Travel destination
Tokyo, Kyoto and the ski season. One of the shortest lists we see — but worth checking your routine boosters.
Japan is a low-risk, high-infrastructure destination. For most travellers the main step is confirming routine UK vaccines are up to date; hepatitis A and, for longer or rural trips, Japanese encephalitis and hepatitis B may be considered. Malaria and yellow fever are not concerns. We tailor advice to your trip.
Japan is one of the lower-risk destinations, with excellent healthcare. Travel health is mostly a routine vaccine check plus a few situational extras for longer or rural trips.
Your pharmacist tailors it at South London Clinic.
Vaccines
A starting point, not a prescription. What you actually need depends on where exactly you're going, what you'll be doing, how long for and what you've already had — a pharmacist confirms all of it at your appointment.
What to check before you fly
No vaccination certificate is routinely required for UK travellers going directly to Japan. Entry requirements change — we confirm the current rules for your exact itinerary at your appointment.
Bites, risk and tablets
Malaria risk changes by region, altitude and season, and depends on exactly where you are going and when. We check the current TravelHealthPro country advice against your itinerary at your appointment, and talk you through bite avoidance and, where it is needed, antimalarial tablets.
Give yourself enough time
Ideally see us six to eight weeks before you travel, as some vaccines are given as a course over several weeks. A rabies course runs over about three to four weeks, so start that one early. Travelling sooner than that? Book anyway — there is usually still something worth doing.
A fortnight touring Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka is very low risk; a longer stay, rural travel or farm visits shift the picture slightly. We start from your plans at your South London Clinic consultation.
For most travellers the key step is confirming routine UK vaccines, tetanus, diphtheria, polio and MMR, are up to date; the NHS notes measles outbreaks make MMR worth checking before any trip. Hepatitis A is sometimes considered, and for longer rural or farming stays Japanese encephalitis and hepatitis B come into the conversation.
Despite the name, Japanese encephalitis is a low risk for typical tourist trips to Japan and is mainly relevant to longer rural or wet-season stays, particularly around rice-farming areas; the TravelHealthPro Japan page sets out the detail. Your pharmacist will tell you honestly whether it applies to your trip.
Neither malaria nor yellow fever is a risk in Japan, and no certificate is required for typical travel.
A few weeks ahead is plenty for most trips; allow longer if a Japanese encephalitis course is needed.
Q: Do I need vaccines for Japan?
A: Mostly a routine vaccine check; hepatitis A and, for longer rural trips, Japanese encephalitis and hepatitis B may be considered.
Q: Do I need Japanese encephalitis vaccine for Japan?
A: Usually not for city trips; it is for longer rural or farming stays.
Q: Is there malaria in Japan?
A: No.
Who you'll see
Superintendent Pharmacist & Independent Prescriber
Rafay has been a pharmacist for more than 12 years and runs the travel clinic at Hills Pharmacy. He'll go through where you're going, what you'll be doing and what you've already had, then explain in plain language what's worth having for your trip and what isn't.
GPhC registration 2240995
Hills Pharmacy, 99 Kennington Lane, Kennington, South London SE11 4HQ — GPhC premises 1093041 (Marlborough UK Limited)
Check on the GPhC registerMainly a check that routine UK vaccines are up to date. Hepatitis A is sometimes considered, and for longer rural or farming stays Japanese encephalitis and hepatitis B come into the conversation. Your pharmacist at South London Clinic tailors it.
Usually not for city trips. Despite the name, it is mainly relevant to longer rural or wet-season stays around farming areas.
No, there is no malaria or yellow fever risk in Japan.
A few weeks is plenty for most trips, or longer if a Japanese encephalitis course is needed.
Book a travel appointment and a pharmacist will go through your itinerary with you — where you're going, what you'll be doing and what you've already had — then tell you what's worth having and what isn't.
Vaccines and antimalarial tablets are prescription only medicines. Suitability is assessed at your consultation — nothing is sold or supplied without it.
Book an appointment
Appointments are with a pharmacist at Hills Pharmacy, 99 Kennington Lane — free parking nearby.
What to bring: a list of any medicines you take, and any records that are relevant to what you're coming in for.
Book an appointmentSouth London Clinic at Hills Pharmacy, 99 Kennington Lane, Kennington, South London, Lambeth, SE11 4HQ · Free parking nearby
Bookings for this clinic are taken by phone and email. Give us a call during opening hours and we'll go through the times that are free.
Opening hours
Appointments are subject to availability. If you are travelling, call as early as you can — some travel vaccines need a course started in advance.
Where to find us
The clinic is inside Hills Pharmacy on High Street. Come in through the shop and tell the counter you're here for an appointment.
Address
South London Travel Clinic at Hills Pharmacy99 Kennington LaneOpening hours
Clinic appointments run within these hours. Bank holiday hours can differ — please call before travelling in.
South London Travel Clinic at Hills Pharmacy, 99 Kennington Lane, Kennington, Lambeth, SE11 4HQ