PRP Therapy in Japan: How It's Regulated and What to Ask

PRP (platelet-rich plasma) is made from your own blood: a sample is spun to concentrate the platelets, then injected into a joint, tendon or ligament. It's offered at many orthopaedic clinics in Japan, usually for knee arthritis, tennis elbow and other tendon problems. This page is general information, not medical advice.

How it's regulated

PRP falls under the Act on the Safety of Regenerative Medicine (2014). Ordinary PRP is classed as Class III, the lowest risk tier; APS, a more concentrated preparation often used for knees, is Class II. Either way, the clinic must have a treatment plan reviewed by a certified committee and registered with the government. Those plans are public on the e-Regenerative Medicine site (saiseiiryo.mhlw.go.jp).

Registration means the procedure is being done under the law's safety rules. It does not mean the government has confirmed it works for your condition.

Cost and insurance

PRP for knees and tendons isn't covered by Japanese health insurance, so you pay the full price, which varies widely by clinic and preparation. Get the total in writing, including any repeat injections. Some clinics also offer a freeze-dried version (PRP-FD), which is processed off-site and takes a few weeks.

Hyaluronic acid injections for knee arthritis are covered by insurance. Ask your doctor about those and physiotherapy before paying for PRP.

Evidence

PRP is widely used and studied, and results vary by condition and by how the PRP is prepared. Researchers are still debating how much it helps compared with other injections. A good clinic will explain the evidence for your condition specifically and tell you what happens if it doesn't help. Be wary of anyone quoting high success rates for everything.

How to check a clinic

1. Ask whether the treatment is Class III (PRP) or Class II (APS), and for the plan number. Look it up yourself.
2. Ask how many injections they expect and the total price.
3. Ask who does the injection and whether it's guided by ultrasound.
4. Get a second opinion from an orthopaedic surgeon who doesn't sell PRP.

Clinics that offer PRP

Listed in alphabetical order. We haven't been treated at these clinics, none of them paid to appear, and being listed isn't a recommendation. Details come from each clinic's own website, checked in October 2026. Prices aren't shown because most clinics quote them only after a consultation.

For stem cell treatments, see stem cell therapy in Japan. For general English-speaking care, see English-speaking clinics in Tokyo.

FAQ

Is PRP covered by insurance in Japan? Not for knees and tendons. It's self-pay.

Is it legal? Yes, when the clinic has registered a treatment plan under the regenerative medicine law.

Is PRP the same as stem cell therapy? No. PRP uses concentrated platelets from your blood, prepared the same day. Stem cell treatment uses cells, often grown in a lab over several weeks, and is a higher-risk class under the law.