See a doctor (病院・クリニック )
For you if: you are sick or hurt, but it is not an emergency.
- For mild illness or injury, go to a local clinic (クリニック) first.
- Bring the card that shows your health insurance. Without it, you may pay the full cost.
- Choose the department by your symptoms.
Steps
- Find a clinic. Use the city newsletter, the internet, or the Medical Information Net.
- Choose the department. Colds and general problems: internal medicine (内科).
- Go to the reception desk. Show your insurance.
More details
Main departments.
- Internal medicine (内科): colds, stomach, and general health
- Surgery (外科): operations
- Pediatrics (小児科): children
- Orthopedics (整形外科): bones, joints, and muscles
- Ophthalmology (眼科): eyes
- Dentistry (歯科): teeth
- Obstetrics (産科): pregnancy and childbirth
Types of hospitals. Clinics treat mild illness. Middle-size hospitals do surgery and hospital stays. Large hospitals treat serious emergencies.
If you do not speak Japanese. Ask your city office, a local international association (国際交流協会), or an NPO. JNTO’s website also lists hospitals that accept foreign patients.
At the end, check at the counter. You can show this card.
窓口の方へ
初めて来ました。
診察を受けたいです。
This card says: “This is my first visit. I want to see a doctor.”
窓口の方へ
通訳はいますか。
This card says: “Do you have an interpreter?”
Official information
- Guidebook on Living and Working, 7th edition (English), Chapter 6, 1-1 and 1-2 (p.65-66)Immigration Services Agency of Japan (出入国在留管理庁)www.moj.go.jp · Opens an English website
- Medical Information Net (医療情報ネット) — search for hospitalsMinistry of Health, Labour and Welfare (厚生労働省)www.iryou.teikyouseido.mhlw.go.jp · Opens a Japanese website
- Search for medical institutions that accept foreign patientsJapan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)www.jnto.go.jp · Opens an English website