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?: 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?: A couple nurses speak either a bit or advanced English. I would speak with them primarily in Japanese but they would be able to understand my English when I couldn’t explain and one or two are fluent.
Was the Doctor/Practitioner able to communicate in English with you?: The doctor and I will use Google Translate but she knows some English words and is very accommodating and supportive of my intermediate Japanese.
Care received: Mental Health; I went to this clinic alone and struggled slightly with the intake form as it was only in Japanese but some of the nurses speak English and helped and I could just use Google Translate for kanji I didn’t know. It’s a clean, new office with calming music. I go monthly to receive antidepressants and the doctor is very, very informed in both natural traditional medicine and modern drugs. I feel very supported and not stigmatized despite the language barrier. I’ve fumbled through booking appointments on the phone but in person is easiest in my experience. The doctor and nurses are very caring and considerate and I feel that they listen to all my concerns and don’t rush me. They use a full psychosomatic approach to mental well-being and I appreciate the open mindedness of everyone there.
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. Everything is Japanese-only.
Was the Doctor/Practitioner able to communicate in English with you?: No. She does not seem to speak English.
Care received: Mental Health; I walked in for a psychiatric medication refill. It was a Saturday afternoon, and I only waited about 30 minutes before the psych saw me. She asked me about my mood and life in Japanese, and we chatted for about 10 minutes. She is not necessarily a therapist, and I was not seeking therapy at this time. She ok'd my refill, I waited another 10 minutes, paid for the visit (about ¥1100), then went next door to fill the scrip. That cost ¥5000 yen for a 60-day supply. The pharmacist doesn't speak English either. I visit this clinic/pharmacy about once every two months for my refill.