Start at a drugstore. Most of it a drugstore can fix. Here is how to tell the difference, and what to do if it is more than that.
Falling ill away from home is frightening in a way that has little to do with how ill you are. So start here, and work out which of these five you actually need before you worry about the rest.
| If it is | Go to | When it is open | Roughly |
|---|---|---|---|
| A cold, a headache, an upset stomach, a blister, sunburn, motion sickness | A drugstore (yakkyoku). Point at where it hurts — the staff are used to it | Usually 10:00–20:00, often later in cities | ¥500–2,000 |
| Something a doctor should see, but it can wait until morning | A clinic. Ask your hotel front desk to find one that speaks English and to telephone ahead | Weekday mornings. Many close at lunch and on Wednesdays or Saturdays | ¥3,000–10,000 |
| A child is unwell in the evening or at night | Call #8000. A nurse answers | Evenings and nights | Free to ask |
| Chest pain, difficulty breathing, heavy bleeding, a bad fall, a fit, someone not waking up | Call 119 now. The crew will take you to the hospital that can treat it | Always | The ambulance is free |
An ambulance in Japan costs you nothing. No bill arrives for the ride, whoever you are and wherever you are from. If it looks serious, call 119 — do not wait, and do not travel to the hospital yourself. Say kyukyusha (ambulance) and the address you are at; the operator will take it from there.
Drugstores are everywhere, they are open late, and the staff include a pharmacist. Almost none of this needs Japanese — say the short phrase and point.
Hospitals that can see you in English.
Each prefecture page carries the same box, and will carry its own numbers as they are checked.
Save your policy number and the insurer’s 24-hour number to your phone, and screenshot them in case you have no signal.
Keep every receipt and every piece of paper you are given, including the pharmacy receipt. Claims are refused for missing paperwork more often than for anything else.
Ask for an itemised receipt — “Receipt, please” is understood.
Report it at a police box (koban) and ask for the report — insurers usually require proof that you reported it.
Do the same for a stolen card, after you have telephoned the card company to stop it.