The medical system here is more complex than other countries with training, certification and licensing standards varying from hospital to hospital. Most Japanese people are insured through National Health Insurance or through their companies. Waiting lists for NHI beds are long. The patient's family or relatives are expected to help do a lot of the things that in the West would be taken care of by hospital staff.
At medical clinics, those without appointments can expect to wait up to 3 hours. Consultation time is short and medication prescribed by the doctor is given to the patient at the reception desk of the clinic. If hospitalization is necessary, the doctor will refer the patient to a hospital with which he has connections, and another doctor will take over the case.
There is no 'family doctor' system really, though some Western-trained doctors have a private practice and will act as a family physician.
National and university hospitals are acknowledged to be the best, though for less serious ailments most people use a clinic in their neighborhood.
The best thing to do is to register with one of the doctors who serve the foreign community and make sure you can contact him in case of emergency. Always carry a medical card in both Japanese and English.

If you need an ambulance in an emergency, dial 119. One should arrive in about ten minutes. Note that ambulances have facilities for only basic first aid.

We listed hospitals and clinics which have English speaking staff and accept foreigners.

General

Tokyo Sanitarium Hospital	3392-6151	Amanuma, Suginami-ku
Toranomon Hospital	3588-1111	Toranomon, Minato-ku
New Akasaka Clinic	3585-3961	Akasaka, Minato-ku
Endo Clinic (Pediatrics)	3492-6422	Kamiosaki, Shinagawa-ku
International Catholic Hospital (Seibo Byoin)	3951-1111	Shimo-ochiai, Shinjuku-ku
International Clinic	3583-7831 3582-2646	Azabu, Minato-ku
St. Luke's International Hospital (Sei Ruka Byoin)	3541-5151	Higashi Ginza, Chuo-ku
Tokyo Medical & Surgical Clinic	3436-3028	Shibakoen, Minato-ku
Tokyo Metropolitan Hiroo Hospital	3444-1181	Ebisu, Shibuya-ku
(To make an appointment)	3446-8331

Dental Clinics

Watanabe Dental Office	3405-1315	Minami Aoyama, Minato-ku
Yamauchi Dental Clinic	3441-6377	Shiroganedai, Minato-ku
Kitamura Dental Clinic	3433-8148	Toranomon, Minato-ku
International Dental Clinic	3465-5862	Shoto, Shibuya-ku
Yamaguchi Dental Clinic (Italian Possible)	3409-6415	Nishi Azabu, Minato-ku
Orient Dental Clinic	3344-0311	Keio Plaza Hotel, Shinjuku

Gynecology

Sanno Clinic	3402-3151	Aoyama, Minato-ku
Aiiku Hospital	3473-8321	Nishi Azabu, Minato-ku
Shibuya Central Clinic & Hospital for Women	3461-0090	Shoto, Shibuya-ku
Tokyo Maternity Clinic & Hospital	3403-1861	Sendagaya, Shibuya-ku
Kanda 2nd. Clinic	3402-0654	Nishi Azabu, Minato-ku
Umihara Medical Clinic	3408-8747	Minami Aoyama, Minato-ku

Ophthalmology

Inoue Eye Hospital	3295-0911	Ochanomizu, Chiyoda-ku
Nozaki Eye Clinic	3461-1671	Shibuya, Shibuya-ku

Periodic Health Examinations
At a clinic, the waiting list may be 7-10 days. For a full health check, a large hospital will have a waiting list of up to 2 months, depending on the hospital.

Public Health Centers
You can get a free medical check up at your nearest public health center. These centers also offer medical certificates which may be necessary for school enrollment and employment. Some centers offer English services.

Immunizations / Vaccinations
Immunizations/Vaccinations are carried out by most Health Promotion Departments of public health centers. Contact your nearest center.

During pregnancy, go to your ward office to get your mother and child handbook, useful in case of emergencies. Forms are in English. Within 14 days of birth, one of the parents must go to the ward office with the report of birth from the hospital, both parents' passports, and the alien registration card of the parent present to apply for a birth certificate. No fee.

You will also have to register your baby's birth with your embassy. Consult the relevant embassy for more details.

If you want to take your baby out of the country for a period of time, then a re-entry permit is needed for the baby.

Fee: 3,000 yen
Document: parents' alien registration cards, baby's passport and birth certificate.

Foreigners staying in Tokyo for a one year period or longer will be required to join one of the three health insurance programs (except those receiving public welfare benefit). The three types are National Health Insurance, employee insurance and private insurance. National Health Insurance is for those who are not covered by any insurance (includes those who are self-employed). Employee health insurance is for all those employed full time. When you sign up for National Health Insurance at your ward office, you will receive a certificate which must be shown at medical institutions so that most of your costs will be covered. You will receive a bill quarterly and the amount will depend on your earnings for last year.

Eastern & Western Medicine

East Asian, or Oriental medicine, dates back thousands of years. There are no surgical, internal or ophthalmology divisions in Oriental medicine, just one complete system to treat the whole body. Despite the growth of modern, Western medicine in Japan, there is a large number of clinics in Tokyo
specializing in Oriental therapy; hari (acupuncture), okyu, shiatsu (massage) and Chinese herbal medicine. Since it is holistic therapy, the purpose is not to relieve individual symptoms locally with drugs that may harm the rest of the body, but to correct the balance of the whole body's energy, ''ki'', so that healing comes about naturally. Modern medicine has no unified system for treating the whole body.
Acupuncture often cures or alleviates the ailments that Western medicine cannot: high or low blood pressure, neuralgia, diabetes, migraine, rheumatism, stress, viral diseases and allergies. Many healthy people use it to maintain good health and also as a way of relaxing. Hair-like needles are applied to certain points on the body, treatment is painless and counseling is an important part of the therapy. Okyu and shiatsu work on similar principles.
These alternatives to hospitals and surgery are gaining a wider audience worldwide. Being in Tokyo gives you an opportunity to try it and see for yourself.

*Medical-hari (acupuncture)
It is best to attend an acupuncturist recommended by someone that you know well, as there are some therapists whose skills are not up to standard.

As many pharmacies in Tokyo sell foreign pharmaceutical products, there is a good chance you will be able to find what you were used to using in your home country.

American Pharmacy	3271-4034	Hibiya Park Bldg.
The Hill Pharmacy	3583-5044	4-1-6 Roppongi
Koyasu Pharmacy	3401-8667	Roppongi Koyasu Bldg., 7-14-7 Roppongi
Koyasu Pharmacy	3446-4701	Hiroo Garden Plaza, 4-1-29 Minami Azabu
National Azabu Supermarket Pharmacy	3442-3495	4-5-2 Minami Azabu
The Medical Dispensary 32	3434-5817	Mori Bldg. 3-4-30 Shibakoen
Kerry Drug Store Capitol Tokyu Hotel	3581-5686	Nagata-cho
Iskra Pharmacy	3478-4382	Sun's Bldg. 2F, 1-7-2 Jingumae

Other stores in nine major hotels.