Quick Answer
Call the AMDA International Medical Information Center (03-5285-8088) for multilingual medical consultation and hospital referrals. Major international hospitals include St. Luke's and Sanno in Tokyo, and Rinku General in Osaka. Many municipalities also offer free medical interpretation services.
Multilingual Medical Resources
| Resource | Contact | Languages | Services |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMDA Medical Info Center | 03-5285-8088 | EN, ZH, KO, ES, PT, VN, TH, TL | Hospital referral, phone interpretation |
| Japan Healthcare Info (JNTO) | japanhealthinfo.com | EN, ZH, KO | Searchable hospital/clinic database |
| Himawari (Tokyo) | 03-5285-8181 | EN, ZH, KO, ES, TH | Tokyo medical institution search |
| Emergency (#7119) | Dial #7119 | JP (some areas multilingual) | Medical advice hotline — should you call an ambulance? |
| Municipal free interpreters | Check city hall website | Varies | Free medical interpreters dispatched to hospitals |
Major International Hospitals by City
| City | Hospital | Languages | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo | St. Luke's International Hospital | EN, ZH | Full-service, international department |
| Tokyo | Sanno Hospital | EN | International clinic, popular with expats |
| Tokyo | National Center for Global Health | EN, multi | Infectious disease specialty, multilingual staff |
| Osaka | Rinku General Medical Center | EN, ZH, KO, PT | Near Kansai Airport, international medicine dept |
| Osaka | Osaka University Hospital | EN | Referral needed, international patient support |
| Nagoya | Nagoya University Hospital | EN | International patient desk |
| Fukuoka | Kyushu University Hospital | EN | International medical support room |
💡 Practical Tip
Even at "English-speaking" hospitals, not every doctor speaks English. Call ahead and request an English-speaking doctor for your appointment. For smaller clinics, prepare key symptoms written in Japanese (Google Translate works well for medical terms).
⚠️ Disclaimer
Hospital services and language availability change. Always call ahead to confirm English-speaking staff availability. In emergencies, call 119 for an ambulance regardless of language concerns.
Last updated: April 2026.
