Otsu Municipal Hospital will hold the "Summer Wakuwaku Hospital Experience & Exploration 2026" on Saturday, August 8, 2026. This event has been held annually since 2019, except during the pandemic, as part of our initiative to be an open and accessible hospital to the community. It has become a highly popular program, consistently receiving far more applications than the capacity.
[Web page] https://och.or.jp/about/event/
Passing our message to the next generation
We believe it is essential to communicate with children—the next generation—if we want our hospital to be truly regarded as an indispensable and valued institution in the community. The "Summer Wakuwaku Hospital Experience & Exploration" event was made possible by the collective hopes and aspirations of our staff who wish to be a workplace that children admire as a dream career and where they might one day want to work.
A highly popular event with over 400 applications
Last year's competition rate reached a record high of over 6 times the capacity!
The Summer Wakuwaku Hospital Experience & Exploration has been held since 2019 for elementary school students and their guardians, consistently attracting a large number of applicants.
Until two years ago, the capacity was limited to 50 pairs, but to allow more participants, we increased the capacity to 60 pairs starting last year.
Despite the increase, we received even more applications—last year saw a record high of 411 pairs applying, resulting in a competition rate exceeding 6 times.
The event also achieves high satisfaction, with over 90% of participants responding "satisfied" in last year's post-event survey.
Explore areas of the hospital normally off-limits
Surgery robot and endoscopy experience are especially popular
During the Wakuwaku Hospital Experience & Exploration, participants can explore areas of the hospital normally unseen by the public and experience various hospital jobs together with doctors and nurses.
In particular, the surgery robot (da Vinci) used in actual operations—offering a hands-on surgical experience in the operating room—and the endoscopy equipment used for stomach camera simulations are extremely popular among children.
Although operating surgical robots and endoscopy equipment can be difficult at first, doctors carefully demonstrate the process and provide detailed guidance when children operate the machines.
Because participants can explore restricted areas and operate rare medical equipment, not only children but also parents find the experience engaging and enjoyable.
Additional exciting experiences prepared for participants
New exploration spots planned for this year
This year, in addition to the popular endoscopy and surgical robot experiences, we are preparing new activities to make the Wakuwaku Hospital Experience & Exploration a memorable day for children.
Participation is free of charge, so interested individuals are encouraged to apply via the hospital's official website.
[Event Overview]
Event Name: Summer Wakuwaku Hospital Experience & Exploration 2026
Dates: Saturday, August 8, 2026, 13:00–16:30 (Registration from 12:30)
Venue: Otsu Municipal Hospital (9-9 Honmiya 2-chome, Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture)
Application Form: https://och.or.jp/about/event/eventform
Eligibility: Elementary school students and their guardians (2 people per pair)
Capacity: 60 pairs
Participation Fee: Free
Application Deadline: Tuesday, July 7, 2026
Notes: If applications exceed capacity, selection will be by lottery.
Applicants will be notified of the results by email by July 13.
One guardian must accompany each child.
About Otsu Municipal Hospital
[Hospital Overview]
Name: Otsu Municipal Hospital, Independent Administrative Corporation
Address: 9-9 Honmiya 2-chome, Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture
Licensed Beds: 377
Chairperson: Akihiro Kawachi
Hospital Director: Akihiko Hino
Website: https://och.or.jp/
FACT BOX
- Source: PR TIMES
- Category: Event