Guides
Practical guides to choosing a clinic in Tokyo, checking registrations, understanding each treatment and planning your visit — plus Japan's regenerative medicine policy and research.
01 · 6 articles
Choosing a clinic and doctor, checking registrations, and visiting Ginza YR Clinic.
A clinic profile compiled from one visit: its Ginza location and interior, Director Dr. Junya Higuchi’s background (medical PhD, University of Tokyo), its Class II and Class III regenerative medicine plans, and its in-house cell processing center (CPC).
Ginza YR Clinic has submitted 9 regenerative medicine provision plans to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW): five Class II and four Class III, plus an in-house cell processing center (CPC) manufacturing notification FC3250098. This article lists each plan number and content, and explains how to verify them yourself.
At Ginza YR Clinic, autologous fat-derived stem cell treatment generally goes: submit medical records in advance → first visit for consultation, tests, and fat harvesting → cells are cultured in the in-house cell processing center for about 3–4 weeks → second visit for local injection or IV drip → follow-up after returning home. This article explains each step, how to arrange the two trips, and the risks listed by the clinic.
Ginza YR Clinic is on the 7th floor of CSS Building III, 6-5-13 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo. It’s about a 5-minute walk from Tokyo Metro Ginza Station exits C2/C3. Hours are 10:00–19:00; closed Fridays; by appointment only. This page lists transport, booking, payment, and what to bring on the day.
When choosing a stem cell provider in Tokyo, first check its registration, then see whether the doctor evaluates first and explains risks, then ask where the cells are processed and whether there are test data, and finally confirm who is responsible for follow-up after treatment. Look at environment and marketing last.
In Japan, a provision plan must be submitted before regenerative medicine can be provided, and plans fall into three risk-based classes. This article explains the differences among the three and how to verify an institution’s plan in the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) public lists.
02 · 9 articles
What each treatment is, who it is for, and where the evidence stands.
Both are mesenchymal stem cells. The first difference is whose cells they are: autologous fat-derived stem cells are taken from your own fat, require about 3–4 weeks of culture, and usually mean two trips to Japan; in Japan they are registered as Class II. Umbilical cord-derived stem cells come from donated umbilical cords from others and fall under Class I in Japan, with stricter review. This article uses one table to clarify the differences and the questions to ask at consultation.
PRP involves concentrating platelets from your own blood and injecting them into the joint; it is commonly used for pain management in knee osteoarthritis. It cannot guarantee cartilage regeneration. First clarify the cause of your knee pain and have imaging reviewed, then compare PRP, stem cells, and other treatments with your doctor.
NK cell therapy collects your own blood, cultures immune cells, and then reinfuses them by IV drip. In Japan it is registered as a Class III regenerative medicine provision plan and is a self-pay treatment. It cannot replace standard treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy; cancer patients and families should confirm the standard treatment pathway before inquiring.
Exosomes are tiny vesicles secreted by cells and do not contain cells themselves. Common products in Japan are derived from iPS cells, umbilical cord stem cells, and other sources; as of September 2026, they are not yet covered by the Act on the Safety of Regenerative Medicine. During consultation, focus on source, manufacturing, testing, and route of administration.
Anti-aging is not a single procedure; it is a set of goals. First break it down into sleep, weight, metabolism, skin, and stamina, then decide whether you need lifestyle changes, specialist care, aesthetic medicine, or regenerative medicine. Be ready to question terms like “fundamental repair” and “stem cell beauty.”
Cell storage is the long-term cryopreservation of your own cells or tissues; it does not mean they can definitely be used for treatment in the future. Before deciding, ask what is stored, where it is kept, how it is tested, the costs and term, and how retrieval, transfer, and termination are handled.
Chronic insomnia, postpartum fatigue, and decreased ovarian function often have identifiable causes and established care pathways. See the relevant specialty and do basic tests first, then consider other options—don’t make cell or IV drip programs your first choice.
The most practical purpose of a cross-border cancer consultation is a second opinion: ask Japanese specialists to evaluate the current diagnosis and plan based on pathology, imaging, and the treatment course. Supplementary options such as immune cell therapy cannot replace standard treatment; discuss them last.
Cancer screening targets specific cancers and populations and can help early detection, but it does not guarantee you can “get checked once and be reassured,” and it is not treatment. Choosing based on age, sex, and family history matters more than chasing the “most comprehensive package.”
03 · 5 articles
Your first consultation, visas, travel, and family support.
Before the first consultation, organize your records, imaging, and medication list; at the visit, ask about five things: suitability, where the cells come from and how they’re processed, how it’s registered in Japan, risks and alternatives, and post-treatment follow-up.
If you plan to visit Japan for treatment, a comprehensive checkup, or examinations, you can apply for a Visa for Medical Stay, and accompanying persons may also apply. Based on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan’s guidance, this article outlines the scope, length of stay, application process, and what to check.
When taking parents or other family members to Japan for medical care, first make sure chronic conditions are stable and medication is uninterrupted, leave slack in the schedule, and define companion roles clearly; before departure, talk through goals, risks, costs, and exit options with your family.
When comparing which country to choose for stem cells, compare the system first: is there dedicated legislation, who reviews projects, can institutions and projects be checked publicly, and who is responsible if something goes wrong. Japan’s feature is that provision plans are publicly searchable; other regions have their own rules—rely on local official information.
“About to be banned,” “last chance,” “exclusive serum-free technology,” “one-stop luxury experience” — these claims by themselves prove nothing. When you hear them, check three things: official documents, data that can be provided in writing, and the doctor’s full explanation.
04 · 8 articles
Product approvals, regulation, research — and how to read the news.
In March 2026, Japan granted “conditional and time-limited approval” to two iPS cell-derived regenerative medicine products, for severe heart failure and Parkinson’s disease. This is a milestone in clinical translation, but it does not mean all stem cell treatments are mature, nor that ordinary patients can already use them routinely.
In May 2026, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) and the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) issued corrective orders to 33 medical institutions for using treatments involving genetically modified organisms in self-pay cancer care without the legally required approval. This is not about targeted drugs, and it does not mean self-pay treatment in Japan is unavailable.
The same “stem cell therapy” may be self-pay treatment registered under the Act on the Safety of Regenerative Medicine in Japan, while in China it is either a drug approved by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) or a clinical study that may not charge participants. New regulations have applied in China since May 2026. This article uses one table to clarify the two countries’ routes, charging rules, and how to verify them.
When you see a Japanese regenerative medicine product is “approved,” first check whether it is followed by “conditional and time-limited approval.” This means a limited-term approval with ongoing data collection, not full proof of effectiveness.
iPS cells are pluripotent stem cells obtained by “reprogramming” somatic cells such as skin and blood, established by the team of Dr. Shinya Yamanaka at Kyoto University. This article explains what they are, why they are emphasized in Japan, and how they differ from clinic offerings and “iPS exosomes.”
There are three main lines in Japan’s regenerative medicine in 2026: iPS products enter formal review and clinical use; regulation is refined in parallel; research shifts from single cells to complex tissues such as organoids. For patients, the more cutting-edge the technology, the more you need to look at systems and evidence.
Headlines that say “Breakthrough in Japan’s regenerative medicine” could be a paper, a clinical trial, a product approval, or just institutional promotion. First sort out the level, then look at the disease, cell source, and study stage, and you won’t be led by the headline.
Hair loss research involves drugs, transplantation, tissue engineering, and cell technologies. Hair follicle regeneration results in the laboratory are usually still multiple validations away from stable, reproducible clinical services.
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