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. 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)
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%; you pay 30%
- Children’s medical subsidy (kodomo iryou-hi joyo) further reduces co-pay to ¥0–500 in Fukuoka City for kids under 12 (16 in some wards)
- Apply for the child medical card (子ども医療証) at ward office after registering address
- Without insurance: ER visit ~¥30K–¥80K + tests/imaging extra
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 has a list of registered English-speaking doctors — see our companion guide
- 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 first month of arrival
- Get child medical card from ward office — needed for subsidized care
- Translate allergies, medications, and chronic conditions into Japanese (carry printed copy)
- Save 119 / #7119 / nearest ER addresses in phone
- Know your route to nearest 24/7 pediatric ER — drive it once in daylight before you need it