Japan - Day 5 - How to find a doctor in Japan

24th December, 2007

Devin's been feeling a bit under the weather with a sinus infection (what else?), so today our main goal was to find a doctor.  As we soon found out, this is no small task.  Devin had a map and the name of a local doctor.  Should be enough, right?  Wrong.  Since yesterday was the Emperor's birthday, and a Sunday, today is a national holiday.  So the local doctor that spoke some English was closed.  As we stood outside the door trying to get inside, another "white (spiky-haired) knight" happened by.  A local guy that happens to be home from college in Arizona spotted our blank stares again and offered to help us figure out the doctor thing.  Little did he know what he was getting himself into.  We walked down one street to a pharmacy and they recommended a clinic nearby.  Closed.  Then we found a police station and got some information on a hospital nearby.  It'd be about a 30-minute walk.  Under normal circumstances, we'd just go for the walk.  But with Devin's sinuses all congested, the long walk was out of the question.  So we hired a taxi and held our breath.  But not because it was a scary ride.  We waited to see what the final bill would be.  1160 yen.  (About $10.  Not bad, really.)  In Pattaya the same ride would have been about $3-4 at the most.  Into the hospital we went.  Lucky for us, Devin's good at pantomime, so she got her point across to the nursing station that her sinuses were clogged and she needed a doctor. 

While waiting in the lounge area, David and I watched a Japanese cooking show.  If I could only understand what they were saying, I'd be able to cook a very tasty strawberry custard pastry.  But once again my translation skills were a bit lacking.  After paying the bill, we had to find a pharmacy.  Another adventure.  But luckily the map they gave us was easy to read and we were there in a matter of minutes.  And now for another taxi ride.  No way we could walk home from here, even if we wanted to.

Now we're home just watching some movies while Devin sleeps trying to feel better.  And the moral of the story:  If you don't know what you're doing, just have a blank stare and somebody will offer to help.  It's worked twice so far here in Japan.  I guess it helps that we've encountered really nice people.

Tonight David's hoping for a visit from Santa.  I'm just hoping I don't get a lump of coal in my stocking.  To those of you that celebrate, Merry Christmas.  And to all of the rest of you, Happy New Year. 

And a picture of the hospital.