Introduction: Chinese actress, age 36, is a regular visitor to Japan, not for entertainment events but for cutting-edge medical beauty treatments, highlighting a shift in the preferences of wealthy Chinese tourists.
Growing Health Consciousness: Post-pandemic, a surge in health consciousness in China is redirecting Chinese tourists from shopping-focused trips to Japan toward medical services, reflecting a changing trend in travel preferences.
Japan’s Exceptional Medical Services: The actress praises Japan’s aesthetic medical techniques, including Botox and stem cell injections, emphasizing the exceptional technology and service quality at Japanese clinics.
Clinics Catering to Demand: Kenkoin Clinic in Tokyo’s Ginza district offers personalized preventive healthcare services, experiencing a steady increase in Chinese patients seeking health checkups and specialized care.
Government Support: The Japanese government, aiming to revitalize local economies, introduced a medical visa in 2011, encouraging medical tourism. The number of medical visas issued has risen, with a focus on attracting foreign visitors for healthcare.
Expanding Medical Tourism Services: Beyond traditional healthcare providers, diverse companies are entering the market to attract Chinese tourists. Alibaba Group’s Tmall Global platform now allows Chinese tourists to book medical services online before arriving in Japan.
Business Opportunities for Startups: Hirotsu Bio Science Inc., a Tokyo-based startup, utilizes the online platform to offer affordable medical services, such as cancer screening, to Chinese visitors, showcasing the evolving landscape of medical tourism.
Challenges and Room for Growth: While the industry is growing robustly, challenges include weak recognition of Japan’s medical services abroad, limited hospital capacity, and the need for translation services. The payment structure, especially for medicines, also requires review.
Conclusion: Despite challenges, the medical tourism industry between China and Japan is flourishing, with room for further growth into new sectors like wellness, providing opportunities for both countries to benefit from this evolving trend.
