How to Find an English-Speaking Hospital or Clinic in Tokyo

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What This Guide Covers

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Clinic vs Hospital vs ER: Where Should You Go?

This is the most important decision, and most foreigners get it wrong. Japan’s medical system is not like the US or UK — you don’t go to a hospital for everything.

Your Situation	Go Here	Why
Cold, fever, flu, allergies, stomach ache	Clinic (クリニック)	Seen in 30–60 min. ¥3,000–5,000 with insurance.
Ongoing condition, need specialist	Clinic first → referral to hospital	Skipping the clinic costs you ¥5,000–7,000 extra at the hospital.
Broken bone, severe pain, can’t walk	Hospital ER (救急外来)	Call 119 for ambulance if needed.
Life-threatening: chest pain, breathing difficulty, heavy bleeding	Call 119 (ambulance)	Free. Arrives in 7–8 minutes in central Tokyo.
”Is this an emergency?” — you’re not sure	Call #7119	24/7 medical advice. They’ll tell you where to go.

Counter-intuitive advice: Don’t go to the ER for a cold — even if it’s 2 AM. ERs in Japan triage by severity, so you’ll wait hours behind actual emergencies. Instead, call #7119 and they’ll direct you to a nearby after-hours clinic (夜間診療所). It’s faster and cheaper.

Hospital vs Clinic: The Numbers

• Clinic (クリニック/診療所): Under 20 beds. Walk-ins often OK. Open 9:00–18:00, closed Sundays.
• Hospital (病院): 20+ beds, specialists, surgery, ER. Usually needs appointment or referral.
• Large hospital (200+ beds): Charges a 選定療養費 (special consultation fee) of ¥5,000–¥7,000 if you show up without a referral letter from a clinic.

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The 4 Ways to Find an English-Speaking Doctor

Method 1: Call AMDA (Best for Immediate Help)

AMDA International Medical Information Center 📞 03-6233-9266 🕐 Mon–Fri, 10:00–16:00 🌍 English available every day (plus Chinese, Korean, Spanish, Thai, Portuguese, Vietnamese, Filipino — varies by day)

What they do: You describe your symptoms in English. They find a clinic or hospital near you that speaks your language and can see you today. Free consultation. They can also provide phone interpretation at a medical appointment (call 050-3405-0397, 10:00–15:00).

What to say when you call:

“Hi, I need to see a doctor. I’m in [your area — e.g., Shinjuku]. I have [symptom — e.g., a bad cold and fever]. Do you know a clinic near me that speaks English?”

They’ll give you a clinic name, phone number, and directions.

Method 2: Call Himawari (Best for Evenings/Weekends)

Tokyo Metropolitan Health & Medical Information Center (Himawari) 📞 03-5285-8181 🕐 9:00–20:00, 365 days a year (including holidays) 🌍 English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, Thai

Himawari is operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. They can:

• Find medical institutions with foreign-language support
• Explain Japan’s medical and insurance systems
• Provide emergency medical interpretation (call 03-5285-8185, weekdays 17:00–20:00, weekends/holidays 9:00–20:00)

Online search: himawari.metro.tokyo.jp — filter by area, language, specialty, and hours.

Method 3: Google Maps Trick (Best for Walk-in Clinics)

Open Google Maps and search:

「病院 english」 or 「クリニック 英語対応」

Sort by distance. Check reviews — look for comments from other foreigners mentioning “English OK” or “doctor spoke English.” This works surprisingly well in central Tokyo (Shinjuku, Shibuya, Minato, Chiyoda).

Pro tip: Search 「内科 english」 for internal medicine (cold, flu, stomach), 「皮膚科 english」 for dermatology, 「歯科 english」 for dentist.

Method 4: JNTO Tourist Hotline (Best for Tourists in a Pinch)

Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) Visitor Hotline 📞 050-3816-2787 🕐 24 hours, 365 days 🌍 English, Chinese, Korean, Japanese

Originally for tourism questions, but they also help with medical emergencies and interpretation. If it’s late at night and you can’t reach AMDA or Himawari, call this number.

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Top English-Speaking Hospitals in Tokyo

Hospital	Location	English Level	Appointment	Notes
St. Luke’s International Hospital	Tsukiji (中央区)	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	Required	International clinic on 3F. Pricey but excellent.
National Center for Global Health & Medicine	Shinjuku (新宿区)	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	Required	International Health Care Center. Accepts travel insurance.
Tokyo Medical & Surgical Clinic	Minato (港区)	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	Recommended	Small private clinic. Popular with expats. Walk-ins possible.
International Catholic Hospital (Seibo)	Shinjuku (新宿区)	⭐⭐⭐⭐	Required	Full hospital with English-speaking doctors.
Sanno Hospital	Minato (港区)	⭐⭐⭐⭐	Required	Near Aoyama-itchome station. International department.
Tokyo Midtown Clinic	Minato (港区)	⭐⭐⭐⭐	Required	Upscale. Health checkups and general practice.

Getting there: Most of these hospitals are near major train stations. Use your Welcome Suica to get there by train — it’s the fastest way during an illness when you don’t want to navigate bus routes.

How to Make an Appointment

Most English-speaking hospitals accept appointments by:

1. Phone — Call the international department directly. Say: “I’d like to make an appointment. Do you have an English-speaking doctor available?”
2. Online — St. Luke’s, NCGM, and Sanno have English online booking.
3. Walk-in — Only some clinics accept walk-ins. Always call first to confirm.

What to say when booking (Japanese phrase):

「予約をお願いしたいのですが、英語が話せる先生はいますか？」 Yoyaku o onegai shitai no desu ga, eigo ga hanaseru sensei wa imasu ka? “I’d like to make an appointment — do you have a doctor who speaks English?”

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What to Bring to Your Appointment

Tourists

Item	Why
Passport	ID verification required at all medical institutions.
Travel insurance card/policy	Show this at reception. Some hospitals bill the insurer directly. Others require you to pay cash and file a claim later.
Cash ¥10,000–¥20,000	Many clinics don’t accept credit cards. Hospitals usually do.
List of medications you take	Write generic names in English. The doctor needs this.
Your hotel address	They’ll ask for a Japanese address for paperwork.

Residents

Item	Why
Health insurance card (保険証)	You pay 30% of costs. Without it, you pay 100% and apply for reimbursement at your ward office.
Residence card (在留カード)	ID backup.
お薬手帳 (medicine notebook)	If you have one from a pharmacy. Shows all your prescriptions.
My Number card	Some hospitals now accept this in place of insurance card.

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The Pitfall: “International” Doesn’t Mean “Walk-In”

Many foreigners assume they can just show up at St. Luke’s International Hospital without an appointment. Here’s what actually happens:

1. You arrive at St. Luke’s without an appointment.
2. Reception asks if you have a referral letter (紹介状). You don’t.
3. They charge you a 選定療養費 of ¥7,700 on top of your consultation fee.
4. You wait 2–3 hours because appointments take priority.
5. Your “quick visit” costs ¥15,000+ and takes half a day.

The right approach:

1. Call the international department first: 03-5550-7120.
2. Book an appointment.
3. If it’s urgent and you can’t wait, go to a smaller English-friendly clinic (Tokyo Medical & Surgical Clinic, for example) where walk-ins are accepted.

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What Happens During the Visit

Step 1: Reception (受付)

Arrive 15–20 minutes early for your first visit. At reception, say:

「初診です」(Shoshin desu) — “This is my first visit.”

You’ll fill out a 問診票 (monshin-hyou) — a medical questionnaire. Most English-speaking hospitals have an English version. It asks:

• Current symptoms
• Medical history
• Allergies
• Medications you’re currently taking
• Past surgeries

Step 2: Consultation (診察)

The doctor examines you, asks questions, and may order tests (blood test, X-ray, etc.). Test results often come back the same day at clinics, or within a few days at hospitals.

Useful phrases to describe symptoms:

English	Japanese	Pronunciation
I have a headache	頭が痛いです	Atama ga itai desu
I have a fever	熱があります	Netsu ga arimasu
My stomach hurts	お腹が痛いです	Onaka ga itai desu
I feel nauseous	吐き気がします	Hakike ga shimasu
I’m allergic to…	…にアレルギーがあります	…ni arerugii ga arimasu
It hurts here	ここが痛いです	Koko ga itai desu
Since yesterday	昨日からです	Kinou kara desu

Pro tip: Point to where it hurts. Japanese doctors are used to patients pointing — it’s often faster than explaining.

Step 3: Payment (会計)

Pay at the cashier (会計窓口) after your consultation.

• With insurance (保険証): You pay 30%. A typical clinic visit with basic tests: ¥2,000–¥5,000.
• Without insurance: Full price. A clinic visit: ¥5,000–¥15,000. ER visit: ¥20,000–¥50,000.
• Payment methods: Cash is safest. Large hospitals accept credit cards. Most small clinics are cash only.

Step 4: Prescription (処方箋)

If the doctor prescribes medication, you’ll receive a paper prescription (処方箋). This is not the medicine itself. Take it to a nearby pharmacy (薬局) — there’s almost always one right outside the clinic.

Critical: Prescriptions expire in 4 days (including the day of issue). Don’t put it off.

For more on getting your prescription filled, see our pharmacy guide.

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When Things Don’t Work Out

Problem	Cause	Solution
"No English-speaking doctor available today"	Small clinics may only have English on certain days	Ask what day English is available. Or call AMDA (03-6233-9266) for alternatives.
Clinic is closed (Sunday/holiday)	Most clinics close Sundays and national holidays	Call Himawari (03-5285-8181) for holiday clinics. Or use #7119 for medical advice.
"We don't accept your insurance"	Some international clinics don't take Japanese NHI. Some don't bill foreign travel insurance.	Pay cash, get a receipt (領収書) and detailed statement (診療明細書), and file with your insurer.
Waited 3+ hours at a hospital	Walked in without appointment or referral	Next time, go to a clinic first. Or book an appointment at the hospital's international department.
Doctor didn't speak English	Himawari listing was outdated, or doctor retired	Ask reception: 「英語ができる先生はいますか？」(Eigo ga dekiru sensei wa imasu ka?). If no, call AMDA for phone interpretation.

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FAQ

Q: How much does a doctor’s visit cost without insurance?

A: A basic clinic consultation (初診料) is ¥3,000–¥5,000. With blood tests: ¥8,000–¥15,000. ER visits range ¥20,000–¥50,000. International clinics like St. Luke’s tend to be at the higher end. Always ask about costs at reception before being seen.

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Q: Can I get a same-day appointment?

A: Yes, at many clinics — call in the morning. Hospitals usually require advance booking (1–7 days). For same-day urgent care, Tokyo Medical & Surgical Clinic and some walk-in clinics in Roppongi/Shinjuku are your best bet.

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Q: I don’t speak any Japanese. Can I still see a doctor?

A: Yes. Call AMDA (03-6233-9266) for phone interpretation during your appointment, or Himawari (03-5285-8185) for emergency medical interpretation. Many hospitals in our list above have English-speaking staff. You can also use Google Translate’s conversation mode — it’s surprisingly effective for medical terms.

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Q: Do Japanese clinics accept foreign credit cards?

A: Large hospitals usually accept Visa/Mastercard. Most small clinics are cash only. Bring ¥10,000–¥20,000 in cash to be safe. See our payment methods guide for details on paying in Japan.

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Q: What if I need a specialist (dermatologist, dentist, orthopedist)?

A: Use Himawari’s online search and filter by specialty (診療科目) and language. For dental, search Google Maps for 「歯科 english」+ your area. AMDA can also match you with specialists.

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Related Guides

• How to Visit a Hospital as a Tourist in Japan — The full walkthrough of the hospital visit process
• How to Handle Emergencies in Tokyo — Emergency numbers, ambulances, earthquake preparedness
• How to Visit a Pharmacy — Filling prescriptions and buying OTC medicine
• Trouble Response Hub — Central guide for all trouble situations
• Payment Methods in Japan — How to pay at clinics (cash, cards, IC cards)

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