Most Japanese clinics are good, but quality varies — especially where medicine meets business, like some cosmetic clinics. Here's how to choose with confidence.

A simple trust signal: board certification

Look for a board-certified specialist (専門医) in the relevant field — for skin, a board-certified dermatologist (皮膚科専門医); for other areas, the matching specialty board. It means the doctor completed recognized specialist training, and clinics often display it on their site or wall.

Red flags

• A clinic focused on selling cosmetic procedures or expensive packages, with little interest in your actual problem.
• No proper paperwork — for example, being sent to another hospital without a real referral letter (one clinic offered to "just email" instead, which isn't standard practice).
• Pressure to pay out-of-pocket for treatments that public insurance would normally cover.

What to do

For a medical (not cosmetic) problem, start with a general clinic or the right specialty, check for a 専門医, and read recent reviews. Not sure who's reputable in your area? Ask us on LINE.