Mental Health Care in Japan for Foreigners: Where to Go

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After graduating from the faculty of pharmaceutical sciences at a national university, she worked at a major dispensing pharmacy chain in Japan. She has reviewed beauty products on social media since her student days and is good at explaining complex ingredients in plain words. She is bilingual in Japanese and English. At Japan Medical Press she writes and reviews articles on medicines and beauty, looks after the English edition, and handles our work with medical institutions.

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Senri Beppu, MD

Chair of the Board, Kurashige Hospital · Cardiologist

Many of my friends from abroad live in Japan, and I often heard that they were struggling because they did not know how to get medical care here. Working as a doctor, I also hear from international patients who come to the emergency department: "There is nowhere that speaks my language," or "I don't know where I should go." It made me realize even more how high the barrier is just to see a doctor. While I was thinking about whether there was some way to help, I came across Japan Medical Press and became involved. I want to provide clear and accurate information so that as many people as possible whose first language is not Japanese can receive medical care in Japan with peace of mind.

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Wei-Yin Qiu, PhD

PhD in Medicine, Kyoto University · Chinese Edition

For Chinese-speaking people, seeking medical care in Japan is not limited to sudden illness or injury while traveling. In recent years, advanced self-pay treatments such as regenerative medicine have also driven demand for traveling to Japan for care. Unclear information, unfamiliarity with how Japan's healthcare system works, and the language barrier are common difficulties in these situations. Dr. Wei-Yin Qiu specializes in regenerative medicine and anti-aging medicine and takes part in reviewing this site's Chinese edition (Traditional and Simplified), so that Chinese-speaking readers can feel more at ease when seeking care in Japan.

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An Sangmin

Medical Student, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine · Korean Edition

I'm An Sangmin, a fourth-year medical student at Hamamatsu University School of Medicine. After coming to Japan from Korea, I was in a traffic accident. It wasn't serious enough to call an ambulance, but even though I thought, "This might be a concussion," I didn't know where to go. Searching online, I couldn't tell which information to trust, and I felt anxious. So that people facing the same worry can reach reliable information in their own language, I review the Korean edition from two angles: whether the medical content comes across correctly, and whether the wording is what a Korean reader would naturally say.

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Japan Medical Press Editorial Team

Planning and Writing · Source Checks and Updates

The Japan Medical Press editorial team researches and writes practical guides to healthcare in Japan for residents and visitors: how to see a doctor, medicines, insurance, and emergencies. The editor-in-chief studied genetic engineering at Kyushu University. Selected for the biomedical track of J-StarX, the entrepreneurship program run by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and JETRO, they studied entrepreneurship at the University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business through that program. They were also a member of the Global Shapers Community, the network of young leaders initiated by the World Economic Forum. Every article is checked by a physician or pharmacist before publication.

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At a glance

Insured consultation: 30% co-pay; 10% with 自立支援医療 (jiritsu shien) subsidy
Counseling: Usually not covered by insurance
Crisis line (English): TELL 0800-300-8355; 119 if in danger

Psychiatry or psychosomatic medicine: which to choose

Japanese clinics that treat mental health usually carry one of two signs. 精神科 (seishinka, psychiatry) treats the full range of mental health conditions, from sleep problems and anxiety to depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. 心療内科 (shinryō-naika, psychosomatic internal medicine) grew out of internal medicine and focuses on physical symptoms linked to stress, such as stomach pain, headaches or palpitations. In practice the two overlap heavily. Many clinics list both. Doctors in either can diagnose, prescribe antidepressants, anti-anxiety medicines and sleep aids, and refer you onward when needed. If you are unsure, either is a reasonable first stop. In cities the most common setting is a small outpatient practice called a メンタルクリニック (mentaru kurinikku).

Does insurance cover mental health care, and what does it cost?

If you are enrolled in Japanese public health insurance, a psychiatric or psychosomatic consultation is treated like any other doctor's visit: people of working age pay 30% at the counter, and the rest is covered by health insurance, funded by insurance premiums and public money. Preschool children pay 20%, and people aged 70 and over pay 10 to 30% depending on their age and income. ^[1] Prescribed medicines dispensed at a pharmacy are covered at the same rate. Counseling by a psychologist (カウンセリング, kaunseringu) is a different matter. It is usually offered outside the insurance system. The clinic or practice sets a price per session, and you pay the full amount. Some clinics offer counseling alongside insured psychiatric care, so ask what is and is not covered before you book. Visitors without Japanese insurance pay the full fee for any consultation, although some travel insurance policies cover it if their conditions are met (many exclude mental health conditions, so check with your insurer first); many clinics that see foreign patients publish their prices in English.

How do you find a doctor who speaks your language?

Being able to describe how you feel in your own words matters more in mental health care than almost anywhere else. Our hospital finder lets you filter by language, so you can look for psychiatry or psychosomatic medicine departments with English, Chinese or Korean support. Large university and prefectural hospitals often have medical interpreters or telephone interpretation; small clinics may rely on a bilingual doctor. When you call to book, say which language you need and that you are a first-time patient (初診, shoshin). Popular clinics are often fully booked for several weeks, so start early if your supply of medication is limited.

Continuing medication you started at home

Most widely used antidepressants, anti-anxiety medicines, sleep aids and mood stabilizers are approved in Japan, though brand names and available strengths differ. Bring the generic name of each medicine and your current dose in writing so the doctor can match it. The rules for carrying medicines into Japan are stricter for psychotropics. Within the published quantity limits you need no paperwork, but larger amounts or injectable forms require a doctor's certificate, and a supply of more than one month also needs an import confirmation certificate (the Yakkan Shoumei), obtained from a Regional Bureau of Health and Welfare before you travel. ^[3] ^[7] ADHD medicines containing amphetamine, such as Adderall, are classed as stimulants and cannot be brought in even with a prescription; lisdexamfetamine requires advance permission. ^[3] Our medicine guide lists what is available here, including the mental health and ADHD groups, so you can check before you leave.

Lowering the cost of ongoing treatment

If you need continuing outpatient care, ask your doctor about 自立支援医療 (jiritsu shien iryō), a national subsidy for psychiatric outpatient treatment. For approved patients the co-payment falls from 30% to 10% at the clinic and pharmacy you designate, with a monthly ceiling that depends on household income. It covers consultations, psychotherapy, prescribed medicines, day care and visiting nursing, but not hospital admission. You apply at your municipal office with a statement from your doctor, and foreign residents with a registered address apply in the same way. ^[2]

Support at work and at university

Employers have been required to run a stress check under the Industrial Safety and Health Act since 2015. Workplaces with 50 or more employees must offer it, and the duty extends to smaller workplaces from April 2028. ^[4] Your result goes to you, and your employer sees it only if you agree to share it. If the questionnaire flags high stress, you can ask for an interview with the company doctor. Many companies also contract an employee assistance program that includes counseling in English. Universities run student counseling offices (学生相談室, gakusei sōdanshitsu) that are free for enrolled students and often staffed by counselors who work in English; the international student office can point you to them.

What to expect at a first appointment

Bring your My Number card registered as a health insurance card (マイナ保険証) or, if you do not have one, your eligibility certificate (資格確認書) ^[8], any referral letter, a list of your current medicines and, if you have one, your medicine notebook (お薬手帳). You will fill out a questionnaire about your symptoms, sleep, appetite, work and home situation, then talk with the doctor for around 30 minutes, or longer at some clinics. Follow-up visits are shorter. The doctor may suggest medication, changes to your daily routine, psychotherapy, or simply another visit to see how things develop. It is fine to ask for time to think, to ask what a medicine is for and which side effects to watch for, or to bring a friend who can interpret. If the first clinic does not feel right, seeking a second opinion elsewhere is normal in Japan.

If you need help right now

If you or someone near you is in immediate danger, call 119 for an ambulance or 110 for the police. If you want someone to talk to, the TELL Lifeline offers free, confidential support in English at 0800-300-8355. Support is available from 09:00 to 23:00 on Tuesday to Thursday, from 09:00 on Friday to 02:00 on Saturday, and without a break from 09:00 on Saturday to 23:00 on Monday. Those hours are split between the phone line and an online chat, which opens at 16:00 every day, so the phone is not answered the whole time (on Tuesday to Friday, for example, only the chat is open between 16:00 and 19:30, and late at night); check the schedule on its website before you call. ^[5]^[9] The Yorisoi Hotline (よりそいホットライン, 0120-279-338) answers 24 hours a day and its voice menu includes a foreign-language option. ^[6] The nationwide mental health consultation line (こころの健康相談統一ダイヤル, 0570-064-556) connects you to your prefecture's service in Japanese; hours vary by region. ^[6] Reaching out early is an ordinary step, not a last resort.

Glossary

精神科 (seishinka) — psychiatry department
心療内科 (shinryō-naika) — psychosomatic internal medicine
メンタルクリニック (mentaru kurinikku) — outpatient mental health clinic
カウンセリング (kaunseringu) — counseling, usually not covered by insurance
初診 (shoshin) — first visit
自立支援医療 (jiritsu shien iryō) — subsidy that lowers outpatient psychiatric co-payments to 10%
ストレスチェック (sutoresu chekku) — workplace stress questionnaire
学生相談室 (gakusei sōdanshitsu) — university student counseling office

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Do I need a referral to see a psychiatrist in Japan?

No. You can book directly with a clinic. Large hospitals may add a fee for first visits without a referral letter, so a neighborhood clinic is usually the easier first step.

Can I get my ADHD medication in Japan?

Some are. Methylphenidate (Concerta) and lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse) can be prescribed only by doctors registered in the ADHD drug distribution management system, which also registers each patient, and amphetamine products such as Adderall are prohibited and cannot be brought in. Check the medicine guide and talk to a psychiatrist here before your supply runs low.

Is counseling available in English?

Yes. TELL and a number of private practices offer counseling in English, usually paid in full by the client. Some psychiatric clinics also employ English-speaking psychologists.

Can I call the TELL Lifeline if I am not in a crisis?

Yes. The Lifeline is for anyone who wants to talk through something that is weighing on them, not only emergencies.

Sources

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This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified physician.

Written byJapan Medical Press Editorial TeamPlanning and Writing · Source Checks and Updates

Reviewed by the Japan Medical Press team, including physicians and a pharmacistThe team includes physicians, a pharmacist, and native-speaker language reviewers.Meet the team