Chiang Mai Living Guide

Health & medical care

When life abroad feels difficult: support in Japanese

Japanese-language chat support and official sources of information for family problems.

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An illustrative psychotherapy consultation room
An illustrative psychotherapy consultation room · Ravit · Photo source · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Resized and converted to WebP; display may crop.

Start with these three things

  1. Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs directs Japanese nationals abroad to the Anata no Ibasho chat service in Japanese.
  2. The service is free and anonymous, open to all ages and genders, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Planning tips (not official rules)

  1. You do not need a perfect explanation. Start with whatever you can say, such as 'I am struggling' or 'I have been dealing with this alone.'

Steps

"Tip" marks a planning suggestion, not an official rule.

  1. Tip Choose somewhere you can type calmly without others seeing the conversation.
  2. You can access the listed chat service through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs page on loneliness and isolation.
  3. Tip Say whether you would like someone to listen or help finding further support.
  4. Tip Before ending the conversation, consider identifying one manageable next step and where to seek help again.

What to prepare

Planning tips (not official rules)

  • If notes help, briefly describe what is troubling you, when it began and any effects on sleep, eating or daily life. You do not need to organize everything before talking.
  • When arranging medical care, prepare information about current medicines and previous treatment, and tell the provider if you need language support.

Where to ask

Japanese-language chat service listed by Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs / Consulate-General of Japan in Chiang Mai for family issues

Airport Business Park, 90 Mahidol Road, Haiya, Mueang Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand

Consulate-General of Japan in Chiang Mai: 052-012-500

Consulate-General of Japan in Chiang Mai: 052-012-501

Current office hours have not been verified. Check with the office before visiting.

Checked 2026-10-10 · Contact sources & opening hours

The ministry-commissioned chat service for Japanese nationals abroad is listed as operating 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Consular consultation hours are not yet confirmed. Check the official information before making contact.

Things to watch for

  • Waiting times before a conversation begins remain unverified. The ministry lists the service as available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, but an immediate response has not been verified.

Planning tips (not official rules)

  • If there is an immediate risk that you or someone else may be harmed, do not wait for a chat reply. Seek help from someone nearby and use the emergency contacts to reach ambulance services or police.

Talking about your feelings in Japanese

The service is operated by the nonprofit Anata no Ibasho under commission from Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with Japanese Ibasho counsellors responding. The ministry explicitly states that Japanese nationals abroad can use it free of charge and anonymously.

Planning tips (not official rules)

It is fine to say that you do not yet understand what is making you feel this way. You need not write about anything you do not want to discuss; agree with the counsellor on what you feel able to share.

Connecting support with medical care

Planning tips (not official rules)

If you are concerned about effects on your health or daily life, such as difficulty sleeping, eating or continuing work, speak with a medical provider too. Do not make diagnoses or change medicines based only on this page or a chat conversation.

For care in Japanese, check both the relevant department and interpreting arrangements. Tell the provider and anyone accompanying you whom you consent to sharing information with.

Problems with family or a partner

Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that its overseas missions provide information about lawyers, interpreters and local support organizations for family issues. Available information varies by mission.

The ministry also lists mediation between family members and payment of legal fees among forms of help its missions cannot provide.

Planning tips (not official rules)

If you are concerned that another person may see your enquiry, first explain how you can safely be contacted. You can also express your preference about whether family members are present.

Ways others can help

Planning tips (not official rules)

If you are worried about someone, ask what help they would like without rushing to conclusions. If they want it, offer practical support such as opening the support page together or accompanying them to an appointment.

Inclusion is not an endorsement.

Sources & dates checked

  1. OfficialMinistry of Foreign Affairs of Japan 海外渡航・滞在Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan · Checked 2026-10-11
  2. OfficialMinistry of Foreign Affairs of Japan 孤独・孤立及びそれに付随する問題でお悩みの方へMinistry of Foreign Affairs of Japan · Checked 2026-10-11
  3. OfficialMinistry of Foreign Affairs of Japan 海外生活の悩み・家族問題Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan · Checked 2026-10-11
  4. OfficialConsulate-General of Japan in Chiang Mai 総領事館案内Consulate-General of Japan in Chiang Mai · Checked 2026-10-10
  5. OfficialConsulate-General of Japan in Chiang Mai 邦人援護関係Consulate-General of Japan in Chiang Mai · Checked 2026-10-10
  6. OfficialConsulate-General of Japan in Chiang Mai 2026年総領事館休館日のご案内Consulate-General of Japan in Chiang Mai · Checked 2026-10-10