Quick Answer

#7119 is Japan’s free medical advice hotline. Call it when you’re unsure if your situation needs a 119 ambulance. A trained nurse answers, asks about your symptoms, and tells you: call 119 now, go to the ER, or wait until morning. Free from any Japanese phone. Available 24/7 in Tokyo (with English interpretation), Osaka, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Aichi, Fukuoka, Kyoto, and Hyogo. In a life-threatening emergency (chest pain, unconsciousness, severe bleeding) — skip 7119 and call 119 immediately.

The Short Answer: When to Call 7119

You’re in Japan at 2am. Your child has a fever of 39.5°C. Your arm hurts after a fall. Your stomach pain won’t stop. You don’t know if it’s serious.

Call #7119.

A trained nurse picks up, asks about your symptoms, and gives you a direct answer: go to the ER now, call an ambulance, or wait and see a doctor in the morning. The call is free. It takes 5–10 minutes. It can save you a ¥5,000–30,000 unnecessary ER visit.

If the situation is clearly life-threatening — chest pain, difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness, severe bleeding — skip 7119 and call 119 directly.

#7119 vs 119: Which Number Do You Call?

SituationCall
Chest pain, trouble breathing, loss of consciousness119 immediately
Severe injury with heavy bleeding119 immediately
Child with high fever — unsure if serious#7119 first
Fell and arm hurts — unsure if broken#7119 first
Stomach pain, vomiting — unsure if emergency#7119 first
Rash, swelling, mild allergic reaction#7119 first
Took wrong medication — unsure if dangerous#7119 first
Mild symptoms, want advice before deciding#7119 first

Rule of thumb: If you’re even wondering whether to call 119, call #7119 first.

How to Call #7119: Step-by-Step

  1. Dial #7119 from any mobile or landline in Japan (including foreign SIM cards)
  2. The call is completely free
  3. A medical coordinator or nurse will answer — likely in Japanese
  4. Say: “Eigo wa hanasemasu ka?” (Do you speak English?) — in Tokyo, English is available 24/7
  5. Describe your symptoms: what hurts, for how long, your temperature if known, and any medications you’ve taken
  6. Follow their advice exactly

The call typically takes 5–15 minutes. Have your address ready in case they need to send emergency services.

Is #7119 Available in English?

Yes — but availability varies by city.

CityEnglish Availability
TokyoEnglish interpretation 24/7
OsakaLimited English support
Kanagawa, Saitama, ChibaJapanese primarily
Aichi (Nagoya), FukuokaJapanese primarily
Other citiesJapanese only in most cases

When you call, immediately say: “Do you have an English speaker? / Eigo wa hanasemasu ka?”

English-Language Alternatives in Tokyo

If you can’t communicate through #7119, these services offer English support:

ServiceNumberHours
Tokyo English Life Line (TELL)03-5774-099224/7
Japan Helpline0120-46-199724/7
AMDA Medical Information Center03-5285-8088Weekdays 9–17

Useful Japanese Phrases for the Call

EnglishJapaneseRomaji
I need medical advice医療相談がしたいですIryō sōdan ga shitai desu
I have a high fever熱が高いですNetsu ga takai desu
I have chest pain胸が痛いですMune ga itai desu
I have stomach painお腹が痛いですOnaka ga itai desu
I feel nauseous / I vomited気持ちが悪い / 吐きましたKimochi ga warui / Hakimashita
My child is sick子供が具合が悪いですKodomo ga guai ga warui desu
My address is…住所は〜ですJūsho wa ~desu
Do you speak English?英語は話せますか？Eigo wa hanasemasu ka?

#7119 Coverage by Prefecture

Prefecture/CityNumberHours
Tokyo#711924 hours
Osaka#711924 hours
Kanagawa (Yokohama)#711924 hours
Saitama#711924 hours
Chiba#711924 hours
Aichi (Nagoya)#711924 hours
Fukuoka#711924 hours
Kyoto#711924 hours
Hyogo (Kobe)#711924 hours
Most rural areasMay not connectCheck local government website

If #7119 doesn’t connect in your area: Go directly to the nearest emergency hospital (救急病院, kyūkyū byōin), or call your city hall’s after-hours medical advice line.

Japan’s Emergency Numbers: Complete Reference

NumberServiceWhen to Use
119Ambulance + FireLife-threatening emergency
110PoliceCrime, accident, danger
#7119Medical adviceUnsure if situation is an emergency
#8000Children’s medical adviceChild illness at night/weekends
118Coast guardOcean emergencies

#8000 — For Parents with Sick Children (Nights and Weekends)

#8000 is Japan’s dedicated children’s medical consultation line, available at night and on weekends. A pediatric nurse or doctor tells you whether your child needs the ER.

  • Available in all 47 prefectures
  • Typically evenings and weekends (hours vary by prefecture)
  • Japanese only in most areas
  • Tokyo: 18:00–翌8:00 (until 8am)

What Happens When You Call 119?

If the situation is clearly serious, call 119 without hesitation. Ambulance service itself is free in Japan.

What to tell the 119 operator:

  1. “Kyūkyū desu” (It’s an emergency)
  2. Your address (住所) — have this ready
  3. What happened
EnglishJapanese
Please send an ambulance救急車を呼んでください (Kyūkyūsha o yonde kudasai)
My address is…住所は〜です (Jūsho wa ~desu)
The person is unconscious意識がありません (Ishiki ga arimasen)
Difficulty breathing呼吸が苦しい (Kokyū ga kurushii)
Heart attack suspected心臓発作だと思います (Shinzō hossa da to omoimasu)

Note: Once the ambulance arrives at the hospital, you may be charged a hospital fee (保険診療 with insurance: ~30% copay; without insurance: full price). See our health insurance guide for how this works.

Hospital Types in Japan: Where to Go

FacilityJapaneseWhen to Go
Emergency hospital救急病院Serious symptoms, after 7119 says ER
University hospital大学病院Complex conditions, referral cases
Regular clinicクリニックCold, follow-up, routine care
Holiday clinic休日診療所Non-emergency on weekends/holidays

To find an open emergency hospital near you: Google “救急病院 [your city]” or check your city’s official website. Many prefectures have an English-language hospital finder.

Health Insurance in Japan for Foreigners

Any hospital visit in Japan costs significantly less with health insurance. As a registered foreign resident, you are enrolled in one of:

  • Shakai Hoken (社会保険) — through your employer if working full-time
  • Kokumin Kenkō Hoken (国民健康保険) — national health insurance for students, self-employed, part-time workers

Both cover 70% of medical costs — you pay the remaining 30%.

Without insurance (e.g., within 3 months of arriving): SafetyWing Nomad Insurance provides monthly international health coverage — useful while waiting for Japanese insurance to activate.

→ See: How Japanese Health Insurance Works for Foreigners

Frequently Asked Questions

Is calling 7119 free in Japan? Yes. #7119 is completely free to call from any mobile or landline in Japan, including foreign SIM cards.

Does 7119 work on a foreign SIM card? Yes. Dial #7119 from any phone active on a Japanese network — this includes tourists with local SIM cards.

Can I call 7119 in English? In Tokyo, English interpretation is available 24/7. In other cities, the service is primarily in Japanese. Say “Eigo wa hanasemasu ka?” when someone picks up. Alternatively, use the Japan Helpline (0120-46-1997), which operates in English 24/7.

What happens after I call 7119? A trained nurse asks about your symptoms, how long you’ve had them, and any relevant medical history. They then tell you: (1) call 119 for an ambulance, (2) go to an ER, or (3) wait and see a regular doctor when they open. The call takes 5–15 minutes.

What if 7119 doesn’t connect where I am? Not all prefectures support #7119. If it doesn’t connect, go directly to the nearest emergency hospital (救急病院) or call your city hall’s after-hours line.

Is 7119 available 24 hours? In the major cities listed above (Tokyo, Osaka, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Aichi, Fukuoka, Kyoto, Hyogo), #7119 operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

What’s the difference between 7119 and 8000? #7119 is for all ages and general medical situations. #8000 is specifically for children (pediatric advice) and is available at night and on weekends in all 47 prefectures.