Japan Healthcare
Prefecture Healthcare Directory
Japan's 47 prefectures each administer their own public health and multilingual medical support programs. Use this directory to find the healthcare landscape and international resident resources for each prefecture — organized by the eight geographic regions of Japan.
Each prefecture page lists publicly sourced information about multilingual medical support desks, public health centers (保健所), and key healthcare contacts. All information is drawn from JNTO, MHLW, and official prefecture sources — where no multilingual desk is listed in official sources, the page says so clearly. Verify all contact details directly with the prefecture before relying on them.
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Hokkaido
Tohoku
Kanto
Chubu
Kinki
Chugoku
Shikoku
Kyushu & Okinawa
About this directory
Japan's healthcare administration is organized at the prefectural level. Each prefecture operates its own network of public health centers (保健所, hokenjo), which coordinate health surveillance, TB management, maternal and child health programs, and multilingual support services for foreign residents.
In major metropolitan areas — particularly Tokyo, Osaka, Kanagawa, and Aichi — dedicated multilingual medical support lines and coordination desks are established and publicly listed. In less populous prefectures, multilingual support is often provided through municipal offices or on-request interpretation rather than standing desks.
JNTO and MHLW maintain lists of hospitals with international patient services, though these lists are updated periodically and may not reflect recent changes in service availability. For real-time information, contact the prefecture's health department directly. See our guide to finding English-speaking doctors for more on how to locate multilingual healthcare in any prefecture.
Public health centers (保健所)
Every prefecture has at least one public health center (保健所, hokenjo) and typically operates multiple centers across different municipalities. Public health centers are responsible for infectious disease management including tuberculosis notification and contact tracing, maternal and child health certification, food and environmental hygiene, and mental health consultation. Foreign residents can contact their local hokenjo for these services regardless of language ability — larger centers increasingly have access to telephone interpretation services.
Last reviewed: September 2026. Sources: JNTO, MHLW, prefectural official sites.