English · eng.amda-imic.com (archived)

English-Language Resources

Health information and administrative forms for English-speaking residents and visitors in Japan, archived from AMDA-IMIC's English-language resource section.

Japan's healthcare system is organized differently from systems in English-speaking countries. The division between clinics and hospitals, the role of pharmacies in dispensing prescriptions, and the paperwork requirements for insurance claims all work in ways that English-speaking residents often find unfamiliar. AMDA-IMIC's English-language section addressed these gaps with practical guidance and translated administrative forms, operating from 2013 until the centre closed in 2024.

This page collects the English-language materials documented by AMDA-IMIC: 12 categories of medical and administrative forms, links to health system guides, and the prefecture-by-prefecture directory of multilingual support desks. The original archived site is accessible via the link at the bottom of this page.

Start here

Emergency in Japan: call 119 for ambulance and fire. Medical consultation (non-emergency, Tokyo area): #7119, evenings and weekends. Emergency phrasebook →

Finding Healthcare in English

English-language medical care is available in Japan, particularly in Tokyo, Osaka, Yokohama, and other large cities with significant international populations. International clinics and hospitals employ English-speaking staff and are experienced with foreign patients. Municipal health centres (hokenjo) in areas with large foreign communities often maintain multilingual staff or interpretation services.

For routine care, neighbourhood clinics are the standard first contact. Many clinics can work with a patient who carries a written translation of their health complaint, and some clinic staff have working English. Translation apps and pre-printed phrase cards — the type AMDA-IMIC distributed as part of its emergency phrase resources — are practical tools for navigating Japanese-only environments.

Japan's hospital system distinguishes between general hospitals (byoin, 20+ beds) and clinics (shinryojo or iin). Clinics handle routine consultations and follow-up. Hospitals handle inpatient care, surgery, and specialist outpatient services. Foreign residents sometimes bypass the clinic tier and go directly to hospitals, which can result in additional fees under Japan's medical system rules. A referral letter from a clinic makes hospital visits both smoother and cheaper.

Insurance for English Speakers

Most English-speaking foreign residents in Japan are either on employer-sponsored health insurance (Shakai Hoken) through a Japanese employer or international company, or enrolled in the national health insurance (Kokumin Kenko Hoken) administered by their local municipality. Some are covered by private international insurance, though this is supplementary rather than a substitute for Japanese national health insurance for long-term residents.

The insurance card (hokensho) must be presented at every clinic and hospital visit. If the card is not available — for example, because you are between jobs or have just enrolled — care is still provided but billed at 100% until the card is obtained and reimbursement is requested. Japan's national health insurance covers 70% of most approved medical costs; the patient pays the remaining 30% co-payment (ichibu futankin). High-cost medical expense protection (Kogen Ryoyo-hi) limits out-of-pocket costs once monthly spending exceeds an income-linked threshold.

Prescription drugs dispensed by a pharmacy (yakkyoku) are separate from the clinic consultation fee. The pharmacist will explain dosage in Japanese; AMDA-IMIC's phrasebook includes pharmacy scenario phrases for situations where the pharmacist's English is limited. Carrying a medication record (okusuri techo) simplifies repeat-prescription visits and reduces the risk of dangerous drug interactions.

Forms in English

All 12 form types documented by AMDA-IMIC are available in English:

Form

Examination Form

Standard health examination request form used for scheduling diagnostic assessments.

Form

Accreditation Form

Form used for certifying or accrediting a medical condition for administrative purposes.

Form

Professional Registration

Registration form for healthcare or medical interpretation professionals.

Form

Consultation Appointment

Appointment request and pre-consultation information form.

Form

Worker's Accident Compensation

Workers' accident compensation claim form under Japan's rousai hoken system.

Form

Stress Check

Mandatory workplace stress assessment form as required under Japan's Industrial Safety and Health Act.

Form

General Application

General-purpose application form for administrative requests.

Form

Fee Payment

Fee payment request and receipt form for consultation or certification services.

Form

Patient Registration

New patient registration and medical history form.

Form

Notification Form

Disclosure and notification form for informing patients of diagnoses or procedures.

Form

Online Pre-Consultation

Simplified pre-consultation intake form submitted before an appointment.

Form

Tuberculosis Treatment

Documentation set for tuberculosis treatment tracking under Japan's infectious disease reporting framework.

Medical glossary (English) → Medical phrasebook → Original English archive (eng.amda-imic.com) →

Multilingual support by prefecture

The prefecture directory lists English-language health consultation desks, public health centres with English support, and welfare contacts for all 47 prefectures. Tokyo, Kanagawa, Osaka, Aichi, Saitama, Chiba, and most other major urban prefectures maintain public health centre services in English. Rural prefectures often have English support at the prefectural foreign residents' consultation centre (gaikokujin soudan mado) even where municipal-level services are Japanese-only.

Japan Overview All English Forms Glossary Phrasebook Directory