Medical and Welfare Services

Medical and Welfare Services

Medical institutions

Look for medical institutions

Hokkaido Emergency Medical Infromation System: Online search

Sapporo Emergency Relief Center (#7119 or 011-272-7199) :Telephone consultation

Sapporo Medical Communication Hotline  011-211-2121

What services does it provide?

・A telephone operator will interpret on your behalf when making appointments or inquiries with hospitals within the City of Sapporo. 

・Phone interpretation can be provided when talking to doctors or other medical staff at the hospital. 

・These services are free of charge (standard phone rates apply).

     *This service is available only for hospitals in Sapporo. You may use this service to pick up prescribed medicine but not for other shopping at pharmacies.

     *This service is to support people receiving medical care only. It can’t be used for other purposes such as beauty care and health check-ups. 

    *Your personal information is strictly protected and used only for this service.   

Languages

For making appointments, hospital inquiries, or for phone interpretation services while you are at a hospital: 32 languages offered *Contact us for details. Interpreters for some languages may not be immediately available.

When making an appointment or inquiry with a hospital

     1. Open the “Application Form.”

The form is available in easy Japanese, English, and Chinese. Choose one out of the following three choices and input the required information.  

- For those who have decided on the hospital and would like to make an appointment or inquiry

- For those who have decided on the hospital and need an interpreter at the hospital.

2. After filling in the form, call 011-211-2121. You will be connected with a telephone operator.  

*From the second time onward, you can call the number above without filling in the application form.

*Telephone operators are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

3. The operator will ask about your health concerns and which hospital you want to go to.

[If you do not know which hospital to go]

・Online search: Hokkaido Emergency Medical Infromation System

・Phone consultation: Sapporo Emergency Relief Center (#7119 or 011-272-7199)

4. The operator will call the hospital while you remain on the phone. Your appointment date and other details will be discussed in this three-way call.

*Appointments and inquiries with a hospital can be made on weekdays from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M.  

At the hospital

1. If you require an interpreter at a hospital, you or the hospital can call 011-211-2121. Application through the form is not required.

2. When the operator answers, tell them the name of the hospital you are visiting, the language you speak, and your current situation.  

3. This will be the start of the phone interpretation. Hand over the telephone or put it on speakerphone as instructed by the operator.  

*Phone interpretation is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Feel free to call whenever you need assistance at the hospital. 

Sapporo Medical Communication Hotline 

Emergency Medical Consultation Center Sapporo TEL:＃7119 or 011-272-7119

You can call this number in the event of sudden illness or injury to determine whether it is best to visit a clinic/hospital or call an ambulance.

What to Do in an Emergency 

Hokkaido Emergency Medical Treatment Information Center

This website provides information regarding clinics and hospitals (accessible via computer and mobile phone).

Hokkaido Emergency Care/Regional Disaster Information System

Medical Institution Information Map (Sapporo Medical Association)

This website provides information regarding open clinics and hospitals.

Medical Institution Information Map (Sapporo Medical Association),Japanese

Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)

JNTO provides a website that allows users to search for clinics and hospitals providing foreign language support.

Search for medical institutions(National Tourism Organization, JNTO)

Receiving medical care at a clinic/hospital

  1. Present your health insurance card at the reception desk and wait until your name is called. Waiting times may be long in crowded clinics/hospitals.
  2. After examination and treatment, pay your bill at the cashier and collect any prescription issued.
  3. Take the prescription to a pharmacy to buy the prescribed medication.

Subsidies for medical expenses

Long-term care insurance system

Under the long-term care insurance system, people aged 40 or older are obligated to enroll and pay insurance premiums. Should they need it, they are eligible to use services such as at-home or institutional care, rent assistive devices, and receive placement in welfare facilities for the elderly needing care, by paying part of the costs charged for such services.

There are two application methods and different conditions for the use of long-term care services depending on the age of each person: those aged 65 and over are categorized as primary insured persons, and those aged between 40 and 64 who are insured by the National Health Insurance or health insurance programs of their workplace are categorized as secondary insured persons.

The care services covered by the insurance vary by age and health condition. The use of these services requires application at the Health & Welfare Section of the ward office and certification as being in need of such care.

The brochure entitled “Long-Term Care Insurance (Kaigo Hoken)” is an introduction to the City of Sapporo’s long-term care insurance system. It provides information including that on its overview, procedures necessary to use care services, types and rough costs of care services, and insurance premiums.

Long-Term Care Insurance (Kaigo Hoken)

Welfare services for citizens with disabilities

The City of Sapporo provides various services for citizens with disabilities. Available services vary by disability level and circumstances; for more information, contact the Health & Welfare Section of the ward office of the district of your residence.

Welfare Guide for Persons with Disabilities 2020

 

Consultation services

If you need interpretation services for consultations at municipal offices, use Sapporo Community Interpreters.

NEW 2025 FY Sapporo Anti-Inflation Temporary Welfare Benefit

日本語　　やさしい日本語　　中文　　Tiếng Việt　한국어

The 2025 FY Sapporo Anti-Inflation Temporary Welfare Benefit will be issued to those living in the City of Sapporo.

People That Can Receive The Benefit

People of registered residency in the City of Sapporo as of January 1st, 2026 are eligible. Among those eligible, the benefit will be issued to the person designated as the head of household as of January 1st, 2026.

Benefit Amount

5,000 yen per person will be issued. Households in which all members are tax exempt or receive a full exemption will be issued an additional 10,000 yen.

How To Receive The Benefit

・Those that have received the Issuance Notice (Photo 1: Postcard [支給のお知らせ] ) do not need to do any further paperwork or procedures. The benefit will be deposited to the bank account written on the Issuance Notice between April 16th ー 30th.

Notification of Benefit Payment

・Those that have received the Confirmation Letter (Photo 2: Envelope [確認書] ) must fill in the required information such as their name, place the Confirmation Letter together with a copy of their bank passbook (or cash card) in the response envelope, and send it by July 31st, 2026 (same-day postmark valid). The benefit will be deposited about 1 month after the documents are received.

Envelope of Confirmation Letter

Those That Need To Contact For Assistance

・Those that have received the Issuance Notice and would like to change the receiving bank account should call the call center. In the case that the bank account is changed, it will take additional time for the benefit to be deposited.

・Those that have received the Issuance Notice or Confirmation Letter and believe that the benefit amount is mistaken should call the call center.

・Those that have not received the Issuance Notice or Confirmation Letter and believe that they are eligible to receive the benefit should call the call center.

Sapporo City Support Benefits Call Center

Tel：050-3352-2002

Hours: weekdays 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.  (Also open on weekends and holidays during April and May 2026)

Languages available: Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, Russian, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Thai, Filipino, Nepali, Hindi, Vietnamese, Indonesian, and Burmese

【City of Sapporo Homepage】https://www.city.sapporo.jp.e.ain.hp.transer.com/rinnjitokubetukyufukin/r7_ichiritsu.html

※Be aware of scams and identity theft
・The government and the Sapporo City will NEVER ask you to operate an ATM, transfer fees for payment, or send an email asking you to use an URL for this benefit. If you have got a suspicious phone call, letter or email, please contact the Consumer Center, a police station or a police headquarter (#9110).
・Be aware of fake websites that look like the government or the Sapporo City.  If you see anything suspicious, like unfamiliar characters at the end of the URL, do not open the URL. Do your own search and check the real website.

For those under financial strain

 Social Welfare Council loans

Livelihood welfare fund loan system

The Social Welfare Council screens and lends necessary funds to low-income households, households with persons with disabilities, and elderly households to promote their financial independence and enjoyment of life.

Emergency protection fund loan system

The Social Welfare Council screens and lends funds to low-income households and households receiving welfare assistance when they are having financial difficulties due to temporary and incidental expenses and unable to receive any other assistance.

Support program for the financial independence of people in need

Housing Security Benefit

The City of Sapporo pays an amount equivalent to monthly rent for a certain period of time to people seeking employment to make ends meet. Further, support staff of the Sapporo Livelihood and Employment Support Center help them find work.

Welfare assistance

While foreign nationals are not eligible to receive welfare assistance, in cases where permanent residents, the spouses of Japanese citizens/permanent residents or long-term residents are struggling with their livelihood and are unable to receive the necessary support from their country’s consulate and the like, it is possible to receive assurance of livelihood based on standards and conditions outlined within the welfare assistance program. For those in need, contact the Social Aid Section of the ward office that has jurisdiction over the address found on your Residence Card or Special Permanent Resident Certificate.