Self-Care vs. Emergency Response
Calling 119 in Japan
Calling 119 connects you to ambulance and fire dispatch. The call is free from any phone in Japan, including foreign SIM cards.
- Say "Kyūkyū desu" (救急です) — "I need an ambulance"
- Say "Kokyū ga kurushii" (呼吸が苦しい) — "Difficulty breathing"
- Stay on the line; dispatch will guide you until the ambulance arrives
- Major city dispatch centers have English language support
What to Expect at a Japanese Emergency Room
For breathing difficulty, Japanese emergency rooms prioritize immediately:
- Pulse oximetry (blood oxygen saturation monitoring)
- Oxygen therapy if SpO2 is below 95%
- ECG to rule out cardiac cause
- Chest X-ray
- Blood tests (including D-dimer for PE, CBC, metabolic panel)
- Nebulized bronchodilator for asthma/COPD
- IV access
Japanese ERs are generally efficient and well-equipped. Staff may have limited English, but will prioritize stabilizing you immediately. Show your medical alert card, list of medications, and allergies if you carry one.
For Asthma Sufferers Traveling in Japan
If you have asthma, prepare thoroughly before your trip:
- Bring more than enough of your rescue inhaler (salbutamol/albuterol, Ventolin)
- Bring your controller medication (ICS, LABA, etc.)
- Carry a written asthma action plan in both English and Japanese
- Note that Japan's cedar pollen season (February–April) is high-risk for allergic asthma
- Download the Japan Meteorological Agency pollen forecast app
Salbutamol (サルブタモール) inhalers are available in Japan on prescription. If you lose yours, visit a clinic immediately.
Finding a Doctor for Non-Emergency Respiratory Issues
For respiratory illness not requiring emergency care — persistent cough, mild asthma concerns, post-infection recovery — visit an internal medicine clinic (内科, *naika*).
Translation apps have very limited accuracy in emergency medical settings. Do not rely on translation devices when symptoms are serious. Search for English-capable internal medicine clinics at Traveler's Hospital hospital search.
Estimated Costs
Useful Japanese Phrases for Emergency Communication
Internal Links
If breathing difficulty is part of a panic attack, see the anxiety and panic guide. For chest pain alongside breathing difficulty, read the chest pain emergency guide. For insect sting-related reactions, see the insect bites guide. Find clinics at Traveler's Hospital.
FAQ
Q: What is the oxygen saturation level that requires emergency care?
A: A pulse oximeter reading (SpO2) below 95% in a healthy person at sea level warrants medical evaluation. Below 90% is a medical emergency. If you have a pulse oximeter (small clip device for the finger, sold at pharmacies), carry it if you have any cardiac or respiratory condition.
Q: Can I buy albuterol (Ventolin) OTC in Japan?
A: No. Bronchodilator inhalers require a prescription in Japan. If you have asthma and lose your inhaler, go to an internal medicine clinic or ER immediately — do not wait until you are in respiratory distress.
Q: Is altitude sickness a risk on Mt. Fuji?
A: Yes. Mt. Fuji's summit (3,776m) is high enough to cause acute mountain sickness (AMS) in approximately 25% of climbers. Symptoms include headache, nausea, and shortness of breath. Ascend slowly, stay hydrated, consider acetazolamide (Diamox) with a doctor's prescription before your trip, and descend immediately if symptoms worsen.
Q: Can Japan's air quality trigger asthma?
A: Yes, particularly in urban areas during periods of high particulate matter (PM2.5), which occurs during dust season from mainland Asia in spring. Check daily air quality indices (大気汚染情報, *taiki osen jōhō*) on Japanese weather apps.
Q: What is hyperventilation syndrome and how do I manage it?
A: Hyperventilation occurs when you breathe too fast, causing CO2 levels in the blood to drop. This causes tingling in hands and lips, dizziness, chest tightness, and feeling of suffocation — ironically, the feeling that you cannot breathe. Treatment: consciously slow your breathing. Breathe in for 4 counts, out for 6 counts. If available, breathe into a paper bag briefly to increase CO2. Do not use a plastic bag.
Q: How do Japanese hospitals handle non-Japanese-speaking emergency patients?
A: Major hospitals have interpreter services or phone-based interpretation. Emergency staff prioritize clinical assessment using physical examination and observation — language barriers are manageable in emergency situations. Carry a medical alert card with your conditions and medications printed in Japanese if you have complex medical history.