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
¥1,000–¥3,000
Follow-up consultation
Per visit, before any tests or treatment
¥500–¥2,000
Annual vaccination (混合ワクチン)
5-type or 8-type combination — dogs. 3-type for cats.
¥5,000–¥10,000
Rabies vaccination (狂犬病)
Required by law for dogs in Japan. Annual.
¥2,500–¥3,500
Filaria prevention (フィラリア)
Monthly medication May–December (8 months). Dogs.
¥8,000–¥15,000
per season
Flea & tick prevention
Monthly topical or oral medication, year-round
¥12,000–¥24,000
per year
Annual health check (健康診断)
Blood work, urinalysis, physical exam
¥10,000–¥30,000
Microchip insertion
Required for newly acquired pets since June 2022
¥3,000–¥6,000
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.
¥30,000–¥80,000
Neuter (male) — 去勢手術
Simpler procedure, lower cost
¥15,000–¥40,000
Dental cleaning under anesthesia
General anesthesia required — this is NOT a simple cleaning
¥20,000–¥60,000
Tooth extraction (multiple)
Common in senior dogs/cats with periodontal disease
¥30,000–¥100,000
Foreign body removal
Swallowed toys/bones — emergency surgery
¥150,000–¥300,000
Broken bone / fracture repair
Plate fixation — common in small dogs from falls
¥100,000–¥350,000
Cruciate ligament repair (TPLO/TTA)
Common in medium-large dogs. Specialist surgery.
¥200,000–¥450,000
Tumor / mass removal
Depends heavily on location, size, and whether malignant
Specialist ophthalmologist — not all clinics offer this
¥200,000–¥400,000
per eye
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
¥5,000–¥15,000
X-ray (レントゲン)
Per view — usually 2-3 views needed
¥3,000–¥8,000
per view
Ultrasound (エコー)
Abdominal or cardiac — often combined with blood work
¥5,000–¥15,000
MRI
Specialist referral — requires general anesthesia
¥50,000–¥100,000
CT scan
Less common than MRI for pets — specialist facility
¥40,000–¥80,000
Biopsy + pathology
Tissue sample analysis — essential for cancer diagnosis
¥10,000–¥30,000
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.
Tip for foreigners: Most vet clinics in Japan are Japanese-only. Some larger emergency hospitals in Tokyo and Osaka have English-speaking staff. Search for 動物病院 英語 (animal hospital English) + your area. The ASAP Animal Hospital chain in Tokyo and University animal hospitals are good starting points.
Emergency & After-Hours
Emergency vet visits cost significantly more. Most regular clinics close by 7-8 PM.
Price ranges were compiled from published price lists of veterinary clinics across multiple prefectures, Anicom insurance claims data, Japan Veterinary Medical Association 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.
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.