Emergency 119 · English-speaking hospitals and clinics · multilingual medical hotlines · costs, travel insurance and pharmacies — what to do if you fall ill or get hurt while travelling.
From emergency numbers and finding an English-speaking doctor to costs and pharmacies — tap a heading below to jump straight to what you need.
Save these in your phone before you head out, so you're not scrambling when something goes wrong.
Ambulances in Japan are free to call and free of charge, whether or not you have insurance. For serious symptoms, don't hesitate to call.
The biggest hurdle of falling ill in Japan is the language — but several free hotlines help you find facilities and interpret for you. Some even cover Thai.
A Tokyo Metropolitan Government service that helps you find hospitals and pharmacies with foreign-language staff near you, along with opening hours and the types of treatment offered.
Call 03-5285-8181, open daily 09:00–20:00, in English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish and Thai. For emergency medical interpretation (a three-way translation between you and the doctor), call 03-5285-8185 on weekdays 17:00–20:00 and weekends/holidays 09:00–20:00.
There's also a Himawari online search where you can filter by area, train station and supported language to find a clinic that's open right now.
A non-profit offering free telephone interpretation and referrals to facilities with foreign-language support. Its strength is the eight languages it covers, including Thai.
Call 03-6233-9266, open weekdays 10:00–16:00. Languages: English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, Thai, Portuguese, Filipino and Vietnamese.
The Japan National Tourism Organization hotline built for tourists, covering accidents, illness, disasters and general guidance.
Call 050-3816-2787, open 24 hours a day, in English, Chinese, Korean and Japanese. Ideal when something happens outside the hours of the other hotlines.
Tokyo has several facilities used to international patients, mostly clustered in central areas like Tsukiji, Roppongi and Minato. Always check hours and call ahead before you go.
| Facility | Area / nearest station | Why it stands out | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🏥 St. Luke's International Hospital | Tsukiji / Ginza (Hibiya · Yurakucho lines) | Large hospital serving international patients since 1902 · 24-hour emergency centre | 03-3541-5151 |
| 🏥 Tokyo Midtown Clinic | Akasaka / Roppongi (Midtown Tower) | Multi-department clinic, English-speaking staff and doctors · travel medicine and vaccinations | 03-5413-0080 |
| 🏥 Tokyo Medical and Surgical Clinic | Shibakoen / Minato (near Tokyo Tower) | European- and US-trained doctors serving the foreign community · English, Spanish, German, French | 03-3436-3028 |
| 🏥 Hiroo International Clinic | Minami-Azabu / Hiroo | General-practice clinic for foreign residents and visitors · friendly, low-key | 03-5789-8861 |
| 🏥 Roppongi Hills Clinic | Roppongi (Mori Tower) | General-practice clinic in the business district, easy to reach | 03-3796-0066 |
Tourists without Japanese health insurance pay the full price, which is higher than many expect — which is why travel insurance matters so much.
| Type of care | Approx. cost (uninsured) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 🩺 Clinic consultation | ~¥5,000–15,000 | General practice — cold, fever, upset stomach |
| 🏥 Hospital visit | ~¥10,000–30,000 | Varies by department and added tests |
| 🚨 Emergency room (ER) | ~¥20,000–50,000+ | Depends on treatment · serious cases far higher |
| 🛏️ Hospitalisation / surgery | Can exceed ¥500,000 | Accidents or serious illness climb fast |
Hospitals usually want payment upfront: most facilities in Japan will not bill your overseas insurer directly, so you pay on the spot and claim it back from your travel insurance later.
Keep all paperwork: receipts, a medical certificate and prescriptions — ask for them in English if possible — to make your claim go smoothly.
Choose high coverage: pick a plan with high medical and emergency-evacuation limits, because costs in Japan are steep. Note too that travellers who leave medical bills unpaid in Japan may face entry restrictions on a later trip.
For minor things like a headache, cold or upset stomach, you can usually buy over-the-counter medicine at a drugstore without seeing a doctor — but prescription drugs need a doctor's note.
Easy to find everywhere: big chains like Matsumoto Kiyoshi, Welcia, Sundrug, Tomod's and Don Quijote are in almost every neighbourhood, selling painkillers, fever and cold remedies, anti-allergy and anti-diarrhoea medicine, plasters, masks and daily essentials — no prescription needed.
Labels are in Japanese: most medicine labels are in Japanese, so a translation-app camera helps, or photograph the box of your usual medicine at home to compare. Some branches in tourist areas have English-speaking staff and tax-free signage.
Prescription medicines: you'll need to see a doctor first for a prescription, then pick it up at a dispensing pharmacy (調剤薬局 chouzai yakkyoku), usually located near clinics and hospitals.
Run through these one by one so that, if you do feel unwell, you can handle it calmly.
The questions travellers ask most often about medical care in Tokyo.
Open the full Tokyo guide, sort out your visa, eSIM and pre-flight prep, and find where to stay, so the whole trip runs smoothly from start to finish.