HOW TO: Find a Clinic or Hospital That Prescribes Birth Control Pills or Emergency Contraception

You may have an idea of what kind of birth control pills are available in Japan, if that's what you're looking for, or maybe you'd prefer an IUD. But what if you aren't sure where to go for a birth control pill prescription? Or what if you need to find emergency contraception (the morning after pill)? The Japan Family Planning Association has a website that allows you to look up both of these things, and it's quite easy to use, despite being all in Japanese. I've explained how to navigate the site below.

How to find a clinic or hospital in Japan that prescribes birth control pills

Step 1: Go to the JFPA Clinic website.

On the right hand side, at the top, there are two large buttons with text and images inside them. You'll want to click the top one that says "ピルを処方している施設の検索." ピル (piru) means birth control pill, 処方 (しょほう, shohou) means prescription, 施設 (しせつ, shisetsu) means institution, and 検索 (けんさく, kensaku) means search.

Step 2: On the next page, choose the prefecture you live in or want to search for a clinic in. I'm going to click on Aichi (愛知), as an example.

Step 3: The next page shows a list of hospitals and clinics in Aichi prefecture that prescribe birth control pills. There is also a map underneath indicating where each clinic is. Click on any clinic to get more detailed information. Click 次の20件 to see the next 20 results.

After clicking on a clinic, you'll see more information about it, including the name, address, phone number, website, if an appointment is required, consultation hours, when they're closed, and a map. If an appointment is not required, it will probably say 不要 (ふよう, fuyou), and if it is necessary, 必要 (ひつよう, hitsuyou).

How to find a clinic or hospital in Japan that prescribes emergency contraception

Step 1: Go to the JFPA Clinic website.

On the right hand side, at the top, there are two large buttons with text and images inside them. You'll want to click the bottom one that says 緊急避妊薬を処方している施設の検索." 緊急避妊薬 (きんきゅうひにんやく, kinkyuuhininyaku) means emergency contraception, 処方 (しょほう, shohou) means prescription, 施設 (しせつ, shisetsu) means institution, and 検索 (けんさく, kensaku) means search.

Step 2: On the next page, choose the prefecture you live in or want to search for a clinic in. I'm going to click on Aichi (愛知), as an example.

Step 3: The next page shows a list of hospitals and clinics in Aichi prefecture that prescribe emergency contraception. There is also a map underneath indicating where each clinic is. Click on any clinic to get more detailed information. Click 次の20件 to see the next 20 results.

After clicking on a clinic, you'll see information about it, including the name, address, phone number, website, if an appointment is required, consultation hours, when they're closed, and a map. If an appointment is not required, it will probably say 不要 (ふよう, fuyou), and if they are required, 必要 (ひつよう, hitsuyou).

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And now you have an option to find a clinic or hospital in Japan with a doctor who can prescribe you birth control pills or emergency contraception. If you need to find an English-speaking clinic, you might want to take the list you found and ask the kind folks at Japan Healthcare Info to see if any of them have English-speakers.

You might also want to read more about birth control pills in Japan and other contraception methods.