How Have the Number of Medical Institutions Changed Across Japan?｜Comparing 2019, 2021, and 2024 on a Map -

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Using Medical Institutions in Japan

If you fall ill while traveling in Japan, or while living here, you may not be sure where to go.

In Japan, a medical institution with 20 or more inpatient beds is called a “hospital” (*byōin*), and one with no beds, or 19 beds or fewer, is called a “general clinic” (*ippan shinryōjo*). There are also “dental clinics” (*shika shinryōjo*) that treat teeth and the mouth.

You might look for a clinic because of a cold. You might use a hospital for tests or hospitalization. Or a sudden toothache might send you searching for a dental clinic.

Medical institutions are essential not only for travelers, but also for the people who live in each region.

So how has the number of medical institutions changed across Japan as a whole?

Why not explore this together, moving through the map for 2019, 2021, and 2024?

See the Change in the Number of Medical Institutions Across Japan on a Map

On the map, you can switch between “Hospitals,” “General Clinics,” and “Dental Clinics” to check the change from 2019 to 2021 to 2024.

Hospital: a medical institution with 20 or more inpatient beds
General clinic: a medical institution with no beds, or 19 beds or fewer
Dental clinic: a medical institution where dentists treat teeth and the mouth

You can compare not only Japan as a whole, but also the movement in each of the 47 prefectures.

Find a Medical Institution in Japan

If you want to look up the location of a hospital or clinic, you can also use the medical institution search map.

You can search by specialty, language support, and other criteria. Because listed information and reception conditions can change, please check with the medical institution directly before your visit.

Open the medical institution search map (search by location, specialty, and language support)

Compare the Number of Medical Institutions Across Japan and the 9 Regions

The data card lets you compare the number of medical institutions across Japan and the 9 regions.

Press the “Hospitals,” “General Clinics,” or “Dental Clinics” button to see an explanation of the selected type along with the figures for 2019, 2021, and 2024.

What We Noticed While Making This Map

Looking at the number of medical institutions across Japan, what stood out to us was that hospitals, general clinics, and dental clinics have each moved differently.

Hospitals and dental clinics have decreased. General clinics, on the other hand, have increased.

If you look region by region, you will also find changes that differ from the nationwide trend. Why not compare this with medical institutions in your own country as you explore the change in Japan’s medical institution numbers on the map?

Explore a Region That Interests You

The regional articles let you check the change in the number of medical institutions in more detail, using an enlarged map and data card for each region.

Sources and Notes

This article compares the number of medical institutions in 2019, 2021, and 2024, based on published materials such as the “Survey of Medical Institutions / Report on Hospitals” from Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

“Before, during, and after the pandemic” is a simple way of distinguishing the three time points for comparison. It does not mean that the change in the number of medical institutions was caused only by COVID-19.

The figures shown on the map and data card are based on each year’s published materials. For the most up-to-date treatment availability, location, medical specialties, and language support, please check with each medical institution before your visit.

How Have the Number of Medical Institutions Changed Across Japan?｜Comparing 2019, 2021, and 2024 on a Map