Medical Director
Takahiro Azuma, MD — 東貴大
Medical Director, Japan International Clinic ASAKUSA
Training and Qualifications
- Graduated from Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine
- Completed initial residency at Okinawa Prefectural Chubu Hospital
- Advanced training in pediatric surgery at Juntendo University
- Certified Occupational Physician (Japan Medical Association)
Okinawa Prefectural Chubu Hospital is known for a broad, high-volume residency in which doctors see a wide range of acute presentations early in their training. That background matters in a walk-in clinic, where the first job is often to work out how serious a problem is before deciding what to do about it.
Areas of Practice
Dr. Azuma practises general internal medicine and preventive medicine at the clinic. In day-to-day terms that covers the illnesses international visitors and residents most often need seen the same day — see symptoms for the full list — as well as the preventive side: health checkups, vaccinations, and medical certificates in English.
His certification as an occupational physician sits behind the clinic’s corporate health screening, which follows the checks Japanese employers are required to arrange for their staff.
Consultations in English
Consultations are held in English by the doctor directly. You do not need to bring an interpreter or book a translation service in advance, and you do not need to prepare your symptoms in Japanese. Our staff also assist in Chinese, Korean and Japanese.
This matters more than it sounds. Describing a symptom accurately — where the pain is, how it started, what makes it worse — is most of a diagnosis. Working through a third party costs time and detail.
When Specialist Care Is Needed
The clinic is a general internal medicine practice, not a hospital. Where a problem needs imaging, a procedure or a specialist opinion, we examine you, stabilise what can be stabilised, and write a referral letter to a facility that can take it further. Our referral network explains how that works and what the referral letter contains.
Visiting the Clinic
- Open 9:00–19:00, Monday through Sunday, every day of the year
- Walk-ins welcome; booking online usually means a shorter wait
- Basic Medical Consultation ¥33,000. Prescription +¥11,000, referral letter +¥11,000
- Japanese national health insurance is not required — patients are seen on a self-pay basis
- One minute from Asakusa Station — see access
If this is your first visit to a clinic in Japan, our first visit guide sets out what happens on the day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I see the doctor in English, or through an interpreter?
In English, directly. The consultation itself is conducted in English by the doctor.
What are the doctor’s qualifications?
Dr. Azuma graduated from Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, completed his initial residency at Okinawa Prefectural Chubu Hospital, undertook advanced training in pediatric surgery at Juntendo University, and is a Certified Occupational Physician of the Japan Medical Association.
Can I be seen without an appointment?
Yes. Walk-in patients are seen during opening hours, 9:00–19:00, every day of the year.
What happens if my problem needs a specialist?
You will be examined here first, then given a referral letter to an appropriate facility. The referral letter costs ¥11,000 in addition to the consultation fee.