Showa University for International Students: Programs, Hospitals, Exchange, Costs & Campus Life

Thinking about studying health sciences in Japan? Showa Medical University (formerly Showa University) is a specialist private institution in Tokyo with four professional schools—Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, and Nursing & Rehabilitation Sciences—and a rare, fully residential first year near Mt. Fuji. Its eight affiliated hospitals, interprofessional training, and long-standing overseas partnerships make it a practical choice for hands‑on learners who want clinical exposure in a major global city. This guide walks you through fast facts, strengths, student life, climate, and career outcomes—using official sources where possible—so you can judge whether “Showa” fits your goals.

Quick‑Facts Table

Type	Private medical university (About (Official))
Total Students	3,789 (Undergrad 3,210; Graduate 565; Midwifery 14) — as of May 1, 2025 (Student Numbers PDF)
Campuses	Hatanodai (main), Senzoku, Yokohama, Fujiyoshida — details: Hatanodai / Senzoku / Yokohama / Fujiyoshida
Faculties / Schools	School of Medicine; School of Dentistry; School of Pharmacy; School of Nursing & Rehabilitation Sciences (Organization)
Tasse scolastiche	Exchange students: ¥0 (Application – Students); International fellows: ¥0 + stipend ¥100,000/month (up to 1 year) (Application – Fellows)
Gender Ratio	62% Female : 38% Male (THE 2025 profile)
Intl‑Student %	0% (degree‑seeking, THE dataset) (THE 2025 profile)
Students per Staff	≈ 1.43 : 1 (3,789 students ÷ 2,645 full‑time faculty; May 1, 2025) — sources: Students (PDF) & Full‑time Faculty (PDF). (THE lists 1.5.)

Campus Maps

Hatanodai Campus (Tokyo)

Address: 1-5-8 Hatanodai, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 142-8555, Japan

Senzoku Campus (Tokyo)

Address: 2-1-1 Kitasenzoku, Ota-ku, Tokyo 145-8515, Japan

Yokohama Campus (Kanagawa)

Address: 1865 Tokaichibacho, Midori-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa 226-8555, Japan

Fujiyoshida Campus (Yamanashi)

Address: 4562 Kamiyoshida, Fujiyoshida-shi, Yamanashi 403-0005, Japan

Mission, History & Founding Story

Showa Medical University’s founding idea is simple to say and hard to live: “Shisei Ikkan”—absolute sincerity and dedication to others. In the 1920s, founder Dr. Shusuke Kamijo believed Japan needed physicians trained not only in theory but also in practical skills and empathy. The university began in 1928 as Showa Medical College, expanded steadily, and in 1964 became “Showa University” as it added Pharmacy. In 2025, it returned to its medical roots in name—“Showa Medical University”—while keeping its comprehensive health‑sciences focus. Today, the four schools (Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Nursing & Rehabilitation Sciences) share a common culture: team medicine, clinical readiness, and service to the community. See the official pages for the full philosophy and timeline: Philosophy e Milestones.

A defining choice is the fully residential first year at Fujiyoshida, at the foot of Mt. Fuji. Students from all four schools live and study together, building communication and interprofessional understanding from day one—a deliberate design to prepare clinicians who collaborate effectively across disciplines. (Fujiyoshida Campus)

Key Strengths & Unique Features

Residential First Year at Mt. Fuji

Showa’s Fujiyoshida Campus houses all first‑year students from Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, and Nursing & Rehabilitation Sciences. The campus has dorms, labs, a library, sports facilities, and even a garden of pharmaceutical plants. The structure forces genuine interprofessional learning—students train and live together before branching into their school‑specific rotations in Tokyo and Yokohama.

Eight‑Hospital Teaching Network

Students rotate through a network of eight attached hospitals—ranging from the flagship University Hospital in Hatanodai to the Northern Yokohama Hospital and Koto Toyosu Hospital—plus a dental hospital and a preventive medicine center. Facilities include tertiary emergency care, pediatric and perinatal centers, rehabilitation, and more. Hospital profiles and bed counts are listed on Showa’s official page: Medical Care (Official). For a dedicated English overview of Koto Toyosu Hospital, see the hospital site’s About page.

Advanced Endoscopy & Simulation (SUITE)

Showa runs the International Training Center for Endoscopy and Endoscopic Surgery (SUITE), offering hands‑on programs in techniques such as EMR/ESD, magnifying endoscopy, and endocytoscopy. International doctors train here via accredited advanced clinical training pathways. See the center’s English pages: SUITE overview and Koto Toyosu Digestive Diseases Center’s Advanced Clinical Training Program.

Global Partnerships & Mobility

Showa maintains six university‑level sister schools and dozens of program‑level exchange partners across Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmacy. Examples include Cairo University, Kyung Hee University, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Portland State University, Queen Mary University of London, the University of Minnesota, the Medical University of Vienna, UCLA, and more. The official list (with dates) is here: International Exchange (Official list).

Flagship Faculties

School of Medicine

A century of clinical training with early, structured exposure to bedside learning across Showa’s hospital system. Overview and curriculum are introduced under Education: Medicine (Education).

School of Dentistry

Clinical training integrates tightly with the on‑site dental hospital at Senzoku. Campus details here: Senzoku Campus.

School of Pharmacy

Six‑year professional program with options for research and hospital pharmacy practicums. See the program portal: Pharmacy (Education).

Student Life for Internationals

Clubs & Circles

Beyond labs and wards, Showa’s campuses run events through the International Exchange Center (IEC): Japanese language classes, “International Chat Club,” welcome parties, and day trips around Tokyo to help you settle in and meet peers. (IEC Events)

Support Offices (Visa, Housing, Counselling)

IEC provides a practical Useful Information hub that covers resident registration, National Health Insurance, banking, SIMs/Wi‑Fi, and transport in Tokyo. Short‑term dorms near Hatanodai (“FLAG” and “Building No. 15”) are available to exchange students and fellows when space allows. (Housing)

Language Exchange & Buddy‑Style Programs

IEC’s chat clubs and partner events pair international visitors with Showa students for informal practice and cultural orientation—low‑pressure spaces to meet friends and learn everyday Japanese. See the event lineup: IEC Events.

Partner Institutions & Exchange Options

If you’re applying as an exchange student, you must be nominated by a Showa partner. The university‑level sister schools include Cairo University, Kyung Hee University, Claude Bernard University Lyon 1, Portland State University, University of Rome “Tor Vergata,” and Taipei Medical University. At the school level, partners span the U.S., Europe, and Asia (e.g., Tulane, University of Minnesota, UCLA, Medical University of Vienna, Queen Mary University of London). Full list and dates are maintained here: International Exchange. Application pages spell out nomination, timeline, fees (none), and housing: Exchange Students / International Fellows.

Local Climate & Lifestyle

Weather. Hatanodai and Senzoku (Tokyo) have hot, humid summers and cool, dry winters. Recent Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) monthly graphs for Tokyo show midsummer daytime highs often in the low‑to‑mid 30s °C and winter daytime highs around 9‑11 °C with near‑freezing nights. You can browse month‑by‑month recent charts here (Tokyo station code 47662): August 2024 (JMA Aug 2024), January 2024 (JMA Jan 2024), April 2024 (JMA Apr 2024), and late‑autumn November 2023 (JMA Nov 2023).

Safety. Japan’s national police publish English summaries of crime statistics; Japan remains a comparatively safe study destination. See the National Police Agency’s English portal and reports: NPA Statistics (EN) e Crime Situation (latest EN report).

Cost of living. Japan’s official Study in Japan site gives realistic budgets by city. Expect higher rents in Tokyo (example: national average ~¥41,000/month vs. Tokyo ~¥57,000/month). See the details: Living Costs and Expenses.

International Student Statistics

THE’s 2025 profile lists a 0% international‑student share for degree‑seeking enrollment, reflecting Showa’s domestic focus and the nature of Japanese professional programs (THE 2025). However, Showa hosts short‑term inbound exchange visitors each year—around 20 students—through program agreements (Student Exchange). If you’re coming as an exchange student or a one‑year international fellow, application and nomination details are on the official pages above.

Career & Graduate Prospects

Showa graduates benefit from an unusually integrated teaching‑hospital network across Tokyo and Yokohama. For clinicians, that means clerkships and post‑graduate training in settings from high‑acuity emergency centers to specialized digestive disease, perinatal, psychiatric, and dental care. Typical employers include Showa’s own hospitals (University Hospital, Northern Yokohama, Koto Toyosu, Fujigaoka, Fujigaoka Rehabilitation, Karasuyama) and other public/private institutions in the capital region. Explore the hospital network here: Medical Care (Official). For research‑leaning students and fellows, you can browse outputs and collaborations via Nature Index: Showa Medical University – Nature Index.