🇯🇵 Japan · Healthcare
How the Japan healthcare system works — public vs private care, eligibility, and costs for residents and visitors.
Japan has universal health coverage through public insurance that is mandatory for residents staying three months or more — either employees' health insurance (through an employer) or National Health Insurance (NHI, enrolled at your local municipal office). Patients generally pay 30% of costs (less for children and older people), with the rest covered by the scheme.
- Public health insurance is mandatory for residents staying 3+ months — employees' health insurance or National Health Insurance (NHI).
- NHI is enrolled at your local municipal office; employees join through their employer.
- Patients generally pay 30% of medical costs (lower for children and older people).
- Premiums are income-based; keep payments current — MHLW oversees the system.
Official authorities
- Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (health insurance)
National authority for the health-insurance system.
- Study in Japan — Living (insurance & residence)
Official guide to health insurance for residents.
Official-information aggregation, not legal advice. Always verify on the authority's own site.
Government portals
- Prime Minister's Office of Japan — Official site of Japan's Prime Minister — cabinet policies, press conferences, policy statements
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan — Japan visa applications, overseas safety info, consular services, and diplomatic policy
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan — Residence status, work visas, permanent residency, and naturalization in Japan
- National Tax Agency (Japan) — Income tax, corporate tax, consumption tax filing and e-Tax online submission