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.
Outpatient note on the MHLW page: Appointment times can be changed Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) from 14:00 to 17:00. If you have cold symptoms, please phone for advice before you come. Patients up to the third year of junior high school age are advised to see paediatrics. Orthopaedics is open about twice a month on Mondays. Neurology sees patients about twice a month. Neurosurgery is on the second and fourth Mondays. Urology is on the first and third Tuesdays. Closed days on the MHLW page: Dec 29 to Jan 3.
Outpatient note on the MHLW page: Also provided: diabetes medicine (by appointment), respiratory medicine, cardiovascular surgery, haematology (blood, kidney and collagen diseases) and neurology. For the opening and registration times of the fever clinic (including children), see the official website. Closed Dec 29 to Jan 3. Clinic days and hours may change, so please check the official website. Outpatient schedule: https://kakunodate-hp.com/
Outpatient note on the MHLW page: Last Friday of the month: 09:00-12:00 (closed in the afternoon). Every Tuesday: 09:00-12:00 (closed in the afternoon).
Outpatient note on the MHLW page: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday have time slots 1 and 2 as the standard hours. Wednesday and Saturday have time slot 1 only. Time slot 3 is on Thursday only and is by appointment; booking by phone is also possible. Closed on Sundays, public holidays and the year-end and New Year period.
Closed days on the MHLW page: Summer closure: Aug 13 to Aug 15 (may open depending on local medical needs). Year-end and New Year closure: Dec 30 to Jan 3. Saturdays: may be closed when the doctor attends an academic conference.
Closed days on the MHLW page: Closed over the year-end and New Year period and on national holidays. The Saturday closing day may change because of study meetings and similar events.
Gathered ahead of your trip as a planning aid — details change; verify locally on arrival.
Backcountry policy
Entry outside the managed area is prohibited except through two set points: the top of Ginrei Lift No. 3 and the climbing route from Alpa Komakusa to the Akita Komagatake 8th-station shelter. Anyone leaving the area must submit a climbing plan 「登山計画書」, carry a beacon, probe and shovel, and must not duck ropes. The resort strongly recommends going with someone who knows the terrain. Entering restricted areas or leaving elsewhere can mean lift-ticket confiscation and ejection. The climbing plan can be filed through Akita Prefecture's online application, at a police station, or in the drop box at Alpa Komakusa.
As of 2026-10-13
Major trauma center
Akita Red Cross Hospital 「秋田赤十字病院」 in Akita City is the base hospital of the Akita prefectural doctor-heli, and its operating area is the whole prefecture, which includes Semboku. The helicopter is requested by the local fire service, not by the public directly. The final destination hospital is chosen by the doctor according to the patient's condition.
As of 2026-10-13
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
The resort bills the people involved for any search or rescue outside the managed area, in no-skiing areas and on the tree-run courses. For a search outside the managed area the published Semboku City rates are ¥30,000 per searcher per day, ¥2,000 per searcher per day for meals, and ¥5,000 for transport, with snowcats and snowmobiles at actual cost. Where the resort's own patrol is used (at police request, in no-skiing areas, or on tree-run courses) the hourly rates are ¥18,000 per patrol member, ¥6,000 per support staff member, ¥50,000 for a snowcat with operator and ¥20,000 each for a snowmobile or other vehicle. The resort accepts no responsibility for accidents in those areas.
As of 2026-10-13
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.