Job Discussion Forums

markle · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 1316 Location: Out of Japan

I'm about three months from heading to Japan and I was weighing up the choice of getting some dental work done here in Oz or waiting and getting it done in Japan. It's not urgent (I need a couple wisdom teeth removed and a filling or three and I've lasted two years without it) so if a trip to the dentist is about the same or cheaper I'll wait (it may even be covered in my medical insurance) if not I'll bite the bullet and get it done before I go. I'm not adverse to going to the dentist I'd just rather avoid their bills.

azarashi sushi · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Posts: 562 Location: Shinjuku

I've never been to the dentist here however if I had a choice between my home country and Japan I would choose my home country ... Simply because it would be less of a hassle. Especially if you're new in the country, you'll have enough to deal with.

Nismo · Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 520

Japanese dentistry is extremely cheap. There may be a language barrier, though, which would make things a hassle. But, if you are ever in Tokyo at Ichigaya station, if you walk towards jouchi daigaku (sophia uni) there is a dentist above the Lawsons on the corner about five minutes away from the station - there is a big sign in front that reads, "English speaking dentist".

Socrates · Joined: 19 Nov 2004 Posts: 12

How much would the removal of 3 wisdom teeth cost?

Cheers, socrates

Sadken · Joined: 11 Aug 2004 Posts: 341

I'm coming in the next couple of months as well and as well as being thoroughly bored I am also becoming concerned by little details like how on earth I am ever going to get my haircut properly. Do they advertise English speaking hairdressers?

Nismo · Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 520

Sadken: You'll have to be careful of who is cutting your hair. Sometimes the hair salon will let the amateur stylists cut your hair for practice, and charge you the same price. Sometimes you can get your haircut for free (you'll still have your hair cut by an amateur, but these places let you have that as a free service).

If you don't know how to speak any Japanese, just bring in a picture of your hair exactly how you want it. While showing them the picture say, "konna kanji de onegaishimasu," which basically translates as, "Like this, please." If you don't know how to tell them that you just want a haircut, you're going to be paying around 6000-7000 yen for a haircut, shave, and massage. I have only ever paid for a haircut, and that costs 2500 yen.

spidey · Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2004 12:00 am Post subject:

Markle,

I have had a fair amount of dental work done since I came to Japan..root canal...crown...wisdom extraction and basic maintenance. In all of my experiences the dentists have been very professional and courteous. I have had experiences with both English and non-English speaking. The ones that have trouble with English tend to use alot of diagrams to explain procedures. Sometimes I would rather not know what they are going to do as this tends to lessen my anticipation.
As far as cost goes...it will depend on what type of health insurance you have. If you plan on signing up for Japanese National Health Insurance then you will be obligated to pay only 30% of the cost. Unless you have some specific cosmetic dentistry done that is not covered.
When you start to work in Japan you will have a choice to sign up for either National or Private health insurance. I'm not sure of the cost of private.

Definitely nothing to stress over...

S

azarashi sushi · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Posts: 562 Location: Shinjuku

Haircuts!!!! Oh boy... don't get me started!

In Japan I've been lucky in many respects, but haircuts certainly hasn't been one of them. I can honestly say that I have never had a good haircut in my time in Japan. Maybe I've just been to the wrong places...

Anyway, I remeber one time sitting down with the hairdresser for about 30 minutes going through pictures of hairstyles... Lots of konna kanji de, hai, hai, wakarimash!ta, yoroshiku onegaishimasu...

Anyway, finally she cut my hair and despite all the photos we had gone through, she still gave me the classic J-helmet cut. I was shocked! I just stared at her and the photo in disbelief ... But somehow she couldn't see the difference between the two. She just responded with "Ii desu ka?" But she had been so nice and friendly that I didn't have the heart to tell her it was disgusting... So I just responded with "Ii desu yo", paid, walked out and burst into tears.

I have a rule of thumb to determine how bad a service is going to be... by the amount of times they say "yoroshiku onegaishimasu". The more times they say it, the worse it's going to be. If they say it more than about 5 times... GET OUT!

guest of Japan · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 1601 Location: Japan

For a good hair cut, don't go to a barber or one of the cheap places that say American style hair cut. Pay the extra money 3000 - 4500 yen at a beauty salon.

For dentistry, if you are on the national health insurance it is very cheap. If you have no insurance in either country, Japan will probably be cheaper. I've heard recently that a lot of Americans are traveling to the Philippines for major work as even after plane ticket it is far cheaper than the US if you don't have good dental insurance.

jesszilla · Joined: 25 Jan 2005 Posts: 35

My bf and I have been debating this question, since neither of us have insurance here, and we will have insurance once we get to Japan. We were wondering, since we'll be ALTs working M-F 8-5, about the hours of dentists' offices - will we be able to find someone during our off hours? How do Japanese employers deal with time off for doctor/dentist visits? Even if it's cheaper, it might make more sense for us to get our dental work done here, if the schools would frown upon personal time to take care of it. Any thoughts?