Regenerative Medicine in Japan: What's Approved and What's Self-Pay (2026)
Regenerative medicine in Japan: a few insurance-covered products, and a large self-pay market of stem cell, PRP and exosome treatments not proven to work.
"Regenerative medicine" in Japan covers two different things, and it's worth keeping them apart. A handful of products have been through government approval and some are covered by health insurance. Alongside them is a large self-pay market of stem cell, PRP and exosome treatments at private clinics, which the law regulates but which the government hasn't confirmed work. This page is general information, not medical advice.
Approved products
These have gone through Japan's approval process for specific uses:
- JACC (2012): cultured cartilage grown from the patient's own cells, for traumatic cartilage defects in the knee, covered by insurance since 2013. Its approval was extended in 2025 to some cases of knee osteoarthritis, with strict eligibility conditions.
- Temcell (2015): donor mesenchymal stem cells for acute graft-versus-host disease.
- Stemirac (2018): the patient's own bone-marrow stem cells for spinal cord injury, under a conditional and time-limited approval.
These are used in hospitals for the approved conditions, not sold as general treatments.
The self-pay market
Most clinics advertising "regenerative medicine" offer one of three things:
- Stem cell treatment, usually with your own fat-derived cells, often for knee pain. Regulated as Class II under the 2014 regenerative medicine law. See stem cell therapy in Japan.
- PRP, made from your own blood. Regulated as Class III (APS as Class II). See PRP therapy in Japan.
- Culture supernatant and exosomes. Outside the regenerative medicine law; in July 2024 the health ministry warned that no product of this kind has been approved as safe and effective.
The Japanese Society for Regenerative Medicine has warned that self-pay stem cell treatment hasn't had its safety and effectiveness confirmed by the government, and isn't covered by insurance.
Before you pay
- Ask the clinic for the treatment's plan number and look it up on the government's e-Regenerative Medicine site (saiseiiryo.mhlw.go.jp).
- Ask what evidence exists for your condition, and get the full price in writing.
- Get a second opinion from a doctor who doesn't sell the treatment.
Clinics compared
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.
| Clinic | Where | Treatments on its website | Worth knowing | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Azabu Regenerative Clinic | Minami-Azabu, Tokyo | PRP and Class II regenerative treatments | Publishes its plan numbers on its site. Wednesday to Sunday, by reservation | 03-6277-4650 |
| Clinique Haru Osaka-Umeda | Umeda, Osaka | Your own fat-derived stem cells | Orthopaedic clinic treating knees and shoulders | clinique-haru-osaka.com |
| Hiza Kansetsu-sho Clinic | 11 branches from Sapporo to Fukuoka, including Ginza and Shinjuku | PRP-FD, APS and cultured stem cells; also hyaluronic acid injections | Specialises in knees. Says on its site that these treatments aren't covered by insurance | 0120-013-712 |
| Omotesando Helene Clinic | Omotesando, Tokyo | Your own cultured mesenchymal stem cells | Lists many uses beyond joints, including diabetes, arteriosclerosis, hair and skin. Interpreters in more than 14 languages | 03-3400-2277 |
| Rakan Clinic Tokyo | Azabudai Hills, Tokyo | PRP, stem-cell culture supernatant, NK cell therapy, IV drips, acupuncture | Also a general orthopaedic clinic | rakanclinic-tokyo.jp |
| Repair Cell Clinic | Tokyo (Takeshiba), Osaka (Fukushima), Sapporo; Fukuoka from November 2026, Nagoya from January 2027 | Your own fat-derived stem cells, PRP | Lists uses beyond joints, including stroke, spinal cord injury, diabetes and liver disease | 0120-706-313 |
Two of these clinics list conditions far beyond joints for the same stem cell treatment. Compare that with what Japan has actually approved, and ask any clinic for the plan number that covers your condition specifically.
For general English-speaking care, see English-speaking clinics in Tokyo.
FAQ
Has Japan approved stem cell therapy for knee arthritis? No. The approved regenerative product with a knee use is JACC, cultured cartilage, under strict conditions. Self-pay stem cell treatment for knees is regulated but not approved.
Is regenerative medicine covered by insurance? Only the approved products, for their approved uses. Clinic stem cell, PRP and exosome treatments are self-pay.
Are exosome treatments regulated? Not by the regenerative medicine law. The health ministry warned in 2024 that none is approved as safe and effective.
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The Standard Japan
Living in Japan: healthcare, banking, work, visas and settling into a city.
Facts are taken from primary sources (operators, venues, official tourism and government pages) and dates and prices are checked on the day of writing. Pages are revised when those sources change.
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