How to Find an English-Speaking Doctor in Tokyo

• Call first: HIMAWARI (03-5285-8181, daily 9:00–20:00) offers consultation in English

• Insurance: Travel insurance is essential. Without it, you pay 100% out-of-pocket — costs can be very high under self-pay pricing

• English-friendly hospitals: St. Luke’s International Hospital, NTT Medical Center Tokyo, Tokyo Adventist Hospital

• Emergencies: Call 119 for an ambulance (English interpretation available 24/7). If unsure, call #7119 (Japanese only)

• Plan ahead: Find an English-speaking family doctor before you get sick

• How to search: Use HIMAWARI online or call AMDA (03-6233-9266)

• Insurance: If enrolled in NHI or employer insurance, you pay only 30% of medical costs

• Mental health: TELL Japan Lifeline (03-5774-0992) offers English-language support. Hours vary by day

---

How to Find an English-Speaking Hospital

When you fall ill in Tokyo and don’t speak Japanese, finding a hospital becomes dramatically harder. Searching “English speaking doctor Tokyo” on Google often returns outdated information or expensive self-pay clinics. Using official search services is more efficient.

HIMAWARI (Tokyo Metropolitan Medical Information Service)

The Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Public Health medical information site is available in English, Chinese, and Korean. A portal for tourists and residents launched in March 2025, allowing you to filter medical institutions by language and specialty.

Phone consultation (03-5285-8181) is available daily from 9:00 to 20:00 in five languages: English, Chinese, Korean, Thai, and Spanish. They can also help if you’re unsure which department you need.

AMDA International Medical Information Center

AMDA International Medical Information Center is an NPO that supports people who need medical information in languages other than Japanese. By phone (03-6233-9266, weekdays 10:00–16:00), they provide referrals to medical institutions in eight languages including English.

They also offer free remote medical interpretation (via phone or Zoom, weekdays 10:00–15:00). Even if the hospital staff don’t speak your language, an AMDA interpreter can join your appointment remotely.

Bring a Multilingual Medical Questionnaire

The multilingual medical questionnaire published by the Kanagawa International Foundation covers 23 languages and 12 medical specialties as downloadable PDFs. Save them to your phone in advance — they make communication at the reception desk much smoother. Even at hospitals without English support, filling in your symptoms and medical history in your own language and showing the form can convey the essentials.

---

Major English-Friendly Hospitals & Clinics

Tokyo has several hospitals where you can receive care in English. Insurance coverage and location vary by hospital, so check before you go.

Hospital	Location	English Support	NHI/Employer Insurance	Contact
St. Luke’s International Hospital	Chuo-ku, Akashicho	English-speaking doctors on staff. Multilingual support (EN, CN, KR, etc.)	○	03-5550-7120 (Appointments)
NTT Medical Center Tokyo	Shinagawa-ku, Higashi-Gotanda	English and Chinese interpreters in International Healthcare Dept. JCI accredited	○	03-6721-6239
Tokyo Adventist Hospital	Suginami-ku, Amanuma	English-speaking staff. Internal medicine, surgery, orthopedics, pediatrics, dentistry, etc.	○	03-3392-6151
Tokyo Medical & Surgical Clinic	Minato-ku, Shiba-koen	Doctors from US, UK, Australia & NZ. English, French, German	× (Self-pay only)	03-3436-3028

Tokyo Medical & Surgical Clinic (TMSC) does not accept Japan’s National Health Insurance or employer insurance. Everything is self-pay, so if you want to keep costs down, choose an NHI-accepting hospital.

English-Friendly Smaller Clinics

Large hospitals charge an additional fee of ¥7,000 or more if you show up without a referral letter. For colds and minor symptoms, visiting a smaller clinic first is cheaper and faster.

English-friendly clinics are concentrated in areas with large foreign populations such as Roppongi, Hiroo, Azabu-Juban, and Ebisu. Use HIMAWARI’s online search and filter by “English” and “Internal Medicine” to find a clinic near you.

English-Friendly Dental Clinics

Dental problems can strike even during a trip. English-speaking dental clinics are relatively few across Tokyo, but you can find them in these ways:

• Filter by “Dentistry” + “English” on HIMAWARI’s search
• Call AMDA (03-6233-9266) and ask for a referral to an English-friendly dentist
• Tokyo Adventist Hospital has a dental department with English-speaking staff

Dental care in Japan mixes NHI-covered treatments (cavities, extractions, cleanings, etc.) and self-pay treatments (whitening, implants, etc.). Telling the clinic “I’d like to stay within insurance coverage” before treatment can help keep costs down.

---

Which Department Should You Visit?

Japanese hospitals are divided into specialized departments, and you need to choose the right one for your symptoms.

Symptoms	Department	Japanese	Romaji
Fever, cold, fatigue	Internal Medicine	内科	naika
Fractures, sprains, back pain	Orthopedics	整形外科	seikei-geka
Skin rashes, itching	Dermatology	皮膚科	hifu-ka
Eye redness, vision problems	Ophthalmology	眼科	ganka
Ear pain, stuffy nose, sore throat	ENT	耳鼻咽喉科	jibi-inkō-ka
Toothache	Dentistry	歯科	shika
Children’s symptoms	Pediatrics	小児科	shōni-ka
Pregnancy, menstrual issues	OB-GYN	産婦人科	sanfujin-ka
Anxiety, insomnia, low mood	Psychiatry	精神科	seishin-ka

If you’re unsure, start with Internal Medicine (内科) or call HIMAWARI (03-5285-8181). An internist can write a referral to a specialist if needed.

Emergencies

For clearly urgent symptoms (unconsciousness, difficulty breathing, heavy bleeding), call 119 for an ambulance. 119 provides interpretation in English, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish around the clock. When calling, say “Kyukyu desu” (救急です / “It’s an emergency”) and explain the address and symptoms.

If you’re unsure whether to call an ambulance, #7119 (Tokyo Emergency Consultation Center) is available 24/7, but only in Japanese. For English-language help, use HIMAWARI (03-5285-8181, until 20:00).

---

Japanese Phrases for the Reception Desk

Even at English-friendly hospitals, reception staff and nurses may speak only Japanese. Knowing these phrases will make your visit smoother.

Describing Your Symptoms

Japanese	Romaji	English
熱があります	netsu ga arimasu	I have a fever
お腹が痛いです	onaka ga itai desu	I have a stomachache
頭が痛いです	atama ga itai desu	I have a headache
咳が出ます	seki ga demasu	I have a cough
吐き気がします	hakike ga shimasu	I feel nauseous
めまいがします	memai ga shimasu	I feel dizzy
アレルギーがあります	arerugī ga arimasu	I have allergies

Useful Phrases at Reception

• 英語を話せる先生はいますか？ — eigo wo hanaseru sensei wa imasu ka? — “Is there a doctor who speaks English?”
• 初診です — shoshin desu — “This is my first visit”
• 保険証を持っていません — hokenshō wo motte imasen — “I don’t have an insurance card”
• 薬を飲んでいます — kusuri wo nonde imasu — “I’m taking medication”

For more complex symptoms, a translation app on your phone (such as Google Translate) can help. Simply showing the translated text on screen often gets the message across. If you need to find a neighborhood clinic for non-urgent issues, see how to find a local clinic in Tokyo.

What to Bring for Your First Visit

• Insurance card (My Number card or Certificate of Qualification). Not needed for tourists
• Passport (for tourists)
• Travel insurance documents (for tourists)
• Referral letter (for large hospitals — without one, an additional fee of ¥7,000 or more applies)
• Cash (some clinics don’t accept credit cards — see how payments work in Japan for details)
• Medication notebook or notes (if you’re taking any medication)

---

How Insurance Works

Medical costs in Japan vary dramatically depending on whether you have insurance.

Residents: Enrolled in NHI or Employer Insurance

Anyone living in Japan for 3 months or more is required to enroll in public health insurance. Employees are covered through their employer’s insurance; everyone else enrolls in National Health Insurance (NHI) through their local ward office. The standard out-of-pocket cost is 30% — a ¥10,000 treatment costs ¥3,000 at the window.

If monthly medical expenses are high, the High-Cost Medical Expense Benefit caps your costs. For a standard income, anything above roughly ¥80,000 per month is reimbursed.

Since December 2024, new physical insurance cards are no longer issued. Your My Number card now serves as your insurance card. If you don’t have a My Number card, you can request a free “Certificate of Qualification” from your insurer.

Tourists: Without Insurance

Short-stay tourists are not eligible for NHI. Without insurance, medical care is treated as self-pay, meaning you pay 100% out-of-pocket — significantly more than insured rates.

Estimated costs (without insurance, ref: Japanese Red Cross Medical Center):

• Clinic first visit: approx. ¥20,000
• Hospital first visit: ¥20,000–50,000
• MRI scan: approx. ¥30,000–50,000
• Appendectomy with hospitalization: approx. ¥300,000–600,000

Consider getting travel insurance before your trip. For residents, understanding your health insurance and pension coverage before you need medical care is essential. However, most Japanese hospitals do not process insurance claims directly. The standard practice is to pay the full amount upfront and file a claim with your insurance company after returning home, so always bring cash or a credit card.

---

English-Language Mental Health Support

Finding English-language mental health resources in Tokyo is not easy. In Japan, psychiatric consultations are covered by NHI, but counseling by psychologists is generally not. Understanding this distinction helps you plan for costs.

Crisis Lines & Phone Support

TELL Japan (Tokyo English Life Line) operates an English-language lifeline.

• TELL Lifeline: 03-5774-0992 / Toll-free 0800-300-8355 (hours vary by day — details here)
• Chat support: Available daily (weekdays 16:00–23:00, weekends 16:00–5:30 next day — details here)

If you’re in a serious situation or just need someone to talk to, this is a good place to start.

English-Speaking Psychiatrists (Covered by NHI)

Clinic	Location	Details
Kitasando Kokoro no Shinryojo	Shibuya-ku, Sendagaya	Doctor trained in the UK. NHI accepted (reservation fee charged separately)
Roppongi Clinic	Minato-ku, Roppongi	English, Korean, Spanish, Portuguese, Tagalog, Thai. NHI accepted. Open weekends

Psychiatric consultations are covered by insurance, so with NHI, you pay only 30%.

Counseling (Not Covered by NHI)

TELL Counseling offers in-person and online counseling in Tokyo. The standard fee is ¥24,200 for 53 minutes (tax included, as of February 2026). A sliding scale based on income is also available.

If your employer offers an EAP (Employee Assistance Program), you may be able to receive counseling for free. Check with your HR department.

---

When Things Don’t Go as Planned

Problem	What to Do
Can’t find an English-speaking hospital	Call HIMAWARI (03-5285-8181) or AMDA (03-6233-9266). AMDA also offers phone interpretation
Booking phone is Japanese-only	Call AMDA (03-6233-9266) and request remote medical interpretation
Insurance card hasn’t arrived yet	Pay 100% upfront. You may be able to get a refund for the difference once your card arrives — check with your insurer for details
Not sure if it’s an emergency	#7119 (Japanese only, 24/7). For English, call HIMAWARI (03-5285-8181, until 20:00)
Can’t explain your symptoms	Bring a multilingual medical questionnaire, or show a translation app on your phone
Need mental health support	TELL Japan (03-5774-0992, English. Hours)

---

Alternative Options

• Online consultations: Video-call appointments from home are becoming more common. English-language options are still limited, but Japan Healthcare Info can help you find one
• Pharmacist at a drugstore: For symptoms treatable with over-the-counter medicine, describe your symptoms to a pharmacist and they’ll help you choose. Major chains like Matsumoto Kiyoshi and Welcia carry OTC medicines with English packaging
• MHLW “Medical Information Net (Navi-i)”: An official search system to find medical institutions nationwide by specialty and supported languages

---

Related Articles

• Health Insurance and Pension for Foreigners — Types of insurance and how to enroll
• What to Do Within 14 Days of Moving — Ward office procedures including NHI enrollment
• How Payments Work in Tokyo — Cash vs. card, useful context for paying at hospitals

---

References:

• Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Public Health, “Medical Information Portal for Foreign Residents (English)” https://www.hokeniryo.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/iryo/iryo_hoken/medical_info_eng (accessed: 2026-02-28)
• Tokyo Metropolitan Government, “Tokyo Medical Information Site for Foreign Tourists and Residents” https://www.english.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/w/115-101-004140 (accessed: 2026-02-28)
• AMDA International Medical Information Center https://www.amdamedicalcenter.com/ (accessed: 2026-02-28)
• AMDA International Medical Information Center, “Launch of Patient-Requested Remote Interpretation Service” https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000001.000155158.html (accessed: 2026-03-02)
• Kanagawa International Foundation, “Multilingual Medical Questionnaire” https://kifjp.org/medical/english (accessed: 2026-02-28)
• St. Luke’s International Hospital, “For International Patients” https://hospital.luke.ac.jp/eng/ (accessed: 2026-02-28)
• NTT Medical Center Tokyo, “For Foreign Nationals” https://www.nmct.ntt-east.co.jp/en/guide/first/foreigner/ (accessed: 2026-02-28)
• Tokyo Adventist Hospital, “English” https://www.tokyoeisei.com/english/ (accessed: 2026-02-28)
• Tokyo Medical & Surgical Clinic https://tmsc.jp/ (accessed: 2026-02-28)
• Meguro City, “National Health Insurance for Foreign Residents” https://www.city.meguro.tokyo.jp/kokuho/kurashi/kokuho/kanyu-gaikoku.html (accessed: 2026-02-28)
• Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, “High-Cost Medical Expense Benefit” https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/kenkou_iryou/iryouhoken/juuyou/kougakuiryou/index.html (accessed: 2026-02-28)
• Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, “Additional Fees for Visiting Large Hospitals Without Referral” https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/newpage_26666.html (accessed: 2026-02-28)
• Government of Japan PR Online, “About My Number Insurance Cards” https://www.gov-online.go.jp/article/202407/entry-6238.html (accessed: 2026-02-28)
• Japanese Red Cross Medical Center, “Hospitalization Costs” https://www.med.jrc.or.jp/en/tabid/835/Default.aspx (accessed: 2026-02-28)
• Shibuya City, “Dial 119 in Case of Emergency” https://www.city.shibuya.tokyo.jp/contents/living-in-shibuya/en/emergencies/dial119.html (accessed: 2026-02-28)
• TELL Japan https://telljp.com/ (accessed: 2026-02-28)
• TELL Japan, “Counseling Fees” https://telljp.com/counseling/counseling-fees/ (accessed: 2026-02-28)
• Kitasando Kokoro no Shinryojo https://kitasando-mental-clinic.jp/en/ (accessed: 2026-02-28)
• Roppongi Clinic https://www.roppongi-clinic.jp/english-page/ (accessed: 2026-02-28)
• TELL Japan, “TELL Hours” https://telljp.com/tell-hours/ (accessed: 2026-02-28)
• Japan Healthcare Info https://japanhealthinfo.com/ (accessed: 2026-02-28)

---

This article is for general information purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. If you have symptoms, please consult a doctor.