What Should You Do When You Are Sick In Tokyo?
08/24/2016
Where will you go and what will you do when you get sick in Japan? Will doctor understand if you can only speak in English? Are there any English speaking doctors in Japan? How to call an ambulance in Japan? There are some suggestions below.
Buy an insurance first
In Japan, you will get a huge medical bill if you don’t buy a medical/ travel insurance. You can call the insurance hotline if you need help. It is necessary to buy an insurance first if you want to travel in Japan.
Find a hospital
You can go a nearby hospital yourself if you feel ill like fever or tooth pain.
Seek for help from hotel reception
You can ask the reception the way to a nearby hospital.
Search the information on the internet
You can search a nearby hospital on the internet when you suddenly get ill. If you are worry about that you cannot find a nearby clinic or hospital immediately, you can check the nearby hospital at your place you stay first before you go to Japan.
Check the medical information on Japan Tourism Agency website
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/arrange/essential/emergency/mi_guide.html
Japan Tourism Agency creates a medical guidebook for travelers. Useful information can be found in the guidebook like how to get doctors’ assistance and go to a nearby hospital ; you can check it by location, for example, Tokyo. Multilingual guidebooks are available.
The personal information form is also included in the booklet [pdf version] so you can fill in your personal details like past illnesses and medications you are taking currently and print it out.
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/arrange/essential/emergency/pdf/guide_eng.pdf
“Himawari” Service supported by Tokyo Metropolitan Medical Institution
There is a service called “Himawari” supported by Tokyo Metropolitan Medical Institution. You can search hospital by station, location, and language. English and Japanese versions are available.
http://www.himawari.metro.tokyo.jp/qq/qq13enmnlt.asp
Call the medical service hotline
You can call the medical service hotline when you need help or cannot find the information on the internet.
Tokyo Metropolitan Health and Medical Information Center
Tel: 03-5285-8181 (From 9:00AM to 8:00PM Every day)
English/Chinese/Korean/Thai/Spanish
Emergence Translation Service Hotline: 03-5285-8185
Weekdays 1700-2000 National Holiday: 0900-2000
English/Chinese/Korean/Thai/Spanish
It is ok to call the emergence translation service hotline if you cannot communicate with the doctor in the hospital.
AMDA International Medical Information Center
http://amda-imic.com/modules/activity/index.php?content_id=13
Hotline: 03-5285-8088 [Tokyo]
English/Chinese/Korean/Thai/Spanish Every day 9:00AM to 8:00PM
Portuguese Monday,Wednesday and Friday 9:00AM to 5:00PM
Filipino Wednesday 1:00PM to 5:00PM
Vietnamese Thursday 1:00PM to 5:00PM
Call an ambulance
Please call an ambulance immediately if you are in an emergence. Don’t be nervous to call “119” to report that you have a medical emergency. You should report where you are, your name, situation and symptom. You can also yell out for help.
Tokyo Fire Department Multilingual website http://www.tfd.metro.tokyo.jp/eng/index.html
It is recommended to call a taxi if you are not sure that you can go to hospital yourself or not.
The things should bring when you go to hospital
— Cash
Credit card is not acceptable in most hospital. You should pay in full amount even you have bought an insurance. Please bring enough cash when you go to hospital.
— Insurance card
Insurance card is essential. You should provide required information (receipt and medical report etc.) to insurance company.
— Passport
Personal identify document is needed.
You may feel annoyed if you get ill during the trip. You should use the information effectively and seek for help if you are in an emergence.
