Prefecture Directory · Kinki
Hyogo 兵庫県
Hyogo Prefecture extends from the Seto Inland Sea coast to the Sea of Japan, encompassing Kobe's cosmopolitan port city, the industrial Amagasaki zone, and the rural Tajima highlands. Kobe has one of Japan's oldest foreign resident communities, with established Chinese, Korean, and Indian communities. The prefecture's foreign resident population reflects this historical openness to international trade and migration.
Healthcare landscape
Kobe University Hospital and Hyogo Prefecture Kakogawa Medical Center are major tertiary-care facilities. Several Kobe hospitals have longstanding experience serving international patients and have multilingual resources including interpreter dispatch services. Hyogo International Association (HIA) provides consultation in 23 languages and maintains connections with medical facilities experienced in serving foreign residents.
Multilingual medical support
ひょうご多文化共生総合相談センター
ひょうご国際プラザ（兵庫国際交流協会）
- Phone
- 078-382-2052
- Hours
- 9:00〜17:00
- Languages
- 21 languages
Public health center (保健所)
Hyogo 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