Annual Health Checks and Medical Certificates in Japan
A practical guide to annual checkups, medical certificates, workplace or school requirements, and records: rules, counters, documents, timing, costs, and follow-up updates.
Health checks in Japan fall into 4 different situations: the workplace annual check, optional ningen dock screening, the specific health check for ages 40 to 74, and medical certificates for school, work, visa, or insurance purposes. The counter and cost change depending on which one you need.
Workplace annual check
Under Article 66 of the Industrial Safety and Health Act, employers must provide a medical check once a year for regular employees. The usual minimum items include medical history, symptoms, height, weight, waist circumference, eyesight, hearing, chest X-ray, blood pressure, blood tests, urine tests, and ECG depending on age.
Many companies run checks in April or May, or at hiring and then once every year. The employer normally pays the cost. Results arrive after about 1 to 2 weeks, and abnormal results may lead to an occupational physician interview or a separate detailed examination.
Ningen dock
Ningen dock is a more detailed voluntary screening. A same-day course often costs around JPY 30,000 to 60,000, while 1-night courses, brain dock, PET-CT, cancer screening, CT, MRI, or endoscopy packages can reach JPY 80,000 to 300,000.
Company health insurance societies and Kyokai Kenpo may subsidize part of the cost, often around JPY 10,000 to 30,000. Popular clinics in Tokyo can require booking 1 to 3 months ahead, and some hospital slots fill even earlier.
Specific health check
The specific health check targets insured people and dependents aged 40 to 74. It focuses on lifestyle diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, lipid disorders, and metabolic syndrome. For National Health Insurance members, municipalities often run it with low out-of-pocket fees such as JPY 500 to 2,000.
The check usually includes questionnaire, body measurements, waist circumference, BMI, blood pressure, blood lipids, blood sugar, liver function, and urine tests. If metabolic risk is found, specific health guidance may follow for about 6 months.
Medical certificates
Medical certificates are separate from routine screening. A general certificate for employment, school, or visa paperwork may cost JPY 3,000 to 5,000; an English certificate can cost JPY 5,000 to 10,000; hospitalization or insurance certificates often cost JPY 3,000 to 7,000.
Bring the required form if a company, school, or government office specifies one. Same-day issue is possible for simple certificates, but 1 to 3 business days is common, and English documents may take about 1 week.
Common mistakes
Do not skip the company check. It is a legal employer duty, and employees are expected to cooperate. Do not assume the company check replaces cancer, brain, or heart screening after age 40. Also do not wait until the application deadline to request an English certificate.
Before paying full price for ningen dock, ask your health insurance society, employer, or municipality about subsidies. A JPY 20,000 subsidy can change which course makes sense.
Useful terms
- Kenko shindan: health check
- Ningen dock: detailed screening course
- Tokutei kenshin: specific health check
- Sangyoi: occupational physician
- Shindansho: medical certificate