Choose the next step for your situation
A visitor looking for an English-speaking doctor, someone who has run out of regular medicine and a traveller checking an insurance claim need different information. Use the guide that matches your immediate question.
Prepare these details before contacting a clinic
Keep your passport and medical records available for the receiving institution. For the first chat, start with a short outline; ask for the provider's document-submission method before sending identity documents or detailed records.
- Your current city or area, accommodation address and dates in Japan.
- A brief description of your concern and when it began.
- Your preferred consultation language and whether you need an interpreter.
- Medicine names, active ingredients, strengths and existing prescriptions, if relevant.
- Travel-insurance details and any instructions from the insurer's assistance service.
Online consultation or a clinic visit?
A video appointment may be one option, depending on the provider's scope and assessment. A physical examination, tests or urgent treatment may require a medical facility. Tell the provider where you will be during the appointment and how long you are staying.
For a medical-facility search, JNTO lets visitors filter by area, language and medical field. Contact the facility to confirm current availability before travelling there.
Ask about costs before arranging care
Ask which charges are included in the estimate and which are separate. Consultation, tests, interpretation and medicines can be different parts of the bill. If you have travel insurance, confirm the reimbursement or cashless arrangements with both the insurer and the provider.
A simple first inquiry
English inquiries: WhatsApp. Chinese inquiries: WeChat, ID Hiroo-online0. The desk confirms the next step for your location; an inquiry does not reserve an appointment.
I am visiting Japan and staying in [city/area] until [date]. I would like information about [a doctor visit / my regular medicine / consultation costs]. My preferred language is [English/Chinese]. Please confirm the available provider, appointment options and fees.
Questions people ask
Can a tourist see a doctor in Japan?
Visitors can contact a medical institution about receiving care. Acceptance, language support, consultation type and fees depend on the facility. Use JNTO's search or contact our desk to prepare your inquiry.
Do I need a Japanese health insurance card?
Tell the medical institution that you are a short-term visitor and explain any travel-insurance coverage. Ask how payment works for your case and which documents to bring; the absence of a Japanese insurance card is not a reason to skip an inquiry about care.
Can I have medicine delivered to my hotel?
Ask the responsible provider or pharmacy whether any domestic delivery is available, and confirm the address, receipt arrangements and timing before you rely on it. Prescription suitability and medicine availability must be assessed separately.
I am leaving Japan soon. What should I say?
Include your departure date and any travel between cities in the first inquiry. Ask whether the consultation, tests, pharmacy arrangements and follow-up can fit your remaining stay.