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TSM INTERNATIONAL HOSPITAL ALLIANCE

Understanding foreign-patient hospital listings

Understand three distinct scopes within official foreign-patient hospital listings: care while in Japan, designated institutions and travel from abroad specifically for treatment.

Three different scopes within one listing

The health ministry and tourism agency listings help foreign residents and visitors access care in Japan's local areas. Distinguish general listing, Category 1/2 designation and travel from abroad specifically for treatment.

01

Listed institutions

Institutions generally willing to support foreign-patient care and considered suitable by their prefecture.

Refer to the latest official list for counts
  • Primarily for foreigners needing care while living, working or travelling in Japan
  • May offer language, interpretation, card payment or foreign-patient support
  • Listing does not guarantee foreign-language care in all departments at all times
02

Category 1 and 2 designated institutions

Key foreign-patient institutions selected by prefectures within their regional healthcare systems.

Category 1 / Category 2
  • Category 1: can handle emergency patients requiring admission; generally at least one per prefecture
  • Category 2: hospitals, clinics and dental clinics; generally at least one per secondary medical service area
  • Some institutions belong to both categories, so the counts cannot simply be added
03

Travelling from abroad specifically for treatment

The official list explicitly states that it is not a list of hospitals specifically accepting patients travelling from abroad for treatment.

Verify with each institution
  • Category 1/2, Chinese-language support or JMIP/JIH certification alone does not establish acceptance from abroad
  • Also confirm the international department, conditions covered, record review, booking channel and fees
  • Some hospitals require approved coordinators and may need medical visa documents

TSM's verification approach

Candidate institutions need checks against each patient's circumstances

We cross-check specialty expertise, international services, Chinese communication, coordinators, JMIP/JIH certification and overseas application policies. The institution makes the final decision based on patient records.

View the Japan hospital guide

Important limits of the list

Absence from the list does not mean a hospital refuses foreign patients; inclusion does not guarantee overseas acceptance. Confirm appointments, language, departments and hours in writing with the hospital.

Health ministry publication pageOfficial explanatory PDF