Do I need an appointment?

Usually not for a small local clinic — you can walk in during opening hours. Specialists and hospitals more often want an appointment or a referral letter, so it's worth checking before you go.

How do I find an English-speaking clinic?

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government's medical information site lets you search clinics by language and specialty, and runs a phone line that can introduce foreign-language-friendly institutions. See the links below.

What if no one at the clinic speaks my language?

Many places can connect to a phone interpretation service. You can also call a multilingual medical information line beforehand and ask them to help you find a suitable clinic. Bringing a written list of your symptoms makes a big difference. The AMDA International Medical Information Center runs a free multilingual medical information line and free remote medical interpreting (by phone or video) in several languages — see the link below.

Seeing a doctor in Tokyo: how a clinic visit actually works

A friendly, step-by-step orientation to visiting a clinic in Tokyo as a foreign resident — what to bring, how reception, the consultation and the pharmacy flow work, and a few phrases to get you through. This is general orientation, not medical advice.

6 min readChecked against official sources 2026-06-19

Feeling unwell in a new country is stressful enough without wondering how the whole system works. The good news: seeing a doctor in Tokyo is usually quicker and cheaper than newcomers expect, and you rarely need an appointment for a small local clinic. Most everyday problems — a cold, a fever, a sore throat, a rash — are handled at a neighbourhood clinic (クリニック / 医院), not a big hospital. This guide walks you through what actually happens on the day, so you can walk in knowing roughly what to expect. It is general orientation only — not medical advice, and not a substitute for talking to a doctor or pharmacist.

Clinic vs. hospital — where to go

Clinic (クリニック / 医院 / 診療所): your first stop for everyday illness and minor injuries. Small, local, often run by one doctor, usually no appointment needed — just walk in during opening hours.
Hospital (病院): for serious conditions, specialist referrals, or when a clinic sends you on. Larger hospitals often prefer a referral letter (紹介状) and may add a fee if you arrive without one.
Specialties are signposted: 内科 (internal medicine, the catch-all for colds/fever/stomach), 耳鼻咽喉科 (ear-nose-throat), 皮膚科 (dermatology), 歯科 (dental), 眼科 (eye), 整形外科 (orthopaedics for bones/joints).
Emergencies (chest pain, severe bleeding, trouble breathing): call 119 for an ambulance. This guide is for non-urgent, everyday visits. Calling 119 for an ambulance is free in Japan — you are never charged for the ride itself (treatment at the hospital is billed normally).

Check the clinic's hours and closed days before you go. Many clinics close for a midday break (often somewhere between about 12:30 and 15:00), and a lot of them are shut on Wednesdays and/or Sundays (Saturdays are often mornings only). Reception for new, first-time patients frequently closes well before the posted closing time, so it's safest to call ahead and arrive early rather than turn up near the end of a session.

What to bring

Your health-insurance card (健康保険証) — this is the single most important item. With it you generally pay only your share of the cost (commonly 30% for adults); without it you may be charged the full amount up front.
From late 2024 Japan is moving to the My Number Card as the insurance card (マイナ保険証). If you use this, bring the card and know your PIN. A separate paper certificate may be issued during the transition — check what your insurer gave you.
Cash and a card. Many clinics still prefer cash; not all take credit cards.
Any current medication, or a photo of the box, plus your medicine notebook (お薬手帳) if you have one.
Your residence card and a translation of your symptoms if your Japanese is limited — even a phone note helps.

The visit, step by step

1Reception (受付): hand over your insurance card. First-timers fill in a short form (問診票) — name, symptoms, allergies, current medication. Point to the body part if words fail.
2Wait: take a number or seat and wait to be called. Walk-in clinics can be busy in the morning; some let you check waiting time online.
3Consultation (診察): the doctor asks about your symptoms and examines you. Visits are often short and focused. Don't be shy about saying you don't understand — ask them to write it down or use translation.
4Payment (会計): pay at the desk on your way out. With insurance, a routine visit is usually modest. Keep the receipt.
5Prescription (処方箋): if you're given one, it's a slip of paper, not the medicine itself. You take it to a pharmacy to collect your drugs.
6Pharmacy (薬局): go to any 調剤薬局 — often right next door, marked 処方箋受付. Give them the slip and your medicine notebook; they prepare your medication and explain how to take it. Prescriptions usually have a short validity (a few days), so don't sit on them.

If you're enrolled in National Health Insurance (国民健康保険 / 国保) or employees' insurance, your card unlocks the reduced patient share. Enrolment, eligibility and premiums are handled by your ward or city office — rules vary by situation, so for enrolment check your own ward/city office or the official source below rather than relying on a friend's experience.

Good to know if costs run high: Japan's High-Cost Medical Expense system (高額療養費制度) puts a monthly cap on how much you pay out of pocket — above that ceiling, the excess is reimbursed. You can also apply in advance to your insurer for a 'limit-amount certificate' (限度額適用認定証); showing it at the desk keeps your upfront payment within the monthly cap. The cap and the application depend on your insurance and income, so ask your insurer or ward/city office how it applies to you (with a My Number insurance card the certificate is often unnecessary).

Useful phrases

I'd like to see a doctor. — 診てもらいたいです。(Mite moraitai desu.)
I have a fever / a cough / a stomachache. — 熱があります / 咳が出ます / お腹が痛いです。
Since when? About three days ago. — いつから？三日前くらいからです。
Do you have an English-speaking doctor? — 英語が話せる先生はいますか？
I have an allergy to… — …にアレルギーがあります。
Could you write it down, please? — 書いてもらえますか？

Mistakes newcomers make

Forgetting the insurance card — you may be billed the full cost and have to claim back later. Keep a photo as backup, but the card itself is best.
Heading straight to a big hospital for a cold. A local clinic is faster, cheaper, and won't add the no-referral fee.
Treating the prescription slip as the medicine. You still need to visit a pharmacy — and soon, before the slip expires.
Assuming everyone speaks English. Many clinics don't; check language support in advance or bring a translation tool.
Not mentioning allergies or current medication. Always declare them on the form and to the pharmacist.

Do I need an appointment?: Usually not for a small local clinic — you can walk in during opening hours. Specialists and hospitals more often want an appointment or a referral letter, so it's worth checking before you go.
How do I find an English-speaking clinic?: The Tokyo Metropolitan Government's medical information site lets you search clinics by language and specialty, and runs a phone line that can introduce foreign-language-friendly institutions. See the links below.
What if no one at the clinic speaks my language?: Many places can connect to a phone interpretation service. You can also call a multilingual medical information line beforehand and ask them to help you find a suitable clinic. Bringing a written list of your symptoms makes a big difference. The AMDA International Medical Information Center runs a free multilingual medical information line and free remote medical interpreting (by phone or video) in several languages — see the link below.

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