Staying in Hospital in Japan: Key Japanese and What to Expect
If you need to stay in hospital in Japan, the key Japanese words are 入院 (nyūin, admission), 退院 (taiin, discharge), 手術 (shujutsu, surgery) and 看護師 (kangoshi, nurse), and the most useful phrases are for describing pain, asking questions and understanding the hospital’s rules. Japanese hospitals often expect patients to bring their own toiletries and slippers, have set visiting hours, and ask for a guarantor or contact person and a deposit at admission. Bring your health insurance card and residence card or passport, and ask whether the hospital has an interpreter or international patient service. In an emergency, call 119 first. This guide is general information, not medical advice.
Before you go in
- Documents: health insurance card, residence card or passport, any referral letter (紹介状 shōkaijō), and your medication list.
- Admission forms: expect a form with your medical history, allergies and an emergency contact or guarantor (保証人 hoshōnin). Ask the hospital what they need if you have no family in Japan.
- Costs: ask about a deposit (保証金 hoshōkin) and about the limit on monthly medical costs under public health insurance (高額療養費制度). Private rooms (個室 koshitsu) usually cost extra.
- What to bring: many hospitals ask you to bring or rent pyjamas, towels, slippers or indoor shoes, a cup, chopsticks and toiletries. Check the admission guide (入院のご案内).
Key words on the ward
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 病棟 | byōtō | ward |
| 主治医 | shujii | the doctor in charge of your care |
| 点滴 | tenteki | IV drip |
| 検査 | kensa | test, examination |
| 麻酔 | masui | anaesthetic |
| 同意書 | dōisho | consent form |
| 絶食 | zesshoku | no eating (before a procedure) |
| 面会時間 | menkai jikan | visiting hours |
| ナースコール | nāsu kōru | call button |
Phrases to tell staff how you feel
- ここが痛いです (It hurts here). 痛みが強くなりました (The pain has got worse).
- 気分が悪いです (I feel sick / unwell). 眠れません (I can’t sleep).
- 痛み止めをもらえますか (Could I have painkillers?)
- トイレに行きたいです。手伝ってもらえますか (I’d like to go to the toilet. Could you help me?)
- アレルギーがあります (I have an allergy), followed by what it is.
Nurses often use a 0 to 10 pain scale, so learn your numbers. See Japanese at the doctor.
Questions to ask the doctor
- どのくらい入院しますか (How long will I be in hospital?)
- 手術はいつですか (When is the surgery?)
- 英語で説明してもらえますか。通訳はいますか (Could you explain in English? Is there an interpreter?)
- もう一度、ゆっくり言っていただけますか (Could you say that again slowly?)
- 書いていただけますか (Could you write it down?)
Before signing a consent form, make sure you understand it. Ask for written information you can translate, or bring someone who can interpret.
Hospital rules and visiting
Wards often have fixed times for meals, lights out and baths, and limits on visitors, phone calls and food brought from outside. Some hospitals restrict visiting during infection outbreaks. Visitors usually sign in at the ward station. Ask about Wi-Fi and phone use when you arrive.
Leaving hospital
At discharge (退院), you’ll get instructions for medication, a follow-up appointment (外来 gairai) and a bill to pay at the cashier. Ask for a medical certificate (診断書 shindansho) if your employer or travel insurer needs one; there’s usually a fee. See Japanese at the pharmacy and Japanese for emergencies.
How Hanabuddies can help
Our native Japanese tutors teach one-to-one online, in English, and can help you practise describing symptoms and asking questions before a planned admission. For important conversations, we provide English–Japanese interpreters for medical appointments, online or in person, and uncertified translations of medical documents for personal reference. We don’t give medical advice. See interpreters for medical appointments and translating Japanese medical records.