Sexual Health

Shirabaka Clinic

The Shirakaba Clinic is a GLBT Friendly HIV Testing center dedicated to not only testing but also providing mental health support for HIV positive people. Head doctor Dr. Itoda Ichiro and his staff are English speaking staff, friendly, and helpful.

The services provided by Shirakaba Clinic include:

• Primary health care
• Confidential HIV/STD counseling and testing
• Specialty care (infectious diseases, HIV/STD, plastic surgery)
• Mental health care and counseling
• Open in the evening and weekends
• Rapid HIV, Syphilis & Hep B testing

NOTE: PrEP is available here, but only on a case by case basis where the patient has been exposed to a known HIV positive person. The cost of PrEP is not covered by health insurance and can be around US$2000.
A phone reservation is required before an appointment at 03-5919-3127
Address: B-STEP 2F, 8-28, Sumiyoshi-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Japan 162006

The Tokyo Metropolitan Testing & Counseling Office

The Tokyo Metropolitan Testing & Counseling Office is another testing facility that offers anonymous and free STD/STI and HIV tests. If you speak English, it’s not required that you make an appointment. Although the staff don’t speak English well, the forms are in English, and you can use an alias or initials only for testing.
If you have questions you can call the office at 03-3377-0811 (Japanese only)
Address: 3F Minami Shinjuku Building, 2-7-8, Yoyogi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Unfortunately there is no website available for the office, however this blog is informative with directions and instructions: http://www.thejapanguy.com/hiv-testing-in-japan/

Shinjuku Health Center

The Shinjuku City Public Health Center has not only English services but also Português, Español, and Thai. No appointment is required for foreign language counseling and testing. You can go directly to the venue on testing days (60 days or more after possible/ known exposure).
Testing Services are for:

• Syphilis, chlamydia, and hepatitis B on the same day upon your request.
• Blood tests for HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B; urine test for chlamydia

Testing Days are every Thursday (excluding public holidays) from 1 pm – 5 pm.
※ Thai language is only for twice in a month, call ahead.
Go back one week after the testing for the result(s). The test result(s) are available only within 3 months of your testing day.
Reception telephone number for all languages: 03-3369-7110
Appointments are usually required, but not for non-Japanese speakers. *Please be sure to check the website beforehand, as tests are not provided on some of the days.
Address: Tokyo Metropolitan Shinjuku Taxation Office 1F (Shinjuku Tozei Jimusho), 7-5-8 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Details: http://www.city.shinjuku.lg.jp/fukushi/file02_02_00009.html (in Japanese)
http://www.city.shinjuku.lg.jp/foreign/english/guide/kenko/kenko_8.html (in English)
If you live in the Shinjuku area, the city has also provided an HIV center map. Although in Japanese, it is an available resource here: HIV Center Map [PDF]

Prefectural Database

Here’s a link to a database where you can search for English-speaking clinics/hospitals in Gifu Prefecture by the services they offer and by the region.

qq.pref.gifu.lg.jp

The Kanagawa Prefectural Center

The Kanagawa Prefectural Center (Kanagawa Kenmin Center) also has four languages available: Prefecture Website: English, Português, Español, and Thai. If you want another language, get in contact 5 days before a testing day in order to get a translator set up. No appointment required, but testing is only offered to 5 applicants on a first-come, first-served basis.
Test Services are:

• Syphilis and Hepatitis B
• HIV testing

Test result(s) are available on your testing day.
For English help, call the Minatomachi Medical Center at 045-453-3673 (Tuesday and Friday: 1pm to 2pm. Contact person: Dr. Sawada). Contact number on the testing day for asking directions to the reception is 070-1288-4116 from 1pm to 3:30pm.
Address: 2-24-2 Tsuruya-cho, Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa

KYOTO

For residents of Kyoto, the city (and prefecture) provides free, confidential HIV and sexually transmitted disease (STD) testing. Each of the city’s ward offices has testing available and appointments are not required.
However, take note that blood testing only takes place once a week for two hours. When you ask to have the test(s), you will be given a number and told to wait for it to be called. Before the test, a social worker will have a brief interview with you (checking your window time of exposure). If you cannot speak Japanese, you will need to bring someone to interpret as not all centers have English speaking staff available.
Then a medical professional will take your blood. If you want to check for STD/STIs then a urine test is also necessary.
Results are available two weeks later. You will meet a counselor who will go through each of the tests you requested and those test results. If you test positive for anything, the counselor will help arrange a doctor visit to get treatment and medicine.
Below is a list of the city wards, and the days on which they offer testing.

• Fushimi Ward: 075-611-1161 (Fridays, 09:00 – 10:30 am)
• Higashiyama Ward: 075-561-1191 (Mondays, 09:00 – 10:30 am)
• Kamigyo Ward: 075-432-3221 (Tuesdays, 14:30 – 16:00)
• Kita Ward: 075-432-1181 (Thursdays, 09:00 – 10:30 am)
• Minami Ward: 075-681-3111 (Tuesdays, 09:00 – 10:30 am)
• Nishikyo Ward: 075-392-5690 (Tuesdays, 09:00 – 10:30 am)
• Sakyo Ward: 075-702-1219 (Fridays, 09:00 – 10:30 am)
• Shimogyo Ward: 075-371-7101 (Wednesdays, 09:00 – 10:30 am)
• Ukyo Ward: 075-861-2177 (Tuesdays, 09:00 – 10:30 am)
• Yamashina Ward: 075-592-3050 (Fridays, 09:00 – 10:30 am)

OSAKA

In Osaka, HIV/AIDS Testing HIV (AIDS) Antibody Testing (free, anonymous, no appointment necessary) at the Public and Welfare Health Centers. Syphilis and Chlamydia checks are also offered at the Public and Welfare Health Centers.
※Except National holidays and Year-end/New Year holidays)

HIV (AIDS) Antibody Testing

(Free, anonymous, no appointment necessary)

• Kita Ward Public Health and Welfare Center
  Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, 9:30 – 11:00
  Wednesday, 14:00 – 15:30
  TEL 06-6313-9882
• Chuo Ward Public Health and Welfare Center:
  Tuesday–Thursday, 9:30–11:00
  First Friday of each month, 14:00–15:00 (same-day test)
  TEL 06-6267-9882
  Note: Only HIV (AIDS) test on Friday at Chuo Ward.
• Yodogawa Ward Public Health and Welfare Center:
  Monday 14:00 – 15:30, Tuesday 9:30 – 11:00
  TEL 06-6308-9882

Venue for HIV Antibody Testing
Advance reservation system: Using the reservation website, you can make a reservation any time starting from 12:00 a.m. six days prior to the test up until noon of the day of the test. Site: http://www.npo-jhc.com/namba-kensa/.
Ichiei Sogo Building (3F) “chot cast Namba” (see map)
06-6632-0632 (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday)
06-4256-8681 (Sunday)
1-6-8 Nambanaka, Naniwa-ku (Subway Namba Station, Exit 6)
chot cast Namba TEL 06-6632-0632 (Inquiries can only be made during the times testing is conducted.)

Osaka City Public Health Center, Infectious Diseases Prevention Department
TEL 06-6647-0656 (9:00-17:30 Excludes Sat/Sun, National holidays, Year-end/New Year holidays).

• Tuesday Night HIV Antibody Testing (Capacity 50 people) (free, anonymous, no appointment necessary)
  Syphilis and Hepatitis B checks are also offered.
  Days: Every Tuesday
  (except National holidays and Year-end/New Year holidays)
  Hours: 18:00-20:00
• Thursday Night HIV Antibody Testing (Capacity 50 people)
  (free, anonymous, no appointment necessary)
  Syphilis and Hepatitis B checks are also offered.
  Days: Every Thursday
  (except National holidays and Year-end/New Year holidays)
  Hours: 18:00-20:00
• Saturday Quick HIV (AIDS) Antibody Testing (Capacity 50 people)
  (free, anonymous, no appointment necessary)
  Hepatitis B checks are also offered.
  Days: Every Saturday (except Year-end/New Year holidays)
  Hours: 14:00 – ※Tickets will be given from 13:30
• Sunday Quick HIV (AIDS) Antibody Testing (Capacity 50 people)
  (free, anonymous, no appointment necessary)
  Hepatitis B checks are offered.
  Days: Every Sunday (except Year-end/New Year holidays)
  Hours: 14:00 – ※Tickets will be given from 13:30

Once again, if you can’t speak Japanese, it’s highly recommended you bring and interpreter or some way to translate with you.

Kumamoto City Public Health Center

At the Kumamoto City Public Health Center (Kumamoto-shi Hokenjo / 熊本市保健所) no appointment is necessary. The Health Center is open weekdays from 9am-12pm and 1pm-5pm. The centers phone number is 096-364-3185 and the address is 1-13-16 Kuhonji. There are other Public Health Centers in Kumamoto but they are only open one morning a week.
Test Services Include:

• Syphilis and Chlamydia
• HIV Testing

They will use the same blood sample for all those tests, so be sure to say you want all of them if you do.
Instructions for the process of getting to the office are provided on the Kumamoto JET site here: http://kumamotojet.com/Sexual-Health.php.

STD Testing

There is also STD Testing at Suizenji Hifuka Iin (水前寺皮ふ科医院). According to the Kumamoto JET site, “They see people on a first-come, first-served basis, and are pretty crowded on Saturdays. Unlike other hospitals and clinics, they don’t call people in the waiting room by name. They assign each patient a number when they arrive and then call that number. It will take one week for test results to come back.”
Note: Testing here isn’t free. All the tests listed below cost around 5,000 to 6,000 yen using health insurance. Also, English speaking is limited, but foreigners are welcome.
Test Services Include:
• Herpes
• Gonorrhea
• Genital Warts
• Crabs
• Syphilis
• Chlamydia
• HIV
Address: 熊本市水前寺２－１９－３　(Kumamoto-shi Suizenji 2-19-3)
Map: [map link]
Tel: 096-382-4551
Hours: Morning – Monday~Saturday 09:00 – 12:00;
Afternoon – Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 14:00 – 18:00

Most HIV testing is free, but that is not always the case. It is recommended to call ahead of time to check if the centers are free HIV testing facilities. If not, generally testing will cost about 4,000-6,000 out of pocket. Very few centers will allow for the use of insurance, and will instead advise most seeking to get tested to pay out of pocket not only because insurance generally doesn’t cover the procedure, but also because if it does it can be recorded for employers if the insurance is through a company or organization.

Kagoshima City Chuo Health Centre (Hokenjo)

Close to the Korimoto Tram Station (Kamoike 2-chome, 099 224 1111)
Free and anonymous HIV and STI testing is available on Tuesdays at 13:30-15:00 and every second Thursday at 17:30-19:00.
HIV, hepatitus B and C, and chlamydia tests are free. You will need to pay a small fee for syphilis and gonorrhea. (The gonorrhea test is not available on Thursdays.)

Just say “Kensa ni kimashita” (“I came to be tested”) when you reach the reception desk. You will be given a number, directed to fill out a Japanese form (English translation here), and asked to wait outside room #11. When your number is called, a staff person will privately confirm which test(s) you’d like performed and answer any questions you might have about HIV and STIs (in Japanese). Next, you’ll be directed to another window where you’ll slide your form through the window and wait to be called. After they draw your blood, it will be about 20-30 minutes until you have your HIV results. You’ll have to call about a week later for the results of the other tests.

Kagoshima JET Program Sexual Health page

Angel Life Nagoya

aln.sakura.ne.jp

An organization that supports HIV/AIDS awareness, and also hosted the Nagoya Lesbian and Gay Revolution (NLGR) in June this year. It’s all in Japanese, but it does list some other options for gay bars and restaurants – they’re out there, you’ve just got to search for them.

Hatano Medical Clinic

hatano-mc.com

Located in the Chunichi Building 4F (Sakae), this clinic was recommended by a Stonewaller. The doctor can speak English.

Hiroo Parkside Ladies Clinic

Hiroo Parkside Ladies Clinic has a wide range of services. STD/STI and HIVTesting, pap smears, pre-natal, breast exams, and even hormone testing. Birth control pills are available as well for up to three months. Staff are friendly and English services are available both over the phone and in person.

Primary Care Tokyo

Primary Care Tokyo is an English friendly medical practice that is one of the rare places to not only give out birth control but also the morning after pill. Staff are English friendly as well as Dr. Joe Kurosu. Some services are covered under insurance, but birth control and the morning after pill may not be.

Toho Clinic

Although Toho Clinic’s is a clinic that provides a focus on pregnancy, but abortions are provided as well. Call head to see if the staff would have an English translator available before you make an appointment. It’s also one of the rare sights where both birth control as well as the morning after pill are available. On top of that, this clinic has Mirena, the vaginal ring, for women. The clinic has an English-speaking gynecologist who has experience working with the Western patients.

The Oak Clinic

The Oak Clinic has both an English friendly website as well as English speaking staff. It’s one of the few clinics with birth control pills available for up for 6 months and like Toho also has a vaginal ring option with an emergency morning after pill. However, all of these will need to be paid out of pocket.

Nishikawa Clinic

Although it’s website focuses mainly on mother’s and babies, the Nishikawa Clinic in Kyoto does have English speaking gynecologists on staff. Pregnancy testing, cancer screening, and the birth control pill are available there as well as standard tests.

Kisaki Clinic

The Kisaki Clinic in Osaka doesn’t just speak English, but also Chinese and Korean. Its services range from cancer screenings to birth control. But also, Kisaki is one of the very, very few places in Japan that has the I.U.D. available. Although, as an out-of-pocket expense it is quite pricey, at 45,000 yen, the option is available.

Kin-ikyo Sapporo Hospital

At Kin-ikyo Sapporo Hospital, Dr. Kaori Nagashima is available only the morning of Mondays and Thursdays. For Gynecology the morning of Tuesdays and the first, the third and the fifth of Saturdays. You can make an appointment in advance for the first visit. The clinic opens 8:00a.m. to 11:00a.m. for morning consultation.
Address: 1-9-22, Kikusui4, Shiroishi-ku, Sapporo Map
Phone: 011-811-2246

Fukuoka Sanno Hospital

Fukuoka Sanno Hospital has both English and Chinese language services available with a huge gynecology department. Birth control and cancer screenings are there along with an emphasis on infertility treatments. For more information about testing and treatments call the phone line 8192-407-1133.