Medical Resources for LGBTQ in Japan

Samuel Cormier

Medical resources in Japan

As an LGBTQ+ individual, it may be a daunting task to meet medical professionals. What if they judge me? What if they don’t understand my needs? What if they dismiss my identity? This is especially hard for transgender people, who need special counseling and treatment that isn’t widely available in Japan.

The fear may be even stronger in Japan, which is not known to be particularly LGBTQ+ friendly – although that is more due to ignorance than hatred (as discussed in our article about bisexual life in Japan). This page will help you learn about some judgment-free, friendly, and for the most part English-speaking practitioners around Japan.

Tokyo Medical Resources For LGBTQ

Shirakaba Clinic

Shirakaba Clinic is a well-rounded clinic located in Shinjuku, which offers a variety of services. Dr. Itoda Ichiro and his staff are friendly, and speak English. The clinic staff pride themselves in being LGBT-friendly.

Services offered:

  • General medicine and treatment of chronic illnesses, vaccination
  • STI and HIV testing and treatment
  • Counseling and mental health care

 

Address: 8-28 Sumiyoshi-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-0065

Phone: 03-5919-3127

Website: http://www.shirakaba-clinic.jp/english.html

Personal Health Clinic

STI testing is extremely important to maintain good sexual health. This clinic in Bunkyo has friendly English-speaking staff, who are proud to accept people of all sexualities and genders. They consult until late in the day, 8:30pm.

Services offered:

  • HIV testing, PEP, PrEP, and  Sexually transmitted Infections
  • Pregnancy tests, Contraception Pills and Emergency Contraception Pills
  • Erectile Dysfunction Pills and Premature Ejaculation Pills

 

Address: 3-39-3 Yushima, Bunkyo Ku, Tokyo 113-0034

Phone: 03-5817-4415

Website: https://ph-clinic.org/en/

Jiyugaoka MC Clinic

This small clinic in the heart of Tokyo offers a variety of services, treatments, and surgeries for transgender people (men, women, and x). It is rare in Japan to find doctors who recognize the needs of non-binary genders. The doctor and staff speak very little to no English, but are all very patient with translation apps.


Services offered: 

  • Hormone Replacement Therapy
  • Mastectomy for FtM and FtX

 

Address: 1-3-17 Jiyugaoka, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-0035

Phone: 03-3717-3514

Website: https://www.gid-mcclinic.com/

Women's Medical Clinic LUNA

LUNA, in Yokohama, offers extensive treatments for transgender women. The specialist, Ikebukuro Shin, speaks basic English. Although it is away from central Tokyo, the friendliness of this doctor and the services offered make it worth the trip.

Services offered (not full list): 

  • Hormone replacement therapy
  • Sex reassignment surgery preparation and rehabilitation
  • Hair removal
  • STI testing
  • Counseling on various topics

 

Address: 1-32 Motomachi, Naka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 231-0861

Phone: 045-680-1226

Website: https://www.luna-clinic.jp/transgender/

Osaka Medical Resources For LGBTQ

Taiyuji-cho Taniguchi Clinic

This large clinic in Kita ward has several departments that treat LGBTQ+ health, such as HIV & STI testing or hormone replacement therapy (noteworthily, following foreign guidelines rather than Japanese guidelines). Some staff members speak a little bit of English.

Services offered: 

  • HIV (treatment, PEP/PrEP, antigen-antibody, NAT) and Non-HIV (sexually) transmitted diseases
  • Hormone Replacement Therapy
  • Pills, emergency contraception

 

Address: 1-3 Nozakicho, Kita Ward, Osaka, 530-0055

Phone: 06-6364-4177

Website: https://t-internationalclinic.jp/

IDATEN Clinic

This specialized clinic has medical professionals trained in helping and treating LGBTQ+ people, especially transgender individuals. Their hormone replacement therapy prices are very low compared to the rest of the country.

Services offered: 

  • Sexually Transmitted Disease Testing and Treatment, HIV prevention drugs and STD prevention drugs, PrEP/PEP/Doxipep
  • Hormone replacement therapy and counseling for surgeries
  • Male Menopause (LOH), Premature ejaculation medication
  • AGA Treatment
  • Pill, Morning-after pill

 

Address: 4-5-2 Tenjinbashi, Kita-ku, Osaka 530-0041

Phone: 06-6867-7845

Website: https://idaten.clinic/

Osaka Fukuda Clinic

This clinic located in Chuo has a small department for transgender healthcare. The director, Ryo Fukuda, is an Advisor to the NPO Kansai GID Network. The staff does not speak English.

Services offered: 

  • Hormone Replacement Therapy
  • Counseling for GID certification, change of family registry, and gender-affirming surgeries

 

Address: 2 Chome-14-21, Chuo Ward, Shimanouchi, Osaka 542-0082

Phone: 06-6213-5505

Website: http://www.fukucli-5505.com/

Counseling LAB SORA

The doctor of this practice, Miho Nashiya, is extremely well-versed in LGBTQ+ notions and culture, including non-binary intersex, aro/ace, and more. She can help you get a GID certificate. Unfortunately, she cannot do counseling in English.

Services offered: 

  • In-person, online, and at-home counseling

 

Address: 2-3-15 Matsuzakicho, Abeno-ku, Osaka

Phone: 070-5263-7138

E-mail:  sora-blue@counseling-lab.com

Website: https://www.counseling-lab.com/

Country-Wide

Nagumo Clinic GID Center

They are the most renowned Gender Incongruity Disorder centers in the country. Their doctors are unbelievably professional and knowledgeable. A limited few of the staff and doctors speak English.

Locations include:

  • Tokyo
  • Nagoya
  • Osaka
  • Fukuoka

 

Services include:

  • Mastectomy and breast augmentation for transgender people
  • Hormone replacement therapy
  • Breast cancer-related counseling and surgeries
  • Other cosmetic and plastic surgeries


Website: https://www.nagumo.or.jp/

TELL (Tokyo English Life Line)

TELL has not only a multi-language lifeline available for most of the week / day, they also offer therapy in English in-person. They are well-versed in LGBTQ+ topics, and they exhibit their services at Tokyo Rainbow Pride every year. The staff is young and friendly.

Locations include:

  • Countrywide hotline (0800-300-8355) available from Saturday 09:00 – Monday 23:00 (continuous service), Tuesday – Thursday 09:00 – 23:00, and Friday 09:00 – 02:00
  • Tokyo
  • Okinawa

 

Services include:

  • Phone lifeline and chat platform
  • Online and in-person counseling


Website: https://telljp.com/

Tokyo Mental Health

Tokyo Mental Health is one of the few English-speaking psychiatry clinics (meaning, able to prescribe medication) in Japan. Their doctors are well-versed in LGBTQ+ issues and can help you get your GID certificate.

Locations include:

  • Tokyo
  • Okinawa

Services include:

  • Online and in-person counseling, assessment, and prescriptions

 

Website: https://www.tokyomentalhealth.com/

Conclusion

There are some LGBTQ+ specialized practices all over the country, but it may be hard to find them. Although, if you are LGBTQ+ but only need general care, it is widely accepted that doctors in Japan are not judgemental and rather accepting of all walks of life.

We hope our article helped you. Please check out our related articles:

Samuel (he/him) is a 23-year-old writer from France who has been living in Japan for 7 years. He has been working at Japan Gay Guide since September 2024. His main focuses are transgender resources, chill hangout spots and community events, and activism. Samuel identifies as a trans male, married bisexual, and asexual. He has a rabbit, a lizard, a hamster, and many plants. He loves cinema and dreams to become a movie producer.

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