IV DRIP
IV Drip in Tokyo
Fluids and vitamins by drip, in English, without an appointment if we have a chair free. About 30 to 60 minutes.
Menu
Everything starts from the same base of fluids and electrolytes. What is added to it is the choice.
| Drip | What is in it | Time | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hydrationthe base | Fluids and electrolytes | About 30 min | ¥00,000 |
| Hydration + Vitamin C | The base, with vitamin C added | About 45 min | ¥00,000 |
| Hydration + Glutathione | The base, with glutathione added | About 45 min | ¥00,000 |
| Anti-nausea or pain relief | Added to any of the above, if the doctor judges it appropriate | — | ¥0,000 |
- A first-visit fee of ¥0,000 is charged on top.
- Vitamin C and glutathione are both available. Anything beyond those has to be ordered in, so call ahead if you have something specific in mind.
- This is not covered by Japanese health insurance and is paid out of pocket. If you are actually ill, the visit may be covered instead — we will tell you which applies.
- We accept credit cards. We do not take cash.
Why People Come In
- Jet lag and travel fatigueLong flights, short nights, and a schedule that does not wait
- The morning afterDrinking in Japan often runs late and starts again the next day
- Not eating or drinking properlyLong days walking, meals skipped, not much water
- After being unwellOnce vomiting or diarrhoea has settled but you are still flat
- HeatTokyo summers are hard on people who are not used to them
If you are in the middle of heat stroke, or still vomiting and unable to keep water down, that is not a menu choice — that is illness, and it is treated as such. See heat stroke and dehydration or stomach problems, and come in.
What a Drip Does, and Does Not Do
A drip puts fluid and electrolytes into you faster than drinking does, and it bypasses your stomach. That is the whole of the mechanism, and it is genuinely useful when you are dehydrated or cannot keep liquids down.
What it is not is a cure for being tired, and we would rather say so than sell you something on a promise. If you are short of sleep, a drip does not replace sleep. If something is actually wrong, a drip does not treat it — finding out what is wrong does.
So we ask what is going on before we set one up. Sometimes the answer is that a drip is a reasonable thing to want, and we do it. Sometimes the answer is that you should be examined instead, and we will tell you that.
On the Day
What happens
You see a doctor first — what has been going on, what you have eaten and drunk, whether you take anything regularly. Then you sit in a chair with the drip running. Thirty minutes to an hour depending on what is in it. You can use your phone, and you can leave as soon as it is finished.
Bring
- Photo ID, and your residence card if you have one
- A list of anything you take regularly, or the packets
- Loose sleevesEasier than rolling up something tight
Risks
- Pain or bruising where the needle goes in
- Feeling light-headed, particularly if you have not eaten
- Rarely, an allergic reaction to something in the drip
We ask about kidney and heart problems before giving a large volume of fluid, and about G6PD deficiency before high-dose vitamin C, because it can cause red blood cells to break down in people who have it. If you do not know whether you have it, say so — it is common in some parts of the world and worth checking rather than assuming.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I just walk in?
If a chair is free, yes. Booking is safer, especially in the evening and at weekends, and it means we can have you seen and set up without a wait.
How long does it take?
About 30 minutes for fluids alone, about 45 with something added, plus the consultation. Allow an hour in total.
Will it cure my hangover?
It will rehydrate you, and dehydration is part of why you feel bad. It is not a reset button. If you are vomiting and cannot keep water down, that is worth being seen for regardless.
Do I need Japanese health insurance?
No. A drip requested when you are not ill is paid out of pocket either way. If you turn out to be ill, insurance may apply if you have it.
Can I have one every day?
We would want to know why. Repeated drips are not a substitute for eating, drinking and sleeping, and wanting one daily is usually a sign something else needs looking at.
I am here with someone who is being treated. Can I have one while I wait?
Ask us. It depends on how busy we are and on the same questions we would ask anyone.
Related
Book an Appointment
Send us your request below and we will reply with a confirmed time.
Send us your request using the form below and we will get back to you.
If you are in a hurry, please call 03-6824-4126.
Send us your request using the form below and we will get back to you.
If you are in a hurry, please call 03-6824-4126.
Send us your request using the form below and we will get back to you.
If you are in a hurry, please call 03-6824-4126.
For a same-day appointment, please call. We are open 9:00–19:00, 7 days a week.
Access
Japan International Clinic ASAKUSA
Asakusa Tosei Building 7F
1-27-2 Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo 111-0032
- 1 minute from Asakusa Station(Tokyo Metro Ginza Line / Toei Asakusa Line / Tsukuba Express)
- About 60–70 minutes from Narita Airport(The Keisei Skyliner Access Express runs through to the Toei Asakusa Line, so there is no change)
- About 40–50 minutes from Haneda Airport(Most Keikyu Airport Line trains run through to the Toei Asakusa Line)
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9:00–19:00 |
Open 7 days a week, including public holidays.
Please arrive at least 30 minutes before closing.
To book by phone, call 03-6824-4126.