Introduction: Growing Interest from Singapore in Japan’s Beauty and Aesthetic Medical Market
In recent years, there has been increasing interest from Singapore-based doctors, medical corporations, investors, high-net-worth individuals, and healthcare companies in opening beauty clinics, aesthetic dermatology clinics, regenerative medicine clinics, and private medical clinics in Japan.
Singapore is one of Asia’s leading financial, medical, and healthcare hubs. It has a strong affinity with aesthetic medicine, wellness, anti-aging, regenerative medicine, and medical tourism.
On the other hand, Japan has strong demand for beauty medicine and private medical services, especially in major cities such as Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, Nagoya, Sapporo, and Okinawa. Japan is also a highly attractive destination for inbound patients from Asia.
For Singapore doctors and investors, the Japanese beauty clinic market offers several attractive features.
| Reason | Details |
|---|---|
| Strong trust in Japanese medical services | Japanese healthcare is highly regarded for safety, technical quality, and careful patient service, making it attractive to high-net-worth patients across Asia. |
| Strong compatibility with inbound patients | Cities such as Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, and Okinawa are well-positioned to attract patients from Singapore and Southeast Asia. |
| Strong demand for private medical services | Aesthetic dermatology, regenerative medicine, AGA treatment, body contouring, anti-aging, and other self-paid medical services can be developed as high-value services. |
| Market entry through M&A is possible | By acquiring or taking over an existing medical corporation or clinic, it may be possible to enter the Japanese market faster than starting from scratch. |
| Strong compatibility with medical tourism | A business model connecting Singapore, Japan, and Southeast Asia through medical tourism can be developed. |
However, opening a clinic in Japan requires compliance with multiple specialized procedures and regulations, including the Medical Care Act, the Medical Practitioners’ Act, clinic establishment permits, public health center procedures, insurance medical institution designation, visa matters, corporate structuring, and medical corporation M&A.
This article explains how Singapore doctors and investors can establish beauty clinics and other medical clinics in Japan, from the perspective of an administrative scrivener specializing in medical institution procedures.
Can a Singapore-Licensed Doctor Practice Medicine in Japan?
The first important point is that a doctor licensed in Singapore cannot automatically practice medicine in Japan.
As a general rule, in order to practice medicine in Japan, a person must hold a Japanese medical license. Doctors who graduated from a foreign medical school or obtained a medical license overseas may be eligible to apply for recognition of eligibility to take the Japanese National Medical Practitioners Examination, depending on their background and qualifications.
In other words, if a Singapore doctor wishes to personally provide medical treatment in Japan, obtaining a Japanese medical license is generally required.
However, involvement in a Japanese clinic business does not necessarily require the Singapore doctor to personally practice medicine in Japan.
There are several possible ways for Singapore doctors, medical professionals, and investors to participate in a clinic business in Japan.
| Method of Involvement | Details |
|---|---|
| Hiring a Japanese doctor as the clinic administrator | The Singapore side provides capital, branding, and management support, while a Japanese doctor serves as the medical administrator of the clinic. |
| Acquiring a Japanese medical corporation or clinic through M&A | The Singapore side acquires or takes over an existing medical corporation or clinic and utilizes its existing operating structure. |
| Participating in the management side of a Japanese medical corporation | The Singapore side may become involved in the management structure after properly organizing the medical corporation’s members, directors, and representative director. |
| Introducing overseas aesthetic medical expertise into Japan | Beauty medicine, anti-aging, and high-net-worth service models developed in Singapore or Southeast Asia can be introduced into Japan. |
| Building a medical tourism model | A patient flow connecting Singapore, Japan, and Southeast Asia can be developed for inbound medical services. |
| Developing a joint brand with Japanese doctors | A beauty clinic brand can be developed by combining Japanese medical credibility with Singapore capital and international branding. |
Therefore, for Singapore doctors and investors considering entry into Japan, the key question is not only whether they can personally practice medicine in Japan, but also how to design the clinic structure, who will serve as the clinic administrator, and whether the business should be established from scratch or acquired through M&A.
Three Main Ways for Singapore Investors to Open a Beauty Clinic in Japan
There are three main ways for Singapore investors to open a beauty clinic in Japan.
| Method | Features | Suitable For |
|---|---|---|
| New clinic establishment | A clinic is established from scratch by selecting a property, designing the interior, hiring doctors, and completing public health center procedures. | Investors who want full control over branding, interior design, treatment menus, and clinic concept. |
| Medical corporation or clinic M&A | An existing medical corporation or clinic is acquired or taken over, allowing use of existing patients, staff, facilities, and location. | Investors who want to enter the Japanese market quickly and utilize an existing operating base. |
| Joint operation with a Japanese partner | The Singapore side works with Japanese doctors, medical corporations, and professionals, while providing capital and branding. | Investors unfamiliar with Japan’s medical regulations, or those who want to start small before expanding. |
1. Establishing a New Beauty Clinic in Japan
The first method is to open a new clinic in Japan by renting a property, conducting interior construction, securing doctors and staff, and completing the necessary clinic establishment procedures with the relevant public health center.
This method allows investors to freely design the clinic concept, brand positioning, interior, treatment menu, price range, and target patient segment.
For example, the following clinic models can be considered.
| Clinic Type | Details |
|---|---|
| High-end aesthetic dermatology clinic for Singapore high-net-worth patients | A premium clinic model with English and Chinese support, luxury interior design, and appointment-only service. |
| Inbound beauty clinic | A clinic targeting patients traveling from Singapore and Southeast Asia for aesthetic dermatology and cosmetic surgery. |
| Anti-aging clinic | A clinic offering skin management, IV therapy, regenerative medicine-related treatments, and anti-aging services through cooperation with Japanese doctors and Singapore-side medical networks. |
| Regenerative medicine and beauty IV clinic | A private medical clinic combining PRP, stem cell-related services, exosome-related treatments, and beauty IV therapy. |
| Urban beauty clinic | A beauty clinic located in high-demand urban areas such as Ginza, Omotesando, Osaka Umeda, or Fukuoka Tenjin. |
However, new clinic establishment takes time.
It requires property selection, prior consultation, floor plan preparation, recruitment of doctors and nurses, discussions with the public health center, clinic establishment permits or notifications, medical advertising compliance, medical equipment selection, reservation system setup, and patient acquisition strategy.
In the case of a beauty clinic, prior consultation with the public health center is particularly important regarding property use, structure, waiting room, consultation rooms, treatment rooms, clean and contaminated areas, placement of medical equipment, and staff flow.
2. Acquiring a Japanese Medical Corporation or Clinic through M&A
The second method is to acquire or take over an existing Japanese medical corporation or clinic through M&A.
This is a highly practical option for Singapore doctors and investors who want to enter the Japanese clinic business smoothly.
By acquiring an existing medical corporation or clinic, the following advantages may be available.
| Advantage | Details |
|---|---|
| Existing operating history can be utilized | Since the clinic is already operating, it may be easier to prepare realistic business plans compared with starting from zero. |
| Existing patients may be taken over | Existing patients, medical records, reviews, and local recognition may be inherited. |
| Existing property, interior, and medical equipment may be used | If conditions are suitable, the clinic’s existing facilities and equipment can be used after the acquisition. |
| Time to market may be shortened | It may be possible to start clinic operations in Japan faster than establishing a new clinic from scratch. |
| Management control may be transferred | In the case of a medical corporation, effective management succession may be achieved through changes in members, directors, and the representative director. |
| Suitable clinic fields can be selected | Depending on the objective, investors can consider beauty clinics, dermatology clinics, dental clinics, internal medicine clinics, or private medical clinics. |
In particular, for medical corporations without equity interests or medical corporations established with a fund contribution structure, the process is different from ordinary corporate M&A through share transfer.
It is necessary to carefully organize matters such as members, directors, the representative director, fund contribution refund claims, articles of incorporation, and administrative procedures.
Unlike a regular company, a Japanese medical corporation does not have shares that can simply be bought and sold to transfer ownership.
Therefore, medical corporation M&A requires knowledge of medical law, administrative procedures, taxation, accounting, and healthcare regulations.
Our office can support not only new medical institution establishment procedures, but also the introduction of seller-side medical corporation and clinic M&A opportunities.
For Singapore investors, acquiring or taking over an existing medical corporation or clinic may allow smoother entry into the Japanese market compared with building a beauty clinic entirely from scratch.
3. Operating a Clinic Jointly with a Japanese Partner
The third method is to jointly develop a clinic business with Japanese doctors, Japanese medical corporations, administrative scriveners, tax accountants, attorneys, M&A advisors, and marketing companies.
In this model, the Singapore side provides capital, branding, overseas patient flow, high-net-worth networks, and medical tourism strategy, while the Japanese side handles medical practice, clinic administration, licensing procedures, local operations, recruitment, and medical advertising compliance.
| Party | Main Role |
|---|---|
| Singapore side | Capital contribution, branding, overseas patient flow, high-net-worth network, and medical tourism strategy. |
| Japanese doctor | Clinic administrator, medical treatment, medical safety management, patient care, and clinical operations. |
| Administrative scrivener | Clinic establishment permits, medical corporation procedures, public health center and Regional Bureau of Health and Welfare procedures, and preparation of administrative documents. |
| Tax accountant / CPA | Tax matters, accounting, financial planning, investment structure, and fair market value review. |
| Attorney | Contracts, M&A agreements, risk management, and legal structure review. |
| Marketing company | SEO, MEO, social media, advertising, and inbound patient acquisition. |
This method is especially suitable in the following cases.
| Suitable Case | Details |
|---|---|
| When the Singapore side is unfamiliar with Japan’s medical system | Working with Japanese professionals makes it easier to comply with licensing and medical regulations. |
| When the investor wants to enter the market on a small scale first | Market potential can be tested with the first clinic before large-scale expansion. |
| When creating a joint brand with Japanese doctors | The credibility of Japanese doctors can be combined with Singapore-side branding and capital strength. |
| When planning multiple clinic expansion in the future | The business can be structured from the beginning with future medical corporation utilization and M&A expansion in mind. |
| When developing a high-value private medical model for inbound patients | Overseas patient flow, interpretation, postoperative follow-up, and payment systems can be designed together. |
Clinic establishment in Japan involves licensing, legal structure, medical advertising, recruitment, taxation, and visa matters. Therefore, it is important to form a professional team from the early planning stage.
Key Japanese Medical Regulations Singapore Investors Should Understand
Opening a clinic in Japan is very different from establishing a normal company or opening a retail store.
Clinic Establishment Permit and Notification
To open a clinic in Japan, a clinic establishment permit or notification must generally be submitted to the competent public health center.
The required procedures and review points differ depending on whether the clinic is opened by an individual doctor, a medical corporation, a general incorporated association, or another entity.
Even in the case of a beauty clinic, if medical acts are performed, the clinic is treated as a medical institution under Japanese law.
| Review Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Eligibility of the clinic founder | The authorities review who will establish the clinic and whether the structure complies with medical law. |
| Full-time status and actual involvement of the clinic administrator | It is important that the clinic administrator can properly manage the clinic in practice. |
| Medical departments | Departments such as cosmetic surgery, aesthetic dermatology, dermatology, plastic surgery, and internal medicine must be properly organized. |
| Facility structure | Consultation rooms, treatment rooms, waiting areas, reception, and staff rooms must be suitable for a medical institution. |
| Room areas | The size of each room is reviewed based on the floor plan and the nature of the medical services. |
| Medical safety system | Infection control, medical accident response, and emergency response systems are required. |
| Medical equipment placement | Placement of lasers, X-ray equipment, surgical equipment, sterilizers, and other devices must be organized. |
| Patient and staff flow | The flow of patients and staff must be appropriately designed. |
| Financial plan | Revenue, expenses, labor costs, rent, advertising costs, and other financial projections should be presented. |
| Source of funds | If Singapore capital is involved, the source of funds and investment structure may need to be explained. |
| Non-profit nature | For medical corporations and general incorporated associations, the authorities may review whether the structure is not designed for profit distribution. |
| Officer structure | The structure of directors, members, auditors, and other officers must be appropriate. |
When Singapore capital is involved, it is also important to carefully organize the source of funds, investment scheme, intercompany agreements, officer structure, profit-related arrangements, and service agreements.
Importance of the Non-Profit Nature of Japanese Medical Corporations
Japanese medical corporations are not profit-distributing entities like ordinary companies.
Medical corporations are required to maintain a non-profit nature, and distribution of surplus profits is prohibited.
Therefore, when Singapore investors become involved in a Japanese medical corporation, it is necessary to carefully examine how invested funds can be recovered, whether management support fees or outsourcing agreements are appropriate, and whether the structure undermines the non-profit nature of the medical corporation.
In medical corporation M&A, the concept of simply buying shares and receiving dividends, as in ordinary corporate M&A, does not apply.
| Key Issue in Medical Corporation M&A | Details |
|---|---|
| Change of members | The structure of the general meeting of members, which is the highest decision-making body of the medical corporation, must be organized. |
| Change of directors and representative director | Directors and the representative director responsible for management and business execution must be changed appropriately. |
| Change of auditor | The eligibility of the auditor responsible for auditing the medical corporation must be confirmed. |
| Fund contribution refund claims | In the case of a fund contribution-type medical corporation, fund contribution refund claims must be properly handled. |
| Amendment of articles of incorporation | Amendments may be required for adding clinics, changing the principal office, changing director numbers, or changing purposes. |
| Administrative procedures | Procedures with the prefectural government, public health center, Regional Bureau of Health and Welfare, and Legal Affairs Bureau must be organized. |
| Contractual relationships | Lease agreements, equipment lease agreements, outsourcing agreements, and employment contracts must be reviewed. |
| Tax and accounting | Transaction price, director compensation, outsourcing fees, and fund transfers must be reviewed for appropriateness. |
| Non-profit nature | The structure must not impair the non-profit nature of the medical corporation. |
Without support from professionals familiar with medical corporation M&A, issues may arise with the public health center, prefectural government, Regional Bureau of Health and Welfare, or tax authorities.
Compliance with Japan’s Medical Advertising Guidelines
When operating a beauty clinic in Japan, compliance with Japan’s medical advertising regulations is extremely important.
Beauty medicine is an area where advertising expressions can easily become problematic, especially regarding before-and-after photos, patient testimonials, campaign prices, limited-time offers, superiority claims, and guaranteed results.
| Advertising Expression Requiring Caution | Reason for Concern |
|---|---|
| “You will definitely look younger” or “You will definitely lose weight” | Expressions that guarantee results can be problematic. |
| “No. 1 in Japan,” “the best,” or “absolutely safe” | Superiority claims or absolute expressions without objective evidence require caution. |
| “No failure” or “no risk” | Medical treatment always involves risk, and such expressions may be inappropriate. |
| Edited before-and-after images | These may mislead patients regarding actual treatment results. |
| Excessive emphasis on patient testimonials | Overuse of subjective patient testimonials may be problematic. |
| Strong emphasis on campaign or limited-time pricing | The method of displaying prices and deadlines may create regulatory issues. |
To succeed in Japan’s beauty clinic market, it is not enough to focus on SEO, social media, and advertising. Patient acquisition must be designed in compliance with medical advertising regulations.
Visa and Business Manager Status Considerations
If Singapore investors or business owners plan to stay in Japan and become involved in clinic management, visa matters must also be considered.
One typical option is the “Business Manager” status of residence.
For Singapore investors, it is necessary to confirm the following points in advance.
| Point to Confirm | Details |
|---|---|
| Whether the investor will stay in Japan | It is necessary to determine whether the Singapore-side manager will reside in Japan or visit only on a short-term basis. |
| Whether to establish a Japanese company | In addition to a medical corporation, structures such as a stock company, limited liability company, or general incorporated association may be considered. |
| Whether to become an officer of a medical corporation | The relationship with the medical corporation’s directors, representative director, and members must be reviewed. |
| Whether a Business Manager visa is required | If the investor will actually conduct management activities in Japan, the need for a status of residence should be reviewed. |
| Capital, office, and full-time employee requirements | The current requirements must be checked carefully before structuring the business. |
| Relationship with the Japanese-side representative | The roles of the Japanese-side manager, doctor, and representative must be clearly organized. |
| Relationship with the Singapore headquarters | The relationship among the Singapore headquarters, Japanese company, medical corporation, and outsourcing company must be structured properly. |
The clinic establishment structure under Japanese medical law and the visa structure must be considered together.
General Flow for Opening a Beauty Clinic in Japan
When Singapore doctors and investors open a beauty clinic in Japan, the process generally proceeds as follows.
| Step | Details |
|---|---|
| Step 1: Clarify the purpose of Japan entry | Clarify whether the objective is new clinic establishment, M&A, branch expansion, or medical tourism. |
| Step 2: Consider the clinic establishment structure | Choose the optimal structure, such as individual doctor clinic, medical corporation, general incorporated association, M&A, or joint operation. |
| Step 3: Secure M&A opportunities, property, and doctors | For a new clinic, secure the property and clinic administrator. For M&A, review seller opportunities and takeover conditions. |
| Step 4: Prior consultation with administrative authorities | Consult with the public health center, prefectural government, and Regional Bureau of Health and Welfare regarding required procedures. |
| Step 5: Clinic establishment permits and notifications | Complete clinic establishment permits, notifications, medical corporation change filings, and insurance medical institution designation applications if necessary. |
| Step 6: Opening, patient acquisition, and operation | Prepare SEO, MEO, social media, advertising, and inbound patient flow before starting clinic operations. |
Checklist for Reviewing Clinic M&A Opportunities
When acquiring or taking over a Japanese clinic or medical corporation through M&A, it is risky to make a decision based only on sales and profit figures.
In beauty clinic M&A, it is important to review doctor dependency, advertising cost dependency, repeat patient rate, review risks, and sustainability of treatment menus.
| Check Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Revenue | Review monthly sales, annual sales, and the breakdown between private medical services and insurance-covered services. |
| Profit | Review operating profit, profit after director compensation, and profit after advertising costs. |
| Patient numbers | Review new patients, repeat patients, revisit rates, and cancellation rates. |
| Treatment menus | Review aesthetic dermatology, cosmetic surgery, AGA, body contouring, regenerative medicine, and other services. |
| Doctors and staff | Confirm whether the clinic administrator, doctors, nurses, and staff can continue working after the takeover. |
| Reviews | Check Google Maps reviews, social media reputation, and review site ratings. |
| Medical advertising | Confirm whether advertising expressions comply with Japan’s medical advertising guidelines. |
| Medical equipment | Confirm whether equipment is owned or leased, and whether any outstanding lease obligations or maintenance contracts exist. |
| Lease agreement | Review name change, sublease issues, contract term, termination clauses, and restoration obligations. |
| Debts and unpaid liabilities | Review borrowings, lease liabilities, unpaid salaries, unpaid taxes, and other liabilities. |
| Administrative guidance history | Confirm whether there has been any guidance from the public health center, Regional Bureau of Health and Welfare, Consumer Affairs Agency, or other authorities. |
| Medical records and personal information | Review personal information management, transfer of medical records, and whether patient consent is required. |
Main Procedures Required to Open a Beauty Clinic in Japan
Depending on the structure, the following procedures may be required when opening a beauty clinic in Japan.
| Procedure | Details |
|---|---|
| Clinic establishment permit application | May be required when a medical corporation, general incorporated association, or other non-individual doctor entity opens a clinic. |
| Clinic establishment notification | Submitted when an individual doctor opens a clinic, or after a permitted clinic is opened. |
| Clinic administrator notification | The clinic administrator doctor is reported to the authorities. |
| X-ray equipment installation notification | Required when X-ray equipment is installed. |
| Medical corporation officer change notification | Required when directors, auditors, or the representative director change. |
| Medical corporation articles amendment approval | May be required for adding a branch clinic, changing purposes, changing the office, or other matters. |
| Registration change | Required at the Legal Affairs Bureau for changes such as representative director or principal office. |
| Insurance medical institution designation application | Required when the clinic provides services covered by Japanese public health insurance. |
| Facility standard notifications | Required when claiming certain medical fees under the Japanese insurance system. |
| Regenerative medicine provision plan | Required when providing regenerative medicine under the Act on the Safety of Regenerative Medicine. |
| Medical advertising compliance check | Confirm whether websites, social media, landing pages, and advertisements comply with medical advertising regulations. |
| Personal information protection system | Establish systems for managing patient information, medical records, questionnaires, and reservation data. |
Some beauty clinics operate only with private medical services. However, if insurance-covered services are provided, an application for designation as an insurance medical institution must also be submitted to the Regional Bureau of Health and Welfare.
Clinic Fields Compatible with Singapore Capital
The following clinic fields are particularly compatible with Singapore capital and high-net-worth overseas patients.
| Field | Features |
|---|---|
| Aesthetic dermatology | Lasers, skin management, injection treatments, and anti-aging treatments are highly compatible with private medical services. |
| Cosmetic surgery | Double-eyelid surgery, rhinoplasty, liposuction, facelifts, and other procedures can generate high unit prices. |
| Regenerative medicine and anti-aging | PRP, stem cell-related treatments, exosome-related treatments, and beauty IV therapy are attractive to high-net-worth patients. |
| AGA and hair loss treatment | Suitable for recurring revenue models and compatible with online consultations and subscription medication delivery. |
| Dental and aesthetic dentistry | Whitening, implants, orthodontics, and ceramic treatments can be developed as high-value private dental services. |
Patient Acquisition Strategy for Singapore and Overseas Patients
When Singapore doctors and investors open a beauty clinic in Japan, it is important to design the clinic not only for Japanese patients, but also for patients from Singapore and Southeast Asia.
| Patient Acquisition Strategy | Details |
|---|---|
| English website | Create English pages that Singapore patients can easily understand. |
| Chinese website | Consider Chinese-language support for Singaporean Chinese patients and other Chinese-speaking patients. |
| SEO strategy | Target search intent such as “Japan beauty clinic,” “cosmetic surgery Japan,” and “Japanese dermatology clinic.” |
| MEO strategy | Optimize Google Maps information so that English and Chinese-speaking users can find the clinic easily. |
| Social media operation | Use Instagram, TikTok, YouTube Shorts, Xiaohongshu, and other platforms to communicate treatment cases, clinic atmosphere, and doctor credibility. |
| Medical tourism flow | Prepare travel-related patient flow including hotels, interpretation, airport access, and postoperative follow-up. |
| LINE and WhatsApp support | Build chat-based inquiry systems that overseas patients can use easily. |
| Medical advertising compliance | Even for overseas-facing advertising, confirm whether the content is appropriate as advertising by a Japanese medical institution. |
For beauty clinics, it is important to prepare not only the opening procedures but also the post-opening patient acquisition model.
Services Our Office Can Provide
Kamiyu Administrative Scrivener Office supports Singapore doctors, investors, medical corporations, and healthcare companies that wish to open beauty clinics and other medical institutions in Japan.
| Service | Details |
|---|---|
| Clinic establishment structure planning in Japan | We review the most suitable structure, including individual doctor clinic, medical corporation, general incorporated association, M&A, and branch expansion. |
| Prior consultation with public health centers | We assist with public health center discussions by organizing floor plans, room areas, medical departments, clinic administrator information, and staff structure. |
| Clinic establishment permit application | We support preparation of clinic establishment permit applications and related attachments under Japanese medical law. |
| Medical corporation M&A and clinic M&A support | We support seller opportunity introductions, succession structure planning, and administrative procedures for medical corporation and clinic M&A. |
| Medical corporation officer changes and articles amendments | We support changes of members, directors, representative director, auditors, and articles amendment approval procedures. |
| Insurance medical institution designation application | We support procedures with the Regional Bureau of Health and Welfare when insurance-covered medical services are provided. |
| Branch clinic establishment support | We support articles amendment, public health center procedures, and Regional Bureau of Health and Welfare procedures for branch clinic establishment. |
| Inbound medical business consultation | We provide consultation on English and Chinese support, medical tourism, and overseas patient flow. |
| Medical advertising regulation check | We review websites, landing pages, social media, and advertising expressions for compliance with Japan’s medical advertising guidelines. |
Our office can support not only clinic establishment permit applications, but also the entire Japan-entry structure for Singapore doctors and investors, including medical corporation M&A, seller opportunity introductions, and procedures with public health centers and the Regional Bureau of Health and Welfare.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Can a Singapore-licensed doctor provide beauty medical treatment in Japan?
As a general rule, a person must hold a Japanese medical license in order to practice medicine in Japan.
A Singapore medical license alone does not allow a doctor to freely provide medical treatment in Japan.
However, it may be possible to structure a model where a Japanese doctor serves as the clinic administrator, while the Singapore side participates in management, branding, investment, and overseas patient acquisition.
Q2. Can a Singapore investor acquire a Japanese medical corporation?
A Japanese medical corporation is different from an ordinary company and cannot be acquired simply by purchasing shares.
In medical corporation M&A, effective management succession is achieved by properly organizing members, directors, the representative director, fund contribution refund claims, articles of incorporation, and administrative procedures.
When foreign individuals or foreign corporations are involved, careful structuring is required from the perspectives of medical law, taxation, visa status, source of funds, and non-profit nature.
Q3. Is it better to establish a new beauty clinic or acquire an existing clinic through M&A?
If the goal is to enter the Japanese market quickly, M&A can be a strong option.
This is because existing patients, staff, facilities, property, reviews, and operating history may be utilized.
On the other hand, if the investor places priority on an original brand, luxury interior design, or a special clinic concept for Singapore high-net-worth patients, new clinic establishment may be more suitable.
The best method depends on budget, location, treatment menu, doctor structure, and investment recovery model.
Q4. How long does it take to open a beauty clinic in Japan?
For a new clinic, it often takes several months or more from property selection to opening.
For M&A, the timeline depends on the condition of the target clinic, administrative procedures, whether doctors and staff will remain, and the contents of the agreements.
If medical corporation officer changes, articles amendments, branch establishment, or insurance medical institution designation are involved, additional scheduling will be required.
Q5. Is it possible to send patients from Singapore to a beauty clinic in Japan?
Yes, it is possible.
However, medical advertising regulations, personal information protection, interpretation systems, postoperative follow-up, travel-related legal issues, referral agreements, and overseas advertising expressions must be carefully reviewed.
Beauty medicine can involve disputes and complications, so it is important to prepare proper agreements, consent forms, explanation documents, and postoperative response procedures.
Q6. If we use medical corporation M&A, can we always open a clinic smoothly in Japan?
Not necessarily.
The difficulty depends on the condition of the medical corporation or clinic, administrative procedures, whether the clinic administrator can continue, lease agreements, staff employment continuity, patient succession, and medical advertising risks.
However, if a suitable opportunity is selected and the administrative procedures are properly organized, M&A may allow smoother market entry compared with establishing a clinic from scratch.
Conclusion: For Singapore Doctors and Investors, M&A Can Be a Powerful Strategy for Opening a Beauty Clinic in Japan
When Singapore doctors and investors open a beauty clinic or other clinic in Japan, it is not enough simply to establish a company.
Japan requires accurate understanding of the Medical Care Act, the Medical Practitioners’ Act, clinic establishment permits, medical corporation systems, public health center procedures, Regional Bureau of Health and Welfare procedures, medical advertising regulations, and visa matters.
In particular, if a Singapore doctor wishes to personally provide medical treatment in Japan, a Japanese medical license is generally required.
On the other hand, it is fully possible for Singapore doctors and investors to enter Japan’s beauty medical market by working with Japanese doctors and Japanese medical corporations, while contributing capital, branding, overseas patient flow, and management expertise.
Our office can support not only new medical institution establishment, but also introductions of seller-side medical corporations and clinics for M&A.
By acquiring or taking over an existing medical corporation or clinic, Singapore investors may be able to open and operate a clinic in Japan more smoothly than starting from zero.
If you are a Singapore doctor or investor considering opening a beauty clinic, aesthetic dermatology clinic, regenerative medicine clinic, private medical clinic, dental clinic, or aesthetic dental clinic in Japan, we recommend consulting with a professional at an early stage.
Support from Kamiyu Administrative Scrivener Office
Kamiyu Administrative Scrivener Office specializes in medical institution establishment procedures, medical corporation establishment, medical corporation M&A, clinic establishment permit applications, insurance medical institution designation applications, branch clinic openings, and clinic establishment by general incorporated associations.
For Singapore doctors and investors seeking to open beauty clinics in Japan, we provide comprehensive support, including structure planning, administrative procedures, M&A opportunity introductions, and communication with public health centers and Regional Bureaus of Health and Welfare.
If you wish to open a beauty clinic in Japan or acquire a medical corporation or clinic through M&A, please feel free to contact us.
