Prefecture Directory · Chubu
Gifu 岐阜県
Gifu Prefecture spans the transition zone between the Pacific and Sea of Japan coasts, encompassing mountain forest in the north and manufacturing cities along the Kiso River corridor to the south. The prefecture has a notable Brazilian community in the Hida and Mino manufacturing zones. Gifu City and Ogaki are the main commercial and medical centers.
Healthcare landscape
Gifu University Hospital is the prefecture's advanced-care anchor, with Gifu Prefectural General Medical Center providing supplementary acute capacity. Foreign residents in the manufacturing zones often access community health centers for routine care. Gifu International Center (GIC) provides multilingual consultation in five or more languages and can assist with locating medical interpretation resources.
Multilingual medical support
GIC相談窓口
公益財団法人 岐阜県国際交流センター（GIC）
- Phone
- 058-214-7700
- Hours
- 月〜金 9:30〜16:30（祝日・年末年始除く）
- Languages
- Portuguese, Tagalog, Vietnamese, English, Chinese, Korean, Thai, Indonesian, Khmer, Nepali, Burmese, Spanish, Malay, Mongolian, Ukrainian
Public health center (保健所)
Gifu Prefecture operates public health centers (保健所, hokenjo) across its municipalities. Public health centers manage infectious disease surveillance, maternal and child health programs, and mental health consultation. Contact the prefectural health department or your municipal office to locate the nearest hokenjo.
Emergency numbers in Japan
- Ambulance / Fire: 119
- Police: 110
- Japan Helpline (24-hr English): 0570-000-911
- JNTO Tourist Helpline: 050-3816-2787 (available for medical referrals)
See our emergency guide for full details on calling an ambulance and communicating with emergency services in Japan.
Last reviewed: September 2026