Startup ‘Japan Healthcare Info’ Helps Keep Expats and Travelers Healthy

It’s no secret we love startups that solve an actual problem. And anyone who has lived in a foreign country where a different language is spoken knows that, sometimes, healthcare can be a problem. Even for people who speak the language fluently, finding the right place to go, talking with doctors, and figuring out whether you’re getting ripped off can be quite difficult. And, of course, that process is generally made even more complicated by the fact that when you have to do it, it’s usually because you’re sick, bleeding, or otherwise not at your best. In Japan, though, Japan Healthcare Info wants to help.

The Japan Healthcare Info site (which you can check out here) aims to be a comprehensive English-language guide to healthcare in Japan, and from what we can tell, it really delivers. The site is very clearly laid out and offers simple but clear guidance for basically any situation an expat or visitor to Japan might face. Where can I find an English-speaking doctor? How much should this treatment cost? These questions, and many many more, are all answered on the site. And the best news of all? It’s all free of charge.

If you do want to pay, though, Japan Healthcare Info offers a membership subscription that comes with additional services including translation, help with locating appropriate providers in your area, emergency services like booking you an ambulance and letting the hospital know you’re coming, and help finding childcare services. And honestly, if you’re living in Japan and don’t speak Japanese — or just don’t want to worry about relying on your Japanese-speaking skills in an emergency — it sounds like a pretty good deal. Fees vary depending on how big your family is, but a three-person family (two parents and a child) can get a yearly membership for 27,000 yen ($342). Many parents, I suspect, will find that a small price to pay for peace of mind when someone in their family gets sick or otherwise needs medical help. Short-term visitors can also pay for Japan Healthcare Info’s services on a per-service basis.

All in all, the startup Japan Healthcare Info is the kind of site I’d definitely have bookmarked if I lived in Japan or was planning to travel there soon. But since I’m more of a China guy, I’d be remiss if I didn’t also mention the excellent MyHealthBeijing, which is full of healthcare info in English for China-dwellers. That site doesn’t offer additional paid services or anything, but until Japan Healthcare Info expands to China, I’d highly recommend you bookmark it, as it’s a great place to find help on everything from what foods are safe to what masks will actually protect you from Beijing’s noxious smog.