Medical Translation and Healthcare Support Services
Healthcare and medication support in Japan, in your language.
MedicTranslate helps international residents and visitors with medication-import paperwork, clinic appointments, medical interpreting and human-validated translation.
- Kobe-based
- Japan-wide remote & document support
- Secure platform upload available
- Human-reviewed translation
MedicTranslate coordinates, interprets, translates and prepares documents. Medical care and clinical advice are provided by the clinic or healthcare professional you choose.
Start with what you need
Most people come to us for one of three things. Choose yours.
Bringing medication into Japan
- Preliminary review against published Japanese import requirements, based on your information
- Import Confirmation (Yunyu Kakunin-sho) support where applicable
- Prescription, doctor's-letter and customs documentation
- Approval decisions remain with the Japanese authorities
Need a clinic or appointment
- Appointment request and coordination in Japanese
- Interpreting support on the day, in person or remote
- Document translation before or after the appointment
- All bookings subject to clinic acceptance; you choose the clinic
- See our partner clinics
Need a document translated
- Medical: records, prescriptions, letters, reports, test results and discharge summaries
- Non-medical: certificates, licences, financial, legal, immigration and academic documents
- Human-validated; certification options where required
Our services
Language and logistics, end to end
Every service here is a language, coordination or document service. The medical care itself is always provided by your clinic.
Medication Import & Airport Customs Support
Import Confirmation (Yunyu Kakunin-sho) paperwork, formerly the Yakkan Shoumei, plus translation of the prescriptions and doctor's letters customs may ask to see. We review the medication information you provide against published import requirements and prepare the documentation; approval decisions rest with the Japanese authorities.
- Published Japanese restrictions or prohibitions that may apply to your medication
- Whether an Import Confirmation may apply to you
- Airport customs form assistance
Healthcare Arrangement — Hospital & Clinic Booking
Check-ups (kenko shindan), consultations and specialist visits, arranged end to end. We identify clinic options from the non-clinical criteria you give us, request the booking in Japanese, and handle reception and admin communication for you, rescheduling included.
- Introductions to our partner clinic network
- Booking requested in Japanese, subject to clinic acceptance
- Pre-visit checklist; the clinic knows an interpreter is coming
Medical Translation
Medical records, prescriptions, doctor's letters, referral letters, results reports and vaccination records. Human-validated translation by experienced language professionals. Standard delivery is generally available within 72 hours for eligible standard documents after files, scope and payment are confirmed.
- Certificate of Translation available where required, subject to the receiving authority's requirements
- Secure platform upload is recommended; email submission is also accepted at the customer's discretion
Medical Interpreting
An experienced interpreter with you at your appointment, so you and your doctor understand each other clearly. In person across Kansai, or by video and phone more broadly, including support at the pharmacy.
- In person at the clinic or hospital
- Remote by video or phone
Additional services
Notary & Certification Coordination
Coordination of notarised signatures, certified copies and affidavits with the appropriate notary offices for official and legal use, with a focus on Hyogo and Kansai. Apostille and legalisation coordination available where applicable.
Notary servicesNon-Medical Document Translation
Everyday official and personal documents, handled separately from our medical work: bank statements, birth and marriage certificates, driver's licences, legal documents, trade certificates, immigration paperwork and academic records, with certification options available where required.
Learn about document translationWe deliver human-validated medical translation, interpreter support, and healthcare information assistance to support cross-border healthcare needs.
Why MedicTranslate
Accuracy & Confidentiality
We prioritise accuracy and patient privacy, handling documents through our secure customer platform and in line with our Privacy Policy.
Convenient & Reliable
Our services are tailored to your needs, whether you're travelling for business, tourism, or living in Japan.
Wide Network
We work with partner clinics, experienced interpreters and collaborating organisations across Japan to support your healthcare communication.
How it works
Three steps, and we handle the Japanese
You should not need to navigate Japanese-language healthcare arrangements alone.
Tell us what you need
A document, an appointment, an interpreter, or medication paperwork for travel. Tell us your language, location and timing, and we quote you up front, before any work begins.
We coordinate and attend
We prepare and translate documents in advance, request the booking in Japanese (subject to clinic acceptance), confirm what to bring, and attend as your interpreter, in person or remotely.
You receive and understand
Your report is translated into your language. We can walk you through the translated document and clarify the wording used; clinical interpretation of findings must come from your doctor.
The same support continues after your visit: follow-up interpreting, translation of onward referrals and receipts, records prepared for travel, and the same coordinator throughout, so you are not re-explaining yourself.
Our process
See MedicTranslate in action
Medical translation is at the core of MedicTranslate's services for Japan. We provide human-validated medical translation, interpreter support, and healthcare information services to support individuals and organisations navigating cross-border healthcare needs.
Working together
Partner clinics, healthcare professionals and organisations
Are you a clinic or healthcare organisation? Partner with us
Our scope
Exactly what we do, and what we do not
We would rather be clear now than have you find out later. MedicTranslate is a healthcare technology company that facilitates healthcare communication, documentation and administrative coordination, not a healthcare provider.
We do
- Translate documents, records and results
- Interpret at your appointment, in person or remotely
- Prepare documentation, including medication-import paperwork
- Coordinate appointments, requested in Japanese
- Identify clinic options from your stated non-clinical criteria
- Communicate administratively with clinics on your behalf
We don't
- Diagnose, or provide medical advice
- Choose a doctor for you based on clinical judgement, or issue referrals
- Guarantee clinic acceptance of a booking
- Guarantee customs or government approval
- Determine insurance eligibility, coverage or clinic fees
- Act as a law firm, healthcare provider, customs authority or immigration sponsor
Simplify Medical Translations Today
With MedicTranslate, accessing accurate medical translations is easier than ever. Break language barriers and enhance your healthcare experience effortlessly.
FAQs
Questions people ask us first
Straight answers about what we can and cannot do for you.
Can you help me bring medication into Japan?
Yes. We review the medication, quantity and presentation information you provide against published Japanese import requirements and identify whether restrictions or an Import Confirmation (Yunyu Kakunin-sho) may apply. Where it does, we prepare the application paperwork and translate the prescriptions and doctor's letters the authorities or customs may ask to see.
Approval decisions rest with the Japanese authorities. We do not issue approvals and we cannot guarantee customs clearance.
Can you arrange a clinic appointment?
Yes. We identify clinic options based on the non-clinical criteria you give us — your language, location and the type of service — request the booking in Japanese, arrange an interpreter to attend with you, and translate the results report afterwards. All bookings are subject to clinic acceptance, and our coordination fee is quoted up front before any work begins.
On cost: Japanese health insurance may apply to eligible care. Coverage, patient contribution and fees are determined by the clinic and the relevant insurer. Routine check-ups (kenko shindan) are usually arranged through employers, municipalities or insurer programmes, or paid privately.
Do you provide medical advice or choose my doctor?
No, and this matters. MedicTranslate is a healthcare technology company that supports access to healthcare through translation, interpreting and administrative coordination; we do not diagnose, give medical advice, choose a doctor for you based on clinical judgement, or issue referrals. All medical care is provided by the clinic you choose.
We can walk you through the translated document and clarify the wording used. Clinical interpretation of findings must come from your doctor, and we help you communicate your questions clearly.
How quickly can you translate my documents?
Standard delivery is generally available within 72 hours for eligible standard documents after files, scope and payment are confirmed. Longer or more complex documents may take more time, and we tell you the timeline and the price before we begin, not after.
Every translation is human-validated by experienced language professionals, and a Certificate of Translation is available where required, subject to the receiving authority's requirements.
How do you protect medical documents?
Existing MedicTranslate account holders can upload medical records, prescriptions and other documents through our authenticated customer platform. Secure platform upload is recommended for medical documents.
Customers may also choose to send documents by email. Ordinary email may carry additional privacy and security risks outside MedicTranslate's direct control, so please avoid including unnecessary medical information in a general enquiry. See our Privacy Policy for information about document handling, access and retention.
Where do you operate?
We are based in Kobe. In-person interpreting and clinic coordination focus on Kansai, including Hyogo, Osaka and Kyoto.
Document translation, certification coordination and medication import support are available wherever you are, including before you arrive in Japan, and remote interpreting is available beyond Kansai. If you are elsewhere in Japan, tell us what you need and we will tell you plainly whether we can help.
Worked with us before? Your feedback helps other international patients find support.
Leave a Google reviewWhat do you need help with?
Tell us what you need, in your language. We will tell you what it costs and how long it takes before any work begins.
General enquiry (non-sensitive questions)
Price confirmed before work begins Reply within one business day Secure document process Kobe-based · In-person support across Kansai · Remote and document support Japan-wide
MedicTranslate is a healthcare technology company supporting healthcare communication, documentation and administrative coordination in Japan through translation, interpreting, appointment coordination and document preparation. We are not a healthcare provider, law firm, customs authority or immigration sponsor; medical care and clinical decisions rest with the clinic and doctor you choose, bookings remain subject to clinic acceptance, and medication import approvals rest with the Japanese authorities. Full details: Terms of Use · Privacy Policy.