing the right documents, the reception → questionnaire → consultation → payment → pharmacy flow, how to find English- or Chinese-speaking clinics, and which number to call in an emergency.
Important: This is general information, not medical advice, and it is not a substitute for a doctor's diagnosis. For specific symptoms, medication, or whether to seek care, follow a medical professional's guidance. In a life-threatening emergency (severe chest pain, difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness, heavy bleeding, suspected stroke/heart attack), call 119 for an ambulance immediately — do not wait.
Step 1: Pick the right place — clinic vs general hospital
Japanese medical facilities fall broadly into two types. Choosing correctly saves you time and money.
Clinic (クリニック / 医院): small, neighbourhood practices for everyday problems — colds and fevers, stomach issues, skin, allergies, follow-ups for chronic conditions. Usually walk-in or same-day phone booking, short waits, lower cost. For most things, start here.
General / large hospital (総合病院 / 大病院): full range of departments with surgery and inpatient care, for serious conditions or specialist work-ups. Going straight to a big hospital as a first visit without a referral often adds an extra 'no-referral' charge (選定療養費, commonly ¥7,000+ for a first visit) plus a long wait. The norm is to see a clinic first and get a referral letter (紹介状) if you need the hospital.
Match the department to the problem: Internal Medicine (内科 — fevers, colds, internal issues), Surgery (外科), Orthopedics (整形外科 — bones/joints/sprains), Dermatology (皮膚科), Ophthalmology (眼科), ENT (耳鼻咽喉科 — incl. hay fever), OB-GYN (婦人科/産婦人科), Pediatrics (小児科), Dentistry (歯科), Psychiatry/Mental health. Unsure? Start with 内科 (Internal Medicine) or call one of the hotlines below.
On the day: reception to pharmacy, step by step
1Check in at reception (受付). A first visit is 初診. Hand over your health insurance proof — your My Number Card linked as your insurance (マイナ保険証), an eligibility certificate (資格確認書), or a still-valid health insurance card — and your residence card, and say what's wrong.
2Fill in the medical questionnaire (問診票) — a form where you tick symptoms, allergies, medical history, and current medications. Many clinics have English/Chinese versions; ask '英語の問診票はありますか?' (Do you have an English questionnaire?).
3Wait, then go in when your name is called for the consultation (診察). The doctor asks questions, examines you, and may order tests or prescribe medication.
4Pay at reception. With insurance you usually pay only about 30% of the total (see below).
5Get your prescription (処方箋). Clinics generally don't dispense medicine directly; they give you a prescription to fill at an outside pharmacy (調剤薬局 / 保険薬局), where you pay separately. Prescriptions have a short validity (usually 4 days from issue, counting the issue day) — don't delay.
6At the pharmacy, the pharmacist may ask a few questions and give you a medication record book (お薬手帳). Bring it to future visits.
Tip: Many clinics close midday (e.g. 12:30–15:00), are shut on Wednesdays or Sundays, and stop accepting first-visit registration (初診受付) earlier than their posted closing time. Check hours before you go, and confirm by phone or website whether you need a booking.
What to bring
▢Your health insurance proof — your My Number Card linked as your insurance (マイナ保険証), an eligibility certificate (資格確認書), or a still-valid health insurance card — without it you may have to pay the full amount that day and claim a refund later
▢Residence card (for ID)
▢Cash or a usable payment method (some small clinics are cash-only)
▢Medication record book (お薬手帳) or your current meds (or photos of them)
▢Mother-and-child handbook (母子健康手帳) for pregnancy/child visits
▢A note of your symptoms or key translated words (see the 'Useful Japanese' section)
What it costs: ~30% out-of-pocket with insurance
Once you're enrolled in public medical insurance (national health insurance or employer-based), you pay only part of the cost for a regular visit: typically 30% for ages 6 (school age) to 69, with insurance covering the rest; 20% for pre-school children; and 10–20% for those 70+ (30% for higher earners). So if a visit actually costs ¥5,000, you pay around ¥1,500. Medicine at the pharmacy is billed separately, also at your copayment rate. Without insurance you pay 100%, and self-pay prices can be higher — which is why getting enrolled matters.
If your out-of-pocket cost is large (hospital stay, surgery), look into the High-Cost Medical Expense system (高額療養費): above a monthly cap, the excess can be refunded, and a pre-issued 'limit certificate' (限度額適用認定証) lets the counter cap your payment up front. Check the official guidance from your municipality / insurer for specifics.
Finding English- or Chinese-speaking clinics
You can absolutely get care without Japanese. Tokyo runs multilingual hotlines that point you to language-capable facilities by area and department and explain the system. Before calling, know your ward, what's wrong, and which department you want.
Tokyo Medical Information Service for Foreign Patients (operated by AMDA): 03-5285-8181, every day 9:00–20:00 (365 days), in English, Chinese, Korean, Thai and Spanish. Finds foreign-language-capable facilities and explains the medical system.
AMDA International Medical Information Center: 03-6233-9266 (toll-free 0120-339-266), weekdays 10:00–16:00, in Chinese, English, Korean, Spanish, Thai, Portuguese, Filipino, Vietnamese and more; also offers free remote medical interpreting (phone/video).
MHLW 'Medical Information Net' (ナビイ / Navii): the national searchable directory of medical facilities and pharmacies — filter by foreign-language support, department and area, with English/Chinese interfaces. Good for searching nearby clinics yourself.
Know the difference between 'emergency' and 'not sure', and use the right number:
119 (ambulance / fire): for life-threatening or serious situations — calls an ambulance, which is free. When connected, say '救急です' (it's an emergency), then give the address and symptoms. The ambulance itself costs nothing. You can call even without Japanese — give the location as clearly as you can and get a Japanese speaker to help if possible.
#7119 (Tokyo Fire Department emergency consultation): call when you're unsure whether to call an ambulance or go to hospital now. Doctors and nurses give advice and refer you 24/7, year-round. Dial #7119 from a mobile/touch-tone phone; if it doesn't connect, the 23 wards use 03-3212-2323 and the Tama area 042-521-2323.
Night/weekend but not life-threatening: call a hotline above first, or use the Medical Information Net to find a holiday/night clinic (休日夜間診療) open that day.
Again: with a suspected heart attack, stroke, severe breathing difficulty, altered consciousness, major trauma or heavy bleeding, don't hesitate and don't try to tough it out or drive yourself — call 119. Leave judging the condition to medical professionals; this article is process information only.
Checking in: 'Hajimete desu / Shoshin desu' (It's my first visit), 'Hokenshō desu' (Here's my insurance card)
Saying what hurts: 'Koko ga itai desu' (It hurts here) + point; 'Netsu ga arimasu' (I have a fever), 'Seki ga demasu' (I have a cough), 'Kimochi warui desu' (I feel nauseous), 'Memai ga shimasu' (I'm dizzy)
Asking for language help: 'Eigo (Chūgokugo) ga hanaseru hito wa imasu ka?' (Is anyone who speaks English/Chinese here?), 'Eigo no monshinhyō wa arimasu ka?' (Do you have an English questionnaire?)
Allergies/medication: 'Kusuri no arerugī ga arimasu' (I have a drug allergy), 'Kono kusuri o nondeimasu' (I take this medication) + show the box / お薬手帳
Pharmacy: 'Shohōsen o kudasai' (Please give me the prescription), 'Chikaku no yakkyoku wa doko desu ka?' (Where's the nearest pharmacy?)
To prepare hospital Japanese more thoroughly, see our hospital Japanese phrases guide; if you haven't enrolled in national health insurance yet, or want the rules behind that ~30% copay, see the insurance guide.
Can I go to a clinic alone with no Japanese at all?
Yes, but it goes more smoothly if you first call Tokyo's foreign-patient line (03-5285-8181) or AMDA (03-6233-9266) to be referred to a language-capable clinic; ask at reception whether they have an English/Chinese questionnaire; and use a translation app or bring a Japanese-speaking friend/neighbour to interpret. AMDA also offers free remote medical interpreting.
What if I don't bring my insurance card?
You may have to pay the full 100% that day, then claim the difference back from your insurer within a set period using the receipt — a fiddly process. Keep your health insurance proof on you (your My Number Card linked as insurance, an eligibility certificate, or a still-valid health insurance card).
Do I need to book, or can I just show up?
Many neighbourhood clinics take walk-ins or same-day phone bookings, but they often close midday and stop first-visit registration early. Popular departments like dentistry, dermatology and OB-GYN, and large hospitals, usually need an appointment. Check hours or call ahead.
Why doesn't the clinic just give me the medicine?
Japan largely separates prescribing and dispensing: the doctor issues a prescription (処方箋) and you fill it at an outside pharmacy, paying for the medicine separately. Prescriptions expire (usually 4 days from issue, counting the issue day), so go soon.
Does the dentist work the same way?
Yes — dentistry (歯科) uses health insurance at the same copay rate with a similar flow. But some items (whitening, certain orthodontics, some denture materials) are self-pay and not covered, so you pay 100% — ask in advance.
This guide is general information only — not legal, administrative, tax or other professional advice, and not a filing service. Rules and procedures can change; always confirm with the official window or website. For your specific situation, consult a licensed professional or contact the relevant government office directly.
This article is general information, not medical advice, and is not a substitute for a doctor or pharmacist. In an emergency, call 119.
