This maternity hospital makes having a baby in Japan look like a trip to Tokyo Disneyland.
Having a baby is never easy, and can be especially hard in Japan, where mothers are expected to tough out a lot of aspects of childbirth. But on the flip side, Japanese moms also enjoy top-notch medical care, being closely monitored during their pregnancy and enjoying a standard five-day-stay in hospital to rest and recuperate afterwards.
One of our foreign staff writers from the UK recently told us all about 6 things that surprised her personally about having a baby in Japan. But while in many ways her experience was standard for having a baby in a non-English speaking hospital which doesn’t specifically cater to expats in Japan, there was one thing that stood out: The hospital she chose was really freaking luxurious!
Keiai Hospital in Fujimi City, Saitama prefecture is a private maternity hospital (the majority of hospitals in Japan are private) which has been catering to moms and babies since 1971, and is one of the limited number of hospitals in Japan which offers epidural procedures on a 24/7 basis, which is what led our reporter to choose it. In 2018, for example, of 2,759 babies born at the hospital, there were 835 epidural deliveries, a big number when you consider Japan’s overall low epidural rate (5.2 per cent in 2016). But our reporter ended up getting a lot more out of the experience than just the safety net of a potentially pain-controlled birth (and a cute baby of course!) The hospital also offers the following amenities:
▼ A TON of free stuff!
Guests at the hospital are provided with almost everything they could need for a five-day stay, including baby amenities like nappies, bottles, formula, wipes, etc. There are also amenities for mom, including postpartum care products and general amenities like shampoo, shower gel, and even tea, soup and juice.
As well as hospital-stay goods, new mothers also receive a staggering number of new baby gifts, and our reporter was also allowed to pick out a cute baby outfit from the range available, as well as one of three choices of large gifts (our reporter chose a baby tea set).
The hospital also has its OWN range of baby goods which are not for commercial sale, including this baby stroller liner, and our reporter also received a Keiai Hospital baby sleep sack and nursing pillow. Our reporter says:
“It was wonderful not to have to worry about forgetting to bring something important to the hospital – some of my mom friends in my home country agonized over what to pack in their hospital bag, but I didn’t really need to bring anything. Having all the presents and gifts felt like it was someone’s birthday – which it was! It made having a baby even more special. The hospital also gives out iPads which you can use to take photos of your baby, and they collect the iPad when you leave and print you a special baby album using your photos. On top of that, they also send your baby a present on their first few birthdays.”
Delicious food to rival any restaurant!
One of the best things about the stay, for both our reporter and most of the ladies who stay at the hospital, is the food! The hospital employs professional chefs who provide multi-course meals which are served in the restaurant for lunch and dinner, as well as a buffet breakfast every day. For our reporter, the first hint of just how special the food on offer was going to be came during the Afternoon Tea Session for expecting moms. She says:
“One of the other mothers I chatted to during the Afternoon Tea Session, who was due to have her FOURTH baby, told me that she kept getting pregnant just so she could come back to eat the food at the hospital. I thought she was joking at first, but now I’m not so sure…”
▼ Afternoon Tea
▼ Japanese cuisine
▼ Chinese Xiaolongbao steamed dumplings
▼ Chinese almond tofu pudding and Jian Dui sesame sweet ball
▼ The French course menu!
▼ Gold leaf and caviar
▼ Gold leaf and truffles
▼ Breakfast buffet selection
▼ Sweet desserts
▼ Cute desserts!
▼ More desserts!
▼ All the desserts!
The hospital also provides guests with a number of complimentary meals for their OWN guests. Our reporter says:
“I was able to invite my husband and mother-in-law to join me for lunch on the buffet lunch day, and on my final night at the hospital my husband and I were able to share a French course meal while listening to a live piano performance in the restaurant. I didn’t choose the hospital based on the food, of course, but it was a lovely bonus, especially hearing from some of my mom friends back home about the stale post-birth sandwiches and tasteless hospital food they had – I felt very lucky to be having my baby in Japan.”
Complimentary beauty treatments!
Moms at the hospital are able to choose two out of the following three treatments to enjoy during their stay: a massage, a facial treatment, and/or a cut and blow-dry. Our reporter says:
“You pull all kinds of muscles having a baby, so being able to have a professional massage after is wonderful! Also, having your hair washed and blow-dried for you on the final day so you can look pretty when you take your baby home really makes you feel better when you’re tired out from being up all night with a baby.”
Luxury accommodation!
Not only are the buildings and grounds of the hospital spacious and beautifully decorated and cared for, there’s also a wide range of different types of rooms available. Our reporter chose an ensuite room, but all rooms at the hospital are private, so you don’t have to worry about rooming in with other moms and babies. While our reporter’s room looks really swanky, it apparently wasn’t even top of the list for room options – there are several even higher grades of room available!
The main lobby, where moms come for pre and post-natal checkups, is also always beautifully decorated in tune with the seasons.
For Hina Matsuri, or Girls’ Day, the hospital showcased a stunning display of traditional dolls. There’s also a grand piano in the foyer, and patients waiting for appointments can occasionally enjoy live performances from professional musicians.
Finally, the location in Fujimi City is also quite special as you can spot Mount Fuji on clear days, which is apt as the name of the city literally means “Fuji View”. Can you spot Mount Fuji in the photo above?
We had to ask – surely all this luxury doesn’t come without a luxury price tag? Our reporter says:
“I was nervous throughout my stay that the price would end up being a lot more than what I was quoted since everything was so lovely and it seemed too good to be true, but it was exactly as outlined. The reason I was so surprised by the price was that it was so comparable to other options for private hospitals I had looked into, which were much more basic in terms of amenities, food and room options.”
So, would she recommend having a baby in Japan?
“With great medical care, a nice long hospital stay to recover from giving birth, and an emphasis on good, nutritious food, I can definitely recommend having a baby in Japan, and I particularly loved my choice of hospital. But while I had a wonderful experience, I would recommend anyone having a baby in Japan as an expat to choose a hospital based on their specific medical and personal needs and budget.”
With the country currently facing the serious double problem of an ageing society and low birth rate, it’s clear that having a baby is considered a very special thing in Japan, and adding a little glamor to the procedure of bringing new life into the world is a nice way to celebrate! If you’re interested in knowing more about what life is like for women in Japan, including mothers, you can check out 5 Powerful Reasons to be a Woman in Japan.
All images © SoraNews24
Hospital Information
Keai Hospital / 恵愛病院
Address: Saitama-ken, Fujimi-shi, Harigaya 526-1
埼玉県富士見市針ケ谷526-1
Website
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