We took a summer break! This post is from July 7, 2025. It’s been tough to get anything done this past week as I’ve been stuck in my dorm with a nasty cold. Maybe it was the sudden changes in weather (rainy one day, hot the next) or maybe it was because I would sleep with my wet hair under the AC, but either way, it was really bad.
I’m usually the type to recover after about 2 days, so when I first felt a sore throat coming on, I didn’t think much of it, I even went swimming at Lake Biwako to celebrate my birthday. I probably should have actually stayed in my room and rested though.
The next day, after swimming, my symptoms got worse. My throat was so sore I couldn’t speak, I had a fever, nausea, a cough, and almost no energy. I ended up skipping most of my classes for the week except for one. That one class had a midterm, and even though I could’ve emailed the professor to reschedule, I just wanted to get it over with. So, I dragged myself out of bed, took the test, somehow got back to my room and fell asleep.
For the rest of the week, I stayed in my room, taking Tylenol that a friend gave me, sipping warm tea, and trying to take it easy. Thankfully, I didn’t have too much homework to worry about, so I could focus on getting better without stressing too much.
But after a few more days, things actually got worse. I ended up getting pink eye, too. At that point, I figured rest and Tylenol weren’t enough, so I decided to visit a clinic.
I searched for English-friendly clinics in Kyoto and found one called Sakabe Clinic. It had nearly five stars and over 100 reviews from international patients, so I decided to give it a try. The clinic is about a 20-minute bus ride from my dorm, and when I arrived, I found out it was actually an international clinic.
They normally see walk-in patients in the evening (6:30 pm-12 am) and appointments during the day (9:30 am–12:30 pm), though it’s best to check their website for up-to-date hours. I didn’t have an appointment or a Japanese phone number to call and schedule one, so I went in person and was able to schedule a same-day appointment for 12:20 pm. All I needed was my passport and to write down my name.
When I returned later for the appointment, I filled out a simple form about my symptoms, how long I’d been sick, what medicine I’d taken, and so on. I was surprised by how simple the questions were and how little questions I had to answer compared to back home in the America.
After turning in the form, I had my temperature taken and waited to be called. It seemed like only one doctor was working, but I didn’t mind waiting as I wasn’t sure where else to go anyway. Eventually, I was brought into a room where they took my blood pressure before I met the doctor.
That actually surprised me since usually back home has a lot of tests first, but my Japanese friend who was also sick around the time I was said they usually don’t even take blood pressure during checkups. Soon after, the doctor reviewed my form and told me I could have one of three possible illnesses—one of which might have been COVID (but I figured it wasn’t, since I could still taste food).
The doctor did a nasal swab test and checked my heartbeat, which is something I’m used to—but this time, it was done under my shirt. While it wasn’t invasive, but it made me feel a bit uncomfortable. Thankfully, there was a female nurse present, which helped a little, but it still felt awkward.
After the check-up, I waited for my results. The doctor told me I didn’t have any of the three viruses he suspected but gave me a prescription with five different medications, each targeting certain symptoms.
Thanks to having health insurance in Japan, I only paid about 3,600 yen for the visit. The pharmacy next door charged me about 1,000 yen for the medications—so in total, I spent less than $40. I’ve been taking the medicine for a few days now and feel so much better, though I’m still dealing with a bit of a stubborn cough.
Getting sick while studying abroad definitely isn’t fun, but I’m grateful there were resources available, and that I was able to get help without too much trouble. Hopefully, I’ll be fully recovered soon and back to exploring Kyoto again!
DU Abroad 