This week, Fabulous Friday is about reasonably priced dental care in Japan, which yours truly experienced back in March when one filling cracked while staying at Park Hyatt Tokyo.
When I was on this year’s Cherry Blossom trip in Japan and my final stay at the Park Hyatt Tokyo before they closed for renovations, I had a filling crack late in the evening.
When I was having a leisurely breakfast on Saturday morning, I chatted with one of the managers to see if they could find me a dental appointment to fix the issue.
I was pretty surprised when they returned and told me they had found an appointment at a dental clinic in the same complex in about two hours. I would only need to have my passport and cash with me to pay for the appointment.
One of the Park Hyatt employees helped me find an ATM in the Shinjuku Park Tower lobby (the first one didn’t take international cards, or the connection was down).
And off I was for the appointment.
The practice was typical but with a lovely view of the park. I communicated with the dental professional using Google Translate. I got my teeth cleaned and the filling replaced.
And can you guess the price?
Roughly $85.
Conclusion
Over the years, I have learned that it is worthwhile to take care of dental issues such as cracked filings immediately; otherwise, they may turn into a root canal.
And yes. I use hotel concierges or managers to make bookings for these, as they have done it previously and have connections with these practices.
It probably proves how much time I have spent in Japan this decade. This was my third time visiting a dental practice in the country, but my first time in Tokyo, previously in Yokohama and Fukuoka.
Have you used “emergency” non-urgent health services while traveling, and what have been your experiences?
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