Special Groups Guide

If you're having thoughts of hurting yourself, this isn't something that can be solved by "pointing to a word" — please don't try to carry it alone. If the situation is urgent (you have a specific plan or intent to self-harm), call 119 immediately or go to the nearest emergency room. If you need someone to talk to: TELL Lifeline (English, nationwide across Japan, free) 0800-300-8355, available Tue-Thu 9:00-23:00, Fri 9:00-2:00 the next day, and continuously Sat 9:00 through Mon 23:00 — exact hours are subject to what's published on their official site telljp.com. For Japanese-language support, いのちの電話 (Inochi no Denwa) 0570-783-556 (10:00-22:00). Verification note: among the free mental health hotlines we've been able to verify, TELL Lifeline clearly supports English and covers all of Japan. As for Japanese-language hotlines like いのちの電話, we haven't found official Chinese/Vietnamese/Korean support for them — this is the one place in this section where we couldn't find matching Chinese/Vietnamese/Korean resources. If you know of a more suitable multilingual mental health support channel, we'd genuinely welcome you letting us know so we can add it.

You can show your personal health information card directly, or take a photo of your medication boxes from home to show the doctor. Clinic procedures in Japan tend to be thorough, so it's best to leave plenty of time and not go in a rush. If a family member is accompanying you, it's a good idea for them to stay for the whole visit and take notes on the doctor's instructions, especially if the older person has difficulty hearing or moving around. If you have any implanted devices (like a pacemaker) or are on blood thinners, be sure to proactively tell the doctor.

Many pediatric clinics operate by appointment or specific time slots — it's not a good idea to just show up. Prioritize searching for "小児科" (pediatrics), since regular internal medicine clinics sometimes won't see infants. If your child is unwell in the middle of the night, Japan has a dedicated children's emergency phone consultation line, #8000, but it usually only supports Japanese and doesn't work with three-way online interpretation. Option 1 (most efficient): ask the hotel front desk to make the call on your behalf, describing symptoms and noting down the recommended hospital address. Option 2 (multilingual): call the Japan Visitor Hotline (a 24-hour multilingual service hotline officially run by the Japan National Tourism Organization, JNTO) at 050-3816-2787 and ask the Chinese-speaking staff to help connect and interpret for #8000 (verified: this number is JNTO's official hotline, not a third-party commercial number). When picking up medication, most Japanese children's medicine comes as powder or syrup — be sure to check the dosage diagram printed on the medicine bag. Note: hotline numbers may change with policy updates — check JNTO's official site (jnto.go.jp) for the latest, and it's worth calling to confirm the number is still active before publishing this. Most municipalities have a medical expense subsidy system for minors (such as the 乳幼児医療証, infant medical certificate) — the specific coverage and age limits vary by municipality. Families raising children in Japan long-term should check with their local ward/city office (区役所) whether they can apply, as it can significantly lower the out-of-pocket share of children's medical costs.

Most cold and pain medications sold at drugstores aren't safe for pregnant women, and staff will usually decline to sell them once they know you're pregnant — that's not them being difficult. It's best to look for a "産婦人科" (obstetrics and gynecology) clinic first, since questions about medication during pregnancy usually need an OB-GYN's judgment. Let them know you're pregnant (妊娠中) right away when you arrive. Bring your prenatal check-up records from home, or screenshots from an app, so the doctor can understand your situation.

Japanese law strictly prohibits selling prescription medications like blood pressure or blood sugar medication without a prescription, so drugstores can't provide them as an "emergency exception." If you lose or run out of your regular medication, you can bring a photo of the original medicine box to show a doctor and ask for a replacement prescription (see the "Buying medication at drugstores" page for the exact phrasing). Dosage units for medication in Japan may differ from what you're used to at home — always follow the dosage and usage instructions from your Japanese doctor, rather than adjusting things yourself based on habits from home.

Many people assume that "seeing a therapist" means going to psychiatry (精神科), but Japan actually draws a clear line between these two departments: 心療内科 (psychosomatic medicine) mainly deals with physical symptoms caused by psychological stress (such as psychosomatic conditions like insomnia, stomach pain, or headaches), while 精神科 (psychiatry) handles the diagnosis and treatment of more clearly defined mental illnesses (such as depression or anxiety disorders). If it's your first time seeking care for emotional or stress-related issues and you're not sure which department to choose, 心療内科 is usually the more approachable first step.