If you suddenly become seriously ill or injured while traveling in Japan, knowing what to do can make the situation much less stressful.
Here’s a simple guide to getting emergency medical help in Japan.
🚑 In a serious emergency, call 119
In Japan, 119 is the emergency number for an ambulance or fire department.
Call 119 if someone has a serious or potentially life-threatening condition, such as:
- Difficulty breathing
- Severe chest pain
- Loss of consciousness
- Signs of a stroke
- Severe bleeding
- A serious accident or injury
- Seizures or other sudden severe symptoms
Japan’s Ministry of Health also recommends calling an ambulance without hesitation when symptoms suggest a serious emergency.
Ambulance: 119
Police: 110
If you are unable to make the call yourself, ask someone nearby:
“Kyūkyūsha o yonde kudasai.”
(救急車を呼んでください。)
“Please call an ambulance.”
But do not dela
🌙 What if it feels urgent, but not life-threatening?
Not every illness requires an ambulance.
If you have a fever, stomach problem, minor injury, or another condition that needs medical attention but does not appear life-threatening, you may be able to visit a clinic or hospital directly.
Japan has medical facilities that accept international patients, and the Japanese government provides information for finding facilities by location, available languages, and medical specialty.
🌏 Need help in English?
The Japan Visitor Hotline can assist international visitors with emergencies, illness, accidents, and other travel-related problems.
Japan Visitor Hotline
Available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
Languages: English, Chinese, Korean and Japanese.
💳 What about medical costs?
International visitors may have to pay medical expenses themselves, depending on their insurance coverage.
Medical treatment can become expensive, particularly if emergency treatment or hospitalization is required. Japan’s Ministry of Health recommends that international visitors have private travel health insurance with sufficient coverage.
If you have travel insurance, contact your insurer as soon as reasonably possible after the immediate emergency has been addressed.
Quick emergency guide
Life-threatening emergency → Call 119
Police emergency → Call 110
Urgent but not life-threatening → Find a clinic or hospital
Need help as an international visitor → Japan Visitor Hotline: 050-3816-2787
Save this page before your trip
Hopefully, you’ll never need it — but knowing who to call and where to go can make an emergency in an unfamiliar country much easier to handle.
📱 What if I can’t call 119 from my phone?
This is especially important for international travelers.
If your phone is connected to a mobile network in Japan and can make voice calls, you can generally call 119 directly. You do not need to add Japan’s country code (+81).
However, having internet access does not necessarily mean you can make an emergency phone call.
For example, if you are using only Wi-Fi or a data-only eSIM, your phone may not have regular voice-call service in Japan.
If you cannot call 119, ask someone nearby to call an ambulance for you.
You can ask for help at places such as:
- Your hotel or accommodation
- A convenience store
- A train station
- A restaurant or shop
- A police box (koban)
Show them this sentence if needed:
救急車を呼んでください。
Kyūkyūsha o yonde kudasai.
Please call an ambulance.
If the situation appears life-threatening, do not spend time searching online for a hospital. Get someone nearby to call 119.
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🏥 What happens after you call 119?
The emergency operator will ask for information about the situation and your location.
Try to explain:
- What happened
- Where you are
- The patient’s symptoms
- The patient’s age, if known
- Your name and contact information
An ambulance will be dispatched and the emergency team will coordinate transportation to an appropriate medical facility.
If possible, have the following available:
- Passport or identification
- Travel insurance information
- A list of medications you take
- Information about allergies or existing medical conditions
But do not delay calling an ambulance because you do not have these items with you.
Can I choose which hospital I go to?
If you are taken by ambulance, you generally cannot choose the hospital yourself.
The ambulance team will coordinate with an appropriate medical facility based on your condition and which hospitals are able to accept you at that time.
This means you may not necessarily be taken to the nearest hospital or to a hospital you already know.
If you have a preference — for example, because you have previously been treated at a particular hospital — you can tell the ambulance team, but your preferred hospital may not be able to accept you.
If your condition is not an emergency and you are able to travel to a medical facility on your own, you can choose where to seek medical care.
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🗣️ Can I call 119 in English?
Foreign-language support for 119 varies by local fire department.
Many areas use a three-way telephone interpretation service for calls from international visitors, but availability and supported languages can vary by location.
If communication is difficult, use simple words and clearly state your location.
If someone nearby speaks Japanese, asking them to help with the call may also make communication easier.
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💴 Is an ambulance free in Japan?
Calling a public ambulance through 119 does not normally involve an ambulance transportation charge.
However, the medical care you receive at the hospital is separate and may cost money.
International visitors who are not covered by Japan’s public health insurance may need to pay the cost of their medical treatment themselves. The amount can vary depending on the hospital and the treatment required.
If you have travel insurance, keep your insurance information with you and contact your insurer when reasonably possible.
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🌙 What if I need a doctor, but it’s not an emergency?
Not every illness or injury requires an ambulance.
If your condition does not appear life-threatening — for example, a fever, stomach problem, rash, minor injury, or other illness — you may be able to visit a clinic or hospital yourself.
→ How to See a Doctor in Japan as a Tourist
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