Health
Japan has high standards of health and hygiene, and there are no
significant diseases worth worrying about. No compulsory
immunizations or health certificates are needed to enter the
country.
Medical treatment and drugs are of a high quality, but can be
expensive, so (if possible) you should bring any medicines you
might need with you, especially prescription drugs. Also bring a
copy of your prescription and make sure you know what the generic
name of the drug is, rather than its brand name. Some common drugs
widely available throughout the US and Europe are generally not
available in Japan. The contraceptive pill is available, but only
on prescription.
Although mosquitoes buzz across Japan in the warmer months,
malaria is not endemic, so there's no need to take any
tablets. It's a good idea to pack mosquito repellent, however, and
to burn coils in your room at night, or to use a plug-in
repellent.
Tap water is safe to drink throughout Japan, but you
should avoid drinking directly from streams or rivers. It's also
not a good idea to walk barefoot through flooded paddy fields, due
to the danger of water-borne parasites. Food-wise, you should have
no fears about eating raw seafood or seafish, including the
notorious fugu (globe fish). However, raw meat and river
fish are best avoided.
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