Basic Health and Safety

In this section, you will find information on how to stay well while in Japan and while traveling to other countries. The process of wellness starts before you go abroad with a visit to your doctor. You may need to get inoculations to protect you from various illnesses before traveling. You will also learn some tips about food and water safety.

• What to Know about Japan: Learn all you can about the health and safety issues of Japan and the countries you plan to visit. This includes reading about the cultural and political climate of those countries, as well as learning about how others view people from your country, race, ethnic group, religion, gender and sexual orientation.
• Illnesses, Diseases, and Inoculations: Find out about the various illnesses that might be more common in Japan or the regions and countries to which you will be traveling. Get the appropriate shots and pills, and take the appropriate medications with you if your doctor thinks it's necessary. Find out about any potential side-effects of shots and pills that you may take. For more information on illnesses that may be prevalent in Japan, please see the CDC link in the Resources section of this Handbook.
• • A Note About Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS): Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) has been described as a potentially lethal, flu-like disease supposedly spread through "close contact" with infected individuals. Cases of SARS have emerged in several regions worldwide, including Japan. Therefore, we recommend that, among other actions, all students and parents consult institution and program staff in the United States and abroad for guidelines, review institutional/program and personal emergency action plans, and take necessary precautions to make informed travel decisions. Besides practicing good personal hygiene, students should consider staying away from people and areas of potential risk, and seeking medical attention at the first indication of symptoms is important. Check other available resources for information regarding treatment, and avoidance of SARS. Please see this Handbook’s Special Issue on SARS.
• Physicals and Check-ups: Get a complete physical, eye exam and dental check-up before going to Japan. While health care is generally good in Japan, the quality of dental and medical care might be different in the various countries or regions you may visit. Also, care could possibly be more expensive than in the United States, or your health insurance may not cover your medical care abroad as well as in the U.S.
• Can You Drink the Water?: Find out if water is generally safe to drink in different regions of Japan and in the countries to which you will be traveling. To avoid risk, many travelers drink bottled water. Remember that ice can also be unsafe, as well as the water you use to brush your teeth.
• Food Safety: Poor refrigeration, undercooked meat, and roadside/outdoor vendors could pose problems related to food contamination. There is a risk of parasitic infection and toxins from eating raw seafood; while it’s not recommended you consume raw seafood, dishes like sashimi do comprise an integral part of Japanese cuisine and should only be eaten at reputable establishments known to be clean and sanitary. If you get diarrhea or food poisoning, remember to drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated. As with any illness, consider seeing a doctor if your condition worsens. Give your body time to adjust to new types of foods you will be eating.
• Laws and Codes of Conduct: Make yourself aware of both the rules and regulations of your study abroad program sponsor, and the local laws and customs of Japan and the countries which you will be visiting. Understand that you will not only have to conform to the legal system of Japan, but also obey the codes of conduct required of program participants. Also recognize that certain laws may vary from region to region or even city to city. Some Americans believe that Japanese police procedures appear to be less sensitive and responsive to a victim's concerns than would be the case in the United States, particularly in cases involving domestic violence and sexual assault.
• Mental and Physical Health: Consider your own mental and physical health issues when applying for a study abroad program, and make all your necessary health information available to your program's administrators so they can assist you with any special needs, or advise you on the risks you might face. Study abroad may include both physical and mental challenges for students, so make sure you establish a support network of program administrators, family and friends who can help you. Psychiatric care is difficult to find even in major cities, and is very rare in rural areas. Any type of care will be expensive, but extended care will be difficult to obtain at any price. Since foreigners are not members of a Japanese national health insurance plan, medical care providers require payment in full prior to treatment, or proof of ability to pay.
• Prescriptions: Some common, over-the-counter medicine used in the United States is illegal in Japan. Allergy and sinus medication and inhalers are just some of the non-prescription drugs you cannot bring into Japan. Customs officials in Japan detain travelers who are carrying prohibited medicine for up to several weeks. In addition to non-prescription drug bans, Japan also prohibits the import of some U.S. prescription medication, even when presented with a signed prescription from a doctor or a prescription translated into Japanese. Pharmacies comparable to that name in the U.S. are called “yakkyoku” while drugstores are called “yakuten.” Don’t expect the staff to speak English and do not count on being able to fill your prescription in rural Japan – pharmacies in these areas are few and far between. The U.S. Department of State advises: “Persons traveling to Japan carrying prescription medication that must be taken daily should consult the Japanese Embassy in the United States before leaving the U.S. to confirm whether they will be allowed to bring the particular medication into Japan.”

  Just to be cautious, get a doctor's signed prescription for any medication you have to bring with you to Japan. Some prescriptions may need to be translated into Japanese if customs officials decide you will be allowed to fill them in Japan. Also include a copy of your prescription for your glasses or contact lenses. Bring an extra pair of glasses.

• First-Aid Kit: Consider a well-stocked first-aid kit as a first line of defense. Some items to include are: sunscreen, bandages, flashlight, sterile pads, insect repellent, adhesive tape, aspirin, antacid, anti-diarrhea tablets, anti-malarial medication, extra bottled water, feminine protection, condoms, rubber gloves, etc.
• Fitness and Exercise: Try to get fit in the time you have before departing for Japan. A healthy body can help you fight off illness and recover faster if you do get sick. Even though it may be harder to follow a structured workout routine, try to stay fit while in Japan. Exercise also helps to increase energy levels and combat depression.
• Walking: Get a good pair of comfortable walking shoes. Without access to a car or public transportation in Japan, you may have to do quite a bit of walking. Break in your shoes before you go.
• Emergency Contacts: Keep your program staff and your emergency contacts at home and in Japan well informed of your whereabouts and activities, and provide these people with copies of your important travel documents (i.e. passport, visa, plane tickets, traveler's checks, and prescriptions, etc.).
• Air Travel: When you travel by air, drink a lot of non-alcoholic fluids, stay away from caffeine, eat light, and stretch often to avoid jetlag. Many airlines are now required to show an in-flight video of stretching exercises you can do on the plane in order to avoid the potential formation of blood clots, which can be caused by cabin pressure. A direct flight is usually easier for most travelers, but flights broken up by stops can also lessen jet lag.
• Transportation: Accidents involving in-country travel, whether by air, bus, train, taxi, car, etc., are a major cause of injury to students abroad. It is important to understand what the safe modes of travel are in Japan and in the countries to which you plan to travel. In general, Japan’s public and private forms of transportation are clean, well-maintained and safe. However, it is always a good idea to be careful of traveling alone or late at night. For more information on transportation in Japan, please visit Japan-Guide.com.

  • Air: Domestic air travel in Japan is conducted mainly by the JAL Group (which owns Japan Airlines, among others) and ANA Group (which owns Air Nippon, among others). Together they serve over 50 airports. Haneda and Narita Airports in Tokyo both service domestic flights, although Haneda Airport general services domestic flights while Narita Airport handles international flights (some crossover exists). Osaka’s Kansai Airport, located south of Osaka, serve both domestic and international flights. Due to increased privatization and competition between airlines, prices have dropped and, in many instances, are comparative to the cost of a ticket on a bullet train (Shinkasen).
  • Train/Metro: Public transportation in the form of subways/above ground rail and high speed trains is readily available, very well maintained, and fairly straight forward. However, if you don’t read Japanese characters (either kanji or hiragana) it can be difficult to self-navigate, particularly in rural areas. Rail networks cover Japan’s four major islands: Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku – and visitors can gain access to most railways and destinations with the Japan Rail Pass. There are 5 different types of trains available: local, rapid, express, limited express, and super express. With local being the slowest (stops at every station) to super express being the fastest (bullet trains dedicated to a specific route), service various on your desired speed and destination. The Shinkasen (bullet trains) travel at speeds over 300 km/hr and run on separate tracks and platforms from regular trains. However, you will have to pay an extra “limited express fee” to use these trains that can be up to 175% of your fare! Japan Railways own about 70% of the trains and tracks, so they would be a good place to begin planning your rail travel.
  • Bus: Long-distance buses are called “kosaku” and are a cheap and good alternative to air or train travel. They typically cost 10-50% less than train fares, yet extensively cover almost all areas of Japan – every region, district and city (including small cities and towns) have at least one bus line. For a list of the companies that service the various regions of Japan, please visit Japan-Guide.com. In the major cities like Tokyo and Osaka, buses serve as a compliment to the city’s extensive rail networks. In smaller towns and cities, buses will often be the primary form of public transportation.
  • Cars (Driving): Take note that drivers drive on the left side of the road in Japan – like in the UK – and can pose serious hazards to drivers unfamiliar with this system. With that in mind, driving in Japan may be a good idea if you are interested in taking a self-directed tour of the countryside and rural areas, and don’t want to deal with the inconvenience of bus/train schedules and designated stops. However, driving in metropolitan areas is highly discouraged as traffic is very congested and the streets can be confusing. Public transportation is a much better option. If you plan to drive while studying in Japan, you will need your U.S. driver’s license and an international driver’s license (which you must obtain before arriving in Japan – AAA issues these licenses in the U.S.). Whether you will be renting a car or bringing your own, insurance is required. However, most rental companies provide insurance with your rental. Prices typically start at about 6000 Yen a day (roughly $53/day). Gasoline, parking costs, and toll highways can be expensive. Culturally speaking, the “best” seat in a car is the backseat behind the driver; this should be reserved for guests. Roads are often closed during winter and cars should be equipped with tire chains. If a driver is involved in a vehicle accident resulting in damages or injuries to another party, the driver may be arrested and detained by Japanese authorities until a settlement is arranged with the injured party. Furthermore, depending upon the extent of damages or injuries to the other party, you may face charges filed by the Japanese judicial authorities.
  • Bicycles: With over 300 million on the streets, bicycles are an integral part of transportation in Japan. They prove to be the most reliable and cheapest form of inner-city transport. Trains are another good travel option. Train travel is fast and safe, with routes that extend into every part of Japan’s islands.
  • Boat: Daily and weekly ferries operate between Japan and China, Russia, and South Korea. Commercial cruise lines like Princess, Crystal, Seabourn Cruise Lines, and Clipper Cruise Lines offer vacation-centered transport between the Japanese islands and en route to China or Hong Kong. There are also ferries between the Japanese islands.
  • Taxis: Taxis can be found in major cities and small towns. They are a rather expensive alternative to city travel; you would do better to take public transportation during running hours. Taxis can be a good service to use after the buses and trains stop running. However, be prepared to wait in long lines if you need a taxi late in the evening – this is when demand for taxi services rises (due to the inaccessibility of public transportation). In smaller cities and towns, taxis are a good option if you need to make a short trip to the train or bus station. When taking a taxi, keep in mind that the back doors open automatically, and there is no need to tip your driver because service is included in the fare.
• Alcohol and Drugs: Use and abuse of alcohol and drugs abroad can increase the risk of accident and injury. Many study abroad accidents and injuries are related to the use and abuse of alcohol and drugs abroad. Violating drug laws in Japan may result in very serious consequences. In some countries you may visit, being found guilty of violating drug laws can result in consequences as serious as death.
• Setting an Example: Set a good example. Remember you are like an ambassador for your U.S. college or university, as well as your culture and country. Behave in a way that is respectful of others' rights and well-being and encourage others to do the same.