The Difference Between Hospitals And Clinics in Japan
Main Differences
The easiest way to differentiate between these two different types of medical institutions is size and severity of your condition.
| Hospitals | Clinics |
|---|---|
| in Japanese = byouin 病院 or sougou byouin 総合病院 | in Japanese = kuriniku クリニック |
| fewer in numbers across the country | smaller, in various locations such as in front of stations |
| different medical departments | specialize in one field only e.g. Dermatology, Urology (urinary system), Gastroenterology |
| latest technology |
Where should you go?
If you have an idea of what is wrong, you can select the specialist clinic that is best suited to your needs. However, most people will go to a general clinic for what’s called “Internal Medicine” (naika,内科) which acts kind of like a General Practitioner. To find a clinic near you, simply search クリニック or “clinic” in English, and your area. The majority of clinics will have an Internal Medicine department, unless otherwise stated.
If you have a mild condition, go to a clinic first. They will be able to tell you whether your condition is indeed mild or you need to consult a more specialized doctor at a larger hospital. Refrain from going to a larger hospital if you have a cold or other mild conditions — you won’t necessarily be turned down, but you will be requested to pay an extra fee for their service due to the case not being serious enough.
If your condition is more serious or it is an emergency, you should go straight to a larger hospital.