Your toddler spikes a 39°C fever at 11pm. Your 8-year-old falls off the playground and the wrist looks wrong.
You’re new to Fukuoka and don’t know which hospital to head to, whether to call 119, or how the after-hours system works.
This guide is the cheat sheet you wish you had before you needed it. Bookmark this page and save the phone numbers below in your contacts before you need them.
Critical numbers — save now
- 119: ambulance / fire (English support available, ask for “Eigo onegaishimasu”)
- 110: police
- #7119: Fukuoka emergency consultation line — nurse triage, decide if ER needed
- #8000: pediatric after-hours phone consultation (Japanese)
- AMDA International Medical Information Center: 03-6233-9266 (multi-language, info only)
What is #7119 and how to use it in English
#7119 is Fukuoka Prefecture’s 24/7 emergency telephone consultation line. When you’re unsure whether a symptom needs an ambulance, a registered nurse triages your situation and tells you exactly where to go.
Dial #7119 from any mobile or landline in Fukuoka. The default operator language is Japanese, so if your Japanese is limited, ask “Eigo onegaishimasu” or have a translation app ready — the AMDA multi-language line above can also interpret.
Typical wait time is under a few minutes, and the call is free. Use #7119 for the “ambulance or not?” decision for any age; use #8000 specifically for child-focused after-hours advice. When symptoms are clearly life-threatening, skip both and dial 119 directly.
Decision tree: when to call 119
- Call 119 immediately: not breathing, severe bleeding, unconscious, seizure lasting >5 min, severe allergic reaction, suspected poisoning, severe burn
- Walk-in / drive to ER: high fever >40°C in infant, possible broken bone, deep cut needing stitches, asthma not responding to inhaler
- Wait until morning, see clinic: cold, mild fever (<39°C), ear pain, mild rash, vomiting without dehydration
- When in doubt: call #7119 — nurse triages and tells you where to go
Where to go: hospital tiers
Pediatric ER (kyukyu) — 24/7
- Fukuoka Children’s Hospital (国立病院機構福岡医療センター): full pediatric ER, in Chuo-ku
- Kyushu University Hospital: largest medical center; pediatric ER available
- Hours: ER 24/7; outpatient Mon-Fri 8:30-11:00 (reception)
After-hours pediatric clinic (休日夜間こども急患センター)
- Run by Fukuoka City; weeknight 7pm–6am, weekends/holidays
- For non-life-threatening but can’t-wait-til-morning issues
- Cheaper and faster than full ER for mild emergencies
- Address: Hakata-ku Higashi-Hie
- Hours: Weeknight 19:00-6:00; weekends/holidays 9:00-23:00
Walk-in pediatric clinic (shounika) — daytime
- Most neighborhoods have a 小児科 (shounika) clinic — find via Google Maps in your ward
- Open Mon-Sat morning; many close Wednesday + Sunday
- Walk-ins accepted but call ahead; some require online reservation (Aiisawa, Doctor Q apps)
- Cost with insurance: ¥500–2,000 per visit (kid co-pay often subsidized to ¥0–500)
Cost with health insurance
National Health Insurance (NHI) covers 70% of the bill; you pay the remaining 30%.
Fukuoka City’s children’s medical subsidy (kodomo iryou-hi joyo) then reduces the co-pay to ¥0–500 for kids under 12 (under 16 in some wards).
Apply for the child medical card (子ども医療証) at your ward office after registering your address — see our Fukuoka Address Registration & My Number Card guide for the exact paperwork order.
| Visit type | With NHI + child subsidy | Without insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Walk-in clinic | ¥0–500 | ¥5,000–10,000 |
| After-hours center | ¥0–800 | ¥8,000–15,000 |
| Pediatric ER + imaging | ¥500–2,000 | ¥30,000–80,000+ |
If you’re visiting or newly arrived and not yet enrolled in NHI, an uninsured ER night can run into the tens of thousands of yen. Travel medical cover closes that gap — compare family travel insurance for your Fukuoka trip before you go.
What to bring to ER/clinic
- Health insurance card (hokensho)
- Child medical card (kodomo iryou-sho) if issued
- Maternal & Child Health Handbook (boshi techo) for vaccination/medical history
- Recent medication list / allergy notes (translate to Japanese in advance)
- Translation app on phone (DeepL, Google Translate)
- Cash + IC card — most accept credit cards but some clinics still cash-only
English-speaking pediatricians
- Fukuoka keeps a list of registered English-speaking doctors — see our list of English-speaking doctors and pediatricians in Fukuoka
- Many international school nurses can call ahead in English to specific clinics
- Consulate medical lists (US, UK, Australia) overlap with Fukuoka City’s list
Common kid emergencies and what to do
High fever
- Under 3 months + fever >38°C: ER immediately
- 3 months–2 years + fever >39.5°C with lethargy: same-day clinic or after-hours center
- 2+ years + fever alone: tylenol/acetaminophen, fluids, monitor — usually wait until morning clinic
Head injury
- Brief crying then normal: monitor 24h, no immediate ER unless symptoms develop
- Loss of consciousness, vomiting, drowsiness, unequal pupils: ER immediately
- Cuts on head: bleed a lot but rarely serious — pressure + cold pack + clinic if >1cm
Allergic reaction
- Mild rash + itching: antihistamine (zyrtec/claritin in Japan: pharmacy gets you the kid version)
- Swelling, breathing issues, hives spreading: call 119 immediately
- If kid has known severe allergy, carry epinephrine (epipen) — prescribed by allergist
Broken bone suspicion
- Cannot bear weight, deformity visible, severe pain: ER for X-ray
- Mild swelling, can move slightly: orthopedic clinic next morning
Pre-emergency setup
- Register with a primary pediatric clinic (kakaritsuke-i) within your first month — our Living in Fukuoka with Kids guide walks through enrolment step by step
- Get the child medical card from your ward office — needed for subsidized care
- Translate allergies, medications, and chronic conditions into Japanese (carry a printed copy)
- Save 119 / #7119 / nearest ER addresses in your phone
- Know your route to the nearest 24/7 pediatric ER — drive it once in daylight before you need it; if you’re still house-hunting, our best neighborhoods for families guide notes hospital access by ward
- Visiting rather than living here? Lock in travel insurance with pediatric cover and book accommodation near a major hospital — check family-friendly Fukuoka hotels in Chuo-ku
Related family-life guides
- List of English-Speaking Doctors and Pediatricians in Fukuoka
- Living in Fukuoka with Kids: Complete Expat Guide
- Fukuoka Address Registration & My Number Card Guide
- Best Neighborhoods in Fukuoka for Families
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