Visiting a doctor is never super high on my list of things I want to do, but it is even less appealing when the experience requires me to struggle through my list of symptoms and complaints in a foreign language.
So, when I needed vaccinations for an upcoming South East Asia trip recently, I was very happy to find The King Clinic, a clinic in Omotesando of which Doctor Leo King, fluent in both English and Japanese, is the sole owner and doctor.
The King Clinic is a general practice, but it can also provide minor surgeries, physical examinations, visa examinations, vaccinations and travel medicine (international and domestic), diagnostics and laboratory work.
Their website is in both English and Japanese, and makes all the options and processes very clear, and the receptionists on the phone are very helpful, so I felt confident making an appointment there.
When I arrived, I was asked to fill in the inevitable paperwork, which was mercifully all in English, then waited in the brand new, very swanky reception area. The receptionist also checked which countries I was planning to visit, and produced a bunch of printouts for each of the countries on my itinerary and the medical issues I might have there, which I thought was a nice touch.
Most of my experiences with the medical system in Japan have not been positive ones, not only because I was out of my language comfort zone, but also because I have found doctors unwilling to explain the processes or fully answer any questions I have had, and I’m sure I’m not alone in that.
During my appointment, I realized that, more than just offering consultation in a language I was familiar with, Dr. Leo King offers a style of consultation that I felt a lot more comfortable with.
He thoroughly explained all the health problems that might arise during my trip, the likelihood of their arising, how to avoid them, and what to do if I did get anything. He talked about the vaccines I had requested, how they worked, and how they were different from the Japanese equivalents. He recommended some other vaccines and travel medicine, but when I hesitated over them, he was more than happy to put them aside until I had had more time to think about them. Most importantly he answered all my questions, no matter how silly, very clearly, in a way I could understand.
Based on my experience, I absolutely and unreservedly recommend Dr. Leo King for any medical treatment you may need in Tokyo.
(Warning: The King Clinic is no longer located at the intersection of Omotesando and Meijidori, it has moved about a block back, so check the map carefully.)
