Health & Medical (Non-Emergency)

I feel unwell during my trip to Japan — what should I know before seeing a doctor?
For a real emergency, call 119 for an ambulance. For anything non-emergency, know this first: without Japanese national health insurance, foreign visitors are billed the full, uninsured cost of treatment — which can be far higher than what you'd expect to pay at home, even for routine care.
How do I find a pharmacy or buy over-the-counter medicine in Japan?
Drugstores (marked with signs like 'Drug' or the kanji 薬局/ドラッグストア) are common in shopping areas and sell OTC medicine for common issues like headaches, colds, and stomach upset — no prescription needed for basic products.