Headache from travel stress, jet lag, or something you've had for years?
Travel brings its own triggers — disrupted sleep, long flights, unfamiliar food, climate changes, and hours hunched over a phone with no idea where you are. If you have chronic tension headaches or migraines, the same triggers apply regardless of where you are. Japanese acupuncture addresses the underlying mechanisms, not just the symptom.
🏛️ In Japan, acupuncture is a nationally licensed profession. Practitioners must pass the Harikyu-shi (針灸師) national licensing exam — the same system that licenses doctors and nurses. Our clinic's acupuncturists hold these national licenses. This is fundamentally different from massage or spa services offered without medical training.
At Nagaoka Clinic, our licensed acupuncturists and director Taro Kawano (nationally licensed judo-therapist, 14+ years) work together to identify your headache type before any needles are placed — because tension headaches and migraines respond to different approaches.
3 scientific reasons acupuncture works for headaches
① Direct access to the suboccipital muscles (the tension headache core)
The most common driver of tension-type headache is chronic over-tension in the suboccipital muscles (a group of four small muscles at the base of the skull) and the upper trapezius. These are deep muscles that standard massage cannot fully reach. Acupuncture needles (0.16–0.25 mm, no cutting edge) penetrate directly to these tissues, releasing tightness and restoring blood flow around the occipital nerve pathways — breaking the cycle of compression that generates the familiar "band squeezing the head" sensation.
② Releasing the body's own pain-relief chemicals (β-endorphins)
Needle stimulation triggers the central nervous system to produce β-endorphins and serotonin — the body's natural pain modulators. β-endorphins have an analgesic effect comparable to morphine. Because serotonin dysregulation is implicated in migraine pathophysiology, this effect is relevant to both tension headache and migraine prevention. This is not placebo: the effect on endorphin release has been demonstrated in controlled settings.
③ Autonomic nervous system rebalancing (shared mechanism for both headache types)
Both tension headache and migraine are aggravated by sympathetic nervous system overactivation — stress, poor sleep, weather changes, travel fatigue. Acupuncture shifts the autonomic balance toward the parasympathetic state, reducing the baseline excitability that makes headaches easier to trigger. Key acupuncture points used for this include Baihui (GV20, top of the head), Fengchi (GB20, base of skull), and Neiguan (PC6, inner wrist).
Tension headache vs. migraine — different approaches
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Tension headache
Pressure or band around the head. Neck and shoulder tightness. Best candidate for acupuncture.
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Migraine
Throbbing on one side, nausea, light/sound sensitivity. Acupuncture works best between attacks (prevention).
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Medication overuse
Headache that worsens the more you take painkillers. Acupuncture can help manage pain while reducing medication reliance.
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Cervicogenic
Headache originating from neck joint or muscle problems. Combined acupuncture + manual therapy approach.
For tension headaches (most common travel headache)
Tension headaches respond most directly to acupuncture. We work on the suboccipital muscles, trapezius, and sternocleidomastoid — the muscles most affected by long periods of looking down at a screen or sleeping in a cramped position. Many people notice significant relief within the first session.
For migraines (prevention between attacks)
Acupuncture is most effective for migraine between attacks, as a preventive approach. During an acute migraine attack, stimulation can be difficult to tolerate. If you are mid-attack, rest and your usual medication first. When you feel ready, acupuncture focused on autonomic nervous system regulation may reduce the frequency and severity of future attacks. The Cochrane 2016 review found this effect equivalent to preventive medication.
How a session works at our clinic
1
Headache type assessment (English + translation app)
We ask about headache character (squeezing vs. throbbing), location, triggers, frequency, and medication history. We classify your headache type before deciding the needle approach.
2
Palpation — finding the tight muscles
We examine the suboccipital region, trapezius, and sternocleidomastoid for trigger points and compression. We also check neck posture (forward head position, straight neck) that contributes to tension headache.
3
Acupuncture treatment
For tension headaches: needles into suboccipital muscles, trapezius, Fengchi (GB20), Tianzhu (BL10). For migraine prevention: autonomic regulation points — Baihui (GV20), Neiguan (PC6), Hegu (LI4), Sanyinjiao (SP6). Stimulation level is adjusted throughout.
4
Manual therapy addition (if needed)
If neck joint alignment is contributing to cervicogenic headache, the director (judo-therapist) may combine Thompson technique or manual mobilisation. For acute nerve pain, highvolt electrotherapy may be added.
5
Self-care advice
Posture correction tips, sleep position advice, and trigger management — demonstrated by diagram and gesture. Language is not a barrier.
When to go to a hospital first
Acupuncture is appropriate for primary headaches (tension-type, migraine). The following are red flags that require emergency or specialist medical care before visiting a clinic like ours:
⚠️ Go to hospital immediately if your headache: came on suddenly and severely ("worst headache of my life" — possible subarachnoid haemorrhage) / is accompanied by fever and neck stiffness (possible meningitis) / is accompanied by weakness, slurred speech, or vision changes (possible stroke) / has been rapidly worsening over several weeks / is combined with eye pain and vision change (possible glaucoma).
If you have had imaging (MRI/CT) and were told "no structural findings," and your headaches recur — that is exactly the type of headache we can most help with.
Clinical evidence
① Linde K et al. — Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2016 · PMID: 27351677
Meta-analysis of 22 RCTs, 4,985 patients with episodic migraine. Acupuncture significantly reduced migraine attack frequency. The effect was comparable to preventive medication (propranolol, topiramate). The most widely cited Cochrane review on acupuncture for headache.
② Vickers AJ et al. — Arch Intern Med, 2012 · PMID: 22965186
Individual patient data meta-analysis of 29 RCTs, ~18,000 patients. For chronic headache and neck pain, acupuncture showed statistically significantly better outcomes than sham acupuncture (p<0.001). The largest individual-patient-data analysis in the acupuncture field.
③ Japanese Headache Society — Clinical Practice Guidelines 2021
More than 1 in 4 Japanese people experience chronic headaches. Migraine prevalence: ~8.4% of adults; tension-type headache: ~22% (Sakai et al., Cephalalgia 1997). Non-pharmacological options including acupuncture are listed in the guidelines as treatment options for recurrent headache.
We aim to support headache relief and reduce attack frequency. Individual results vary. This article is not a promise of cure or permanent resolution. If your headaches are severe or have new characteristics, see a doctor first.
Plans for International Visitors (tax included)
🩹 Pain Relief Session
¥10,000 / approx. 60 min
- Consultation & headache type assessment (translation app support)
- Acupuncture treatment by nationally licensed practitioner + medical devices
- Best for: tension headache, travel headache, first-time visitors
🪡 Premium Acupuncture Experience
¥15,000 / approx. 90 min
- Full consultation + traditional Japanese acupuncture & moxibustion (o-kyu)
- Performed by nationally licensed acupuncturists (Harikyu-shi)
- Best for: migraine prevention, full autonomic rebalancing, authentic experience
Fixed all-inclusive prices. No tipping in Japan. Payment: cash or credit card (VISA / Mastercard / JCB).
Japanese health insurance holders: your insurance applies as normal for eligible conditions — ask at reception.
Our phone line is Japanese-only. LINE or email is the most reliable way to communicate in English.
FAQ
Does acupuncture hurt? I already have a headache.
Japanese needles are extremely thin (0.16–0.25 mm, no cutting edge). For headache patients we are especially careful about stimulation level — we start gently and check your comfort at every step. Many people find the session itself calming. If you have an acute migraine attack right now, rest and take your usual medication first; come in when the acute phase has passed.
I take triptans / preventive migraine medication. Can I still receive acupuncture?
Yes. Acupuncture does not conflict with triptans or common preventive medications (propranolol, topiramate, amitriptyline). Please tell us what you are taking so we can tailor the session. Do not change or stop prescribed medication without consulting your prescribing doctor — we are not able to advise on medication changes.
How many sessions do I need?
For tension headaches in travellers, many people notice meaningful relief in a single session. For migraine prevention, research suggests a course of 6–12 sessions over 2–3 months for sustained effect. If you are visiting Fukuoka briefly, we will give you an honest assessment of what a single session can realistically do.
How do you handle the language barrier?
We use simple English and translation apps (Google Translate, ChatGPT). For booking and questions, LINE text is the most reliable — we reply in English. Email also works.
My headaches come with neck and shoulder pain. Does that change the treatment?
That is actually the most common pattern we see and one of the clearest indicators that acupuncture will be helpful. Neck and shoulder tension is a primary driver of tension-type headache. We treat the neck and shoulder muscles as part of the same headache circuit, not as a separate complaint.
Where is the clinic?
2-1-62-1F Hiikawa, Jonan-ku, Fukuoka 814-0153. Approximately 15 minutes by taxi from Tenjin or Hakata Station. Free parking available. See our
access page for the address in Japanese to show your taxi driver.
References
1. Linde K, Allais G, Brinkhaus B et al. "Acupuncture for the prevention of episodic migraine." Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016;6:CD001218. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27351677/
2. Vickers AJ et al. "Acupuncture for Chronic Pain: Individual Patient Data Meta-analysis." Arch Intern Med. 2012;172(19):1444-1453. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22965186/
3. Japanese Headache Society. "Clinical Practice Guidelines for Headache Disorders 2021." https://www.jhsnet.net/guideline.html