We performed a retrospective chart review assessing the reason for medical consultation among Japanese skin tumor patients to determine the effective means of increasing skin cancer awareness in the population and the detection rate at an early stage. We analyzed a total of 1,179 skin tumor patients who presented between 2015 and 2016. We found that women were more likely to visit a hospital when convinced by mass media; however, in comparison with men, they were less likely to visit a hospital on their own initiative. Patients aged 70 years or older were more likely to visit a hospital if encouraged by others, including family or dermatologists. Informing people about skin cancer symptoms and conducting skin exams on senile patients at dermatology clinics may be effective means for secondary prevention of skin cancer in the Japanese population.