Essential Medical Vocabulary & Phrases for Hospital Visits in Japan

Basic information on how to visit a Japanese clinic

When visiting a hospital or clinic in Japan, the first step is to register at the reception desk as a first-time patient, referred to as shoshin.

Clinics and departmens based on your symptoms:

English	Japanese	Pronunciation
Internal Medicine	内科	naika
Pediatrics	小児科	shonika
Surgery	外科	geka
Orthopedics	整形外科	seikeigeka
Obstetrics & Gynecology	産婦人科	sanfujinka
Dermatology	皮膚科	hifuka
Otorhinolaryngology (Ear, Nose & Throat)	耳鼻咽喉科	jibiinkoka
Urology	泌尿器科	hinyokika
Dentistry	歯科	shika
Hospital	病院	byoin
Clinic	クリニック	kurinikku

The staff will typically ask if you have Japanese health insurance (kenko hoken-sho) and inquire about your reason for visiting. You'll be required to fill out a medical questionnaire (monshin-hyo.)

While the format may vary between clinics, the content is generally similar. Questions typically include your medical history, drug allergies, current symptoms, lifestyle habits (such as smoking and drinking,) and the possibility of pregnancy. This information helps doctors better understand your condition for accurate treatment and minimizes the risk of medical misunderstandings.

After submitting the questionnaire, you’ll wait for your turn. During the consultation, the doctor may perform an examination and recommend additional tests, such as bloodwork or X-rays, depending on your symptoms.

Payment is made after all examinations are complete. Unlike in many other countries, most medical facilities in Japan don't dispense medication directly. Instead, you'll receive a prescription to take to a pharmacy, where you'll pay separately for your medications.

Important note: While credit card payments are becoming more common at larger hospitals and clinics, many medical facilities in Japan still operate on a cash-only basis. Carry enough cash with you, and keep all receipts for insurance reimbursement when you return home.

Japanese phrases to make appointments and call an ambulance

In Japan, many clinics require advance appointments, and walk-ins may face long waiting times unless it’s an emergency. It's a good idea to call ahead to make a reservation or ask your hotel staff to assist with arranging an appointment. Here are some essential medical terms and phrases to help you navigate healthcare in Japan.

English	Japanese	Pronunciation
Reception Desk	受付	ukets(u)ke
First Visit	初診	shoshin
Hospitalization	入院	nyuin
Outpatient	外来	gairai
Health Insurance Card	健康保険証	kenko hoken-sho
Waiting Room	待合室	machiai-shitsu
Doctor	医者	isha
Medical Examination	診察	shinsatsu
Medical Questionnaire	問診票	monshin-hyo
Nurse	看護師	kangoshi
Prescription	処方箋	shohosen

Japanese phrases for making appointments

Use these two phrases when making medical appointments:

Japanese phrases for calling an ambulance

In an emergency, dial 119 or use these phrases to request assistance. Keep in mind that 119 is used for both medical emergencies and fires, so the operator will first ask which service you require.

After contacting emergency services, you'll need to provide your location. Share the exact address, hotel name, or restaurant name if you know it. If you’re unsure, clearly describe nearby landmarks or notable buildings. The operator will also ask about the patient's gender, age, and symptoms.

Japanese phrases during medical visits

At the hospital, staff will typically ask if you're a first-time patient, check if you have Japanese health insurance, inquire about your symptoms, and have you fill out a medical questionnaire.

Medical Staff:

Japanese phrases and vocabulary for medical consultations

After registering, you'll wait in the waiting area until your name and assigned examination room number are called. During the consultation, the doctor will ask about your symptoms, how long you’ve had them, and may conduct tests like bloodwork, X-rays, or blood pressure checks.

At the end, the doctor will explain the prescribed medications and how to take them. Below are some common phrases you might hear during consultation:

Medical staff:

Doctor:

Other common medical terms:

English	Japanese	Pronunciation
Medical Examination	診察	shinsatsu
Test/Check-up	検査	kensa
Injection	注射	chusha
Blood test	採血	saiketsu
Treatment	処置	shochi
X-ray	レントゲン	rentogen
Blood Pressure	血圧	ketsuatsu
Anesthesia	麻酔	masui
Allergy	アレルギー	arerugi

Japanese phrases to explain drug or rubbing alcohol allergies

If you have any drug allergies, it's recommended to carry a note with your allergies written in English when traveling abroad.

Doctor or pharmacist:

Patient:

Common Japanese phrases and vocabulary to describe symptoms

Here are some common phrases and words to describe discomfort. Try to provide as much detail as possible about your symptoms, when they started, and what you've eaten, especially if you’re experiencing stomach issues.

Vocabulary to explain common symptoms:

English	Japanese	Pronunciation
Cough	咳	seki
Nausea	吐き気	hakike
Dizziness	目まい	memai
Diarrhea	下痢	geri
Loss of Appetite	食欲不振	shokuyoku fushin
Convulsions	ひきつけ	hikits(u)ke

Japanese phrases and vocabulary to describe injuries

In addition to illness, you may need medical attention for injuries from activities like skiing. Even minor injuries require prompt attention, and this vocabulary will help you communicate effectively with pharmacists when buying over-the-counter medications.

Other common injury-related terms:

English	Japanese	Pronunciation
Injury	怪我	kega
Burn	やけど	yakedo
Nosebleed	鼻血	hanaji
Traffic Accident	交通事故	kotsu jiko
Insect Bite	虫刺され	mushi sasare
Food Poisoning	食あたり	shoku atari
Fall	転んだ	koronda

Where to receive medication after seeing a doctor

Usually, doctors end consultations with odaijini, meaning "get well soon." Afterward, you’ll return to the waiting room until your name is called. Then, proceed to the counter for payment, your receipt, and your prescription.

In Japan, most patients need to get medications from pharmacies. Large hospitals usually have in-house pharmacies, and some emergency rooms have dedicated medication windows. If you’re unsure where to go, simply ask the reception staff when receiving your prescription.

Common types of Japanese medications

Here's a list of common medication types prescribed in Japan. Besides regular tablets (錠剤, jozai), external medications like patches and ointments are commonly prescribed for injuries. Traditional Chinese medicine, known as kampo (漢方,) is also frequently prescribed at regular hospitals and clinics, usually in powder form.

You may come across the terms jenerikku iyakuhin (ジェネリック医薬品) or kohatsu iyakuhin (後発医薬品,) which refer to generic drugs. These contain the same active ingredients and dosages as brand-name drugs but are more affordable. The Japanese government actively promotes the use of generic drugs, so feel free to ask your doctor or pharmacist for them to help reduce your medical costs.

English	Japanese	Pronunciation
Tablets	錠剤	jozai
Fever Medicine	解熱剤	genetsuzai
Painkiller	鎮痛剤	chintsuzai
Gargle Medicine	うがい薬	ugai-gusuri
Compress	湿布	shippu
Ointment	軟膏	nanko
Eye Drops	点眼薬	tengan-yaku
Oral Medicine	内服薬	naifuku-yaku
Chinese Herbal Medicine	漢方薬	kampo-yaku
Generic Drugs	ジェネリック医薬品	jenerikku iyakuhin

Japanese terms for using medication

When you receive medication from a Japanese pharmacy, the medication bag will typically indicate the dosage timing and frequency. In addition to common instructions like "before meals" or "after meals," you might see 頓服 (tonpuku,) which means "take as needed" (for symptoms like fever or stomach pain.) For external medications like patches or ointments, 1日◯回 (ichi-nichi XX-kai) indicates how many times per day the product should be applied.

English	Japanese	Pronunciation
Before Meals	食前	shoku-zen
After Meals	食後	shoku-go
Between Meals (2 hrs after eating)	食間	shokkan
Take as needed	頓服	tonpuku
Before Bedtime	就寝前	shushin-mae

Buy travel medication on WAmazing Shop

When traveling abroad, you may experience conditions like colds, menstrual pain, digestive issues, or muscle aches. It's best to carry the necessary medications with you. In addition to drugstores, buy these essentials, along with snacks and beauty products, on WAmazing Shop.

Popular medications like Eve Quick, Taisho Pabron Cold Medicine, and Ohta Isan (*) are available on the website. After making your purchase, you can easily pick up your items from designated airport lockers or collection points, saving time for sightseeing instead of shopping at drugstores.

*Medical products sold on WAmazing Shop are not eligible for tax-free status, and the prices shown include tax. However, the tax amount will be discounted at checkout, so the final price will be equivalent to the tax-free rate.

Travel with peace of mind and sign up for a travel insurance

Even if you’re familiar with basic Japanese medical vocabulary and phrases, international visitors without Japanese health insurance are required to pay the full cost for medical services. Expenses can be significant, especially for surgeries, hospital stays, or medical evacuation flights. To ensure peace of mind and protect yourself from unexpected costs, we strongly recommend purchasing overseas travel insurance before your trip.

*The information in this article, such as prices and business hours, was accurate at the time of publication but is subject to change. Please refer to the official website(s) for the latest information.