From UK · Laser eye surgery · Japan
Laser eye surgery in Japan from the UK: what the trip costs against paying at home
Prices checked 26 October 2026 (Taipei time)
Short answer
For UK patients, laser eye surgery in Japan costs £754–£1,530 at the clinic we checked, or about £1,890 once an example return flight and 3 hotel nights are added. That is about £696 less than the lowest self-pay price we found in the UK (£2,590).
- Clinic price
- £754–£1,5301 provider, both eyes, LASIK, SMILE or PRK/LASEK. Where a clinic prices per eye we double the figure and say so
- Example trip
- £1,890clinic £754 + flight £900 + 3 hotel nights £240
- Pay privately in UK
- £2,590–£7,500
- Wait in UK
- No official figure found
- Time there
- 3 to 4 days: suitability tests, the operation, and a check the next day before you fly
- Rank from UK
- 3 of 5 countries by total trip cost
Figure 1Where the money goes, in GBP
Trip total £1,890£696 under home
Figure 2Laser eye surgery: cheapest trip from the UK, by country
Published laser eye surgery prices in Japan
Each row is a price the provider publishes itself, in its own currency, with what it includes. The converted amounts use a fixed European Central Bank rate.
| Provider | Published price | What the price is for | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shinagawa Lasik & Eye Clinic (品川近視クリニック)Tokyo (also Osaka, Sapporo and others) | ¥158,000 to ¥320,000about £754–£1,530 · €900–€1,820 · C$1,410–C$2,860 · $1,010–$2,040 | Shinagawa Intra-LASIK Advance (¥158,000) to Amaris Z-LASIK (¥320,000), both eyes, tax includedExam free (検査費無料). Guarantee 5 years (Intra-LASIK Advance), 8 years (Standard Z, ¥190,000), 10 years (Amaris Z). Before tax ¥144,000 to ¥291,000. “表示価格は白内障治療を除き、両眼価格になります。” | Shinagawa Lasik & Eye Clinicread 26 October 2026 |
Prices are copied as published, in the provider's currency. Conversions use the European Central Bank reference rates of 23 October 2026 and are rounded. A provider can change a price at any time: ask for a written quote.
Japanese check-up centres price for people living in Japan. NCGM in Tokyo says that people without Japanese health insurance or who do not speak Japanese pay “twice the displayed amount” for its health checks, must book through a registered medical-interpreter agency, and get results in 3 to 4 weeks (NCGM, in Japanese). For other hospital care it bills uninsured patients ¥30 per insurance point (NCGM FAQ). Tokyo Midtown Clinic's price list is silent on visitors, so ask before booking.
Against waiting or paying in the UK
We have not found an official waiting-time figure for laser eye surgery in the UK.
Paying privately in the UK: £2,590–£7,500, from London Vision Clinic, Optimax and Optical Express.
Can the NHS pay?
NHS and HSE schemes do not reach Japan. The NHS S2 route covers state treatment in the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, and the HSE schemes cover the EU, EEA, the UK and Switzerland. Treatment in Japan is paid by you or by a private insurer who agrees in advance. NHS S2 route, HSE Treatment Abroad Scheme.
Planning the trip from the UK
- Get a written quoteSend the clinic your referral or reason for laser eye surgery and ask for an itemised price in writing, with the date and what happens if the result needs follow-up.
- Before you goAsk how long you must stop wearing contact lenses before the suitability tests; it can be days or weeks.
- Before you goBring your latest glasses prescription and any eye reports.
- Before you goCheck your travel insurance covers planned treatment abroad. Most standard policies do not.
- Entry rulesCheck the official advice before booking: UK citizens (FCDO entry requirements).
- LanguageJapanese; some hospitals require a registered medical interpreter for foreign patients.
- After you returnUse the eye drops exactly as prescribed, and ask the clinic for a written operation note to give your optician.
- After you returnSudden pain, worsening vision or a red, sticky eye after surgery need urgent care at home.
Add your flight and hotel
Put in your real fare from the UK and your hotel to see the total for Japan next to every other country.
Related pages
Laser eye surgery in Japan from the UK: questions
How much is laser eye surgery in Japan for UK patients?
The published prices we found work out at £754–£1,530 at the clinic, from Shinagawa Lasik & Eye Clinic (品川近視クリニック). With an example return flight of £900 and 3 hotel nights at £80, the trip comes to about £1,890. Your own fares and dates will change the total.
Is it cheaper than paying privately in the UK?
Yes, by about £696 on these example figures: the lowest self-pay price we found at home is £2,590. The gap shrinks if your flight costs more or you need extra nights.
How long is the wait for laser eye surgery in the UK?
We have not found an official waiting-time figure for this in the UK.
How many days do I need in Japan?
3 to 4 days: suitability tests, the operation, and a check the next day before you fly. That is our planning estimate, not medical advice; ask the clinic for its schedule in writing.
Will the NHS pay for it?
No. The NHS S2 route covers state treatment in the EU and a few other European countries; Japan is outside it.
Sources
- 料金表 (price list). Shinagawa Lasik & Eye Clinic. Read 26 October 2026.
- Prices. London Vision Clinic. Read 26 October 2026.
- Our eye surgery costs. Optimax. Read 26 October 2026.
- Laser eye surgery pricing. Optical Express (UK). Read 26 October 2026.
- Planned treatment: S2 funding route. NHS (nhs.uk). Read 26 October 2026.
- Treatment Abroad Scheme. Health Service Executive (HSE). Read 26 October 2026.
- 外国籍の方の人間ドック受診について (health checks for foreign nationals). National Center for Global Health and Medicine (JIHS) Hospital, Tokyo. Read 26 October 2026.
- International Health Care Center FAQ. National Center for Global Health and Medicine (JIHS) Hospital, Tokyo. Read 26 October 2026.
- Euro foreign exchange reference rates. European Central Bank, 23 October 2026. Read 26 October 2026.