Japan
A high standard of dental care is available in Japan
Medication is available in Japan via hospitals and pharmacies
Blood supplies are considered safe and screened to international standards
While medical care in Japan is good, English-speaking physicians and medical facilities that cater to Expatriates’ expectations are expensive and not very widespread. Japan has a national health insurance system, but medical caregivers often insist upon payment in full at the time of treatment or concrete proof of ability to pay before treating a foreigner.
Recent medical and dental exams should ensure that the traveler is in good health. Carry appropriate health and accident insurance documents and copies of any important medical records. Bring an adequate supply of all prescription and other medications as well as any necessary personal hygiene items, including a spare pair of eyeglasses or contact lenses if necessary.
Take personal protective measures against insects. Drink only bottled beverages (including water) or beverages made with boiled water. Do not use ice cubes or eat raw seafood or rare meat. Eat well-cooked foods while they are still hot and fruits that can be peeled without contamination. Avoid roadside stands and street vendors. Only pasteurized dairy products should be consumed.
Air pollution has been a problem in Tokyo over the years, but an active antipollution program has reduced the problem significantly. Nevertheless, the pollution may exacerbate respiratory ailments.
Okinawa: water is generally potable, except during water shortages or typhoons.
Hepatitis B: Vaccination is advised for health care workers, persons anticipating direct contact with blood from or sexual contact with inhabitants, and persons planning extended stays of 6 months or greater (especially those who anticipate using local health care facilities, staying in rural areas, or having intimate contact with the local population).
Japanese Encephalitis: Vaccination is not routinely recommended for travel to Tokyo and other major cities. Consider vaccination if staying a month or more from June to September (April to October in Okinawa/Ryukyu Islands) if travel includes rural areas. Also consider if staying less than 30 days during these periods and at high risk (in case of epidemic outbreak or extensive outdoor exposure in rural areas).
Typhoid: Vaccination should be considered for persons staying longer than 3 weeks, adventurous eaters, and those who will venture off the usual tourist routes into small cities, villages and rural areas. Importance of vaccination increases as access to reasonable medical care becomes limited. Contraindications depend on vaccine type.
Note: All routine vaccines (such as DTP or Td, Hib, MMR, polio, varicella, influenza and pneumococcal) should be kept up-to-date as a matter of good health practice unrelated to travel.
Disease risk is generally similar to that of travel in North America and other temperate industrialized nations.
Insect-borne illness:
Dengue fever - occurs
Encephalitis (Japanese type) - occurs (rare/sporadic cases reported; low incidence may result from high immunization rates in native population)
Hemorrhagic fever (with renal syndrome) - occurs
Scrub typhus (tsutsugamushi disease; mite-borne) - occurs (endemic, except for the Okinawa Islands; incidence rate and seasonal occurrence varies, depending upon the region)
Food-borne and water-borne illness:
Clonorchiasis (oriental liver fluke) - occurs
Paragonimiasis (oriental lung fluke) - occurs
Other hazards:
High levels of immunization coverage have reduced the incidence of diseases such as measles and diphtheria.
Influenza risk extends from November to April.
None.
