Healthcare in Japan: A 3-Step Guide

Posted on 09/07/2021 Last updated on 11/05/2021

Top photo: Okayama Red Cross Hospital, Kita-ku, Okayama by Phronimoi, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported, 2.5 Generic, 2.0 Generic and 1.0 Generic license. No changes or alterations were made. Wikimedia Commons Link

Accessing appropriate healthcare in Japan can be a challenge for foreigners new to the country. This article will guide you through the steps you need to take to make that process as smooth as possible.

Step one includes obtaining health insurance, without which you will be paying full medical fees. Step two guides you through the process of accessing an initial consultation at a clinic. Step three deals with treatment at hospitals and registering at a pharmacy.

Think of this article as a companion piece to our previous guide and if you’re about to enter into the healthcare system yourself for the first time, we hope it helps.

Step one: Health insurance

Anyone living in Japan must be covered by an insurance scheme. If you are a full time employee it is likely that you will be enrolled on a company insurance scheme (健康保険 kenko-hoken), in which case you will be issued a health insurance card (健康保険証 kenko-hoken-sho).

However, if you are unemployed, part-time, or do not receive company healthcare insurance, you must obtain National Health Insurance (国民健康保険 kokumin-kenko-hoken) from your local city hall (市役所 shi-yaku-sho). For the application you will need your passport, residence card, a your own personal seal/stamp (判子 hanko).

If you do not have a “my number” card, you can apply for this at the city hall. Once issued, you should keep your insurance card on you at all times.

Step Two: Registering at a clinic

Unlike many other countries, there is no system of general practitioners in Japan, therefore, unless it is an emergency, you must first register with an appropriate clinic if you become ill. This will involve an initial consultation (初診 sho-shin). Here are the main type of clinics:

眼科 (ganka) ophthalmologist

歯科(shika) dentist

耳鼻咽喉科(ji-bi-in-ko-ka) ear, nose and throat

内科 (naika) internal medicine

外科 (geka) surgery

皮膚科 (hifuka) dermatologist

Firstly, go to the reception and tell them it is your first time at the clinic by using the phrase hajimete desu, and present your health insurance card. The receptionist will ask you to fill in a medical questionnaire (問診票 mon-shin-hyo ) which includes general information about yourself. After you complete this and return it to the receptionist, you will then be issued a medical card (診察券 shin-satsu-ken).

The doctor will call you into the examination room for the initial consultation. Some clinics have English speaking doctors, however this is not always the case. If you can’t speak Japanese it’s probably best to take someone with you who can translate. However, if this isn’t feasible, here are some survival phrases:

歯が痛い ha ga itai my tooth hurts

お腹が痛い o-naka ga itai my stomach hurts

足が痛い ashi ga itai my leg hurts

頭痛がします zutsu ga shimasu I have a headache

めまいがします memai ga shimasu I am dizzy

吐き気がします hakike ga suru I feel sick

下痢をします geri o shimasu I have diarrhea

便秘をします benpi o shimasu I have constipation

咳が出る seki ga deru I have a cough

鼻血が出る hanaji ga deru I have a nosebleed

熱がある netsu ga aru I have a fever

After you have received a consultation, the doctor will advise you and the best course of action.

This is likely to be one of two outcomes. Either referral to a hospital for further treatment, and/or a prescription for medications.

Step three: Hospital or pharmacy

If the illness requires medical attention in hospital then you will be given a referral letter (紹介状 sho-kai-jo). Hospitals in Japan operate by appointment, hence you should make an appointment before you attend even if you have a referral letter. When you attend you must present your referral letter to the receptionist along with your health insurance card. Again, once you have registered with the hospital you will receive a medical card.

If you are sent to a pharmacy you must register with that pharmacy and present your prescription along with your health insurance card. Once you have registered with that pharmacy you will receive a pharmacy medical card and your prescriptions. In either case, because your insurance covers only 70% of any treatment or consultation fees, you should take cash to over any additional expenses.

Accessing healthcare in Japan can be a daunting challenge for foreigners who are new to the country. However, this angst can be avoided with a little preparation and planning. With the correct documentation, and a little vocabulary under your belt, you should find accessing healthcare relatively painless.

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