Medical Departments, Reception, Consultations, and Medical Costs
Hospitals and clinics in Japan have "medical departments" (shinryoka) organized by symptom or part of the body.
If you are not sure where to go, you can call a medical institution or search using the Medical Information Net (Navii) and similar services.
Examples of main medical departments
Depending on your symptoms, a different medical department may be appropriate. This is not a diagnosis or automatic determination.
Whole body / injuries / children
- Internal medicine: fever, cough, general unwellness, and so on
- Surgery: injuries, symptoms requiring surgical treatment, and so on
- Pediatrics: children's illnesses
Parts of the body and similar
- Obstetrics and gynecology: pregnancy, childbirth, and care related to women's bodies
- Dermatology: skin
- Ophthalmology: eyes
- Otolaryngology (ENT): ears, nose, and throat
- Dentistry: teeth and mouth
Main medical departments
For example:
- Internal medicine: fever, cough, general unwellness, and so on
- Surgery: injuries, symptoms requiring surgical treatment, and so on
- Pediatrics: children's illnesses
- Obstetrics and gynecology: pregnancy, childbirth, and care related to women's bodies
- Dermatology: skin symptoms
- Ophthalmology: eyes
- Otolaryngology (ENT): ears, nose, and throat
- Dentistry: teeth and mouth
and more.
Depending on your symptoms, a different medical department may be appropriate.
Reception
When you go to a medical institution, you complete reception procedures.
If you have them, prepare things such as:
- Your My Number health insurance card or a certificate of eligibility
- A referral letter
- Your medication notebook
- Something showing the medication you are currently taking
Consultation
Tell the doctor things such as:
- Since when you have had the symptoms
- Where it hurts
- How much it hurts
- The medication you are currently taking
- Any allergies
Medical costs
When you use public health insurance, you pay a co-payment for insured medical treatment according to your age and similar factors.
Some treatment cannot use insurance, and there are also costs not covered by insurance.
Check before your visit or at reception.
When medical costs become high
When your monthly out-of-pocket medical costs exceed a certain amount, the "High-Cost Medical Care system" may reduce your burden.
From August 2026, the upper limit amounts and similar aspects of the system have changed.
The upper limit differs depending on age, income, and similar factors.
Check with your own health insurance.
When you go to a large hospital
If you visit a hospital above a certain size without a referral letter, you may need to pay an additional cost on top of the usual medical fee.
There is also the option of first visiting a local clinic.
What you can check next
- Sick or injured. Wanting to go to the hospital
- Wanting to receive medical care in a foreign language
- Health insurance in Japan
- Sudden illness, ambulances, and nighttime/holiday care
Main places to check
- Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
- Medical Information Net (Navii)
- The health insurance you are enrolled in
Last checked: August 2026