What to expect at a Japanese Hospital
Japanese hospitals offer various types of medical treatments, and both inpatient and outpatient services. Japanese people use a hospital when they have been referred to it by a clinic, or if the hospital is conveniently located, or when they simply want to receive care from a well-equipped facility.
In Japan, almost all hospitals are accessible to patients without a doctor’s referral. However, hospitals are allowed to charge an extra fee to patients without a referral. These fees range from 2,000 to 5,000 yen.
Most hospitals accept Japanese Health Insurance and charge 30% of the total fees to the patient. However, private hospitals tend to set a higher charge for patients who have no Japanese Health Insurance.
It is better to subscribe to health insurance before traveling in international companies located in Egypt and Japan, such as AXA
Some hospitals require an appointment in advance. Some don’t. In general patients need to make their first visit between 9 am and 11 am on a weekday.
Afternoon appointments are generally only available to returning patients. Appointments are often made by calling a hospital’s appointment line, but the phone operators may only be available for a short time, such as from 1 pm to 4 pm.
Hospitals are closed for non-emergency patients on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. In case of emergency, be very careful to check whether or not a hospital will be able to accept you before attempting to make a visit. Please see our Emergency Clinics and hospitals page for details.
Hospitals that accept credit cards are quite limited. It is best to prepare cash.
Hospitals in Japan vary in service policies and hours. It is best to gather information before you use. We are happy to help you choose the one that matches your request and coordinate your visit.
