English-speaking hospitals & clinics
Healthcare Guide
Most relocating executives are already covered by employer health insurance — what usually matters more is knowing which facilities can actually treat you in English before you need one. Below are ten hospitals, clinics and support services most often used by TokyoExpat clients, spanning university and general hospitals, everyday family medicine, pediatrics, maternity, mental health and dental care. Departments, hours and referral requirements change; always confirm current details directly with the facility.
St. Luke's International Hospital
聖路加国際病院 · Tsukiji, Chuo-ku
Type
General Hospital
24/7 Emergency
Access7 min walk from Tsukiji Station
English SupportFull — dedicated international patient services; interpretation in multiple languages
Founded in 1902 and long regarded as Tokyo's default referral point for the expatriate community, St. Luke's runs a 24-hour emergency center and more than 40 departments spanning internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics, cardiology and oncology. It is officially designated as a hub hospital for foreign patients, with an International Clinic staffed by English-fluent physicians. A referral letter isn't required for initial visits, though wait times — especially in the ER — can run long given its size.
Keio University Hospital
慶應義塾大学病院 · Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku
Type
University Hospital
Tertiary Referral
AccessAdjacent to Shinanomachi Station (Chuo-Sobu Line)
English SupportDivision of International Patient Services; referral letter required for new patients
One of Japan's leading academic medical centers, affiliated with Keio University School of Medicine, with roughly 950 beds and deep specialty coverage — cardiology, oncology, neurosurgery and advanced obstetrics among them. As a tertiary referral hospital, Keio requires a referral letter from a primary care clinic for a first visit; TokyoExpat clients typically start at a clinic like TMSC and get referred in when specialist or inpatient care is needed. The hospital does not provide interpretation services directly, so arranging your own interpreter is recommended.
Japanese Red Cross Medical Center
日本赤十字社医療センター · Hiroo, Shibuya-ku
Type
General Hospital
Pediatrics · OB-GYN
Access15 min walk from Hiroo Station, or short bus ride from Shibuya/Ebisu
English SupportInterpreter available by department; walk-in accepted for internal medicine & surgery
A large general hospital in the Hiroo/Shibuya area popular with the international community for its broad scope — internal medicine, surgery, orthopedics, obstetrics, gynecology, pediatrics and 24-hour emergency and critical care. Walk-in first visits are accepted for some departments during morning hours; others, including obstetrics and orthopedics, require an advance booking or a referral letter. A practical option for families in Hiroo, Ebisu and southern Shibuya-ku who want full-service care within walking distance.
Tokyo Medical and Surgical Clinic
東京メディカル・サージカルクリニック（TMSC） · Shiba-koen, Minato-ku
Type
International Clinic
Family Medicine
AccessShiba-koen, opposite Tokyo Tower — short walk from Onarimon/Kamiyacho
English SupportFull — European & US-trained doctors; some also speak Spanish, German or French
Established in 1951, TMSC is the closest thing Tokyo has to a Western-style family practice — five full-time physicians covering internal medicine, family medicine, gastroenterology and obstetrics/gynecology, with visiting specialists in cardiology, dermatology, ENT and ophthalmology. It handles routine checkups and check-ups for both adults and children, plus visa medical exams, and runs an out-of-hours line for urgent, non-emergency issues. For most TokyoExpat families, this is the natural first stop for everyday care and the referral source into university hospitals when needed.
Tokyo British Clinic
東京ブリティッシュクリニック · Ebisu-nishi, Shibuya-ku
Type
International Clinic
GP · Pediatric Interest
AccessDaikanyama Y Building, near Ebisu Station
English SupportFull — British general practitioner, English-first clinic
Opened in 1992 by a British-trained general practitioner with a particular interest in pediatrics and orthopedic medicine, this small, English-first clinic in Ebisu is a long-standing favorite for mother-and-child care among Tokyo's international families — well-baby checks, vaccinations, and everyday childhood illnesses handled without a language barrier. It also sees adults for general practice and minor procedures. Appointment-based; call ahead rather than walking in.
Suwa Michiko Kids Clinic
諏訪こどもクリニック（Medical Clinic Hiroo） · Hiroo, Shibuya-ku
Type
Pediatric Specialist
Board-Certified Pediatrician
Access7 min walk from Hiroo Station, Exit 2
English SupportFull — American Board-certified pediatrician, trained in the US & Canada
Run by Dr. Michiko Suwa, an American Board-certified pediatrician and Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics who trained and practiced in the US and Canada before opening this Hiroo clinic in 1992. This is a dedicated pediatric practice — well-child checkups, imported vaccines not always available at general clinics, physical exams required by international schools, allergy testing and everyday childhood illness — with internal medicine also available for family members. Appointment-based; accepts both Japanese NHI and international insurance documentation.
Tokyo Midtown Medical Center
東京ミッドタウンメディカルセンター · Akasaka, Minato-ku
Type
International Clinic
Executive Health Screening
AccessDirectly connected to Roppongi Station, Exit 8
English SupportFull — English-speaking physicians and reception
Developed in a 10-year consulting partnership with Johns Hopkins Medicine International and the first private facility in Japan to receive Joint Commission International accreditation. Located inside Tokyo Midtown, it combines a general outpatient clinic — internal medicine, dermatology, dentistry, neurology — with a next-generation health-screening center popular for corporate and executive check-ups. Appointment-only, and consultation times run short (around 10 minutes), so it suits routine and preventive care more than walk-in urgent visits.
Seibo International Catholic Hospital
聖母病院 · Nakaochiai, Shinjuku-ku
Type
General Hospital
Maternity · OB-GYN
Access7 min walk from Shimo-Ochiai Station
English SupportInterpretation in English, Spanish & French during reception hours
Founded in 1930 by a Catholic religious order and long used by Tokyo's foreign community, Seibo is a full-service general hospital — internal medicine, pediatrics, surgery, dermatology, ophthalmology — but is best known among expat families for its maternity ward and obstetrics department, which has delivered generations of international residents' children. Reception for foreign patients runs 8:00–11:00am; the hospital also runs a 24-hour emergency service.
TELL Counseling
東京英語いのちの電話（TELL） · Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku
Type
Mental Health Support
Counseling · Crisis Line
AccessWesley Center, near Gaienmae/Omotesando
English SupportFull — English, Japanese & Cantonese-speaking licensed therapists
Serving Japan's international community since 1973, TELL runs both a free, anonymous crisis line — the Tokyo English Lifeline — and a paid professional counseling service with licensed therapists for individuals, couples, families and children, in person in Minami-Aoyama or by telehealth. TELL Counseling accepts Cigna International and Tricare, and offers sliding-scale fees based on income. Relocation stress, cultural adjustment and family transitions are common reasons TokyoExpat clients reach out.
Tokyo International Dental Clinic
東京インターナショナルデンタルクリニック（TIDS） · Roppongi, Minato-ku
Type
Dental Clinic
Preventive · Scandinavian Approach
AccessShort walk from Roppongi & Azabu-Juban Stations
English SupportFull — English-speaking dentists and staff throughout
An English-first dental practice in Roppongi built around a Scandinavian, prevention-first approach to dentistry rather than a fix-only mindset — routine cleanings, fillings and periodontal care alongside more involved treatment. Cost estimates and treatment plans are explained fully in English before any work begins, and the clinic is positioned for the international community across Roppongi, Azabu and Hiroo. A useful add to a family's shortlist alongside a GP and pediatrician.
Side-by-side comparison
Departments, Access & Referral
Departments, hours and referral requirements are compiled from official facility information as of mid-2026 and change over time. Always confirm current hours, appointment requirements and accepted insurance directly with the facility before your first visit.
| Facility | Type | Key Departments | English Support | Access / Referral |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chuo — 中央区 | ||||
| St. Luke's International Hospital | General Hospital | Internal medicine, pediatrics, OB-GYN, oncology, cardiology | Full — dedicated international patient services | Tsukiji Station — no referral needed for first visit |
| Shinjuku — 新宿区 | ||||
| Keio University Hospital | University Hospital | Full specialty range, advanced/tertiary care | Moderate — arrange own interpreter | Shinanomachi Station — referral letter required |
| Seibo International Catholic Hospital | General Hospital | Maternity, OB-GYN, pediatrics, general medicine | English, Spanish & French interpreters | Shimo-Ochiai Station — foreign patient hours 8–11am |
| Shibuya — 渋谷区 | ||||
| Japanese Red Cross Medical Center | General Hospital | Pediatrics, OB-GYN, surgery, emergency | Interpreter by department | Hiroo Station — walk-in for some departments |
| Tokyo British Clinic | International Clinic | Pediatrics, general practice | Full — English-first clinic | Near Ebisu Station — appointment only |
| Suwa Michiko Kids Clinic | Pediatric Specialist | Pediatrics only (+ family internal medicine) | Full — US Board-certified pediatrician | Hiroo Station — appointment only |
| Minato — 港区 | ||||
| Tokyo Medical and Surgical Clinic | International Clinic | Family medicine, internal medicine, OB-GYN | Full — Western-trained physicians | Shiba-koen, opposite Tokyo Tower |
| Tokyo Midtown Medical Center | International Clinic | Internal medicine, dermatology, health screening | Full — JCI-accredited | Directly connected to Roppongi Station — appointment only |
| TELL Counseling | Mental Health | Counseling, crisis lifeline | Full — licensed English-speaking therapists | Minami-Aoyama — appointment; free crisis line anytime |
| Tokyo International Dental Clinic | Dental Clinic | General & preventive dentistry | Full — English-first practice | Roppongi / Azabu-Juban — appointment only |
In an emergency
Dial 119 for an ambulance or fire, and 110 for police — both are free and reachable nationwide. For non-emergency guidance in English, Chinese, Korean and other languages, the AMDA International Medical Information Center (03-6233-9266, weekdays 10:00–16:00) can help you find an English-speaking doctor and explain how the Japanese system works before you go.
Official resources
For anything outside this shortlist — a different ward, nights and weekends, an uninsured houseguest, or a family member travelling on their own — Tokyo and national government tools cover the rest: the Tokyo Medical Information Site for Foreign Residents, the foreign-language medical phone line (03-5285-8181, daily 9:00–20:00), the NAVII facility search for the full citywide list, the Tokyo EMS Guide for deciding whether to call an ambulance, and JNTO's pointing sheet for describing symptoms at reception.
Yasuhiro's take
Most relocating executives already have employer health insurance sorted — what actually matters day to day is knowing where to go before you need to. TMSC or Tokyo Midtown Medical Center for everyday adult care and check-ups, Suwa Michiko Kids Clinic if you want a dedicated pediatrician, Seibo if you're expecting, and St. Luke's or the Red Cross Medical Center if something more serious comes up. TELL and TIDS round it out for the two things people forget to plan for — mental health support and a dentist. Worth saving a shortlist near wherever you end up living, before you need any of it.