Is mental health care covered by health insurance in Japan?

Yes. Outpatient psychiatry and psychotherapy provided by a licensed psychiatrist at a clinic are covered under Japan's health insurance scheme with the standard 30% copayment. Counseling provided by a non-physician psychologist outside a covered clinical setting is typically self-pay.

Are there English-speaking mental health professionals in Japan?

English-speaking psychiatrists and therapists exist in major cities, particularly Tokyo. Some specialize in working with foreign residents and expatriates. JNTO and expat community resources are good starting points. Online therapy platforms (some available in English with Japan-registered practitioners) have expanded access considerably.

What if I am in crisis?

For acute psychiatric emergencies in Japan, call 119 for emergency ambulance response. For immediate emotional support by telephone, Japanese crisis lines include the Inochi no Denwa (いのちの電話) — some lines have English-language availability. Consulates and embassies for some countries also operate or can refer to English-language crisis support resources.

Will my employer find out if I see a psychiatrist?

No. Medical records in Japan are confidential under the same rules that apply to other specialties. Your employer does not have access to your clinical information. Annual health checkup (kenko shindan) results include a mental health screening component, but results are your own — employers receive only aggregated workplace-level data, not individual results.

Getting Care

Mental Health Support for Foreign Residents in Japan

How to access mental health services in Japan as a foreign resident — clinics, public health centers, crisis lines, and what to expect from psychiatric and counseling services.

Who this is for

Foreign residents experiencing mental health difficulties in Japan, including anxiety, depression, adjustment challenges, or crisis situations.

Mental health care and foreign residents in Japan

Relocating to Japan — navigating a new language, culture, workplace expectations, and social systems — creates well-documented mental health stressors. Isolation, cultural adjustment, family separation, discrimination experiences, and the cumulative demands of operating in a second language can contribute to anxiety, depression, and burnout. Recognizing that these stressors are real and that accessing support is appropriate is the starting point.

Japan has an extensive mental health care system, though historically it has been underutilized relative to need, partly due to cultural stigma. Awareness and service access have improved considerably in recent years, and foreign residents are not disadvantaged in terms of formal access — the services exist and insurance coverage applies.

Types of mental health services

Psychiatric clinics (精神科 and 心療内科). Japan has two clinic types commonly associated with mental health. 精神科 (seishinka) clinics are traditional psychiatry practices treating a full range of psychiatric conditions. 心療内科 (shinryō naika) clinics specialize in psychosomatic medicine — conditions at the intersection of psychological and physical symptoms (stress-related physical symptoms, burnout, anxiety-driven insomnia). Both prescribe psychiatric medications and are covered by health insurance at the standard 30% copayment.

Counseling and psychotherapy. Outpatient counseling (カウンセリング, kaunsaringu) provided by a licensed clinical psychologist (公認心理師, kōnin shinrishi) within a covered clinical setting may be insurance-reimbursable. Private counseling provided outside a clinical setting by an unlicensed therapist or counselor is typically self-pay and costs significantly more per session.

Public health center mental health consultations. Each prefectural public health center (保健所, hokenjo) operates a mental health consultation service (精神保健相談, seishin hoken sōdan). These free or low-cost services are open to all residents including foreign nationals, offer initial consultations and referrals, and may have multilingual capability or access to interpreters. They are not a substitute for ongoing clinical care but are a useful entry point.

Finding English-capable services

English-speaking mental health professionals in Japan are concentrated in major metropolitan areas, particularly Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya. Several clinics in Tokyo specifically market to the expatriate community and have English-speaking psychiatrists or psychologists on staff.

Online therapy options have expanded substantially and now include English-language therapists registered to practice in Japan. These can be particularly helpful for residents outside major cities or those whose schedules make regular in-person appointments difficult.

Recommendations from expat community forums and social media groups are often the most current and practical source for finding English-speaking therapists.

Crisis support

For acute psychiatric emergencies — danger to self or others, severe disorientation, psychotic episodes — call 119 for emergency ambulance services. Inform the dispatcher that the emergency is psychiatric (精神科救急, seishinka kyūkyū).

For non-emergency crisis support by telephone, Inochi no Denwa (いのちの電話) operates 24-hour helplines. TELL Japan’s Lifeline (in Tokyo) provides English-language crisis counseling by telephone. Some embassies also maintain or can refer to English-language crisis resources for their nationals.

Continuing care

After the initial consultation, follow-up appointments for ongoing psychiatric care in Japan typically occur every two to four weeks, somewhat more frequently than in some other countries’ systems. Prescriptions for psychiatric medications are generally issued in shorter supplies (one to two weeks initially) with follow-up required before renewal. This structure is designed to maintain regular clinical contact and monitor for side effects.

Last reviewed: September 2026

Key terms

English	Japanese	Romaji
Psychiatric clinic	精神科・心療内科	seishinka / shinryō naika
Counseling / psychotherapy	カウンセリング	kaunsaringu
Public health center (mental health)	保健所精神保健相談	hokenjo seishin hoken sōdan
Crisis consultation	こころの健康相談	kokoro no kenkō sōdan
Psychiatrist	精神科医	seishinka-i
Clinical psychologist	公認心理師	kōnin shinrishi
Inpatient psychiatric care	精神科入院	seishinka nyūin
Emergency psychiatric care	精神科救急	seishinka kyūkyū

Common questions

Is mental health care covered by health insurance in Japan?: Yes. Outpatient psychiatry and psychotherapy provided by a licensed psychiatrist at a clinic are covered under Japan's health insurance scheme with the standard 30% copayment. Counseling provided by a non-physician psychologist outside a covered clinical setting is typically self-pay.
Are there English-speaking mental health professionals in Japan?: English-speaking psychiatrists and therapists exist in major cities, particularly Tokyo. Some specialize in working with foreign residents and expatriates. JNTO and expat community resources are good starting points. Online therapy platforms (some available in English with Japan-registered practitioners) have expanded access considerably.
What if I am in crisis?: For acute psychiatric emergencies in Japan, call 119 for emergency ambulance response. For immediate emotional support by telephone, Japanese crisis lines include the Inochi no Denwa (いのちの電話) — some lines have English-language availability. Consulates and embassies for some countries also operate or can refer to English-language crisis support resources.
Will my employer find out if I see a psychiatrist?: No. Medical records in Japan are confidential under the same rules that apply to other specialties. Your employer does not have access to your clinical information. Annual health checkup (kenko shindan) results include a mental health screening component, but results are your own — employers receive only aggregated workplace-level data, not individual results.

Sources