Getting Sick in Japan as a Tourist: What to Do
What to do right now if you are sick, and what to check before you go, including which medications need extra care.
This guide covers logistics, not medical advice: what to do if you get sick in Japan, and what to prepare beforehand. For a minor illness, a pharmacy or clinic is usually enough. For anything more serious, a clinic or hospital. For a true emergency, call 119. Tourists are not covered by Japan's national health insurance, so travel insurance matters, and medication rules depend on the active ingredient you are carrying, not the brand name on the box. Always consult a doctor for medical guidance; this page helps you find one and prepare before you need to.
What should I do if I get sick in Japan? Minor illness: a pharmacy or clinic. Needs a doctor but not urgent: a clinic or hospital. Serious emergency: call 119. Tourists are not covered by Japan's national health insurance, and medication rules depend on the active ingredient, always verified before travel, not the brand name.
See the full triage guide →If You Are Sick in Japan Right Now
Three tiers, three actions. This is not a diagnosis, just where to go.
Minor Illness
These kinds of symptoms typically mean this tier: A mild cold, a headache, a scraped knee, mild indigestion
Ask a pharmacist at a drugstore for an over-the-counter option, or rest and monitor. A clinic visit is only worth it if symptoms do not improve in a day or two.
Needs a Doctor, Not an Emergency
These kinds of symptoms typically mean this tier: A high fever that will not break, ongoing vomiting or diarrhea, a moderate injury, an infection that needs prescription treatment
Go to a clinic or a hospital outpatient department. Use the JNTO Medical Institution Search tool or ask your hotel for an English-capable option nearby.
Serious Emergency
These kinds of symptoms typically mean this tier: Chest pain, trouble breathing, unconsciousness, a severe allergic reaction, major bleeding, a serious accident
Call 119 immediately. Do not wait, drive yourself, or try to find a specific hospital first, the dispatcher routes you to the right facility.
Not sure which tier applies? That is normal. Call the JNTO Visitor Hotline (050-3816-2787) for guidance, or lean toward a clinic or hospital rather than waiting. This page does not diagnose; a doctor does.
Emergency Numbers in Japan
Free from any phone, including a payphone, 24 hours a day
119
Ambulance or Fire
Call for a medical emergency, a fire, or anyone trapped or seriously injured.
110
Police
Call for a theft, an accident with no injury, or a safety concern that is not medical.
For non-emergency medical guidance, referrals, or language help, the Japan Visitor Hotline (050-3816-2787, 24 hours, English/Chinese/Korean) and the AMDA International Medical Information Center (0120-339-266) can both help you find care and communicate with it. Neither replaces 119 for a genuine emergency.
Finding a Doctor or English-Speaking Care
Start with your hotel, JNTO, or a JMIP-certified facility
Your hotel front desk is often the fastest way to find a nearby option, especially one they already know has English support. JNTO's own Medical Institution Search tool lets you filter facilities by location, language, medical specialty, accepted credit cards, and JMIP certification, a program that accredits hospitals and clinics specifically equipped to accommodate international patients.
English-speaking staff are more reliably available at hospitals in Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto than at smaller regional hospitals, honestly stated rather than assumed. Some clinics take walk-ins during regular hours; others expect an appointment, so calling ahead or asking your hotel to call for you saves time.
Clinic vs. Hospital
| Factor | Clinic | Hospital |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Common illness, minor injury, a prescription refill consultation | Anything serious, an emergency, or care a clinic refers you onward for |
| Appointment | Often walk-in during regular hours; some require a reservation | Outpatient department may take walk-ins; a true emergency arrives via 119 or the ER entrance |
| Typical hours | Regular business hours, commonly weekdays and Saturday mornings; closed most evenings, Sundays, and holidays | Larger hospitals run an emergency department outside regular hours; a specific department (e.g. internal medicine) still keeps clinic-like hours |
| English support | Varies; more reliable in Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto than smaller cities | Larger hospitals, and JMIP-certified facilities specifically, more consistently offer English support |
| Emergency capability | Limited; will refer you to a hospital for anything serious | Equipped for serious cases; the correct destination for a 119 call |
What Medical Care Costs, and Where Insurance Fits
Tourists are not covered by Japan's national health insurance
Tourists on a short-term visa are not eligible for Japan's national health insurance and are generally responsible for the full cost of care. A routine clinic visit typically costs a few thousand to the low tens of thousands of yen. JNTO's own official guidance cites illustrative examples of roughly 7.5 to 10 million yen for major surgery or hospitalization, a figure worth taking seriously rather than assuming a worst case will not happen to you.
Facilities commonly expect payment at the time of treatment, sometimes in full before or shortly after care; ask for a cost estimate at reception where the situation allows it, since larger hospitals more often accept credit cards while many clinics are cash-only. See our guide to money in Japan for the broader cash-versus-card picture. One fact worth knowing: JNTO's own guidance notes that foreign visitors who fail to pay outstanding medical bills risk being denied entry to Japan on a future trip, a real, if rarely mentioned, consequence.
This is exactly what travel insurance is for. Contact your insurer before non-emergency treatment where the situation allows time for it, and keep every receipt and request an itemized bill for reimbursement. Our travel insurance guide covers what a good policy should include and roughly what it costs; this page will not restate that detail.
Pharmacies and Drugstores
Two different things, worth knowing apart
A dispensing pharmacy (chozai yakkyoku) fills prescriptions written by a doctor in Japan. It cannot fill a foreign prescription directly, and a pharmacist cannot prescribe medication on their own. A drugstore sells only over-the-counter items, no prescription needed, and a pharmacist there can often recommend something for common symptoms like a cold or an upset stomach. Multilingual staff are more common at drugstores in tourist-heavy retail districts than at a neighborhood pharmacy.
Bringing Medication Into Japan
Check the active ingredient, not the brand name
The single most important thing to know: Japan's rules are set by active ingredient, dosage, and quantity, not by product name. Two medications with the same brand name in different countries can have different formulations, and two different brand names can share the same restricted ingredient.
Per Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), you can bring the following without a special certificate: prescription drugs up to a 1-month supply, other drugs and quasi-drugs up to a 2-month supply, external-use drugs up to 24 pieces, and self-injection medications with syringes, such as insulin, up to a 1-month supply. Exceeding these thresholds, or carrying a narcotic, psychotropic, or stimulant-related substance, requires applying online for a Yunyu Kakunin-sho (Import Confirmation Certificate) at least 14 days before departure, through MHLW's application system or Japan's Narcotics Control Department for a controlled substance specifically.
How to Check Your Own Medication
- Identify your medication's active ingredient, not just its brand name.
- Check it against the Medications Requiring Extra Caution table below.
- If it appears there, or you are unsure, apply for the appropriate certificate or permission at least 14 days ahead.
- Carry medication in its original, labeled packaging with a prescription copy or doctor's letter.
Medications Requiring Extra Caution
Sourced to Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and Narcotics Control Department
| Active Ingredient / Category | Status Under Japanese Rules |
|---|---|
| Amphetamine / dextroamphetamine (brand name: Adderall) and methamphetamine | Prohibited for individual travelers, no exception |
| Lisdexamfetamine (brand name: Vyvanse) | Requires advance permission |
| Methylphenidate (brand names: Concerta, Ritalin) | Allowed within standard quantity limits |
| Atomoxetine (brand name: Strattera) | Allowed within standard quantity limits |
| Codeine | Requires advance permission |
| Morphine, fentanyl, oxycodone, tapentadol | Requires advance permission |
| Pseudoephedrine | Requires advance permission above personal-use quantities |
| Benzodiazepines and zolpidem-class sleep medications | Allowed within standard quantity limits |
| Insulin and other self-injection medications, with syringes | Allowed within standard quantity limits |
| Epinephrine auto-injectors (e.g. EpiPen) | Allowed within standard quantity limits |
| Cannabis and THC | Prohibited for individual travelers, no exception |
| CBD products | Allowed only within strict, changing limits |
This list is not exhaustive. Regulations can change. Verify your specific medication by its active ingredient with Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare or the Narcotics Control Department before every trip.
If You Run Out, Lose, or Have Medication Stolen
Your foreign prescription is not automatically fillable here
A pharmacy in Japan generally cannot fill a foreign prescription directly, even for a medication you already take at home. Contact your travel insurer first, then see a local doctor, who can write a new prescription, which is why carrying a written list of your medications by generic name matters more than carrying the box itself. Brand names and exact formulations often differ between countries, so the doctor will need the active ingredient and dosage, not just a product name. If medication was stolen, file a report at the local police box (koban), both for documentation your insurer may request and in case it turns up.
English and Communication Support
You have more help available than it might feel like in the moment
The Japan Visitor Hotline (050-3816-2787, 24 hours, English/Chinese/Korean) and the AMDA International Medical Information Center (0120-339-266, several languages, day-dependent) can both help you find care and communicate with it, though not for a 119 emergency itself. A translation app on your phone, and a written note of your symptoms and known allergies prepared in advance, both help close the gap at a clinic that has no English-speaking staff on hand. Your hotel front desk is also a genuinely useful resource, both for a recommendation and for a phone call made on your behalf.
Common Travel Illnesses
Logistics only. For actual treatment, see a doctor or pharmacist.
A cold or flu-like symptoms are common in cooler months in dense cities; rest, fluids, and a drugstore pharmacist's recommendation are often enough, with a clinic visit if symptoms do not improve. Stomach illness and suspected food poisoning call for hydration and rest first, with a clinic visit if symptoms are severe or persistent. Heat illness is a genuine summer risk, given Japan's heat and humidity from June through September; move to shade or air conditioning, hydrate, and seek care if symptoms like nausea or weakness do not ease quickly.
None of this is a substitute for a doctor's judgment. When in doubt, use the triage guide above.
Dental Problems
Dental clinics often take walk-ins more readily than a medical hospital for an urgent case
A broken tooth, severe pain, or a lost filling is unpleasant but rarely a 119 situation. A dental clinic is a separate kind of facility from a medical clinic or hospital in Japan; your hotel front desk or the JNTO Medical Institution Search tool can help you find one nearby, and many accept walk-ins for urgent pain even without a standing appointment.
Chronic Conditions, Family, Senior, and Accessible Travel
The logistics above apply to everyone; here is what to add for your situation
Chronic Conditions
Pack a full-trip medication supply plus buffer days, a written list of generic drug names, and a doctor's letter. Check every medication against the table below well before you pack.
Family Travel
Pediatric clinics and hospital departments are used to treating visiting families. See our dedicated guide for family-specific health and packing advice. Read the full guide →
Senior Travel
The same triage logic applies, with extra attention to medication supply and documentation. See our dedicated guide for senior-specific planning. Read the full guide →
Accessible Travel
JMIP-certified and larger hospitals are generally better equipped for mobility needs. See our dedicated guide for accessibility-specific planning. Read the full guide →
- •Tourists are not covered by Japan's national health insurance and are generally responsible for the full cost of care
- •Medication rules depend on the active ingredient, not the brand name; Adderall's active ingredients are prohibited with no exception, while Vyvanse and codeine need advance permission
- •A Yunyu Kakunin-sho or Narcotics Control Department permission takes at least 14 days to arrange, a genuine pre-trip deadline
- •JNTO's Medical Institution Search tool filters facilities by language, specialty, and JMIP certification
- •A foreign prescription generally cannot be filled directly at a Japanese pharmacy; a local doctor visit comes first
- •Call 119 immediately for a true emergency; do not wait or try to find a specific hospital yourself
- •Check every medication against the table below before you pack, not after you land
- •Ask for a cost estimate at reception, and keep every receipt for insurance reimbursement
Before Your Trip Checklist
- ✓Travel insurance purchased, with emergency medical coverage confirmed
- ✓Every medication checked by its active ingredient against the Medications Requiring Extra Caution table below
- ✓Enough medication packed for the full trip, plus a few extra days
- ✓Medication kept in its original, labeled packaging
- ✓A prescription copy or doctor's letter packed alongside your medication
- ✓A written list of your medications by generic name, not just brand name
- ✓Known allergies written down, in case you cannot explain them yourself
- ✓A Yunyu Kakunin-sho or Narcotics Control Department permission applied for, at least 14 days ahead, if your medication requires one
- ✓Emergency contacts and your insurer's phone number saved somewhere you can reach without your phone
If You Get Sick Checklist
- ✓Judge severity first: minor, needs a doctor, or a true emergency
- ✓Call 119 immediately for an emergency; otherwise, head to a pharmacy or clinic
- ✓Contact your travel insurer before non-emergency treatment, where the situation allows time for it
- ✓Ask for a cost estimate at reception before treatment begins
- ✓Keep every receipt and request an itemized bill, even if reimbursement seems uncertain
- ✓Use the JNTO Visitor Hotline or AMDA if you need language help finding or communicating with care
Common Mistakes
Specific, avoidable errors travelers make around health and medication in Japan
Assuming a foreign prescription can be filled directly at a Japanese pharmacy
Instead: a local doctor's consultation is generally required first, even for a medication you already take at home.
Packing a prohibited stimulant medication without checking first
Instead: check every medication by active ingredient against the Medications Requiring Extra Caution table before you pack, not after you land.
Carrying only brand-name information about your medication
Instead: know and carry the generic, active-ingredient name. Japan's rules, and any local pharmacist's ability to help, both depend on the ingredient, not the brand.
Applying for a Yunyu Kakunin-sho too late
Instead: apply at least 14 days before departure. This is a genuine, fixed deadline, not a flexible guideline.
Assuming travel insurance activates automatically
Instead: contact your insurer yourself, or have someone do it on your behalf, before or as soon as possible after non-emergency treatment.
Discarding receipts or skipping the itemized bill
Instead: keep every receipt. Reimbursement depends on documentation you cannot get back later.
Assuming every hospital has English-speaking staff
Instead: English support is more reliable in Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto than in smaller cities. Use the JNTO Medical Institution Search tool or ask your hotel first.
Waiting to call 119 out of cost worry
Instead: call immediately for a true emergency. Cost concerns are real, but delay is the more dangerous mistake, and insurance and payment plans exist for exactly this situation.
Common Questions About Getting Sick in Japan
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