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UPDATED JUL 7, 2026💡 What to expect for employee benefits when you hire in Japan through Toku. Japanese employees are enrolled in the country's comprehensive statutory insurance schemes, receive a mandatory employer-paid annual health checkup, and can optionally be offered international supplemental health insurance.
At a Glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Statutory schemes | Health, long-term care (40+), pension, employment, and workers' accident insurance |
| Annual health checkup | Mandatory, employer-paid - from JPY 13,750 per person, billed to client |
| Partner clinic | Tokyo Midtown Clinic (bilingual) |
| Supplemental health | Remote Health by SafetyWing - optional add-on, 100% employer-funded |
Statutory Benefits
As the employer of record, Toku enrolls eligible employees in Japan's mandatory schemes:
- Health Insurance (Kenko Hoken): national medical coverage; employees typically co-pay ~30% of costs.
- Long-Term Care Insurance (Kaigo Hoken): generally from age 40.
- Pension Insurance (Kosei Nenkin): the public pension system.
- Employment Insurance (Koyo Hoken): unemployment and leave benefits.
- Workers' Accident Compensation (Rousai Hoken): work-related injury and illness. Employer and employee contributions for these flow through payroll automatically.
Mandatory Annual Health Checkup
Under Japan's Industrial Safety and Health Act, employers must provide and pay for an annual health checkup — it isn't covered by health insurance, so Toku covers the cost as EOR and adds it to your invoice. The standard statutory package at Toku's partner clinic (Tokyo Midtown Clinic, bilingual, English reports available) starts at JPY 13,750 per person and includes a general exam, urinalysis, chest X-ray, ECG, and blood test. Costs beyond the covered package and any follow-up treatment are paid by the employee. Alternative clinics can be coordinated via [email protected].
Optional Supplemental Health
Clients can choose to offer Remote Health by SafetyWing to their Japan team - it helps cover the ~30% out-of-pocket share under national insurance and adds English-speaking care, specialist consultations, and emergency/evacuation cover when traveling. It's 100% employer-funded and completely optional for employees. See the Global Remote Health guide for coverage details; pricing is shared on request.
Last verified July 2026. This guide is for general information and doesn't constitute legal or tax advice. Questions? Contact [email protected].