🏥 Emergency & medical help
☎️ Emergency Numbers
110 — Police
For accidents, crime, theft, or if you need immediate police assistance.
119 — Fire & Ambulance
For medical emergencies, serious injuries, fires, or other situations requiring immediate assistance.
🇯🇵 Japan Visitor Hotline
☎ 050-3816-2787
From overseas: +81-50-3816-2787
Available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year in English, Chinese, and Korean.
The hotline can assist with:
Medical emergencies
Accidents
Natural disasters
Tourist information
🏥 Medical Information
Guide to Using Medical Institutions
A helpful guide for finding and visiting medical facilities in Japan.
JNTO Emergency Information
Information and resources for staying safe and getting help during your trip.
Tip: Save 110, 119, and the Japan Visitor Hotline in your phone before you travel. 🇯🇵
If you feel unwell during your trip, Japanese drugstores (ドラッグストア / drug stores) carry a wide range of over-the-counter medicines and health products.
Japanese cold medicines are often designed around specific symptoms, such as a sore throat, cough, runny nose, or fever. If you’re not sure what you need, ask a pharmacist or drugstore staff member for help. They can recommend products based on your symptoms and let you know about ingredients that may cause drowsiness or contain caffeine.
💊 Common OTC Medicines
These are some popular over-the-counter products you may see at Japanese drugstores:
Pain & Fever
Loxonin S (ロキソニンS) — pain and fever relief
EVE (イブ) — pain and fever relief
Bufferin (バファリン) — pain and fever relief
Stomach & Digestive Health
Biofermin S (新ビオフェルミンS) — digestive health
Ohta’s Isan (太田胃散) — stomach relief
Seirogan (正露丸) — traditionally used for digestive discomfort
Vitamins & Fatigue
Chocola BB Plus (チョコラBBプラス) — vitamin supplement
Alinamin (アリナミン) — vitamin and fatigue-related products
🤧 Feeling Sick?
Japanese cold medicines come in many varieties, depending on your symptoms. A product intended mainly for a sore throat may be different from one intended for a cough, runny nose, or fever.
Don’t be afraid to ask! Pharmacists are available at many drugstores and can help you find an appropriate product.
If you’re traveling with Japan Planned, you can also send us a photo of the product or explain your symptoms, and we’ll help you understand what you’re looking at.
💧 Stay Hydrated
Pocari Sweat is a popular Japanese electrolyte drink and can be useful when you’re feeling dehydrated, especially after sweating or during hot weather. It’s a drink, not a medicine.
⚠️ Important: Always check the ingredients and directions before taking any medicine. Some products may cause drowsiness or interact with medications you’re already taking. If you have allergies, take prescription medication, are pregnant, or have a medical condition, consult a pharmacist or medical professional before using an OTC medicine.
