From US · Laser eye surgery · Japan
Laser eye surgery in Japan from the US: what the trip costs against paying at home
Prices checked 26 October 2026 (Taipei time)
Short answer
For Americans, laser eye surgery in Japan costs $1,010–$2,040 at the clinic we checked, or about $2,440 once an example return flight and 3 hotel nights are added. That is about $2,550 less than the lowest self-pay price we found in the US ($4,990).
- Clinic price
- $1,010–$2,0401 provider, both eyes, LASIK, SMILE or PRK/LASEK. Where a clinic prices per eye we double the figure and say so
- Example trip
- $2,440clinic $1,010 + flight $1,100 + 3 hotel nights $330
- Pay privately in US
- $4,990–$5,790
- Wait in US
- No national waiting list
- Time there
- 3 to 4 days: suitability tests, the operation, and a check the next day before you fly
- Rank from US
- 1 of 5 countries by total trip cost
Figure 1Where the money goes, in USD
Trip total $2,440$2,550 under home
Figure 2Laser eye surgery: cheapest trip from the US, by country
Published laser eye surgery prices in Japan
Each row is a price the provider publishes itself, in its own currency, with what it includes. The converted amounts use a fixed European Central Bank rate.
| Provider | Published price | What the price is for | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shinagawa Lasik & Eye Clinic (品川近視クリニック)Tokyo (also Osaka, Sapporo and others) | ¥158,000 to ¥320,000about £754–£1,530 · €900–€1,820 · C$1,410–C$2,860 · $1,010–$2,040 | Shinagawa Intra-LASIK Advance (¥158,000) to Amaris Z-LASIK (¥320,000), both eyes, tax includedExam free (検査費無料). Guarantee 5 years (Intra-LASIK Advance), 8 years (Standard Z, ¥190,000), 10 years (Amaris Z). Before tax ¥144,000 to ¥291,000. “表示価格は白内障治療を除き、両眼価格になります。” | Shinagawa Lasik & Eye Clinicread 26 October 2026 |
Prices are copied as published, in the provider's currency. Conversions use the European Central Bank reference rates of 23 October 2026 and are rounded. A provider can change a price at any time: ask for a written quote.
Japanese check-up centres price for people living in Japan. NCGM in Tokyo says that people without Japanese health insurance or who do not speak Japanese pay “twice the displayed amount” for its health checks, must book through a registered medical-interpreter agency, and get results in 3 to 4 weeks (NCGM, in Japanese). For other hospital care it bills uninsured patients ¥30 per insurance point (NCGM FAQ). Tokyo Midtown Clinic's price list is silent on visitors, so ask before booking.
Against waiting or paying in the US
The US has no national public waiting list; what matters is the price your insurer or the hospital charges.
Paying privately in the US: $4,990–$5,790, from LasikPlus. These are 2021 hospital cash-price medians or a dental school estimate, so today’s prices are probably higher.
Can your insurer pay?
Ask your insurer before you book. Plans rarely pay for planned treatment abroad unless they have agreed in writing first.
Planning the trip from the US
- Get a written quoteSend the clinic your referral or reason for laser eye surgery and ask for an itemised price in writing, with the date and what happens if the result needs follow-up.
- Before you goAsk how long you must stop wearing contact lenses before the suitability tests; it can be days or weeks.
- Before you goBring your latest glasses prescription and any eye reports.
- Before you goCheck your travel insurance covers planned treatment abroad. Most standard policies do not.
- Entry rulesCheck the official advice before booking: US citizens (State Department, choose the country).
- LanguageJapanese; some hospitals require a registered medical interpreter for foreign patients.
- After you returnUse the eye drops exactly as prescribed, and ask the clinic for a written operation note to give your optician.
- After you returnSudden pain, worsening vision or a red, sticky eye after surgery need urgent care at home.
Add your flight and hotel
Put in your real fare from the US and your hotel to see the total for Japan next to every other country.
Related pages
Laser eye surgery in Japan from the US: questions
How much is laser eye surgery in Japan for Americans?
The published prices we found work out at $1,010–$2,040 at the clinic, from Shinagawa Lasik & Eye Clinic (品川近視クリニック). With an example return flight of $1,100 and 3 hotel nights at $110, the trip comes to about $2,440. Your own fares and dates will change the total.
Is it cheaper than paying privately in the US?
Yes, by about $2,550 on these example figures: the lowest self-pay price we found at home is $4,990. The gap shrinks if your flight costs more or you need extra nights.
How long is the wait for laser eye surgery in the US?
There is no national public waiting list in the US; the question is usually the price your insurer pays.
How many days do I need in Japan?
3 to 4 days: suitability tests, the operation, and a check the next day before you fly. That is our planning estimate, not medical advice; ask the clinic for its schedule in writing.
Will my insurer pay for it?
Ask your insurer before booking. Most plans pay little or nothing for planned treatment abroad unless they agree in advance.
Sources
- 料金表 (price list). Shinagawa Lasik & Eye Clinic. Read 26 October 2026.
- Cost of LASIK. LasikPlus. Read 26 October 2026.
- 外国籍の方の人間ドック受診について (health checks for foreign nationals). National Center for Global Health and Medicine (JIHS) Hospital, Tokyo. Read 26 October 2026.
- International Health Care Center FAQ. National Center for Global Health and Medicine (JIHS) Hospital, Tokyo. Read 26 October 2026.
- Euro foreign exchange reference rates. European Central Bank, 23 October 2026. Read 26 October 2026.