27 programmes and training pathways found from official sources. Confirm current availability, licensing, and operating privileges directly with each institution.
This summary describes the profiles indexed here; it is not a count of vacancies.
Read the individual participation terms: a broad clinical pathway label does not establish hands-on access.
6 focus areas are represented. Compare the curriculum and supervision within your intended subspecialty.
Cerebrovascular comparison guide →General & multi-subspecialty comparison guide →Paediatric neurosurgery comparison guide →Research & academic comparison guide →Ask the selected host in Japan whether your qualifications fit this specific post, which patient-care activities are permitted, and who arranges registration and immigration documentation. Country coverage does not imply that every profile accepts international applicants.
International application checklist →Before committing, request the current cohort dates, supervisor, expected weekly activities and a breakdown of support and costs. Confirm whether the official source describes this programme, an institution-wide policy or an older intake.
Compare your shortlisted profiles →Clinical · Research · Travelling fellowship · Directory pathways are represented. Country-level licensing, language and visa requirements are not inferred; confirm them with the host and the current national or regional regulator.
International applicant guide →Recorded information is not a guarantee of funding, eligibility or a currently open intake.
Funding: No scholarships or financial aid; residents and doctors pay a fee.
Exposure: Observation of neurosurgical operations, ward rounds and conferences in a department covering brain tumours, cerebrovascular disease, functional neurosurgery, spine and paediatric neurosurgery, with intraoperative MRI.
Eligibility: Applicants must be medical students (at least 4th year of a 5-6 year programme) or full-time residents/doctors; non-English-speaking countries must submit an English or Japanese proficiency test (from 1 Apr 2027: TOEFL 525, iBT 68, IELTS 5.5 or JLPT N3). Visa-exempt nationals follow Japan's short-term visa exemption rules; others apply at a Japanese embassy/consulate; doctors on a Working Holiday Programme are not eligible.
Still to confirm: Current status · Commencement · Medical registration · Examinations · Benefits · Programme director · Accreditation
Source: Official Juntendo University Clinical Observership page. Reviewed 17 Oct 2026. Status reflects the last review, not a live vacancy check. Completeness is not a quality rating.
Fujita Health University Banbuntane Hotokukai Hospital
Nagoya · Japan
Listed lead Professor Yoko Kato
Funding: The department states it provides a scholarship to fellows during their stay in Japan (amount not published) and an apartment near the hospital including electricity and water.
Exposure: Cerebrovascular surgery (aneurysm clipping, AVM surgery, microvascular decompression), endovascular diagnosis and treatment, glioma, degenerative and tumour spine surgery, trauma, normal pressure hydrocephalus and endoscope-assisted clot removal, with daily microvascular anastomosis practice, journal club and conferences.
Eligibility: Neurosurgeons from abroad are explicitly invited.
Still to confirm: Funding · Current status · Commencement · Deadline · Positions · Medical registration · Examinations · Language · Visa / work authorisation · Fees
Source: Official Fujita Health University Banbuntane Hotokukai Hospital neurosurgery page. Reviewed 8 Oct 2026. Status reflects the last review, not a live vacancy check. Completeness is not a quality rating.
Sapporo Teishinkai Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Stroke Center
Sapporo · Japan
Funding: No salary, travel, living expenses or other financial support is provided. Fees include ACT initial application JPY 30,000, revenue stamps JPY 15,300 per year and malpractice insurance JPY 40,660 per year.
Exposure: Training in the Department of Neurosurgery, Stroke Center with permission to perform medical procedures subject to Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare approval; the page lists personal anastomosis practice instruments among required items.
Eligibility: Open to foreign neurosurgeons; English proficiency (IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL iBT 80) for non-native applicants; stays over 90 days need a Certificate of Eligibility and long-term visa; ACT needs 3+ years as a doctor and Japanese MHLW permission for procedures
Still to confirm: Current status · Deadline · Positions · Participation level · Training level · Examinations · Benefits · Application documents · Programme director · Accreditation
Source: Official Sapporo Teishinkai Hospital observership and ACT page. Reviewed 15 Oct 2026. Status reflects the last review, not a live vacancy check. Completeness is not a quality rating.
Fukuoka · Japan
Funding: No supporting funds are available.
Exposure: Observation of procedures and surgeries, patient rounds and teaching conferences in the chosen department; Neurosurgery is among Kyushu University Hospital's clinical departments, though availability depends on each department.
Eligibility: Open to foreign medical staff with medical qualifications; medical students are not eligible.
Still to confirm: Current status · Commencement · Positions · Medical registration · Examinations · Benefits · Fees · Insurance · Accommodation · Programme director · Accreditation
Source: Official Kyushu University Hospital OVEX page. Reviewed 8 Oct 2026. Status reflects the last review, not a live vacancy check. Completeness is not a quality rating.
Sapporo Teishinkai Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Stroke Center
Sapporo · Japan
Funding: No observership fee; no salary, travel, living expenses or other financial support is provided. Accommodation is not provided.
Exposure: Observation of the neurosurgery team (Dr. Tanikawa's team) of the Department of Neurosurgery, Stroke Center; the page does not list subspecialty content for observers.
Eligibility: Programmes offered to foreign neurosurgeons; applicants whose first language is not English (or without study/work in an English-speaking country) must submit IELTS min 6.0 or TOEFL iBT min 80; ACT requires verified 3+ years' experience as a doctor.
Still to confirm: Current status · Commencement · Deadline · Positions · Participation level · Training level · Examinations · Benefits · Insurance · Programme director · Accreditation
Source: Official Sapporo Teishinkai Hospital observership page. Reviewed 15 Oct 2026. Status reflects the last review, not a live vacancy check. Completeness is not a quality rating.
Tokyo Women's Medical University Adachi Medical Center
Tokyo · Japan
Listed lead Yuichi Kubota (department head and documented fellowship supervisor); Mikhail Chernov (clinical and research teacher)
Funding: Stipend for daily expenses, funded by specific grants; travel to and from Tokyo not covered.
Exposure: Postgraduate neurosurgical training at a WFNS-listed Japanese centre; current scope, duration and vacancy must be confirmed through the official registry.
Eligibility: WFNS Foundation fellowship criteria (all WFNS training centres): completed medical degree (MD or equivalent), a commitment to return to the home country after training, and a recommendation signed by the home department head, dean or hospital director.
Still to confirm: Eligibility · Training exposure · Current status · Commencement · Medical registration · Examinations · Visa / work authorisation · Benefits · Fees · Insurance · Application documents · Accreditation
Source: Official WFNS training-centre register. Reviewed 13 Oct 2026. Status reflects the last review, not a live vacancy check. Completeness is not a quality rating.
Funabashi (Chiba) · Japan
Listed lead Isao Kitahara, MD, PhD (Deputy Director, Department of Neurosurgery)
Funding: Three meals and accommodation are provided and a monthly living stipend is paid; travel expenses are not covered.
Exposure: Observation of surgery for brain tumours, acoustic neuroma, trigeminal neuralgia, cerebral aneurysm and internal carotid stenosis, facility tours and clinical meetings, in a 391-bed hospital with 60 neurosurgical beds and TrueBeam STx radiosurgery.
Eligibility: WFNS Foundation fellowship criteria (all WFNS training centres): completed medical degree (MD or equivalent), a commitment to return to the home country after training, and a recommendation signed by the home department head, dean or hospital director.
Still to confirm: Current status · Commencement · Deadline · Positions · Training level · Medical registration · Examinations · Language · Benefits · Fees · Insurance · Accreditation
Source: Official WFNS training-centre profile. Reviewed 13 Oct 2026. Status reflects the last review, not a live vacancy check. Completeness is not a quality rating.
Hyogo · Japan
Listed lead Prof. Shinichi Yoshimura (Chairman, Department of Neurosurgery)
Funding: Travel expenses paid by fellows; free accommodation and three meals provided.
Exposure: Postgraduate neurosurgical training; the operative scope and level of participation must be confirmed directly.
Eligibility: WFNS Foundation fellowship criteria (all WFNS training centres): completed medical degree (MD or equivalent), a commitment to return to the home country after training, and a recommendation signed by the home department head, dean or hospital director.
Still to confirm: Eligibility · Training exposure · Current status · Commencement · Deadline · Training level · Medical registration · Examinations · Visa / work authorisation · Benefits · Fees · Insurance · Accreditation
Source: Official WFNS training-centre register. Reviewed 13 Oct 2026. Status reflects the last review, not a live vacancy check. Completeness is not a quality rating.
Fujita Health University Hospital
Toyoake (Aichi) · Japan
Listed lead Prof. Hirose, Chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery.
Funding: The official page does not publish departmental funding; one featured observer reports a one-year Takeda Science Foundation international grant.
Exposure: High neurosurgical volume including tumour, skull base, spine, cerebrovascular and paediatric cases with modern minimally invasive techniques.
Eligibility: International neurosurgeons have been hosted as observers and clinical fellows.
Still to confirm: Current status · Commencement · Deadline · Positions · Medical registration · Examinations · Language · Visa / work authorisation · Benefits · Fees · Insurance · Application route · Accreditation
Source: Official Fujita Health University Department of Neurosurgery page. Reviewed 13 Oct 2026. Status reflects the last review, not a live vacancy check. Completeness is not a quality rating.
National Hospital Organization Nagoya Medical Center
Nagoya · Japan
Funding: Accommodation is provided; meals and travel expenses are not covered. No stipend is published.
Exposure: Observation across cerebrovascular, endovascular, brain tumour, spine, trauma and functional surgery (deep brain stimulation and epilepsy surgery), case conferences, ward and neuro-intensive care rounds, at a 740-bed hospital performing more than 600 neurosurgical operations per year.
Eligibility: WFNS Foundation fellowship criteria (all WFNS training centres): completed medical degree (MD or equivalent), a commitment to return to the home country after training, and a recommendation signed by the home department head, dean or hospital director.
Still to confirm: Current status · Commencement · Deadline · Positions · Training level · Medical registration · Examinations · Language · Benefits · Fees · Insurance · Programme director · Accreditation
Source: Official WFNS training-centre profile. Reviewed 13 Oct 2026. Status reflects the last review, not a live vacancy check. Completeness is not a quality rating.
Tokyo · Japan
Listed lead WFNS names Kazunari Yoshida in its older centre profile; Keio's current institutional profile identifies Masahiro Toda as neurosurgery professor and clinical department head, not explicitly as this fellowship's director. Confirm the current fellowship lead
Funding: Unpaid visiting fellowship; travel expenses are borne by the candidate.
Exposure: Postgraduate neurosurgical training; the operative scope and level of participation must be confirmed directly.
Eligibility: WFNS Foundation fellowship criteria (all WFNS training centres): completed medical degree (MD or equivalent), a commitment to return to the home country after training, and a recommendation signed by the home department head, dean or hospital director.
Still to confirm: Eligibility · Training exposure · Current status · Commencement · Deadline · Positions · Training level · Medical registration · Language · Visa / work authorisation · Fees · Insurance · Programme director · Accreditation
Source: Official WFNS training-centre register. Reviewed 13 Oct 2026. Status reflects the last review, not a live vacancy check. Completeness is not a quality rating.
The University of Tokyo Hospital
Tokyo · Japan
Funding: The official page does not publish funding or salary details.
Exposure: Department-hosted observership or, under ministry-accredited Advanced Clinical Training, supervised hands-on training; the hospital's statistics list neurosurgery placements (observership and Advanced Clinical Training of 3 weeks to 8 months) between 2017 and 2019.
Eligibility: Foreign medical graduates may seek departmental and hospital-committee approval for observership. A separate ministry-accredited Advanced Clinical Training permit is needed for the programme's patient-care route without a Japanese medical licence.
Still to confirm: Duration · Current status · Commencement · Deadline · Positions · Training level · Examinations · Language · Visa / work authorisation · Fees · Application documents · Official contact · Programme director · Accreditation
Source: Official University of Tokyo Hospital education and training page. Reviewed 8 Oct 2026. Status reflects the last review, not a live vacancy check. Completeness is not a quality rating.
