The information below is provided by past and current JETs who are sharing their positive or negative experience with medical facilities/practitioners within Oita Prefecture. Please take into account that a significant amount of time may have passed and that the information within the recommendations may have changed. We have put the reviews in date order, newest first, for your convenience. Please use your own best judgement when seeking medical treatment.
Would you recommend this facility to a person who CANNOT speak Japanese?: No
Would you recommend this facility to a person who CANNOT speak Japanese, but is accompanied by someone who CAN speak Japanese?: No
Were the office/intake staff, assistants and nurses able to communicate in English with you?:No, they didn't really attempt to either
Was the Doctor/Practitioner able to communicate in English with you?: No, she only spoke in Japanese
Care received: Dermatology; I had an ingrown toenail. Even with "treatment" from this clinic, it has persisted for over 6 months, with me going in nearly every week. They prescribed some temporary antibiotics and gave me a cream to use continually. Almost every time I went, they did some sort of cryo-therapy, freezing the area. Not until the 6th month did they consider a problem might be my shoes, and not once did they express concern that the ensuing infection might affect my toe more seriously or suggest at-home practices to relieve the pain or infection. I feel failed by this doctor and am seeking other OTC options.
Would you recommend this facility to a person who CANNOT speak Japanese?: Yes
Would you recommend this facility to a person who CANNOT speak Japanese, but is accompanied by someone who CAN speak Japanese?: Yes
Were the office/intake staff, assistants and nurses able to communicate in English with you?: No. I rarely have questions for them, and they don't do much aside from ask for your health insurance card and dole out prescriptions. They do explain the prescription instructions in Japanese, which you'll need basic Japanese to understand.
Was the Doctor/Practitioner able to communicate in English with you?: Yes. She has basic English and could explain the diagnosis and treatment plan so that I could understand.
Care received: Dermatology; I had a scalp infection and was treated for that over the course of several months. The wait time on weekdays is very long, as the clinic is often busy. But I don't believe they take appointments. The treatment has taken a while so I have visited numerous times, but finally my scalp is under control. The dermatologist had me taking corticosteroids for a strangely long time, but after a while she took me off of them.
Would you recommend this facility to a person who CANNOT speak Japanese?: No
Would you recommend this facility to a person who CANNOT speak Japanese, but is accompanied by someone who CAN speak Japanese?: Yes
Were the office/intake staff, assistants and nurses able to communicate in English with you?: No, not at all
Was the Doctor/Practitioner able to communicate in English with you?: He knew a keyword or 2, but that's it
Care received: Dermatology; Walk-in dermatology clinic. You walk in, give the desk your information and wait. Took less than 25 minutes each time. You get called in to the dermatologist and talk with him. For me I explained my problem, told him what I took in the past, and he wrote me a prescription. He did not speak English, but so-so Japanese was fine. The acne cream he prescribed is effective and I do not have many problems. Appointment was around ¥1500, and medication was also very cheap (forgot price but really reasonable). Also pharmacy is next door, which is very convenient.
Would you recommend this facility to a person who CANNOT speak Japanese?: Yes
Would you recommend this facility to a person who CANNOT speak Japanese, but is accompanied by someone who CAN speak Japanese?: Yes
Were the office/intake staff, assistants and nurses able to communicate in English with you?: None of the office staff or assistants could speak any English. They were super friendly though, and were able to say that the head doctor could speak English.
Was the Doctor/Practitioner able to communicate in English with you?: Yes. He speaks English pretty well. Not fluent, but definitely able to help.
Care received: Dermatology; I walked in and tried to see someone about a wart on my foot and hand. I don't speak Japanese, so at first I was overwhelmed, but the front desk staff told me I could be seen in about 15 minutes and that the head doctor speaks English. As soon as I showed the Doctor the wart, we worked out our treatment plan, and all was smooth. I had to return several times for freeze therapy and to get medicine to apply. The freeze therapy cost about ¥1000 each time, and the medicine about ¥600 (with insurance card). I started going once a week, then after a few visits switched to once every two weeks. No appointment necessary to schedule for what I was concerned about. Walk-ins were totally okay. I would usually be seen within 15 minutes of getting there, and the therapy was only about ten minutes. The nurses are FANTASTIC and super friendly and I highly recommend this place for dermatology related issues.