Sick at Night in Japan? Dial #7119

You're in Japan, it's 2 a.m., and you suddenly feel terrible — high fever, stomach pain, or a child who won't stop coughing. Ambulance? Wait until morning? When you're not sure, there's a number you can call.

Dial #7119

#7119 is Japan's nationwide emergency consultation hotline. In many regions it's free and available 24 hours a day. A nurse or doctor will:

• Ask about your symptoms
• Tell you whether to call an ambulance (119), visit a night clinic, or wait until morning
• Help you find a hospital that is open right now and will accept walk-in patients

#7119 vs. 119

• 119 — Real emergency: chest pain, severe bleeding, loss of consciousness, stroke symptoms. Call 119 immediately.
• #7119 — You feel bad but are not sure if it's an emergency, or you need help finding an open hospital.

Before you call: prepare with an AI translator

Most #7119 operators speak Japanese. Some regions (especially Tokyo) offer translation into English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, Portuguese and others — but it's not guaranteed everywhere.

Tip: Before dialing, type what you want to say into ChatGPT, Gemini, or Claude and ask for a short Japanese translation. Keep it on your phone screen so you can read it aloud if needed.

What they will ask you (Tokyo Fire Department flow)

When you call #7119 in Tokyo, you first hear an automatic voice guide: press 1 to search for a hospital, 2 for emergency consultation. Then you connect to a human operator.

First, basic questions

• Is this call about yourself? (Yes / No — if no, your relationship to the patient)
• Gender (male / female / other)
• Age (date of birth or approximate age is fine)

Have a short list of your family members' ages and genders ready.

Path 1 — Looking for a hospital (press 1)

• Are you looking for a hospital, or do you already have one in mind?
• What kind of care do you need? (e.g. internal medicine, orthopedics, the symptom name)
• Where are you? (address or nearest station)

Keep handy: preferred specialty, your location, and your Japanese health insurance card number (if you have one).

Path 2 — Emergency consultation (press 2)

• What are your symptoms? (e.g. chest pain, difficulty breathing, fever)
• When did they start?
• Are you conscious? What are you doing right now (sitting, lying down)?
• Any pre-existing conditions or current medications?

Keep handy: a symptom checklist (pain location and intensity, level of consciousness, list of medications).

Common follow-up questions

• Where are you right now? (address, landmark, phone number)
• How can you move? (can you walk, wheelchair, etc.)

Don't worry about speaking perfectly. Stay calm — the service is available 24 hours.

Related numbers

• #8000 — Pediatric night consultation (for children)
• 119 — Ambulance / fire
• 110 — Police

Medical disclaimer: #7119 is a consultation service, not a substitute for a doctor's diagnosis. If you feel your life is in danger, always call 119.