Finding healthcare in English is easier in Japan’s major cities than many new residents expect — but knowing where to look and what to prepare makes the experience significantly smoother. This guide covers how to find English-speaking medical care across different specialties and cities.
Major International Hospitals
Several hospitals in Japan are specifically equipped for international patients, with English-speaking staff, multilingual intake processes, and experience treating foreign residents:
Tokyo:
- St. Luke’s International Hospital (聖路加国際病院): One of Tokyo’s most internationally oriented hospitals. English-speaking staff across departments. Located in Tsukiji.
- Tokyo Medical and Surgical Clinic: Roppongi. Fully English-operating general practice and specialist clinic focused on international patients.
- International Clinic (The International Clinic): Roppongi. English-only general practice and specialist referral.
- Japan Red Cross Medical Center (日本赤十字社医療センター): Shibuya. Large hospital with international patient support services.
- Keio University Hospital: Shinjuku. Has an international patient office (国際診療部) with English support.
Osaka:
- Osaka International Cancer Institute: International patient support in English and other languages.
- JMEC (Japan Medical English Center): English medical consultation and interpretation services.
- Osaka University Hospital: International patient office available.
Nationwide resources:
- AMDA International Medical Information Center: 03-5285-8088 (Tokyo). Phone consultation in multiple languages to help find appropriate care. Covers all major cities.
- HIMAWARI (医療機関案内サービス): Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s 24-hour medical information service. Provides hospital referrals and English consultation: 03-5285-8181.
Finding English-Speaking Clinics Near You
Not all English-capable care is in international hospitals. Many neighborhood clinics have English-speaking doctors, especially in areas with higher expat density.
Search methods:
- GaijinPot’s doctor search: health.gaijinpot.com — searchable database of English-speaking doctors by specialty and location in Japan
- Google Maps: Search “[specialty] English doctor [city]” — Google reviews often mention English capability
- Expat Facebook groups: Local expat communities (Tokyo Expats, Osaka Expats, etc.) maintain crowdsourced lists of English-friendly doctors and dentists
- Employer HR: Many large international companies maintain a recommended doctor/clinic list for their employees
- Embassy lists: Most embassies publish lists of English-speaking medical providers for their nationals in Japan
Specialty-Specific Resources
OBGYN and maternity: Major international hospitals listed above all have maternity departments. Tokyo Medical and Surgical Clinic and Aiiku Hospital (愛育病院, Minato-ku Tokyo) are popular among expat mothers. Several “birth centers” and international maternity clinics operate in Tokyo and Osaka.
Pediatrics: St. Luke’s International Hospital and Tokyo Metropolitan Children’s Medical Center offer English-language pediatric care. In Osaka: Osaka City General Hospital has international patient services.
Mental health / psychiatry: Tokyo Counseling Services and the Tokyo English Life Line (TELL) provide English-language counseling and psychiatry. See separate mental health guide for details.
Dental: Many dental clinics in major cities have English-capable staff. See the dental care guide for specific search strategies.
Using Translation at Standard Japanese Clinics
If an English-speaking doctor isn’t available, these tools help at Japanese-language clinics:
- Google Translate: Camera mode reads Japanese forms and signage in real time. Conversation mode works for basic communication.
- DeepL: More accurate for medical text translation — useful for translating your symptoms or understanding discharge instructions.
- Medical interpretation apps: Some municipalities provide tablet-based interpretation services at clinics and hospitals. Ask at registration if this is available.
- Volunteer interpreters: Many city international centers (国際交流センター) maintain a volunteer medical interpreter referral service — call ahead and arrange.
Preparing for Any Clinic Visit
Regardless of whether your doctor speaks English, bringing these helps enormously:
- A written symptom summary in Japanese (write it in English, use DeepL to translate) — doctors can read it even if they don’t speak English
- Your current medication list with generic names — many medications are the same worldwide
- Allergy list in Japanese
- Blood type (血液型) if known
- Insurance card and residence card
Hospital and clinic services, English-speaking staff availability, and contact details change. Verify current information directly with facilities before visiting.