Shingles Vaccine Subsidies in 5 Tokyo Wards: Free in Adachi, First Dose of the Recombinant Vaccine by Jan 31

This page is general information from ward and Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare pages about the shingles vaccine subsidy. It is not medical advice. For your own case, ask the health department of the ward where you live, or your doctor.

The shingles vaccine became a routine (publicly subsidized) vaccination in fiscal year 2025, and people in the eligible age groups can get it with a subsidy from the ward where they live. In five of Tokyo’s most populous wards (Setagaya, Nerima, Ota, Edogawa and Adachi), the FY2026 out-of-pocket cost for routine vaccination is free in Adachi. In the other four wards it is ¥4,000 for the live vaccine and ¥10,000 or ¥11,000 per dose for the recombinant vaccine. The recombinant vaccine takes 2 doses, so you must get the first dose by January 31, 2027 to finish before the March 31 deadline.

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1. Out-of-pocket cost in the 5 wards, in one table

The routine vaccination period is April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027 in all five wards. At the clinic you pay nothing in Adachi, and in the other four wards ¥4,000 for the live vaccine or ¥10,000–¥11,000 per dose for the recombinant vaccine. People receiving public assistance (seikatsu hogo) pay nothing in all four of the other wards. A vaccination after the period, or for someone outside the eligible ages, is voluntary vaccination and is paid in full.

For two doses of the recombinant vaccine, you pay ¥20,000 in Setagaya, ¥22,000 in Nerima, Ota and Edogawa, and ¥0 in Adachi (our calculation from the per-dose amount). You use one type of vaccine only. After one dose of the recombinant vaccine you cannot switch to the live vaccine (Adachi’s guidance).

2. Who is eligible: birth dates for FY2026

For FY2026, eligible people are those born between April 2, 1961 and April 1, 1962 (age 65), and, under a transitional measure, those who turn 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95 or 100. The transitional measure runs for 5 years, from FY2025 to FY2029, and covers people who reach those ages in each fiscal year.

By birth date: age 70 means April 2, 1956 to April 1, 1957; 75 means April 2, 1951 to April 1, 1952; 80 means April 2, 1946 to April 1, 1947; 85 means April 2, 1941 to April 1, 1942; 90 means April 2, 1936 to April 1, 1937; 95 means April 2, 1931 to April 1, 1932; and 100 means April 2, 1926 to April 1, 1927 (from the quick-reference tables of Nerima and Edogawa). According to Setagaya, eligible people can be vaccinated from April 1 without waiting for their birthday.

People aged 60–64 on the day of vaccination who have a severe immune disability due to HIV (equivalent to Grade 1 on the physical disability certificate) are also eligible. In Setagaya and Edogawa they must apply for the questionnaire form. In every ward, eligibility does not come around every 5 years: if you do not get vaccinated in your year, there is no next chance. People who have had a shingles vaccine before are generally not eligible, but in some wards (Setagaya, Edogawa, Adachi) a person who has had only the first recombinant dose can get the second as a routine vaccination. The national overview is on the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare page. Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare: shingles vaccine (Japanese)

3. Setagaya: live ¥4,000, recombinant ¥10,000, with some subsidy for ages 18–49

In Setagaya you pay ¥4,000 for the live vaccine and ¥10,000 per dose of the recombinant vaccine, from Wednesday, April 1, 2026 to Wednesday, March 31, 2027. If you choose the recombinant vaccine, the first dose must be by January 31, or the second dose is no longer covered as a routine vaccination. Questionnaire forms were mailed to eligible people on March 25, 2026. If you lost yours, apply online or through the Setagaya Vaccination Call Center (03-5432-2437). The call center does not take vaccination appointments.

You can be vaccinated at designated clinics in Setagaya, and also at designated clinics in the other 22 wards of Tokyo, using the Setagaya form. Bring the questionnaire form and ID. If you cannot go to a designated clinic (for example, you are in hospital or in a care facility), apply at least 2 weeks before the planned date, and the subsidy can apply at a non-designated clinic.

Setagaya also continues to subsidize voluntary vaccination for people aged 50 and over who are not eligible for the routine vaccine, and for people aged 18–49 at higher risk, such as those with weakened immunity from illness or treatment. The subsidy amount is ¥4,000 for the live vaccine and ¥11,000 per dose for the recombinant vaccine, until March 31, 2027. Vouchers are available at designated clinics in the ward, with no application to the ward (people up to age 49 can have the recombinant vaccine only). Setagaya: shingles vaccination (Japanese)

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4. Nerima: live ¥4,000, recombinant ¥11,000, and no vaccination without the questionnaire form

In Nerima you pay ¥4,000 for the live vaccine and ¥11,000 per dose of the recombinant vaccine, and the deadline is March 31, 2027. The ward recommends getting vaccinated early, because appointments may be hard to get near the end of the fiscal year. There is no refund system.

You can be vaccinated at cooperating clinics in Nerima, in the other 22 wards, and in Nishi-Tokyo City. You must bring 2 things: the “[Routine] Shingles Vaccination Questionnaire” and a document showing your name, address and date of birth (such as a My Number card). Without the form you cannot get the subsidy. If you moved within the ward, ask for a new form for your new address. Forms are issued through an online application form.

Nerima’s subsidy for voluntary vaccination for ages 50–64 ended on March 31, 2026. For questions, call the Vaccination Section, Disease Prevention Division, Health Department (03-5984-2484). Nerima: routine shingles vaccination (Japanese)

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5. Ota: live ¥4,000, recombinant ¥11,000, with a voluntary subsidy for ages 50 and over

In Ota you pay ¥4,000 for the live vaccine (Biken) and ¥11,000 per dose of the recombinant vaccine (Shingrix), from April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027. Questionnaire forms were mailed to eligible people in late March 2026. If you moved in or lost yours, apply by electronic application, and it arrives about 7–10 days after you receive the confirmation email. If you are in a hurry, contact the Infectious Disease Control Division (03-4446-2643).

You can be vaccinated at cooperating clinics in Ota or in the other 22 wards. Check with the clinic that the Ota form can be used before you book. People who are vaccinated outside the 23 wards because they are in hospital or a facility can have it treated as a routine vaccination if they get a vaccination request form beforehand.

Voluntary vaccination is for people aged 50 and over who live in Ota on the day of vaccination and are not eligible for the routine vaccine. The subsidy amount is ¥4,000 for the live vaccine and ¥11,000 per dose for the recombinant vaccine (up to 2 doses), until March 31, 2027. The questionnaire and application form is available at cooperating clinics in the ward; the ward does not mail it. The subsidy applies only at cooperating clinics in Ota, and there is no later refund. Ota: shingles vaccination (routine and voluntary) (Japanese)

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6. Edogawa: live ¥4,000, recombinant ¥11,000, and the same cost for ages 50–64

In Edogawa you pay ¥4,000 for the live vaccine and ¥11,000 per dose of the recombinant vaccine (up to 2 doses), and the ward advises getting the first recombinant dose by January 31, 2027. If the second dose falls on April 1, 2027 or later, it is not subsidized and you pay in full. Questionnaire forms were mailed at the end of March 2026. If you lost yours or moved in, apply by electronic application or by phone to the General Affairs Section, Disease Prevention Division (03-5661-5209).

You can be vaccinated at designated clinics in Edogawa and in the other 22 wards. People receiving public assistance or support benefits for Japanese returnees from China get a form with a ¥0 co-payment. If you receive a form that is not ¥0, contact the same section. There is no refund system.

Edogawa also subsidizes voluntary vaccination for people aged 50 to 64 (born April 2, 1962 or later), so that you pay ¥4,000 for the live vaccine and ¥11,000 per dose for the recombinant vaccine. The period runs until March 31, 2027. No application to the ward is needed: use the questionnaire form at designated clinics in Edogawa. The subsidy is not available at clinics outside the ward. The subsidy for voluntary vaccination for people aged 65 and over ended on March 31, 2026. Edogawa: partial subsidy for shingles vaccination (Japanese)

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7. Adachi: free routine vaccination, plus the ward’s own subsidy for ages 50–64

In Adachi, eligible people get both the live and the recombinant vaccine free of charge. The period is April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027, and questionnaire forms were mailed on March 26, 2026. People who moved in on or after January 7, 2026 need to apply; you can pick up the form on the spot at the Disease Prevention Division on the 2nd floor of the south wing of the ward office or at the health centers. By phone, call Otoiawase Call Adachi (03-3880-0039, 8:00–20:00); delivery by mail takes about 1 week to 10 days. Routine vaccination is available at designated clinics in the 23 wards.

For people aged 50 to 64, the ward subsidizes part of the cost of voluntary vaccination. The subsidy is ¥5,000 for the live vaccine and ¥10,000 per dose for the recombinant vaccine (2 doses), and you pay the remainder after subtracting this amount from the clinic’s fee. You must get a questionnaire form from the ward beforehand; applying after vaccination is not possible. Online and phone applications close in mid-March to match the form’s March 31 deadline. You can use it only at designated clinics in Adachi.

Adachi warns that, whether routine or voluntary, the subsidy can be used only once in a lifetime, and people who have already had the voluntary vaccine can no longer receive the routine one later. For questions, call the Vaccination Section, Disease Prevention Division (03-3880-5094). Adachi: subsidy for shingles vaccination (Japanese)

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8. Things to know when choosing in Tokyo

In Tokyo’s 23 wards, the cost and the handling of voluntary vaccination differ even between neighboring wards.

• Routine vaccination in all five wards can also be received at designated clinics in the other 22 wards. If you want to be vaccinated near your workplace, check that the clinic is designated in the ward where it is located before you book. Nerima’s form also works in Nishi-Tokyo City.
• For voluntary vaccination, many wards (Ota, Edogawa, Adachi) subsidize only vaccinations at clinics inside the ward, so the range of clinics differs from routine vaccination.
• Even among the 23 wards, the burden varies: Adachi is free, the recombinant vaccine is ¥10,000 per dose in Setagaya, and ¥11,000 in the other three. If you move, the system of the ward where you are registered on the day of vaccination applies (Nerima says you pay in full from the day you move out).
• Subsidies for voluntary vaccination for ages 50–64 ended in Nerima in March 2026, and Edogawa ended the one for ages 65 and over. In the wards where they continue, the deadline is March 31, 2027.
• Nerima says appointments may be hard to get near the end of the fiscal year. The recombinant vaccine is given in 2 doses at least 2 months apart, so book early, counting back from the January 31 target.

9. Choosing a vaccine: talk to a doctor

The live vaccine is given once under the skin. The recombinant vaccine is given twice into the muscle, normally 2 months apart. If more than 2 months have passed since the first dose, get the second dose within 6 months. People whose immunity is or may be weakened by illness or treatment can have the interval shortened to 1 month if a doctor judges it necessary. People whose immunity is weakened by illness or treatment, and pregnant people, cannot have the live vaccine.

The wards and the Ministry say the two vaccines differ in number of doses, method, effect and how long it lasts, and side effects, and advise you to check these and talk to a doctor before choosing. Ota says the ward does not answer questions about which is better, and asks you to decide with the doctor who vaccinates you. If you are being treated for a heart, kidney, liver or blood disease, had a fever or rash within 2 days after a previous vaccination, or have had convulsions, talk to a doctor beforehand. Vaccination is something you choose to receive; it is not compulsory (Edogawa).

To find out whether you are eligible and which clinics you can use, ask the office of the ward where you live.

Sources

7 pages we checkedShow

• Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare: shingles vaccine
• Setagaya: shingles vaccination
• Nerima: routine shingles vaccination
• Ota: shingles vaccination (routine and voluntary)
• Edogawa: partial subsidy for shingles vaccination
• Adachi: subsidy for shingles vaccination
• Japanese version of this page (日本語版)

Checked with official pages on October 27, 2026 (Japan time).