find a way JAPAN

For foreigners living in Japan, the biggest concern is “Which hospital should I go to if I get sick?” and “Will I be able to communicate in the hospital?” To alleviate such anxieties, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has a useful website to introduce.

Foreign language support hospital search system

This website is designed for tourists visiting Japan. Of course, it is also very useful information for foreigners living in Japan.

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This website is designed for tourists visiting Japan. Of course, it is also very useful information for foreigners living in Japan. If you have lived in Japan for a long time and speak Japanese fluently, you may not need to communicate in your native language because you can explain your condition, payment methods, and insurance information, but for foreigners who want to live in Japan or have just started living here, this information is necessary.

Language code

The languages in this search site are encoded.

• EN:English 
• ZH:Chinese 
• KO:Korean
• RU:Russian
• ID:Indonesian
• MS:Malay
• ES:Spanish
• PT:Portuguese
• MN:Mongolian
• FR:French
• DE:German
• FA:Persian
• BO:Tibetan
• TL:Tagalog
• NE:Nepali
• VI:Vietnamese
• TH:Thai
• PO:Polish
• RO:Romanian
• SI:Sinhala
• HI:Hindi
• IT:Italian
• KM:Khmer
• LO:Laotian
• AR:Arabic

The language code is also indicated in the list of hospital information on the website.

However, when actually searching, the available languages to check are English, Chinese, Portuguese, Spanish, and “other.”

Pre-research

Although the hospitals are listed as being able to provide foreign language support, it is recommended to conduct thorough research in advance on factors such as consultation hours, medical specialties, and whether doctors actually provide multilingual support. In large hospitals, various personnel such as receptionists, pharmacists, doctors, nurses, and accountants are involved in the treatment process. When you start living in Japan, it is essential to research hospitals where you can feel safe and confident receiving medical treatment. It can be difficult to find a hospital when you are already sick, so it is recommended to research hospitals near your workplace or home in advance. First, try calling the hospital to inquire about their language support.