Tell ski patrol or resort staff firstOn the mountain, tell any ski patrol or resort staff first — they coordinate rescue and call emergency services for you.
Many Japanese fire departments handle 119 calls in major foreign languages via three-way simultaneous interpretation through a telephone interpretation center, 24 hours a day, year-round. Reviewed 2026-07-21
Medical facilities nearby
This list shows the nearest 15 hospitals, 10 clinics, 10 pharmacies and 5 dentists, plus every emergency hospital. More are in the area.
Also closed 1/1, 1/2, 1/3, 8/15, 12/30, 12/31Hours vary by department
Emergency
Emergency status not listed
Drive
16 minNormal conditions, no snow delay
Departments
Internal medicinePsychiatry
Note
Outpatient note on the MHLW page: Only the memory clinic (Tuesday mornings) is by appointment only. Patients who turn up on the day cannot be seen, so please phone 0166-36-1559 beforehand to say you wish to attend the memory clinic.
Outpatient note on the MHLW page: Neurology on Friday afternoons is by appointment for new patients only. Clinics may be cancelled because of doctors' business trips and similar. If urgent surgery comes up, consultations may end early or start late.
Outpatient note on the MHLW page: 05 Other (internal medicine): neurology, haematology and oncology. 14 Other (surgery): cardiac surgery, vascular surgery. 19 Other (ENT): head and neck surgery.
Outpatient note on the MHLW page: Outpatient care covers paediatrics, orthopaedics and appointment-based internal medicine. For general internal medicine outpatients, please go to the Dohoku Kinikyo Ichijo Clinic (「道北勤医協一条クリニック」). Closed on the fourth Wednesday afternoon. The palliative care clinic is on Tuesday mornings.
Outpatient note on the MHLW page: Internal medicine is closed on the second and fourth Thursdays. Closed on Saturday afternoons. Closed days on the MHLW page: Jan 1, Jan 2, Jan 3, Jul 1, Aug 15 and 16, Dec 30, Dec 31.
Outpatient note on the MHLW page: Depending on the length of morning consultations, afternoon consultations may start late. Closed days on the MHLW page: From Dec 31 to Jan 5 of the following year.
Gathered ahead of your trip as a planning aid — details change; verify locally on arrival.
Backcountry policy
Skiing outside the courses and entering or skiing on closed courses are both prohibited (article 6). Article 16 adds that anyone who leaves the ski area or the courses and has to be searched for will be billed. The terms say nothing about gates or backcountry access, and the resort publishes no backcountry route or avalanche information.
As of 2026-10-12
Major trauma center
Asahikawa Red Cross Hospital 「旭川赤十字病院」 is the base hospital of the Dohoku Doctor-Heli, whose area covers Kamikawa subprefecture, where Higashikawa lies. The national doctor-heli coverage list for Hokkaido matches Higashikawa's area to this service, which is staffed from Asahikawa.
As of 2026-10-12
Show this to staff
Each line is in Japanese a receptionist can read, with its meaning underneath.
スキー中にけがをしました。
I was injured while skiing.
ここがとても痛いです。
It hurts a lot here.
診察を受けたいです。
I would like to see a doctor.
海外旅行保険に入っています。
I have travel insurance.
クレジットカードで払えますか？
Can I pay by credit card?
英語を話せる人はいますか？
Is there anyone who speaks English?
保険請求用の診断書と領収書をください。
Please give me a medical certificate and a receipt for my insurance.
Cost, insurance and medicines
Rescue costs
Article 16 of the terms of use says that if a user goes outside the ski area or off the courses in breach of the terms, is lost, and the resort carries out a search on a request from that person or their family, friends or acquaintances, the resort will bill the person for all costs. The costs named are staff labour, snow vehicle running, lift running, lighting and electricity. No amounts are published.
As of 2026-10-12
Japan's National Health Insurance does not cover tourists — hospitals bill the full cost and generally expect payment upfront by cash or card. Ordinary travel insurance often excludes off-piste and backcountry rescue; dedicated mountain-rescue insurance exists, so check your policy before you ride.
Reviewed 2026-07-21
Some common medicines are restricted in Japan — e.g. codeine-containing products, pseudoephedrine above set limits, and ADHD stimulants — and may require advance permission to bring in. Check the MHLW guidance before you travel.
Reviewed 2026-07-21
Nothing here is medical advice. We compile this information from Japan's national medical registers and the official websites of facilities and resorts, as a planning aid. Hours, phone numbers and services change, and we cannot guarantee that any of it is current or correct. Decisions you make with it are your own responsibility: check with the facility before you go, and in an emergency tell ski patrol or call 119.