Prefecture Directory · Shikoku
Kagawa 香川県
Kagawa Prefecture is the smallest prefecture in Japan by area, occupying the northeastern tip of Shikoku and many islands of the Seto Inland Sea. Takamatsu, the prefectural capital, is a compact commercial center with ferry connections to Honshu. Foreign residents include technical training workers in manufacturing and a small international arts and tourism community.
Healthcare landscape
Kagawa University Hospital in Miki-cho and Kagawa Prefectural Central Hospital in Takamatsu are the main tertiary-care facilities. The Seto Inland Sea island communities rely on ferry connections to mainland facilities for specialist care. I-Pal Kagawa, the prefectural international exchange center, provides multilingual consultation and can assist foreign residents with locating healthcare resources.
Multilingual medical support
かがわ外国人相談支援センター
公益財団法人かがわ国際交流センター（I-Pal Kagawa）
- Phone
- 087-837-0411
- Hours
- 火〜日 9:00〜16:00
Public health center (保健所)
Kagawa 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