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Healthcare in Japan: cost & waiting times
Statutory health insuranceEveryone resident in Japan must join public health insurance — employee insurance or National Health Insurance through the local city office — which covers 70% of the cost of treatment (more for children and older people). You can see clinics and specialists directly, though large hospitals charge an extra fee without a referral.
Emergency number: Ambulance/Fire 119 · Police 110
How residents get care
- Join health insurance — Employees are enrolled through work; others join National Health Insurance at the city office.
- Visit a local clinic — Clinics (kurinikku) take walk-ins or bookings; you pay 30% of the official fee.
- Large hospitals by referral — Major hospitals charge a surcharge to patients without a referral letter.
- Emergencies — Call 119 for an ambulance.
Official waiting-time source
Japan doesn't publish waiting times; access to clinics and specialists is generally fast.
No national waiting-time register ↗
Typical private costs
Typical self-pay prices — for an exact figure use the official links above or ask a clinic for a written quote.
| Item | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Clinic visit (uninsured, typical) | ¥5,000–¥10,000 |
| Specialist visit (uninsured) | ¥8,000–¥20,000 |
| MRI (uninsured) | ¥30,000–¥60,000 |
| Cataract surgery, per eye (private) | ¥300,000–¥440,000 |
| Hip replacement (private) | ¥1,500,000–¥1,900,000 |
Typical waits & prices by procedure
Typical averages for comparison, not quotes. Public care is free or nominal at the point of use unless noted. Private care has no standard queue — availability depends on the provider. Where an official statistic exists (UK, Ireland, Poland) the interactive guide shows it, dated and sourced.
| Procedure | Typical public wait | Typical private price |
|---|---|---|
| GP / primary-care appointment | ~2 days | ¥7,500–¥15,000 |
| Specialist consultation (first) | ~27 days | ¥23,000–¥38,000 |
| MRI scan (one area) | ~13 days | ¥44,000–¥75,000 |
| CT scan | ~13 days | ¥50,000–¥88,000 |
| Gastroscopy / endoscopy | ~19 days | ¥200,000–¥300,000 |
| Cataract surgery (per eye) | ~38 days | ¥300,000–¥440,000 |
| Knee arthroscopy | ~53 days | ¥560,000–¥810,000 |
| Inguinal hernia repair | ~46 days | ¥380,000–¥560,000 |
| Gallbladder removal | ~55 days | ¥690,000–¥1,000,000 |
| Hip replacement | ~63 days | ¥1,500,000–¥1,900,000 |
| Knee replacement | ~71 days | ¥1,600,000–¥2,100,000 |
| Tonsillectomy | ~53 days | ¥380,000–¥500,000 |
| Carpal tunnel release | ~50 days | ¥230,000–¥340,000 |
| X-ray | ~4 days | ¥10,000–¥19,000 |
| Ultrasound scan | ~8 days | ¥19,000–¥35,000 |
| Echocardiogram | ~13 days | ¥31,000–¥53,000 |
| Colonoscopy | ~21 days | ¥230,000–¥350,000 |
| Coronary angiogram | ~13 days | ¥310,000–¥480,000 |
| Varicose vein removal | ~42 days | ¥380,000–¥560,000 |
| Lumbar disc surgery (discectomy) | ~57 days | ¥1,100,000–¥1,600,000 |
| Rotator cuff repair (shoulder) | ~53 days | ¥810,000–¥1,100,000 |
| Hysterectomy | ~42 days | ¥880,000–¥1,300,000 |
| Vasectomy | ~21 days | ¥50,000–¥88,000 |
| Bunion surgery | ~53 days | ¥500,000–¥690,000 |
Prescriptions
Prescriptions are covered by health insurance at the same 70% rate; you pay 30% at the pharmacy. Some medicines common abroad (including some stimulants and codeine products) are banned — check before bringing them.
Dental care
Most dental treatment is covered by health insurance at 70%; cosmetic work and implants are private.
Adult public dental cover: subsidised. Typical self-pay prices:
| Treatment | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Check-up + X-rays | ¥4,170–¥9,385 |
| Scale & polish | ¥6,260–¥12,515 |
| Filling | ¥9,385–¥20,860 |
| Extraction | ¥9,385–¥26,075 |
| Root canal | ¥31,290–¥73,005 |
| Crown | ¥41,720–¥93,865 |
| Implant (post only) | ¥125,155–¥260,740 |
| Implant + crown | ¥208,590–¥365,035 |
| Veneer (per tooth) | ¥41,720–¥93,865 |
| Full denture (per arch) | ¥52,150–¥125,155 |
Finding a doctor or specialist
- JNTO — find medical institutions with English support ↗
- AMDA International Medical Information Center ↗
Well-known hospital groups (listed, not vetted or ranked):
- St. Luke's International Hospital (Tokyo) ↗
- Tokyo Medical and Surgical Clinic ↗
- Kameda Medical Center ↗
Check a provider's inspection rating or registration with Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare ↗.
Health insurance
Insurers and schemes people in Japan commonly use, and cover for visitors. Listed for comparison, not recommended — check the policy wording yourself.
| Insurer | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| National Health Insurance (via your city office) ↗ | National / public scheme | Compulsory for residents not insured through work. |
| Tokio Marine & Nichido ↗ | Local health insurer | Private and travel insurance. |
| Sompo Japan ↗ | Local health insurer | Private and travel insurance. |
Visiting Japan?
Your entitlement: None — no agreement with the UK and the GHIC isn't valid. Visitors pay the full cost, and some hospitals charge foreign visitors more than the official fee.
EHIC / GHIC: EHIC/GHIC not valid.
Pharmacies: Pharmacies (yakkyoku) and drugstores are everywhere; check medicine restrictions before travelling.
Insurance: Travel insurance strongly recommended.
Useful links
- Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare ↗
- JNTO — guide for using medical institutions (visitors) ↗
- AMDA International Medical Information Center ↗
Content last checked: 2026-10-02. Figures are typical/official-source references, not quotes — see the links above for the current real number.