01 Jan How to find a hospital
You will need to go to a hospital if you are sick. Most clinics and hospitals are open during the daytime on weekdays only. They are closed on Saturday afternoon, Sunday, and public holidays.
To find a hospital or clinic, refer to:
- The medical institution search service by Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)
- ” Hokkaido emergency healthcare homepage” ( 北海道救急医療・広域災害情報システム) (Japanese)
If you need to go to the hospital on weekends or public holidays, you need to find out which hospitals are on duty that day. You can call the Sapporo Citizen Contact Center (011-222-4894, 7 days a week, from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.) for this information.
Please call the hospital to check hours in advance. You may have to wait a long time if it is crowded.
It will be helpful if you take notes on your symptoms, including when and how the symptoms started, whether you have a fever or diarrhea, what your appetite is like, and whether you have any allergies.
(!) If the emergency occurs on a weekend or during a holiday, click here.
If you have to take your child to hospital
Please bring the following:
★Notes on symptoms and other information, such as when and how it started, if your child has a fever or diarrhea, what’s her/his appetite like, and if s/he has any allergies.
(!) A telephone consultation service is available at Emergency Relief Center in Sapporo (abbreviated dial #7119)
Procedure at the hospital
1.Show your health insurance card and the pink card (in some cases your boshi-techo too).
Wait until you are called.
2.After seeing the doctor, pay at the cashier’s window and receive the prescription.
3.Bring the prescription to the pharmacy and get the medicine.
Child Medical Assistance Program【子ども医療費助成】(Kodomo Iryohi Josei)
Sapporo city offers medical subsidies for children up to 15 years old (age cut-off is the end of academic year)
*This card is called “Pink Card”.
*Be aware that pink cards expire at the end of each July. If your child is eligible, you will receive a new pink card by the end of July.
For further information please refer to Child Medical Assistance Program.
Last reviewed on April 24, 2023