Finding an English-Speaking Doctor in Yokohama (Without Losing Your Mind)
okay, so look. i'm a freelance photographer, right? constantly chasing light, dodging tourists, and generally existing on a diet of instant ramen and questionable convenience store coffee. i just spent three weeks here in Yokohama, and let me tell you, it's…a lot. it's not bad, just…intense. like, Tokyo's cooler, slightly more cynical younger sibling.
right now, it's that weird, humid kind of heat where you feel sticky just thinking about going outside. it's been raining on and off for days, which honestly, is kinda perfect for moody street photography, but terrible for, you know, existing. i heard Okinawa is having a heatwave, though. like, seriously scorching. a quick flight, but maybe not the solution to my damp socks.
anyway, i managed to get a stomach bug. a bad one. and suddenly, all my carefully curated Instagram aesthetic went out the window. i needed a doctor. an English-speaking doctor. because my Japanese is limited to "arigato," "konnichiwa," and a desperate plea for more matcha.
finding one wasn't exactly a walk in *Sankeien Garden. it's not like Google just spits out a list. i started down the rabbit hole of online forums, and honestly, it was terrifying. a lot of outdated info, a lot of "my aunt's friend said…" type recommendations.
so, here's what i learned, compiled from hours of frantic googling and a surprisingly helpful conversation with a barista who looked like she'd seen it all.
*Yokohama City International Lounge: This is a good starting point. They don't provide medical care directly, but they have a list of English-speaking doctors and can point you in the right direction. https://www.yokohama-cci.or.jp/en/
*Jikei University Hospital: Apparently, they have a dedicated international patient center. It's a big hospital, so expect a wait, but they're equipped to handle more serious stuff. https://www.jikei.ac.jp/english/
*American Medical Center Yokohama: This is a private clinic, so it's gonna be pricier, but you're almost guaranteed English-speaking doctors and a shorter wait time. I overheard someone at a bar saying it's the go-to for expats with good insurance.
*Yelp & TripAdvisor: Don't underestimate the power of crowdsourced reviews. I found a few smaller clinics mentioned on Yelp and TripAdvisor. Take them with a grain of salt, obviously.
*Reddit (r/Yokohama): Seriously, check out the Yokohama subreddit. https://www.reddit.com/r/Yokohama/ People are surprisingly helpful, and you can get real-time recommendations.
Drunk Advice from a Local (aka, what a guy named Kenji told me at a tiny izakaya): "Don't go to the clinics near Yokohama Station during rush hour. It's a zoo. Seriously. Go during lunchtime, or just…suffer." He also said something about the importance of bringing your health insurance card, which, duh, but it's good to have it confirmed by a slightly tipsy local.
Overheard Gossip (from a woman in a vintage kimono shop): "The American Medical Center is good, but expensive. My friend went there for a check-up and it cost her a fortune. She said the doctor was lovely, though."
Another Overheard Rumor (from a street performer near the Red Brick Warehouse):* "There's a doctor in Motomachi who speaks perfect English, but he's a bit…eccentric. Apparently, he diagnoses people based on their aura." (i'm still trying to figure that one out).
let's talk money for a sec. Yokohama's not cheap. rent is…well, it's Tokyo-adjacent. expect to pay around ¥100,000 - ¥200,000 a month for a decent apartment, depending on the neighborhood. the job market is okay, especially if you're in IT or teaching English. i've been freelancing, which is a hustle, but it lets me avoid the whole corporate grind. it's a pretty safe city, though. i've walked around at night without feeling particularly worried, which is a huge plus.
ultimately, i ended up at Jikei University Hospital. the wait was long, the paperwork was a nightmare, but the doctor spoke excellent English and actually listened to my complaints. i'm still recovering, but at least i can now take photos without feeling like i'm going to hurl. and that, my friends, is a win.
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