MHLW Medical Information Net (Navii)

Medical Information Net (医療情報ネット), known as Navii (ナビイ), is the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare’s official nationwide search tool for finding hospitals, doctors, clinics, dental offices, midwifery centers, and pharmacies across Japan. Unlike private review websites, the information comes directly from reports that medical institutions are legally required to submit to the ministry. This makes Navii a reliable place to begin when looking for medical care, helping families find appropriate services with greater confidence.

One of Navii’s most useful features is its detailed search system. In addition to searching by medical specialty and location, users can filter results by foreign language support, making it easier for families to find healthcare providers who can communicate in a language other than Japanese. Searches can also be narrowed by the types of patients a facility serves, including a dedicated category for children and people with disabilities and medically complex children (障害児・者、医療的ケア児). Additional filters are available for pediatric care, care for people with intractable diseases (難病), and women’s health.

The service is also helpful when urgent care is needed. It can show which medical institutions are currently open, including those providing care during evenings, nights, weekends, and public holidays. A telephone guidance service (0570-000692) is also available to confirm which facilities are open during holidays and after regular business hours. In addition to the nationwide search options, each prefecture provides its own local search features, allowing families to find information that is specific to their area.

Navii is operated by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, and covers every prefecture in Japan. The website is available in Japanese, and there is no full English version. However, its foreign-language filter makes it easier to locate medical facilities that offer support in other languages, and browser translation generally works well for navigating the search tool.