How Much Do Vet Visits Cost in Japan?
Japan has no standardized veterinary pricing. Costs vary significantly by clinic, prefecture, and whether you have insurance. Here's what to actually expect.
Important: These are approximate ranges compiled from vet clinic published price lists, Anicom claims data, and veterinary association surveys. Your actual costs may be higher or lower. Always confirm with your specific vet clinic before procedures.
Routine & Preventive Care
Annual basics every pet owner pays. Not usually covered by insurance.
Initial consultation
First visit fee — some clinics waive this
Follow-up consultation
Per visit, before any tests or treatment
Annual vaccination (混合ワクチン)
5-type or 8-type combination — dogs. 3-type for cats.
Rabies vaccination (狂犬病)
Required by law for dogs in Japan. Annual.
Filaria prevention (フィラリア)
Monthly medication May–December (8 months). Dogs.
Flea & tick prevention
Monthly topical or oral medication, year-round
Annual health check (健康診断)
Blood work, urinalysis, physical exam
Microchip insertion
Required for newly acquired pets since June 2022
Surgery
These are the costs that financially blindside most pet owners. Insurance typically covers 50–70%.
Spay (female) — 避妊手術
Recommended before first heat. More expensive than neuter.
Neuter (male) — 去勢手術
Simpler procedure, lower cost
Dental cleaning under anesthesia
General anesthesia required — this is NOT a simple cleaning
Tooth extraction (multiple)
Common in senior dogs/cats with periodontal disease
Foreign body removal
Swallowed toys/bones — emergency surgery
Broken bone / fracture repair
Plate fixation — common in small dogs from falls
Cruciate ligament repair (TPLO/TTA)
Common in medium-large dogs. Specialist surgery.
Tumor / mass removal
Depends heavily on location, size, and whether malignant
Pyometra (emergency uterus removal)
Life-threatening — unspayed females. Emergency pricing.
Cataract surgery
Specialist ophthalmologist — not all clinics offer this
This is why pet insurance exists
A single cruciate ligament surgery can cost more than 3 years of insurance premiums. With 50–70% coverage, a ¥400,000 surgery becomes ¥120,000–¥200,000 out of pocket.
The major providers in Japan — Anicom, iPet, PS Insurance, and Pet & Family — all offer plans starting around ¥1,500/month for young pets.
We're adding a detailed insurance comparison tool. Check back soon.
Diagnostics & Imaging
Often needed before surgery or to diagnose unexplained symptoms.
Blood test (basic panel)
CBC + chemistry — standard diagnostic
X-ray (レントゲン)
Per view — usually 2-3 views needed
Ultrasound (エコー)
Abdominal or cardiac — often combined with blood work
MRI
Specialist referral — requires general anesthesia
CT scan
Less common than MRI for pets — specialist facility
Biopsy + pathology
Tissue sample analysis — essential for cancer diagnosis
Chronic & Ongoing Conditions
These are the costs that accumulate over months and years. Often the most expensive category overall.
Chronic kidney disease (CKD)
Extremely common in senior cats. Ongoing fluid therapy + monitoring.
Diabetes management
Insulin injections + regular glucose monitoring
Heart disease medication
Multiple daily medications + quarterly echocardiograms
Allergy / skin condition treatment
Apoquel, Cytopoint, or immunotherapy — ongoing
Cancer chemotherapy
Typically 4-6 month protocol — varies widely by cancer type
¥200,000–¥600,000
total course
Epilepsy medication
Daily medication + periodic blood level monitoring
Tip for foreigners: Most vet clinics in Japan are Japanese-only. Some larger emergency hospitals in major cities have English-speaking staff. Search Google Maps for 動物病院 英語対応 (animal hospital English-friendly) + your area; university veterinary teaching hospitals are often a good starting point. See our
full guide to finding an English-speaking vet →
Emergency & After-Hours
Emergency vet visits cost significantly more. Most regular clinics close by 7-8 PM.
After-hours emergency consultation
Night/holiday surcharge on top of regular fees
Emergency hospitalization (per night)
IV fluids, monitoring, medication — per night
ICU / critical care (per day)
Oxygen therapy, continuous monitoring — specialist facility
How we compiled these numbers
Price ranges were compiled from published price lists of veterinary clinics across multiple prefectures, Anicom insurance claims data, Japan Veterinary Medical Association fee surveys, and community-reported costs from expat forums (RetireJapan, Reddit r/japanlife). Ranges reflect the 25th–75th percentile of reported costs where data was available. Animal health and veterinary practice in Japan are overseen by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
Know a vet cost we should add or update? We want this to be the most accurate English-language vet cost reference for Japan. Let us know.