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Thursday, July 9, 2026

Japan Ningen Dock Review: Full Health Screening in Fukuoka

Healthy Hamburg Steak I Had at Hospital Restaurant in Fukuoka

As I mentioned in my previous entry, my husband and I visited Japan in March this year. One of the main reasons for our trip was to undergo a complete medical checkup, known as ningen dock (人間ドック). This time, we chose to have it done in Fukuoka.

A ningen dock is a comprehensive health screening designed to detect a wide range of conditions, from lifestyle‑related diseases such as type II diabetes to the early stages of cancer. The goal is early detection and prevention—helping people understand their current health status so they can maintain wellness, address risks, and begin treatment sooner if needed.

In the U.S., I have an annual physical every year, but it doesn’t include many of the imaging and diagnostic tests that are standard in Japan. That’s why I also choose to have a ningen dock every few years. The Japanese screening typically includes abdominal ultrasound, chest X‑ray, and other tests that aren’t part of a routine U.S. physical.

This year, my medical checkup cost 66,000 yen (about $415.88), and my husband’s cost 80,850 yen (about $509.48). Our medical chekup included the following:

height, weight, BMI, and abdominal girth
blood pressure and pulse
vision test, intraocular pressure, and ophthalmoscopy
audiometry
spirometry
EKG (electrocardiography)
abdominal ultrasonography
upper GI
chest X‑ray
urine test (protein, glucose, blood, specific gravity, urobilinogen)
blood test (blood type, RBC, WBC, Hb, Ht, PLT, differential count, total protein, bilirubin, protein fraction, AST, ALT, γ‑GTP, ALP, LDH, CHE, AMY, total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides, glucose, HbA1c, uric acid, BUN, creatinine, eGFR, HBsAg, HCVAb, TPHA, RF, CRP, and more)
PSA (male only)
chest CT (optional, 11,000 yen)
bone density (optional, 3,300 yen)
39‑item allergen test (optional, 14,850 yen — my husband added this)

When I think about healthcare in the U.S., I’m always reminded of how expensive even the simplest things can be. In contrast, Japan’s medical system feels both advanced and surprisingly affordable. Because of that, even after paying for flights and a place to stay, coming to Japan for a full checkup can still make sense. (Of course, if you’re flying business or first class and staying in luxury hotels, the math changes a bit.)

Hospital Restaurant

We arrived at the hospital at 8:30 a.m. and finished all of our exams by 12:30 p.m. Everything moved so smoothly that the morning passed quickly. After the checkup, we received complimentary meal tickets and could choose from several restaurants, including a few outside the hospital. In the end, we decided to have lunch at the restaurant inside the hospital because it was the most convenient.

We chose the low‑carb hamburg steak combo. For the sauce, you can pick either a rich demi‑glace or a light Japanese onion sauce.

My husband chose the Japanese onion sauce, called Japone sauce (ジャポネソース), and I chose the demi‑glace sauce.

Even though it was a steak dish, the meal was very healthy. The hamburg steak was made with grass‑fed beef and okara (soybean pulp), so it was rich in fiber, protein, potassium, and isoflavone. The rice was a nutritious multigrain blend. We left feeling really satisfied with such a healthy lunch.

Finally, we finished our meal with a glass of iced black tea.

Three to four weeks later, the Japanese hospital sent our results to my mother‑in‑law’s home, and she forwarded them to us in the U.S. Everything looked very good. We’ll probably have another ningen dock in Japan again in a few years.

If you’re curious about the Japanese ningen dock, you can take a look at my previous entry too.