Canadian Medical Travel Coordination
Quick Facts
Last updated: June 2026
Visa for Canadians
No visa is required for stays of up to 90 days. For treatment programs longer than 90 days, multi-entry plans, or hospitalization beyond 90 days, Japan issues a Visa for Medical Stay through a registered guarantor. See the Government of Canada entry requirements for Japan
Official language and hospital languages
Japanese is the working language. Hospitals accredited for international patients operate dedicated English-language patient desks, with Chinese, Korean, Russian, and Vietnamese available at several centres.
Currency
Japanese yen (JPY). Major hospitals accept international credit cards.
Personal medication import
Japan strictly regulates personal-use medication. Common drugs including amphetamine-based ADHD medications and certain pseudoephedrine cold remedies are prohibited at the border. A Yakkan Shoumei import certificate, applied 3 to 5 weeks before travel, is required for more than a one-month prescription supply or for narcotic painkillers.
Flights from Canada to Japan
Tokyo is the main hub for international medical treatment in Japan, served by Narita International (NRT) and Haneda (HND). All four major Canadian gateways operate direct flights.
from Toronto (YYZ)
to Tokyo (NRT/HND)
Direct: Yes
Flight time: 13 hours 20 minutes
Round-trip: Off-peak CAD 1,000 to 1,700 / peak CAD 1,800 to 2,900
from Vancouver (YVR)
to Tokyo (NRT/HND)
Direct: Yes
Flight time: 10 hours 10 minutes
Round-trip: Off-peak CAD 500 to 1,100 / peak CAD 1,200 to 2,400
from Calgary (YYC)
to Tokyo (NRT/HND)
Direct: Yes
Flight time: 10 hours 45 minutes
Round-trip: Off-peak CAD 650 to 1,100 / peak CAD 1,300 to 2,200
from Montreal (YUL)
to Tokyo (NRT/HND)
Direct: Yes
Flight time: 13 hours 20 minutes
Round-trip: Off-peak CAD 1,000 to 1,800 / peak CAD 1,800 to 2,900
Fares are indicative and move with season and booking lead time. January, February, September, and November are typically the lowest-fare months from Canada.
Where to Stay
International medical patients typically stay in central Tokyo. Marunouchi, Ginza, Chiyoda, and Minato (including Roppongi) are the districts used most often for medical stays. They sit within a short taxi ride of the main accredited hospitals, are quiet at night, and are accustomed to international visitors, with English signage, English-speaking pharmacies, and 24-hour concierge service in the larger hotels.
For recovery comfort, mid-October to late November and late March to mid-May are the most pleasant windows of the year. Mid-July through early September brings high humidity, heat-stroke risk, and typhoon season.
3-star hotels
Average nightly
CAD 130 to 230
​
Per week, 7 nights
CAD 910 to 1,610
4-star hotels
Average nightly
CAD 220 to 380
​
Per week, 7 nights
CAD 1,540 to 2,660
5-star hotels
Average nightly
CAD 450 to 800
​
Per week, 7 nights
CAD 3,150 to 5,600
Safety and Travel
Japan sits at Level 1, the lowest of the Government of Canada's four travel advisory levels, which advises travellers to take normal security precautions. Violent crime against visitors is very low. The principal travel risks are natural events, primarily earthquakes and typhoons, rather than crime. Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Sapporo, and Fukuoka are all considered safe medical destinations.
Petty pickpocketing is occasionally reported in late-night entertainment districts such as parts of Shibuya, Shinjuku, and Roppongi, and is not a meaningful risk for a hospital-focused stay. The Japan Tourism Agency's free Safety Tips app issues earthquake and tsunami alerts in English and is worth installing before travel. For the current advisory, see travel.gc.ca/destinations/japan
Featured Treatments in Japan
Japan led the world in carbon ion radiotherapy after the first clinical centre opened in Chiba in 1994, and its centres have since treated more than 43,000 patients, the largest accumulated experience of any country. Japan is also the birthplace of the Nobel Prize-winning work in induced pluripotent stem cell research.
.png)
Carbon Ion (Heavy-Ion) Radiotherapy
Japan operates approximately seven heavy-ion centres. The therapy uses accelerated carbon ions to target tumours that are difficult to manage with standard radiation, with published results across prostate, lung, liver, head and neck, and pancreatic cancers. Carbon ion radiotherapy is not offered anywhere in Canada.
Learn more about oncological care with Maple Med Global
​​Proton-Beam Therapy
Multiple proton therapy centres operate across Japan. Proton therapy spares more healthy tissue than standard radiation, which can be relevant for tumours close to vital structures. Canada has no hospital-based proton therapy facility for adults or children. A small number of Canadian patients each year reach proton therapy through provincial out-of-country referral programs, but eligibility is narrow, approval requires expert case review, and several provinces do not cover travel, accommodation, or meals.
Learn more about oncological care with Maple Med Global
​
​Comprehensive Health Screening (Ningen Dock)
Ningen Dock is a preventive-medicine model developed in Japan that combines imaging, endoscopy, blood work, and tumour markers in a single one to two-day program, with most results reviewed during the same visit. The integrated package is widely used by international visitors who want a rigorous check before a major treatment decision or after the completion of cancer therapy elsewhere.
​
Regenerative Medicine and Cell-Based Therapy
​Japan is the birthplace of induced pluripotent stem cell research, recognized with the 2012 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. The Osaka and Kobe region in Kansai is a globally recognized cluster for clinical translation, supported by a regulatory framework that permits accelerated approvals for cell therapies that remain largely experimental in Canada.​
Costs and Canadian Wait Times
Japan is a premium destination rather than a low-cost one. Its appeal for Canadian patients is access to therapies and screening programs that are limited or unavailable at home. The Fraser Institute's 2025 report places Canada's national median wait from family-doctor referral to actual treatment at 28.6 weeks across twelve specialties.
Carbon ion (heavy-ion) radiotherapy, full treatment course
Japan: CAD 35,000 to 45,000
Canada: Not available in Canada. Carbon ion radiotherapy is offered only outside Canada.
Proton beam therapy, full treatment course
Japan: CAD 23,000 to 35,000
Canada: Not available in Canada. A small number of Canadians reach proton therapy each year through provincial out-of-country programs, with narrow eligibility and partial coverage of travel costs.
Comprehensive health screening (Ningen Dock), one to two-day program
Japan: CAD 350 to 4,000
Canada, public wait: Public diagnostic imaging waits in Canada: 8.8 weeks for CT, 18.1 weeks for MRI (Fraser Institute 2025).
​
Heavy-ion and proton fees in the table cover the full treatment course, not a single session; the number of sessions varies by tumour type and is decided by the treating physician.
Final quotes are confirmed per case.
Leading Internationally Accredited Hospitals in Japan
-
St. Luke's International Hospital, Tokyo, JCI accredited
-
Kameda Medical Center, Kamogawa, JCI accredited
-
Nagoya University Hospital, Nagoya, JCI accredited
-
Saitama Medical University International Medical Center, Saitama, JCI accredited
-
Fujita Health University Hospital, Toyoake, JCI accredited
-
Institute of Science Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo, JCI accredited
​
This list is informational. Hospital selection for each patient depends on diagnosis, complexity, and treatment plan.
Frequently asked questions
For general questions about Canadian health insurance coverage abroad, complication insurance, follow-up care after returning to Canada, and trip planning, see our General FAQ
Plan Your Treatment in Japan with Maple Med Global
We are based in Toronto. We work in Canadian time zones, answer in Canadian English, and walk you through every step from the first question to the return flight home. There is no obligation in asking for a quote.
Or call/text us at +1 (647) 492-2777
Explore Other Destinations
Comparing your options? Explore more of our medical travel destinations to find the right fit for your treatment.