It is never pleasant to feel bad and get sick. But it is even worse when you cannot get proper treatment because of the language barrier. The Japanese language isn’t easy, so even if you speak some Japanese, at the hospital, it might get tricky.

Japan is known for not knowing English very well. However, at least in Tokyo, there is still quite a decent number of clinics that will be able to assist you in English.

Let us introduce some of the foreigner-friendly hospitals and clinics in Tokyo.

Centre Hospital of the National Center for Global Health and Medicine

Address: 162-8655, Tokyo, Shinjuku, Toyama 1-21-1.

Nearest station: Wakamatsu-Kawada Station.

TEL: +81-3-3202-7181

International University of Health and Welfare, Mita Hospital

Address: 1087-8329, Tokyo, Minato, Mita 1-4-3 Mita.

Nearest Station: Akabanebashi Station.

TEL +81-3-3451-8121

St. Luke’s International Hospital 

Address: 104-8560, Tokyo, Chuo, Akashicho 9-1.

Nearest station: Tsukiji Station.

TEL:  +81-3-5550-7166

Keio University Hospital

Address: 160-8582, Tokyo, Shinjuku, Shinanomachi.

Nearest station: Shinanomachi Station, Kokuritsu-Kuogijo Station.

TEL: +81-3-3353-1211

Tokyo Metropolitan Hiroo Hospital

Address: 150-0013, Tokyo, Shibuya, Ebisu 2-34-10.

Nearest station: Hiroo Station.

TEL: +81-3-3444-1181

We hope you won’t need to use the information above too often, but you cannot neglect your health either.

Thus, for the times of emergency and for regular check-ups, know that there is a solution even if you are not fluent in Japanese.

Important tip: if you want to save a good amount of money, never go to a hospital and say that you are feeling okay and just want to have your periodical check-up. If you say so, your insurance won’t be valid and you will need to pay a full price, which might be quite high. Always say that you have a problem or you want to follow up on the previous check-ups and see your current state of health. And even then, it is always better to make sure that what you want to check is covered by your health insurance.