Things to keep in mind about emergency pediatric services
The basic procedures for finding emergency pediatric services are nearly the same as finding other emergency facilities. Visit our Emergency Clinic page for details. Most cities have at least one pediatric emergency clinic or hospital that can provide care at night and on holidays.
Can I just take my child to the nearest hospital and receive care? The answer is often NO. The problem is, many clinics and hospitals rotate through evening and holiday shifts, making it more complicated to find one when needed.
For example,
Clinic A is open on Sunday, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Then Clinic B takes over from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm
If there is serious emergency, Hospital C will accept children from 10:00 pm until the next morning.
If you were to visit Hospital C before their pediatric service hours, they will not admit your child. They might not have pediatric staff available until 10:00 pm. Always check whether your child will be accepted before attempting to visit a hospital or clinic.
We can arrange a home visit doctor for emergencies at night and holidays if you live in 23 wards of Tokyo. Please read details from this link.
Serious Cases
If your child is very sick or badly injured, call 119 for an ambulance at any time, day or night. Refer to our Ambulance page for more details. Ambulances in big cities will arrive in five minutes on average and are free of charge.
Does my child need an emergency medical treatment?
Dial #8000 on any phone and you can speak with a nurse or pediatrician about your child’s condition and whether they should be taken to a clinic or hospital immediately. This service is mostly available in Japanese only.
Should I call an ambulance?
Telephone consultation services are available from the Tokyo Fire Department when you are unsure if your child is in need of an ambulance (No English service available).
Tokyo Fire Department Telephone Service
Within 23 wards of Tokyo： 03-3212-2323
Tama area： 042-521-2323
Or dial: #7119 on your telephone
Costs
If your child has Japanese Healthcare Insurance and a Free Medical Care Certificate, emergency services are also free of charge. If not, often you are required to pay some deposit (generally 10,000 yen) and visit the clinic or hospital a second time, during regular hours to finish payment for the care provided because the accounting department will be closed during your after-hours visit.