English Speaking Doctors in Kumamoto

The Kumamoto City Medical Association keeps a list of hospitals that can handle patients in various foreign languages. You can find the link to their website here. The Kumamoto Medical Navi provides a similar service as the Kumamoto City Medical Association website.

If you have been to an recommendable English-Speaking doctor on your time on JET, please email the PAs with the information so we can help other ALTs in the future!

Regardless of which medical facility you visit, be sure to bring your Health Insurance card. It’s also advisable to call or have your tantosha call ahead of time to confirm whether or not an English speaking doctor will be in, especially if you plan to go to large hospitals.

List of Facilities by Department

Internal Medicine (憅科)

Iemura Clinic (Kumamoto City)
Internal Medicine, Pediatrics. English speaking doctor is male, about 40 yrs old. According to one ALT, “It’s very small but clean; the staff is friendly; I’ve never waited there for longer than 15 minutes. They always take a blood sample – before you’ve even seen the doctor and told them what’s wrong.” Open 9:00-18:00 Mon~Fri, 9:00-14:00 on Saturdays. Recommended by ALT February 2014

Azuma Hospital (Kumamoto City)
Internal Medicine. Orthopedics. 24-hr emergency out-patient clinic. Not all doctors speak English so call ahead to find out when they will be in. Open Mon-Sat, 9:00-12:00, 13:30-17:30. Information confirmed February 2014

Araki Junkanki Naika (Kumamoto City)
Internal Medicine. Cardiology. English-speaking doctor’s name is Araki. Open 9:00-12:00, 14:00-18:00 Mon, Tue, Thurs, Fri. Open 9:00-13:00 Wed and Sat. Information Confirmed February 2014.

Hakemiya Clinic (Kumamoto City)
Internal Medicine. Cardiology. Pulmonology. Allergies. Digestive Organs. Surgery. Rehabilitation. We’re told by the receptionist Doctors Mitsuoka and Otsuka can speak some English. Mon-Fri 9:00-12:30, 15:00-18:00, Sat 9:00-12:30. Information confirmed February 2014

Matsumi Clinic (Aso City)
According to an ALT who has visited the clinic: “The Matsumi Clinic in Aso City deals with internal medicine and pediatrics. It is run by husband and wife team who are very good English speakers. I’ve made two visits and the wife, Dr. Azusa Matsumi, is very friendly and answered my questions as well as explained the medication prescribed in very clear English. The nurses however, do not speak English. If you don’t speak Japanese, just hand them your health card and make gestures when asked what’s wrong.” Open 8:30-12:30 and 2:00-6:00 Mon~Fri, 8:30-12:30 on Saturdays. Information confirmed February 2016.

Kuno Internal Medicine Clinic (Yatsushiro City)
The doctor is a middle aged man whose English is okay, but he can get across most of what you need to know. There is usually kind of a wait here though because of all the elderly people who love going to the doctor. Recommended by ALT May 2016.

Ophthalmology (Eye) (çœŒç§‘ć­Š)

Gofukumachi Shinryojo (Kumamoto City)
Ophthalmology.  Dr. Sato has apparently lived abroad for some 20 years and can speak English. Reservations are required.  Open Mon-Fri, 8:00-12:00, 13:30-17:00.  Information confirmed February 2014

Otorhinolaryngology (Ear, Nose, and Throat) (è€łéŒ»ć’œć–‰)

Tanaka Hospital (Kumamoto City)
Ear Nose and Throat. Doctor there speaks English. The sheet of questions the patient has to answer is also written in English. Recommended by ALT February 2014

Hiroshige Hospital (Kumamoto City)
Ear, Nose and Throat. Urology. Receptionist said Doctor Hiroshige speaks English. Dr. Hiroshige is in Mon Tue Thurs Fri from 9:00-12:30, 14:30-18:00. Sat 9:00-13:00. You may want to call ahead to confirm. Information confirmed February 2014.

Dentistry ïŒˆæ­Żç§‘ïŒ‰

Ikuta Dental Office (Kawaura-machi, Amakusa)
Dentistry. Dr. Tonami Ikuta, the head dentist speaks English as does one of the younger male dentists. “I went in February of this year (2014) and a Chinese friend of mine who speaks English but not Japanese has gone about half a dozen times. It’s a good place. It’s locally famous in Amakusa and people drive in from over an hour away for appointments. They do that Japanese dentist thing where they make you come back lots of times to do dental work. Thus, my Chinese friend has been more than five times.” Recommended by an ALT in March 2014. Open Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri from 9:00-13:00 and 14:30-18:40. Open only afternoon on Thurs, and mornings on Sat.

Itoh Dento-Maxillofacial Hospital (Kumamoto City)
Dentistry. Face. “My wife has been to this dentist several times after visiting 2 other dentists where they gave her incomplete root canals. This dentist office got it right and my wife has been very happy with their English ability and the service.” Apparently this place is well-known among Japanese people. Open weekdays 9-11:30, 14:00-16:30. Saturdays 8:30-11:30, 14:00-16:00. Recommended by ALT March 2014

Kodama Dentistry Clinic (Kumamoto City)
Dentistry. “The dentist is a really nice middle aged woman who speaks great English. The receptionist (who may or may not be her mother) doesn’t speak Engilsh, but she calls over the dentist to handle the whole procedure with you. The prices are good, and it’s very easy to get in and make an appointment.” Open weekdays and Saturday (Wednesdays morning only) 9:00-12:00, 14:00-18:30. Recommended by ALT May 2016.

Angel Dental Clinic (Kumamoto City)
The head dentist at this clinic can speak English and several Kumamoto City ALTs have gone here for dental work and cleaning. Hours: Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri: 10:00-13:30/15:00-19:00; Sat: 10-13:00/ 14:00 -16:00. Some pictures and information in Japanese can be found on this site: http://www.dc21.jp/root/personal/angel/ Information confirmed April 2023.

Gynecology (産橊äșș科)

Fukuda Women’s Hospital (Kumamoto City)
Gynecology. Dr. Saito, Dr. Fukuda, Dr. Yamamoto, Dr. Hagiwara, and Dr. Obaru speak English. They are used to foreigners so it is easy to explain what you need from them. Open Monday-Saturday 9:00-18:00. You can’t make an appointment ahead of time, so be prepare to wait. One of the few places in Kumamoto willing to administer the morning-after pill. Information confirmed January 2023.

Motoshima Obstetrics And Gynecology Clinic (Yatsushiro City)
From ALT: “I’ve actually never been here (not sure if OB/GYNs here provide normal women’s health checkups or just see pregnant women?), but I’ve met the doctor and his English is amazing. He used to work in a research lab in California, and he regularly is a host family to ALTs. Several of my JTEs used his clinic though.” Information provided May 2016.

Psychology and Counselling

Kumamoto Shinri Counseling Centre (Kumamoto City)
A Mental Health Clinic in Kumamoto City that offers counselling service. One doctor (Dr. Kazumi Kutsuna) can offer services in English. Appointment is necessary. Appointments can be made over their website (sinrisoudan.sakura.ne.jp), by phone or via fax. She is not a psychiatrist so she can’t prescribe medicine.

Large Hospitals

Large hospitals with many different departments usually have staff that can help you in English. However you may also have to wait a while. It is advisable to call ahead to confirm when an English speaking doctor will be able to assist you.

Saiseikai Hospital (Kumamoto City)
Large hospital with many different departments. Also has 24 hr emergency outpatient clinic. Receptionist recommended calling ahead to confirm a good time. Once you get there they have English speaking staff that can help you through the process. Information confirmed February 2014.

Kumamoto Red Cross Hospital (Kumamoto City)
One of the largest hospitals in Kumamoto, there is some staff (receptionist and nurse) who speaks English and can help translate with doctors if needed. Information confirmed April 2016.