Medical Care & Health
3. What To Do When You Get Sick or Injured (Hospitals and Clinics)
4. Medical Care
1. Medical Insurance
Japan has public health insurance systems that can be used for medical care when a person becomes ill or injured. These systems are not just for the individual, but are in place to support us all. You should enroll into one of the following three systems:
Health Insurance
If you work at least 20 hours a week, earn more than 88,000 yen per month, and meet other set criteria, you will be enrolled in your employer’s health insurance plan. If you have family that lives in Japan, they can also be enrolled in this health insurance. Ask your employer if you are eligible for health insurance.
National Health Insurance
People who have permission to live in Japan for over three months must enroll in Hiroshima City’s National Health Insurance. To enroll, visit the National Insurance and Pension Division of your local ward office or branch office.
However, the following people are not eligible to enroll in National Health Insurance:
1. Those who have come to Japan with a “Designated Activities” visa and are one of the following: a) have come for medical care or similar activities, or to provide daily care for someone doing this, or b) have come for sightseeing or other recreational activities, or are the spouse accompanying someone doing this.
Note: If your residence status is “Designated Activities,” you must submit documentation confirming your designated activities when you enroll.
2. Those enrolled in their employer’s medical insurance.
3. Those enrolled in Late-Stage Elderly Medical Care.
4. Those who receive public welfare (生活保護//Seikatsu Hogo).
5. Those who receive benefits for Japanese war orphans left in China.
6. Those from a country with a social security agreement with Japan that covers healthcare and who have a government-issued certificate of being covered by their country’s social security.
Late-Stage Elderly Medical Care
If you are either of the following, you are eligible Late-stage Elderly Medical Care (後期高齢者医療制度//Kōki Kōreisha Iryō Seido):
1. Those aged 75 or older.
2. Those aged 65 to 74 who are certified as having a disability of severity stipulated by the Hiroshima Prefecture Elderly Medical Care Extended Association. For information regarding certification procedures, contact the Welfare Division of your local ward office or branch office.
However, if you are any of the following, you are not eligible for Late-Stage Elderly Medical Care:
1. Those whose residency permission is for less than three months (unless the Hiroshima Prefecture Elderly Medical Care Extended Association has recognized that you will stay for more than three months).
2. Those whose status of residence falls under “Designated Activities” and engage in the following activities:
● Medical stay
● Accompanying companions taking care of the daily needs of those receiving medical treatment
● Tourism, recuperation, and other similar activities
● Accompanying spouses of those engaging in activities related to tourism, recuperation, and other similar activities
Note: Those whose status of residence falls under “Designated Activities” are required to present an official document indicating the nature of their activities.
3. Those receiving public welfare
4. Those receiving benefits for Japanese war orphans left in China
Going to the hospital
When you go to a medical facility, present your medical insurance card at the reception desk. You may also use your Individual Number Card in place of your medical insurance card at hospitals equipped with card readers. Those who wish to do so will have to register their card as a medical insurance card beforehand.
You will be liable to pay between 10-30% of medical fees (depending on your age and income). If you receive treatment as an inpatient, it is your responsibility to pay for any meal charges (etc.).
Births and deaths
When an insured person gives birth or dies, you may be entitled to receive money. For further information, contact:
● The National Insurance and Pension Division of your local ward office or branch office for inquiries regarding Hiroshima City’s National Health Insurance.
● Your local ward office’s Welfare Division or branch office for inquiries regarding the Late-stage Elderly Medical Care system.
📝 Medical subsidies
If you are enrolled in medical insurance and if any of the following apply, you may be eligible for medical subsidies. For more information, contact the respective divisions of your local ward office.
1. Those raising a child aged zero to 3rd year of junior high school (eligible until March 31 following the child’s 15th birthday)
– Welfare Division
2. Those raising a child alone (eligible until March 31 after the child’s 18th birthday) – Welfare Division
3. Those with mental or severe intellectual/physical disabilities. – Welfare Division
4. When high medical expenses are incurred – National Insurance and Pension Division
Insurance payments
If you are enrolled in medical insurance, you must pay insurance premiums. These premiums are based on factors, such as your income.
2. Long-Term Care Insurance
Long-Term Care Insurance (介護保険//Kaigo Hoken) covers the necessary care services for insured people who require constant care because they are bedridden, have dementia, or for other similar reasons.
Eligibility
If all of the following apply, you should enroll in the City of Hiroshima’s Long-Term Care Insurance:
1. You live in Hiroshima City.
2. You plan on staying in Japan for more than three months, and have the appropriate visa to do so. However, you are not eligible if you have come to Japan with a “Designated Activities” visa and are one of the following: a) have come to Japan for medical care or similar activities, or to provide daily care for someone doing this, or b) have come to Japan for sightseeing or other recreational activities, or are the spouse accompanying someone doing this.
3. You are aged 40 or older.
If you are aged between 40 and 64 you must also enroll in Japanese Public Medical Insurance.
If you are 65 years or older, the City of Hiroshima will send you a Long-Term Care Insurance Card.
If you want to use Long-Term Care services
First, apply to be certified as needing long-term care at your local ward office’s Welfare Division or branch office.
Those who have been certified as needing long-term care or long-term support can use services covered by Long-Term Care Insurance.
However, available services depend on the level of care needed. When you use Long-Term Care services, you must pay between 10-30% (depending on your income) of the costs.
There are some services that can be used by people who are not certified as needing long-term care or support.
For more information, contact your local ward office’s Welfare Division or branch office.
Insurance payments
If you are enrolled in Long-Term Health Insurance, you must pay insurance premiums. The insurance premium for people 65 and older is determined by their income (etc.). The insurance premium for people aged 40 to 64 is calculated as a portion of the insurance premiums of the medical insurance in which they are enrolled.
3. What To Do When You Get Sick or Injured (Hospitals and Clinics)
If you get sick or injured, take your insurance card and some money and go to a hospital or clinic. Be sure to check the hospital or clinics outpatient examination hours and if they can treat your symptoms.
Also, as some hospital and clinic staff can only speak Japanese, it may be a good idea to bring along someone who can speak Japanese.
| Departments | Diagnosis and Treatment |
| Internal Medicine | When you feel unwell, such as having a fever or cold |
| Surgery | When you need to undergo operation to treat a disease or injury |
| Pediatrics | When your baby or child is sick |
| Orthopedic Surgery | When experiencing pain in your bones, joints, muscles, etc. |
| Otorhinolaryngology | Conditions that affect the ears, nose, and throat |
| Ophthalmology | Eye-related conditions |
| Dermatology | Skin-related conditions |
| Dentistry | Oral health |
| Obstetrics and Gynecology | Pregnancy and childbirth, etc. |
📝 Family Doctors
A family doctor is a medical practitioner based at a nearby medical facility (hospital, clinic, etc.) who you usually visit for medical treatment and advice when you are sick or injured. Your family doctor may even provide consultation services during afterhours or public holidays, so it is therefore advisable to have a family doctor.
📝 AMDA International Medical Information Center (NPO)
The NPO AMDA International Medical Information Center provides consultation services in a variety of languages about hospital visits. https://www.amdamedicalcenter.com Tel: 03-6233-9266
📝 Emergency Medical Care Net Hiroshima (Hiroshima Prefecture Emergency Medical Information Network)
The Emergency Medical Care Net Hiroshima website provides information in English about matters such as on-duty doctors during weekends, national holidays, and afterhours.
You can search for hospitals and clinics that provide foreign language services here: https://www.qq.pref.hiroshima.jp
📝 Basic Preventive Measures Against COVID-19
Beginning on May 8, 2023, COVID-19 has been reclassified as a Class 5 Infectious Disease, the same category as diseases such as influenza. As such, it is now down to individual choice on whether to continue with COVID-19 basic preventive measures in your day-to-day life.
Examples of basic preventive measures
Face masks
Mask-wearing is now a personal choice based on individual judgment.
Hand washing and ventilation
Based on the characteristics of COVID-19 infections, proper hand washing and ensuring good indoor ventilation continue to be effective as basic COVID-19 prevention measures.
Avoid the three Cs (closed spaces, crowded places, and close-contact settings) and maintain social distance
Avoiding poorly ventilated areas, crowded places with an unspecified number of people, and close proximity interactions (wear a face mask if it cannot be avoided) is an effective way for high-risk groups, such as the elderly, to avoid catching COVID-19 during an epidemic wave.
4. Medical Care
Family doctors
This is a doctor who you see regularly, and who is familiar with your physical condition. As some doctors might be able to see you afterhours, it is best to have a family doctor.
Tōban-i (当番医)
Clinics designated to open on Sundays and national holidays can be found in the day’s newspaper and on the City of Hiroshima website. Look for 当番医 (tōban-i). 9 am – 5:30 pm
Emergency medical care during weekends, national holidays, and afterhours
Please note that these facilities are to be used by those in need of urgent medical care. Before you go to one of these facilities, ask yourself: “Can I wait until normal opening hours?”
Note: It describes the accepted time.
Hiroshima Citizens Hospital
7-33 Moto-machi, Naka-ku Tel: 082-221-2291 Fax: 082-223-5514
Specialism: Internal medicine and others
Monday to Friday: 5 pm – 8:30 am (overnight)
Saturdays: 8:30 am – 8:30 am (overnight)
Sundays: 8:30 am – 8:30 am (overnight)
Holidays: 8:30 am – 8:30 am (overnight)
Funairi Citizens Hospital
14-11 Funairi-saiwai-cho, Naka-ku Tel: 082-232-6195 Fax: 082-232-6156
Specialism: Pediatrics
Monday to Friday: 5 pm – 8:30 am (overnight)
Saturdays: 8:30 am – 8:30 am (overnight)
Sundays: 8:30 am – 8:30 am (overnight)
Holidays: 8:30 am – 8:30 am (overnight)
North Medical Center Asa Citizens Hospital
*Closed Aug 6 and Dec 29 to Jan 3
1-2-1 Kameyama-minami, Asakita-ku Tel: 082-815-5211 Fax: 082-814-1791
Specialism: Pediatrics
Sundays: 6 pm – 10 pm
Holidays: Closed
Aki Citizens Hospital (Managed by the Hiroshima City Medical Association)
*Closed Aug 6 and Dec 29 to Jan 3
2-14-1 Hataka, Aki-ku Tel: 082-827-0121 Fax: 082-827-0561
Specialism: Internal medicine and surgery
Saturdays: 8:30 am – 3:30 pm, 6 pm – 11 pm
Sundays: 6 pm – 11 pm
Holidays: 6 pm – 11 pm
Hiroshima City MedicalAssociation Senda-machi Afterhours Emergency Medical Center
*Closed Dec 31 to Jan 3
3-8-6 Senda-machi, Naka-ku Tel: 082-504-9990 Fax: 082-504-9991
Specialism: Internal medicine (15-year-olds or older), ophthalmology, orthopedics, surgery (for injuries)
Monday to Friday: 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Saturdays: 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Sundays: 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Holidays: 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Asa Medical Association Kabe Afterhours Emergency Medical Center
*Closed Dec 31 to Jan 3
2-1-38 Kabe-minami, Asakita-ku (Former Asa Citizens Hospital Tel: 082-814-9910 Fax: 082-814-9909
Specialism: Internal medicine (15-year-olds or older)
Monday to Friday: 7:00 pm – 10:30 pm
Saturdays: 7:00 pm – 10:30 pm
Sundays: Closed
Holidays: Closed
Hiroshima Oral Health Center
3-2-4 Futabanosato, Higashi-ku Tel: 082-262-2672 Fax: 082-262-2556
Specialism: Dentistry
Monday to Friday: Closed
Saturdays: Closed
Sundays: 9 am – 3 pm
Holidays: 9 am – 3 pm
5. Health and Welfare
Various divisions at your local ward offices offer a variety of health and welfare services.
Mutual Community Support Division
● General consultations:
Health, medical care, welfare, retirement home admission, etc.
● Health consultations and health examinations for adults and the elderly:
Advice about health problems, such as obesity and high blood pressure, dental health advice, HIV testing and advice, examinations for tuberculosis and cancer, etc.
● Consultations about pregnancy, babies, and parenting (the raising of children by their parents):
Maternal and Child Health Handbooks, infant health checkups, parenting classes, etc.
● Consultations about children:
Family relations, truancy, delinquency, mental or physical development, abuse, etc.
● Consultations about immunization:
Children’s vaccinations, flu vaccinations for the elderly, etc.
● Consultations about mental health welfare:
Mental health, etc.
Welfare Division
● Consultations about medical care and welfare for the elderly:
Late-stage elderly medical care
● Consultations about long-term care insurance:
Certification of needed long-term care, imposition of insurance payments
● Consultations about children’s welfare:
Admission to facilities (such as nursery schools), medical subsidies for children etc., child allowances, parenting support, etc.
● Consultations about welfare for single-parent households:
Medical expense subsidies for single-parent households, Child Rearing Allowance, etc.
● Consultations about welfare for those with physical or mental disabilities:
Physical Disability Certificates, Special Needs Certificates, Mental Disability Health and Welfare Certificates, independent-living support and treatment (out-patient mental health treatment, rehabilitation, special needs medical treatment) allowances, etc.
Family and Health Services Division
● Consultations for those with financial difficulties:
Public welfare, etc.
National Insurance and Pension Division
● Consultations about issues related to National Health Insurance and pension:
National Health Insurance, medical expenses, high medical expenses, National Pension, etc.
💠 If you have any questions or concerns, contact the relevant division.
If you are not confident in your Japanese abilities, please make use of the Hiroshima City & Aki County International Resident Consultation Service (Tel: 082-241-5010).
