Recommended English speaking medical facilities in Tokyo

W H E N I T ' S C R I T I C A L T O B E U N D E R S T O O D

Health care is a big concern no matter where you live, but especially in a land foreign to you where you don't speak the local language. Even if you do speak the language, medical terms and subtle meanings can be missed unless you are fluent on a native level. Therefore, finding good medical care that speaks "your language" is a critical mission for your peace of mind [and body].

Fortunately, Japan [especially Tokyo] has excellent medical services comparable to the West. Further still, since the international language is English and the world technical and medical standard is English, finding highly skilled doctors and surgeons in Japan that speak English is not too difficult. Finding nurses and reception staff that speak English is another problem entirely.

The following recommendations are medical service providers that not only have doctors fluent in English, but also have at least some support / reception staff that speak English as well [or at least "understand" English well enough to get you in front of the doctor].

# Eyes, ears, nose & throat - The Imperial Clinic is a small, but very good, "general practice" clinic located inside the Imperial Hotel, Tokyo, across from the Imperial Palace. The clinic doesn't have its own web site, so here is their contact information and a link to the Imperial Hotel web site:


Imperial Hotel, 4th Floor 1-1-1, Uchisaiwaicho Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Tel: +81-3-3503-8681 Fax: +81-3-3501-6608 Hours: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. (Mondays to Fridays) Location of Imperial Hotel Go >>

The Imperial Clinic's reception staff is completely bilingual and the doctor speaks English at a native level. The doctor is trained in both Western and Japanese medicine and explains in detail [with drawings and computer printouts if necessary] his diagnosis. The clinic also accepts the Japanese National health insurance, several traveler's insurance plans and of course, cash.

# Good general medicine clinic #2 - The Hibiya Clinic is another small clinic with one "eyes, ears, nose and throat" doctor on staff. It is located very near the Imperial Hotel as well, so it's a good alternative to the Imperial clinic if the wait is long. Some advantages over the Imperial clinic are that the Hibiya clinic is licensed to distribute its own medication so you don't need to go to an external pharmacy to get your prescription filled following your exam. It's also less expensive than the Imperial clinic if you are without an insurance plan and have to pay in cash. The doctor is fluent in English and has a good sense of humor too! Japanese National health insurance is accepted along with some traveler's insurance plans. Go >>

# When serious healthcare is needed - St. Luke's International Hospital is regarded as one of the best hospitals in Tokyo as well as being internationally friendly" with its many bilingual staff. For complete physicals, lab work, internal medicine, surgery and specialist care by area [i.e. urology, obstetrics, ophthalmology, etc.], St. Luke's is the place to go. Japanese National health insurance and cash are accepted here, but call ahead to check coverage of specific traveler's insurance plans. Go >>

# Another good hospital - Sanno Hospital is also a well-known hospital facility with a wide range of internal medicine services. They have a good "health check" service where you can pay for short targeted checkups or for 3 day complete health examinations. Similar to St. Luke's, Sanno Hospital has several staff that can help you in English and get you in to see an English speaking doctor. Getting to Sanno Hospital is also easier than St. Luke's as they are located a short walk away from the Nogizaka Station on the Chiyoda Subway Line. Go >>

Dentist recommendation coming soon

The list above is remiss without at least one English speaking dentist .... However, further research and "personal experience" is necessary before a suitable recommendation can be offered. The few discovered so far only accept cash!