National Health Insurance 国民健康保険
If your employer doesn't insure you, join NHI at your ward office. With the card, you pay 30% at the hospital instead of 100%.
Last verified 2026-07-10
Who needs this
Residents staying more than 3 months who are not covered by an employer's health insurance — self-employed people, students, job-seekers and their dependents. If your company insures you, this is already handled.
Steps
- Check whether your employer already insures you Company employees are usually enrolled in employer health insurance automatically. National Health Insurance is for everyone else.
- Go to your ward office within 14 days Within 14 days of moving in or losing other coverage. Enrollment is backdated to the day you became eligible — waiting doesn't avoid premiums.
- Show your insurance card at hospitals and pharmacies With the card (or My Number card with the insurance function), you pay 30% of the cost. Without it, you pay 100%.
- Pay premiums By invoice, direct debit or pension deduction. The amount is based on your previous year's income plus a per-person amount — students and recent arrivals may qualify for reductions.
Where to go
Enrollment happens at the ward office for your address — often near the same counters as resident registration.
Adachi 足立区
- Address
- 1-17-1 Chuo-honcho, Adachi-ku, Tokyo 120-8510 — Open in Google Maps
- Hours
- Mon–Fri 8:30–17:00 (also 4th Sun 9:00–16:00)
- Phone
- 03-3880-5111
Help in your language: English, Chinese, Korean — 03-3880-5177
Arakawa 荒川区
- Address
- 2-2-3 Arakawa, Arakawa-ku, Tokyo 116-8501 — Open in Google Maps
- Hours
- Mon–Fri 8:30–17:15
- Phone
- 03-3802-3111
Help in your language: Japanese, English, Chinese, Vietnamese — 03-3802-3798
Bunkyo 文京区
- Address
- Bunkyo Civic Center, 1-16-21 Kasuga, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 112-8555 — Open in Google Maps
- Hours
- Mon–Fri 8:30–17:00 (closed holidays, Dec 29–Jan 3)
- Phone
- 03-3812-7111
Help in your language: English, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Korean — 03-5803-1132
Chiyoda 千代田区
- Address
- 1-2-1 Kudan-Minami, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-8688 — Open in Google Maps
- Hours
- Mon–Fri 8:30–17:00 (closed holidays, Dec 29–Jan 3)
- Phone
- 03-3264-2111
Help in your language: Easy Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean +10 more — 0120-142-142
Chuo 中央区
- Address
- 1-1-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-8404 — Open in Google Maps
- Hours
- Mon–Fri 8:30–17:00 (Wed until 19:00 and Sun 9:00–17:00 for some services)
- Phone
- 03-3543-0211
Help in your language: English, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese +9 more — 0570-054222
Edogawa 江戸川区
- Address
- 1-4-1 Chuo, Edogawa-ku, Tokyo 132-8501 — Open in Google Maps
- Hours
- Mon–Fri 8:30–17:00 (closed weekends, national holidays, year-end)
Help in your language: Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean +6 more — 03-3877-3851
Itabashi 板橋区
- Address
- 2-66-1 Itabashi, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 173-8501 — Open in Google Maps
- Hours
- Mon–Fri 8:30–17:00 (Tue until 19:00 for some services; 2nd Sun 9:00–17:00)
- Phone
- 03-3964-1111
Help in your language: Japanese, English — 03-3579-2015
Katsushika 葛飾区
- Address
- 5-13-1 Tateishi, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo 124-8555 — Open in Google Maps
- Hours
- Mon–Fri 8:30–17:00 (Wed until 19:30 for some services; one Sun per month 9:00–12:00)
- Phone
- 03-3695-1111
Help in your language: Japanese, English, Chinese — 03-5654-8617
Kita 北区
- Address
- 1-15-22 Oji-honcho, Kita-ku, Tokyo 114-8508 — Open in Google Maps
- Hours
- Mon–Fri 8:30–17:00 (closed weekends, holidays, Dec 29–Jan 3)
- Phone
- 03-3908-1111
Help in your language: Chinese — 03-3908-1101
Koto 江東区
- Address
- 4-11-28 Toyo, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-8383 — Open in Google Maps
- Hours
- Mon–Fri 8:30–17:00 (some counters Wed until 19:00; 2nd Sun 9:00–16:00 except March)
- Phone
- 03-3647-9111
Help in your language: Chinese — 03-3647-4700
Meguro 目黒区
- Address
- 2-19-15 Kamimeguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8573 — Open in Google Maps
- Hours
- Mon–Fri 8:30–17:00 (closed weekends, holidays, Dec 29–Jan 3)
- Phone
- 03-3715-1111
Help in your language: English, Chinese, Korean, Filipino/Tagalog — 03-5722-9187
Minato 港区
- Address
- 1-5-25 Shibakoen, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-8511 — Open in Google Maps
- Hours
- Mon–Fri 8:30–17:00 (Wed until 19:00); closed weekends, national holidays, year-end
- Phone
- 03-3578-2111
Help in your language: Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean +10 more — 03-3578-2046
Nakano 中野区
- Address
- 4-11-19 Nakano, Nakano-ku, Tokyo 164-8501 — Open in Google Maps
- Hours
- Mon–Fri 8:30–17:00 (closed weekends, holidays, Dec 29–Jan 3)
- Phone
- 03-3389-1111
Help in your language: English, Chinese, Japanese — 03-3228-8929
Nerima 練馬区
- Address
- 6-12-1 Toyotama-kita, Nerima-ku, Tokyo 176-8501 — Open in Google Maps
- Hours
- Mon–Fri 8:30–17:00 (resident-record counters until 19:00 for some services)
- Phone
- 03-3993-1111
Help in your language: English, Chinese, Korean, Tagalog — 03-5984-4333
Ota 大田区
- Address
- 5-13-14 Kamata, Ota-ku, Tokyo 144-8621 — Open in Google Maps
- Hours
- Mon–Fri 8:30–17:00 (closed weekends, holidays, year-end)
- Phone
- 03-5744-1111
Help in your language: English, Chinese, Tagalog, Nepali +9 more — 03-6424-4924
Setagaya 世田谷区
- Address
- 4-21-27 Setagaya, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 154-8504 — Open in Google Maps
- Hours
- Mon–Fri 8:30–17:00; some counters also open Sat 9:00–17:00 (except 3rd Sat)
- Phone
- 03-5432-1111
Help in your language: Japanese, English, Chinese — 03-5432-2892
Shibuya 渋谷区
- Address
- 1-1 Udagawa-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-8010 — Open in Google Maps
- Hours
- Mon–Fri 8:30–17:00 (closed weekends, holidays, Dec 29–Jan 3)
- Phone
- 03-3463-1211
Help in your language: English — 03-3463-1211
Shinagawa 品川区
- Address
- 2-1-36 Hiromachi, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 140-8715 — Open in Google Maps
- Hours
- Mon–Fri 8:30–17:00 (Tue some counters until 19:00; 2nd & 4th Sun for some services)
- Phone
- 03-3777-1111
Help in your language: English, Chinese — 03-3777-2000
Shinjuku 新宿区
- Address
- 1-4-1 Kabuki-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8484 — Open in Google Maps
- Hours
- Mon–Fri 8:30–17:00 (Tue until 19:00 for some counters; 4th Sun open for some counters)
- Phone
- 03-3209-1111
Help in your language: Japanese, English, Chinese, Spanish +7 more — 03-3202-5535
Suginami 杉並区
- Address
- 1-15-1 Asagaya-Minami, Suginami-ku, Tokyo 166-8570 — Open in Google Maps
- Hours
- Mon–Fri 8:30–17:00; 1st/3rd/5th Sat 9:00–17:00 (citizen affairs counter only)
- Phone
- 03-3312-2111
Help in your language: English, Chinese, Nepali, Korean +2 more — 03-3312-2111
Sumida 墨田区
- Address
- 1-23-20 Azumabashi, Sumida-ku, Tokyo 130-8640 — Open in Google Maps
- Hours
- Mon–Fri 8:30–17:00 (resident-record counters 9:00–16:30; some counters 1st & 3rd Wed until 19:00, 2nd Sun 9:00–16:30)
- Phone
- 03-5608-1111
Help in your language: English, Chinese — 03-5608-1616
Taito 台東区
- Address
- 4-5-6 Higashi-Ueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo 110-8615 — Open in Google Maps
- Hours
- Mon–Fri 8:30–17:15 (some counters Wed until 19:00, 2nd Sun 9:00–17:00)
- Phone
- 03-5246-1111
Help in your language: English, Chinese, Korean — 03-5246-1025
Toshima 豊島区
- Address
- 2-45-1 Minami-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 171-8422 — Open in Google Maps
- Hours
- Mon–Fri 8:30–17:15 (closed weekends, national holidays, year-end)
Help in your language: English, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese +18 more — 03-3981-1782
Official links
Every link below goes to an official source. We show the domain so you can check it yourself.
Common questions
- How much do I pay at the hospital?
- 30% of the cost, when you show your insurance card. Without insurance you are charged the full 100%.
- What if I enroll late?
- Coverage and premiums are backdated to the day you became eligible, not the day you filed — so enrolling late doesn't save money, it only delays your card.
- What documents do I need?
- The English pages of most wards don't publish a full checklist — bring your residence card, and check your ward's page or call the counter before you go.
NHI also includes a childbirth lump-sum allowance (出産育児一時金) and funeral benefits. Routine checkups and vaccinations are generally not covered.