Complete Guide To Travel Insurance For Japan (2024)

While travel insurance isn’t compulsory when visiting Japan, it’s well worth considering.

Should you fall ill or get injured while away, emergency treatment could easily cost into the thousands of dollars, and without suitable cover in place you would be expected to pay these costs upfront.

Insurers often offer a range of policies, from basic to comprehensive cover. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) particularly advises taking out a comprehensive policy.

Related: Our Pick Of The Best Comprehensive Travel Insurance Providers In Australia

A comprehensive policy can cover emergency treatment, and medical evacuation, if you find yourself injured and stranded. It can also cover repatriation, to get you back home in severe cases.

It should also pay out for the loss or theft of your luggage, and the cancellation of your trip, if an emergency—such as a bereavement or falling ill—prevents you from going away.

While an insurer’s more basic policies often offer the above, their comprehensive policies will provide their broadest range of cover, and often higher cover limits.

Other benefits can include cover for:

• Personal money: the amount that can be claimed if your money is lost or stolen or you are the victim of credit card fraud.
• Missed departure: covers the cost of additional accommodation and travel should an emergency cause the policyholder to miss their journey.
• Travel delay: pays out if your scheduled transport is late by typically a least 12 hours
• Company insolvency: compensates you if your airline or hotel goes bust
• Lost luggage: pays out if your luggage is lost, delayed or stolen.

Policies can differ greatly in what they offer, so it’s important to look through the fine print for details of the exact cover included by reading the provider’s product disclosure statement (PDS) to find out about any limitations or restrictions that may apply.

In terms of cost, you can find out how to lower your travel insurance premiums in our guide to cheap travel insurance.

Mountain climbing, scuba diving, playing baseball, and snow skiing are some of the most popular activities for visitors seeking an action-packed holiday in Japan. If you’re planning to take part in sports and activities while away, it’s important to check your policy covers them.

Most insurers cover 50 to 100 low-risk sports and activities as standard, but offer optional cover for those they deem high-risk for an additional premium.

One insurer’s definition of ‘high–risk’ is often different to another’s. However, all information on the sports and activities a policy covers automatically, and at an extra cost, can be found in the fine print.

Most insurers also offer protection for snow sports as an optional extra. This covers lost or stolen equipment, piste closure and avalanche or landslide disruption, among other benefits.

When taking out travel insurance for Japan, it helps to know if you’ll only go on one holiday in the next 12 months, or if you plan to travel again, to Japan or elsewhere.

This is because there are three main types of travel insurance for Japan:

• Single trip: designed for a one-off trip.
• Annual multi-trip: for two or more trips to Japan and other destinations, should you choose.
• Backpacker: covers extended trips that will last up to 12 or 18 months or even 24 months if the insurer allows.

An annual multi-trip policy can work out cheaper than purchasing individual policies for each trip you take, and usually requires less paperwork. This type of policy often covers a section of the world rather than a specific destination, as is typical of single trip insurance.

If there’s no option to choose cover for Japan, the insurer may offer cover Asia as a whole, worldwide destinations excluding the US and other nearby territories, or worldwide cover that includes the US and other nearby territories.

The latter is often the most expensive type of cover, reflecting the higher medical and liability costs in North America and countries close by, compared to other parts of the world.

Check the DFAT’s advice

DFAT publishes up-to-date information on travel risks in certain countries and regions of countries, on its Smarttraveller website. This includes terrorism threats and natural disasters.

It is particularly important to know if DFAT advises not to travel to your destination, as travelling against its advice could invalidate your policy.

Make Sure Your Passport Is Valid

As with some other countries, you may be refused entry to Japan if your passport expires within six months of your arrival date.

On landing, your photograph and fingerprint may be taken electronically, and immigration may deny your entry should you refuse to comply.

Stay Up To Date with Vaccinations

Check which vaccinations you may need before travelling, with your doctor. The US-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends all visitors take vaccinations for the following before travelling to Japan:

• Chickenpox (Varicella)
• Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis
• Flu (influenza)
• Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR)
• Polio
• Shingles

Have the Right Currency

The Japanese currency is the Yen (JPY). While you can take any currency into the country, you’ll have to declare, when arriving and leaving, any amount over JPY 1 million, or equivalent. This is $10,257 dollars.

Know the Rules for Driving in Japan

You can drive up to a year with an Australian driving licence and International Driving Permit. If you intend to drive in Japan beyond 12 months, you will need a Japanese driving licence.

Emergency Services

The emergency number for the medical, fire and rescue services in Japan is 119. For the police, it’s 110. If you’re in Tokyo, you can also call 35010110 for English-speaking police.