Tools

What Each Tool Actually Does

Symptom Checker

A text-based decision tree, not a diagnosis. It starts with the questions that matter most: is the person conscious and alert, and breathing normally without chest pain? If not — or if there is sudden one-sided weakness, a sudden severe headache with a stiff neck, or heavy uncontrolled bleeding — it tells you to stop and call 119, with the phrase to say to the operator: “Kyukyusha onegaishimasu.” The next step covers fever of 40°C (104°F) and above. Only then does it branch into twelve everyday symptom categories, each linking to a fuller guide in our symptoms section, before asking whether a pharmacy alone might be enough.

Pharmacy Phrase Card

A card you screenshot, bookmark or print and hand to the pharmacist. Three tables set out English, Japanese and romaji side by side: basic phrases (asking for medicine, saying you have an allergy or are pregnant), around ten symptom sentences covering headache, fever, diarrhea, nausea and itchy skin, and medicine types such as fever reducer, cold medicine, stomach medicine, allergy medicine, insect-bite cream and eye drops. It also explains what a Japanese drugstore can and cannot sell you: doses are often lower than you may expect, tax-free purchase is possible at participating stores with your passport, and antibiotics, sleeping pills and strong painkillers are prescription-only.

Insurance Claim Guide

A six-step walkthrough of the reimbursement process for travelers paying out of pocket in Japan. It covers calling your insurer first (including how to dial internationally from Japan), what to bring to the clinic, and the three documents almost every claim needs: an English medical certificate, an itemized receipt and a copy of the prescription. It then walks through the online claim form, scanning paperwork at a convenience store, and processing times of two to four weeks. Shorter sections cover credit-card travel insurance, why cashless direct billing is rare in Japan, and common exclusions such as pre-existing conditions.

Which One You Need Right Now

• Unsure whether this needs an ambulance, a doctor or a drugstore — start with the Symptom Checker.
• Mild symptoms, facing labels you cannot read — open the Pharmacy Phrase Card on your phone.
• Want the cost back — read the Insurance Claim Guide before your visit, not after.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the Symptom Checker tell me what illness I have?

No. It does not diagnose anything and is no substitute for being examined by a doctor. It sorts your situation into three outcomes: call an ambulance now, see a doctor, or a pharmacy may be enough. If you have severe difficulty breathing, chest pain or uncontrolled bleeding, call 119 rather than working through the steps.

Can I use the Pharmacy Phrase Card to get antibiotics?

No. Pharmacists in Japan cannot diagnose conditions or hand over prescription-only medicines, so the card is limited to over-the-counter products. If symptoms last more than a day or two, get worse, or need prescription-strength treatment, see a doctor.

What do I need from the clinic for my insurance claim?

The English medical certificate, itemized receipt and prescription copy described in the guide. If your insurer has its own claim form, bring it with you. See Medical Certificates and the First Visit Guide for what to prepare. Note that we accept credit cards only, not cash.