Prefecture Directory · Kanto
Ibaraki 茨城県
Ibaraki Prefecture lies northeast of Tokyo in the Kanto plain, known for natto (fermented soybeans), Hitachi's electronics manufacturing heritage, and the Tsukuba Science City research cluster. The prefecture has a large and diverse foreign resident population including researchers, students, and technical training workers from across Asia. Mito is the prefectural capital; Tsukuba is the main international research hub.
Healthcare landscape
University of Tsukuba Hospital operates an International Medical Center with structured English-language services and is the prefecture's leading facility for foreign patient support. The prefecture also runs a Multilingual Medical Helpline covering 33 languages on weekdays, and a Multilingual Remote Medical Interpretation Service connected to over 400 registered institutions. Ibaraki International Association (IIA) operates the Consultation Center for Foreigners covering 10 languages for broader living support.
Multilingual medical support
Consultation Center for Foreigners
Ibaraki International Association (I.I.A.) / 茨城県国際交流協会
- Phone
- 029-244-3811
- Hours
- Monday–Friday 8:30–17:00; closed weekends, public holidays, 29 Dec–3 Jan
- Languages
- Japanese, English, Chinese, Portuguese, Thai, Tagalog, Spanish, Indonesian, Vietnamese, Sinhala
Consultation Center for Foreigners — Ibaraki International Association →
International patient resources
Sources include prefecture official pages, JNTO listings, and prefectural hospital associations. Verify language availability directly before visiting.
| Institution / Resource | Source |
|---|---|
| University of Tsukuba Hospital (筑波大学附属病院) | global.ia-ibaraki.or.jp |
| Azuhata Hospital | jnto.go.jp |
| Ibaraki Western Medical Center | jnto.go.jp |
| Ishikawa Clinic (Hitachi) | jnto.go.jp |
Public health center (保健所)
Ibaraki 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.
Ibaraki Prefecture health department website →
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