Covid-19 in Japan update: How can foreigners take the test

One of Japan’s short term goals for fighting the Covid-19 pandemic has been to ramp up the number of tests done per day. Test kits have proliferated to local doctors and clinics, and some even allows you to reserve a test online and get the result without going through the government!

Even if you are a foreigner, you can take the test just like any other Japanese person with the cost as cheap as a few thousand yen if you have a medical insurance card, but as expensive as tens of thousands of yen, so make sure to call the hospital beforehand and ask them if the price can be cheaper if you use the insurance.

If you already have symptoms, it is likely that you will be applicable for medical insurance. In this case, the governmental organization can assist you in choosing the type of the test and where to take them. So call your local Coronavirus Consultation Center or the number below.

List of Coronavirus Consultation Centers
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/kenkou_iryou/covid19-kikokusyasessyokusya.html

Tokyo Coronavirus Consultation Center
0570-550571

If you don’t have symptoms and are trying to take a test, you can still contact major hospitals in your region to see if you can take a test. In fact, many hospitals support taking a test with insurance. There are also private testing services available, but they tend to be more expensive than the one run by the government. So I recommend you to consider them as the last resort.

There are three types of tests, but which one should you choose to take? Here’s an overview.

PCR test (PCR検査_PCR-kensa)

This test amplifies the virus’s DNA inside your body in order to detect it, and it’s by far the most accurate of the three. The result will be available in a few hours. This test tend to be the most expensive out of all three because of the equipments required. Since this test is the most accurate, this is the one the government spent the most effort introducing.

This test typically costs around 20,000-40,000 JPY. However, if insurance is applied, the test could be as cheap as 2,000-5000 JPY. So make sure to all the hospital and ask whether your test is applicable for medical insurance.

Antigen test (抗原検査_kougen-kensa)

This test detects the virus themselves. Result will be available in 30 minutes of the test. Unlike the PCR test, this test cannot amplify the result, so the accuracy of is inferior to that of PCR.

This test typically costs around 10,000-30,000 JPY. However, this test is also applicable for the medical insurance payment, so make sure to call the hospital beforehand and ask them whether insurance can be used to pay for your test.

Antibody test (抗体検査_koutai-kensa)

This one detects antibodies that are produced by your body few days after the infection. This test can be used to show that you have been infected by the Coronavirus in the past. This test does not determine if you are currently undergoing infection.

This test typically costs around 10,000-20,000 JPY. This test is NOT applicable for medical insurance payment. So even though the cost itself may be low, your payment could be more than the PCR test depending on the hospital.