You’ve landed in Japan, and somewhere between the jet lag and the excitement, something doesn’t feel quite right. Maybe it’s a sore throat. Maybe you twisted your ankle. Maybe you’re just not sure what’s going on — but you know you need to see a doctor.
\\n\\n\\n\\nLast updated: March 2026. Medically reviewed by the medical team at SAKURA International Clinic Asakusa.
\\n\\n\\n\\n\\nThe good news: Japan has excellent medical care, friendly clinic staff, and many doctors with English ability. The even better news: knowing just a handful of Japanese medical phrases can make the whole experience smoother, faster, and far less stressful.
\\n\\n\\n\\nThis guide gives you the most useful Japanese words for doctor and clinic visits — with romaji pronunciation so you can say them aloud, even if you’ve never studied Japanese.
\\n\\n\\n\\nFrequently Asked Questions
\\n\\n\\n\\nHow do I say ‘I need a doctor’ in Japanese?
\\n\\n\\n\\nSay “Isha ni mite moraitai desu” (医者に診てもらいたいです). For emergencies, a simpler phrase is “Isha o onegaishimasu” (医者をお願いします), meaning ‘Doctor, please.’ If you need an ambulance, say “Kyukyusha o yonde kudasai” (救急車を呼んでください). Most Japanese people will understand and help you even with imperfect pronunciation.
\\n\\n\\n\\nWhat is the Japanese word for pharmacy?
\\n\\n\\n\\nPharmacy is “yakkyoku” (薬局). Drugstores are called “doraggu sutoa” (ドラッグストア). Look for the green cross sign or the kanji 薬 (kusuri, medicine). Prescription pharmacies are usually located near clinics and hospitals. Chain drugstores like Matsumoto Kiyoshi and Welcia sell OTC medicines and are found in most neighborhoods.
\\n\\n\\n\\nHow do I describe pain to a Japanese doctor?
\\n\\n\\n\\nPoint to where it hurts and say “Koko ga itai desu” (ここが痛いです, ‘It hurts here’). For headache: “Zutsuu” (頭痛). Stomachache: “Fukutsuu” (腹痛). Sore throat: “Nodo ga itai” (喉が痛い). Rate your pain 1–10 and say the number — Japanese doctors understand this universal scale.
\\n\\n\\n\\nDo Japanese hospitals have interpreters?
\\n\\n\\n\\nMajor hospitals in Tokyo and Osaka often have medical interpreter services, though availability varies. Some offer telephone interpretation in multiple languages. International clinics like SAKURA International Clinic Asakusa have bilingual staff on-site. For other hospitals, download a medical phrase card or use a translation app as backup.
\\n\\n\\n\\nWhat medical documents should I prepare in Japanese before traveling?
\\n\\n\\n\\nPrepare a Japanese translation of your medication list (with generic drug names), allergy information, blood type, and any chronic conditions. Free medical information cards in Japanese are available from JNTO. Having your insurance policy number and emergency contact written in Japanese characters can speed up hospital registration significantly.
\\n\\n\\n\\nAt the Clinic — Check-In Phrases
\\n\\n\\n\\nArriving at reception is often the most confusing moment. Staff will typically ask you a few standard questions. Here’s what to expect — and how to respond.
\\n\\n\\n\\nWhat Staff May Ask You
\\n\\n\\n\\n| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 保険証はありますか？ | Hokenshō wa arimasu ka? | Do you have health insurance? |
| 初めてですか？ | Hajimete desu ka? | Is this your first visit? |
| 予約はありますか？ | Yoyaku wa arimasu ka? | Do you have an appointment? |
| アレルギーはありますか？ | Arerugī wa arimasu ka? | Do you have any allergies? |
| お名前は？ | Onamae wa? | What is your name? |
What You’ll Want to Say
\\n\\n\\n\\n| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 海外旅行保険があります。 | Kaigai ryokō hoken ga arimasu. | I have travel insurance. |
| 保険証はありません。 | Hokenshō wa arimasen. | I don’t have a Japanese health insurance card. |
| 英語が話せますか？ | Eigo ga hanasemasu ka? | Can you speak English? |
| 予約していません。 | Yoyaku shite imasen. | I don’t have an appointment. |
| はじめてです。 | Hajimete desu. | This is my first visit. |
Don’t worry if your pronunciation isn’t perfect. Clinic staff are used to foreign visitors and will appreciate any effort to communicate. A smile and a written phrase (you can show your phone screen) goes a long way.
\\n\\n\\n\\nDescribing Your Symptoms in Japanese
\\n\\n\\n\\nThis is the section that matters most. Being able to describe what hurts — and where — will help the doctor treat you faster and more accurately. These are the core Japanese medical phrases you need to know.
\\n\\n\\n\\nCore Symptom Words
\\n\\n\\n\\n| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 痛い | Itai | It hurts / painful |
| 熱があります | Netsu ga arimasu | I have a fever |
| 吐き気がします | Hakike ga shimasu | I feel nauseous |
| めまいがします | Memai ga shimasu | I feel dizzy |
| 咳がでます | Seki ga demasu | I have a cough |
| 喉が痛いです | Nodo ga itai desu | My throat hurts |
| 下痢をしています | Geri wo shite imasu | I have diarrhea |
| 便秘です | Benpi desu | I’m constipated |
| 息が苦しいです | Iki ga kurushii desu | I have trouble breathing |
| 眠れません | Nemuraremasen | I can’t sleep |
| 食欲がありません | Shokuyoku ga arimasen | I have no appetite |
| 発疹があります | Hasshin ga arimasu | I have a rash |
Body Parts in Japanese
\\n\\n\\n\\nPoint to the area that hurts and pair it with 痛い (itai). For example: “頭が痛いです (Atama ga itai desu)” means “My head hurts.”
\\n\\n\\n\\n| Japanese | Romaji | Body Part |
|---|---|---|
| 頭 | Atama | Head |
| お腹 | Onaka | Stomach / Abdomen |
| 胸 | Mune | Chest |
| 背中 | Senaka | Back |
| 喉 | Nodo | Throat |
| 耳 | Mimi | Ear |
| 目 | Me | Eye |
| 足 | Ashi | Foot / Leg |
| 手 | Te | Hand |
| 腰 | Koshi | Lower back / Hip |
| 肩 | Kata | Shoulder |
| 首 | Kubi | Neck |
Helpful Sentence Builders
\\n\\n\\n\\nYou don’t need perfect grammar. Combine a body part with a symptom word and you’ll be understood:
\\n\\n\\n\\n- \\n
- 〇〇が痛いです。(〇〇 ga itai desu.) — My 〇〇 hurts. \\n
- 〇〇が痛みます。(〇〇 ga itamimasu.) — I have pain in my 〇〇. \\n
- 昨日から (kinō kara) — Since yesterday \\n
- 3日間 (mikkakan) — For three days \\n
- ずっと (zutto) — The whole time / continuously \\n
- 時々 (tokidoki) — Sometimes \\n
Example: 「お腹が昨日から痛いです。」 (Onaka ga kinō kara itai desu.) — My stomach has been hurting since yesterday.
\\n\\n\\n\\nAt the Pharmacy — Getting the Right Medicine
\\n\\n\\n\\nJapanese pharmacies (薬局 — yakkyoku) are well-stocked and pharmacists are often helpful, even with a language gap. Knowing a few key medical Japanese phrases for tourists will help you get what you need without guesswork.
\\n\\n\\n\\nAsking for Common Medicines
\\n\\n\\n\\n| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 風邪薬をください。 | Kaze-gusuri wo kudasai. | Please give me cold medicine. |
| 頭痛薬はありますか？ | Zutsū-yaku wa arimasu ka? | Do you have headache medicine? |
| 胃薬をください。 | I-gusuri wo kudasai. | Please give me stomach medicine. |
| 下痢止めはありますか？ | Geridome wa arimasu ka? | Do you have medicine for diarrhea? |
| 痛み止めをください。 | Itamidome wo kudasai. | Please give me a painkiller. |
| 処方箋があります。 | Shohōsen ga arimasu. | I have a prescription. |
Allergy and Safety Phrases
\\n\\n\\n\\n| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| アレルギーがあります。 | Arerugī ga arimasu. | I have an allergy. |
| ペニシリンアレルギーです。 | Penishirin arerugī desu. | I’m allergic to penicillin. |
| この薬は妊娠中でも大丈夫ですか？ | Kono kusuri wa ninshinchū demo daijōbu desu ka? | Is this medicine safe during pregnancy? |
| 副作用はありますか？ | Fukusayō wa arimasu ka? | Are there side effects? |
| 1日何回飲みますか？ | Ichinichi nankai nomimasu ka? | How many times a day should I take it? |
For a printable pocket card with the most important pharmacy phrases, see our Pharmacy Phrase Card — designed to fit on your phone screen or print out before your trip.
\\n\\n\\n\\nEmergency Phrases
\\n\\n\\n\\nWe hope you never need these. But if you do, knowing them could genuinely save a life. These are the most critical Japanese words for doctor emergencies and urgent situations.
\\n\\n\\n\\nCall for Help
\\n\\n\\n\\n| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 救急車を呼んでください！ | Kyūkyūsha wo yonde kudasai! | Please call an ambulance! |
| 助けてください！ | Tasukete kudasai! | Help me, please! |
| 医者を呼んでください！ | Isha wo yonde kudasai! | Please call a doctor! |
| 緊急です！ | Kinkyū desu! | This is an emergency! |
| 警察を呼んでください！ | Keisatsu wo yonde kudasai! | Please call the police! |
Describing an Emergency
\\n\\n\\n\\n| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 意識がありません。 | Ishiki ga arimasen. | They are unconscious. |
| 呼吸していません。 | Kokyū shite imasen. | They are not breathing. |
| 血が出ています。 | Chi ga dete imasu. | There is bleeding. |
| アナフィラキシーです。 | Anafirākushī desu. | This is anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction). |
| エピペンを使いました。 | Epipen wo tsukai mashita. | I used an EpiPen. |
Emergency numbers in Japan:
\\n\\n\\n\\n- \\n
- 119 — Ambulance and fire \\n
- 110 — Police \\n
- #7119 — Non-emergency medical advice (available in some areas) \\n
Save these in your phone before you travel.
\\n\\n\\n\\nUseful Japanese Medical Phrases for Insurance and Payments
\\n\\n\\n\\nAfter your appointment, you’ll need to handle payment and documentation — especially if you’re filing a travel insurance claim back home. These Japanese medical phrases for tourists will make that process much easier.
\\n\\n\\n\\nAt the Payment Counter
\\n\\n\\n\\n| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 領収書をください。 | Ryōshūsho wo kudasai. | Please give me a receipt. |
| クレジットカードは使えますか？ | Kurejitto kādo wa tsukaemasu ka? | Can I pay by credit card? |
| 英語の診断書はありますか？ | Eigo no shindan-sho wa arimasu ka? | Do you have an English medical certificate? |
| 旅行保険のために書類が必要です。 | Ryokō hoken no tame ni shorui ga hitsuyō desu. | I need documents for travel insurance. |
| 明細書をください。 | Meisai-sho wo kudasai. | Please give me an itemized bill. |
Documents You May Need for Your Claim
\\n\\n\\n\\nMost travel insurance companies will require:
\\n\\n\\n\\n- \\n
- An itemized receipt (明細書 — meisai-sho) \\n
- A medical certificate or discharge summary (診断書 — shindan-sho) \\n
- Proof of payment (領収書 — ryōshūsho) \\n
- Your passport number and travel dates \\n
Ask for these at reception before you leave. Many clinics serving tourists — including English-friendly clinics — can prepare English-language versions on request.
\\n\\n\\n\\nPro Tip — Use Translation Apps Alongside These Phrases
\\n\\n\\n\\nEven with the best preparation, you’ll hit moments where you need to communicate something more complex. Here’s how to use technology as your backup.
\\n\\n\\n\\nGoogle Translate Camera Mode
\\n\\n\\n\\nPoint your phone camera at Japanese text — a sign, a consent form, a medicine label — and Google Translate will overlay the English translation in real time. This is especially useful for:
\\n\\n\\n\\n- \\n
- Reading instruction sheets for prescribed medicine \\n
- Understanding intake forms at reception \\n
- Deciphering pharmacy labels \\n
Download the Japanese language pack before you travel so it works offline.
\\n\\n\\n\\nDeepL for Nuance
\\n\\n\\n\\nFor typing out longer descriptions of your symptoms, DeepL often produces more natural Japanese than Google Translate. Type what you want to say in English, copy the Japanese output, and show it to the doctor or pharmacist on your phone.
\\n\\n\\n\\nVoice Input Tips
\\n\\n\\n\\n- \\n
- Speak slowly and clearly when using voice translation \\n
- Use simple sentences: “I have a fever since yesterday” rather than “I’ve been running a temperature on and off since last night” \\n
- Always double-check the output before showing it — translation errors in a medical context can matter \\n
That said, nothing replaces an English-speaking clinic when the situation is serious. The phrases and apps in this guide are tools for everyday situations — for anything complex, seek out a clinic with English-fluent staff.
\\n\\n\\n\\nQuick Reference — The 10 Japanese Medical Phrases Every Tourist Should Know
\\n\\n\\n\\nShort on time? Memorize or screenshot just these ten:
\\n\\n\\n\\n- \\n
- 助けてください！ — Tasukete kudasai! — Help me! \\n
- 救急車を呼んでください！ — Kyūkyūsha wo yonde kudasai! — Call an ambulance! \\n
- 〇〇が痛いです。 — 〇〇 ga itai desu. — My 〇〇 hurts. \\n
- 熱があります。 — Netsu ga arimasu. — I have a fever. \\n
- アレルギーがあります。 — Arerugī ga arimasu. — I have an allergy. \\n
- 英語が話せますか？ — Eigo ga hanasemasu ka? — Do you speak English? \\n
- 保険証はありません。 — Hokenshō wa arimasen. — I don’t have Japanese health insurance. \\n
- 処方箋があります。 — Shohōsen ga arimasu. — I have a prescription. \\n
- 領収書をください。 — Ryōshūsho wo kudasai. — Please give me a receipt. \\n
- 旅行保険があります。 — Ryokō hoken ga arimasu. — I have travel insurance. \\n
Related Pages
\\n\\n\\n\\n- \\n
- Pharmacy Phrase Card — Printable Japanese Phrases for the Drugstore \\n
- First Visit Guide — What to Expect at a Japanese Clinic \\n
- Fever, Cold & Flu in Japan — Symptoms, Treatment, and Where to Go \\n\\n
- Do Japanese Doctors Speak English? \\n
- Buying Medicine in Japan: Pharmacy Guide \\n\\n\\n
- Sore Throat in Japan: Remedies Guide \\n\\n
Need Help? We’re Here for You.
\\n\\n\\n\\nSAKURA International Clinic Asakusa is open every day, 9:00–17:00, just one minute from Asakusa Station. Walk-ins welcome. All consultations in English.
\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\nComprehensive consultation: ¥55,000 (includes exam, prescription, basic tests, and medical certificate if needed).
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