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Home » Asia » Japan » Guide To Japan Travel Insurance – ALL You Need To Know

Guide To Japan Travel Insurance – ALL You Need To Know

So, you’re headed to the Land of the Rising Sun? Great choice!

Japan is a MESMERISING blend of traditional culture and cutting-edge modernity. With its serene temples, bustling cities, iconic Mount Fuji, and cherry blossom festivals, there’s no place quite like it anywhere on earth.

And let’s not forget the delectable sushi, ramen, and sake that awaits every food enthusiast. Sounds delightful, right?

But, while Japan is known for its impeccable public manners and one of the world’s lowest crime rates, why take a risk when it comes to unforeseen mishaps?

Here, we’ll discuss everything you need to know about travel insurance for Japan , ensuring you’re covered for every adventure in this beautiful nation.

By the end of this post, we will answer all of your Japan travel insurance questions.

Do I Need Travel Insurance For Japan?

What should travel insurance in japan cover, what else should japan travel insurance cover, what is the best japan travel insurance, how to choose the right japan travel insurance for you, final thoughts on japan travel insurance.

Japan is largely seen as a very safe country. Its cities are clean, and crime rates are significantly lower compared to global averages. But, as with any travel, unexpected events like natural calamities, health issues, or even simple travel inconveniences can arise. Japan is also known for its typhoons and earthquakes as well as a fee nasty tropical diseases.

While Japan doesn’t specifically mandate travel insurance for short-term tourists, considering the high cost of medical care inside the country, it’s highly advisable to have insurance coverage during your stay.

In essence, if you’re backpacking around Japan , having the best travel insurance for Japan ensures peace of mind, allowing you to immerse in the culture worry-free.

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Healthcare in Japan

The Japanese healthcare system is top-notch, with some of the world’s most advanced medical technologies and practices. Both public and private healthcare facilities maintain high standards, and English-speaking medical staff are available in urban areas.

However, medical treatment in Japan can be hazardously expensive for tourists. A simple doctor’s visit can range from ¥5,000 to ¥10,000 ($50 – $75). Hospitalization and surgeries can run into several thousand dollars.

For tourists, it’s essential to have travel insurance that covers any potential medical expenses, allowing you to access the best healthcare services without burning a hole in your pocket.

Crime in Japan

Japan boasts some of the lowest crime rates globally. Violent crimes are rare, and streets are safe, even late at night. My friend even left an expensive jacket on a park bench only to find it still there several hours later.

However, like any other tourist destination, petty crimes like pickpocketing in crowded places or thefts can occur sometimes.

While Japan is quite safe , having travel insurance that covers loss of valuables can be a lifesaver, ensuring that lost items don’t ruin your trip.

Issues Facing Travellers in Japan

While Japan offers an impeccable travel experience, there are issues tourists should be aware of:

• Natural Disasters : Japan is prone to earthquakes, tsunamis, and typhoons. These can lead to travel disruptions.
• Language Barrier : Despite the prevalence of English, language can still be a barrier, especially in rural areas. This can make navigating medical emergencies tricky.
• Lost Passports or Valuables : While rare, losing essential documents can be a hassle.

Popular Activities in Japan and Their Associated Risks

Temple Hopping : Touring ancient temples and shrines is my favourite activity. However, some are located on hills or require extensive walking.

This is a relatively sage activity unless you anger one of the gods! Then you need to be mindful of accidents due to falls, especially in crowded places or during festivals.

Skiing and Snowboarding : Areas like Hokkaido are popular for winter sports so Skiing-related injuries do occur every season. Note that not all insurance policies cover winter sports, so checking beforehand is essential.

City Exploration : Roaming cities like Tokyo and Osaka, using their intricate metro systems. Crowded trains can be overwhelming, leading to stress, or loss of belongings.

Things go wrong on the road ALL THE TIME. Be prepared for what life throws at you.

Buy an AMK Travel Medical Kit before you head out on your next adventure – don’t be daft!

From what we’ve observed, the majority of travel insurance policies in Japan typically encompass the following:

• Emergency Medical Treatment for Accidents & Illnesses
• Personal Belongings and Luggage Coverage

Emergency Evacuation and Repatriation

Non-medical emergency evacuation.

• Coverage for Trip Cancellation
• Protection for Trip Interruption

We believe these elements are pivotal when comparing insurance options. However, we won’t delve into the details of each aspect here.

Emergency Accident & Sickness Medical Expenses

Emergency Medical costs are perhaps the single most important aspects of any travel insurance policy. If you have an accident or become seriously ill with a tropical illness, you may want to rest easy knowing that the medical costs and Doctors bills will be taken care of.

Many of you out there have probably never actually seen a medical bill. However, we have seen too many for our liking and believe us, they can get very expensive very quickly.

A friend of mine was once charged $10,000 for a leg infection in Costa Rica. Even 2 days in a Thai hospital cost him nearly $2,000.00! Thankfully he was insured on both occasions.

Pre-existing medical and health conditions may not be covered under this or they may be covered for an additional premium. Ideally, Emergency Accident & Sickness Medical insurance should offer at least $100,000.00 of coverage but some run into the millions. If you are visiting Japan, then do have a serious think about this.

Baggage and Personal Property

Coverage for luggage and personal belongings safeguards the worth of your bags and their contents. It’s most frequently utilized for misplaced luggage (and lost luggage was at all time high last year).

Many policies further extend this protection to include theft that occurs at your destination, which is especially valuable if you’re unfortunate enough to be robbed during your trip.

The coverage limits can differ across policies. Yet, it’s uncommon for the maximum coverage to surpass $1000, with individual item limits usually ranging between $250 to $500.

For many travelers, this might suffice. But if you’re journeying with expensive electronics like laptops or cameras, or specialized equipment like golf clubs, it might be worth considering additional gadget insurance.

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Emergency evacuation covers the cost of sending you back to your home country in stressful circumstances.

Let’s say that the above mentioned tropical illness you catch is a very nasty one, and the decision is taken to send you home for further treatment; this will take care of the high costs of flying you home on a drip. 

Repatriation is the cost of sending your remains home in the rare event that you die on your trip. Repatriation costs are not a burden I would want to leave to my family.

Whilst this is thankfully rare, I do come across Facebook or “Go Fund Me” campaigns for somebody’s body to be flown home.

Non-medical Emergency Evacuation is when you have to be evacuated because of some sudden crisis. 

Examples are the outbreak of war/civil unrest and natural disasters that decimate infrastructure such as the South Asian Tsunami of 2006 or one of the earthquakes which do strike Japan.

In more recent times, the Corona COVID-19 outbreak created the biggest international emergency evacuation situation ever. (FYI – it straddled both the medical and non-medical evacuation boundaries).

Emergency evacuation insurance covers the costs of having to book an emergency flight home ( which can be seriously expensive) and will also cover accommodation costs if you end up being flown to a random, “safe” country rather than going straight home.

Trip Cancellation

Having to cancel an adventure that you were truly excited for is painful. However, being left out of pocket just makes it worse.

Trip Cancellation insurance can help you to recover the ‘non-refundable costs’ of your trip such as flight and hotel costs. Visa’s are also in this category.

To clarify, you can’t claim this simply because you changed your mind about the trip or fell out with your travel buddy. Proper cancellation reasons are things like sickness, family emergencies, bereavement, natural disaster and war – you get the gist.

Bearing in mind how much many some travellers spend on their dream Japan trip, this cover is one worth having in your back pocket.

Trip Interruption

Trip Interruption is when something goes wrong, even interrupts, and you have additional costs to pay because of it.

One example, when your pre-paid hotel falls down and you are forced to book another one. Another example is when your flight home is cancelled and you need a few extra nights at your hotel.

The above are what we consider to be the basic, bare-bones of travel insurance policies. However, some policies do offer a few more aspects to them. The very best Japan travel insurance policies may also include the following:

Adventure Sports and Activities

Please note that adventure sports and activities are not covered by all travel insurance policies. The definition of adventure sports and activities really does vary between providers but for example, can include:

• Trekking (altitude is usually a factor here)
• Swimming with Whales
• Improvised football games….

If you are going to be doing anything remotely physical or outdoorsy on your trip, then it may be sensible to check that your insurance provider is covering it. Broken jaws hurt enough without having high medical bills attached to them.

Accidental Death and Dismemberment

Accidental Death & Dismemberment cover doesn’t cover any travel related expenses as such but instead it basically provides you (or your next of kin) with monetary compensation in the event that something happens to you.

If you die, your loved ones get a payout. Or, if you lose a digit, YOU get a payout. I mean, how much is a finger really worth to you anyway?

It’s kind of like having a bit of life cover attached to your travel insurance.

“Well dear, I’m afraid there is good new and bad news. The bad news is that your parents both died on their trip to Japan. The good news is that you get $10k!”

Gear and Electronics Cover

Some insurance policies do cover electronic gadgets, but others do not. Those that do, sometimes charge an additional fee and they also usually limit the maximum item value.

If you only travel with a phone or a tablet then your travel insurer may well cover it entirely. However, if you’re travelling with a quality laptop , then you may wish to consider obtaining gadget cover.

Personally, I have had separate gadget cover in place on my trusty MacBook Pro for years now.

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While it might appear that all travel insurers are the same, they each bring unique offerings to the table. Some provide more affordable rates, while others prioritize extensive coverage. There are insurers known for their stringent claims process, and there are those celebrated for their fairness and assistance.

Travel insurance – consistently inconsistent. We cannot, and should not, declare one as the superior choice. Insurance is intricate, with policies crafted based on vast data and numerous factors.

The best travel insurance hinges on your destination, travel time, and most crucially, your personal requirements. An insurer perfect for one journey might not suit another.

In the following section, we spotlight several travel insurance providers we’ve personally utilized over the years.

SafetyWing are a relatively new player in the travel insurance space but are already making big waves. They specialise in cover for digital nomads and they offer open ended cover on a monthly subscription basis.

Because they primarily cover digital nomads, they don’t offer much in the way of trip cancellation or delay so do take that into consideration.

However, SafetyWing really excels on the health side of travel insurance, covering dental and some complimentary treatments. In fact they even allow young children to be covered for free. 

If cancellation and delay is not a concern for you or if you will be spending some considerable time on your trip, then consider SafetyWing travel insurance .

• Emergency Accident & Sickness Medical Expenses – $250,000
• Baggage and Personal Property – $3000
• Emergency Evacuation and Repatriation – $100,000
• Non-Medical Emergency Evacuation – $10,000
• Trip Cancellation -$0
• Trip Interruption – $5000

If you need more information, or want to get a quote, then you can visit the website for yourself.

Talk about efficient and effective, Heymondo are up-to-date when it comes to combining travel insurance with technology in the digital world of 2024.

What truly sets them apart is their assistance app offering a 24-hour medical chat, free emergency assistance calls and incident management. How reassuring is that?!

They also have a convenient and complication-free way to make a claim straight from your phone.

Medical expenses are covered up to $10,000,000 USD so try not to damage yourself anything over that amount… If you’d like travel insurance that operates with that little extra swiftness and ease, give these guys a go.

They offer multiple options – single trip, annual multi-trip and long stay. We’ve focused on single trip, but do check out the others and find what fits your next adventure.

• Emergency Accident & Sickness Medical/Dental Expenses –$10,000,000 USD
• Baggage and Personal Property – $2,500 USD
• Repatriation and Early Return – $500,000 USD
• Non-Medical Emergency Evacuation – $10,000 USD
• Trip Cancellation – $7,000 USD
• Trip Disruption – $1,500 USD
• Covid 19 coverage included in all plans

If you need more convincing, click our link below to get 5% off your Heymondo travel insurance plan!

Columbus Direct

Named after one of history’s greatest (and most divisive explorers), Columbus Direct also specialise in insuring adventure-hungry explorers like us. They have been providing award-winning insurance for 30 years.

What we like about this plan is that it does cover small amounts of personal cash. However, Gadget Cover is not available.

Columbus Direct actually offers a number of different travel insurance plans. Below we have focused on 1 of these and have set out the coverage amounts for the Globetrotter plan.

• Emergency Accident & Sickness Medical Expenses – $1,000,000
• Baggage and Personal Property – $750
• Emergency Evacuation and Repatriation – $1,000,000
• Non-Medical Emergency Evacuation – $0
• Trip Cancellation -$1,000
• Trip Interruption (“Catastophe”) – $750

If you need more information or want to get a quote, then you can visit the website for yourself.

World Nomads

World Nomads have been insuring backpackers for 20 years now. Its a backpacker travel insurance company, and their policies cover long way travel on one way tickets, trips to multiple countries, and a whole lot of adventure activities.

These guys are well used to dealing with backpackers like us, and they are regularly recommended by travel bloggers and industry insiders. We love them.

They offer 2 different policies depending on your needs. The Standard Plan is standard & the Explorer Plan covers a whole host of high risk, high fun activities.

World Nomads are also one of the few travel insurers who will write you a policy after starting your trip. The one downside for us is that they don’t cover Pakistan.

Let’s look at the maximum coverage amounts with both the Standard & Explorer plan.

• Emergency Accident & Sickness Medical Expenses -$100,000/$100,000
• Baggage and Personal Property – $1000/$3000
• Emergency Evacuation and Repatriation – $300,000/$500,000
• Non-Medical Emergency Evacuation – $25,000/$25,000
• Trip Cancellation -$2500/$10,000
• Trip Interruption – $2500/$10,000

If you want more info or to get a quote then visit the World Nomads site for yourself and take a look.

Iati Seguros

Iati Seguros is a Spanish based travel insurance company who we have personally used and loved. You will notice that they provide competitive cover amounts for the key travel insurance areas, and are competitively priced. So far we have heard nothing, but good things about them.

They also offer multiple ones, but we have focused on the Standard Plan although we wholly encourage checking out all plans for yourself to identify the best one for your needs.

Standard Plan

• Emergency Accident & Sickness Medical Expenses – $200,000
• Baggage and Personal Property – $1000
• Emergency Evacuation and Repatriation – 100% of cost
• Trip Cancellation -$1,500
• Trip Interruption – 100% of cost

Insure My Equipment

Insuremyequipment.com does precisely what the name suggests. They are an online insurer for expensive equipment (like camera gear & gold clubs). You can use them to get specific pieces of gear insured but please bear in mind this policy is only for your specified gear.

An Insure My Equipment policy works well in combination with other travel insurance. Insure My Equipment policies are an excellent choice for professionals and backpackers with more $0000’s worth of camera equipment, expensive laptops, or fishing rods.

I also know a few travelling musicians and DJs who use these guys so you are in cool company.

Choosing the right travel insurance for your Japan holiday is like choosing a pair of hiking boots – it’s something only you can do by looking at your budget, your needs, and looking at what feels right for you.

You need to work out how much your trip is worth, how much equipment you plan to take and what activities you intend to engage in.

Naturally, you should evaluate your budget – considering both what you’re willing to spend on coverage and what you can bear to lose if you need to file a claim.

At times, a cost-effective backpacker insurance in Japan may suffice, while in other instances, investing a tad more could be beneficial.

If the insights in this article don’t guide your decision, then my efforts over the past 5 hours might’ve been in vain!

Japan is undeniably a traveler’s delight. But, as with any trip, it’s always wise to be prepared for the unexpected. And, investing in comprehensive travel insurance for Japan allows you to enjoy every moment, knowing you’re covered for unforeseen events.

The Japan travel insurers we mentioned here are just a small selection of the many available. Hopefully one of them answers your needs but if not there are others out there.

We hope you found this Japan travel insurance guide helpful. If so please let us know by leaving a comment below.

And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links . That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!

Aiden Freeborn

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Finding the Right Travel Insurance for Japan

Here’s what you need to know about travel insurance for Japan, with a comparison of some of the options available—including those that you can book when you’ve already started your trip.

A short but necessary disclaimer: Getting travel insurance is important, but we can’t make the decision for you. We can only provide information to hopefully make that decision a bit easier. Also, please note that we do not sell or provide insurance ourselves.

Note: Antibody tests and PCR tests needed for travel purposes are generally not covered by travel insurance. As always, read the T&Cs carefully!

• Do I need travel insurance for Japan?
• Coverage for flight delays & lost luggage
• Japan travel insurance essentials
• Compare travel insurance providers for your trip to Japan

Japan travel insurance FAQs

You are ready for the adventure of a lifetime in japan what could possibly go wrong a lot, actually..

Apart from the obvious travel disasters (think lost luggage, pinched passports or canceled flights), getting sick abroad is, unfortunately, a possibility—and one you’d be well-advised to insure yourself against.

While getting a basic prescription for medicine in Japan is generally affordable out of pocket, more serious medical considerations like hospitalization or transport back home can easily run into the thousands of dollars (US). Having a travel insurance policy can give you some peace of mind, and is something most travel experts recommend. We may be Cheapos, but we believe in playing it safe.

Do I really need travel insurance for Japan? I heard it is one of the safest countries in the world.

Good point. Japan is ranked as one of the safest countries in the world, with extremely low reported crime rates. But, while you may not have to worry too much about your stuff getting stolen, there are other things to consider, besides falling ill.

For example, Japan is frequently hit by typhoons . The typhoon season generally runs from late July to early October, but has started earlier and finished later in recent years. A big typhoon can lead to canceled flights, long delays or canceled trips and tours. There are also earthquakes and other concerns .

Aren’t delayed flights and lost luggage covered by airlines?

Almost all airlines will reimburse you for lost and delayed luggage, as well as canceled flights. But you’ll need to check the conditions on your ticket carefully, to be sure. While most travel insurance policies offer this as part of the package, you probably don’t need to double-insure yourself on this.

But things become fuzzier for your trip overall; think about the bullet train tickets and tours you might book in Japan. While you can often get refunds for tours canceled due to bad weather, you might be stuck with hotel and transport bookings that you don’t need anymore if your tour is called off. Many travel insurance policies click into gear in this case.

COVID-19, Japanese encephalitis and other health concerns

In light of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, many travelers are understandably worried about their upcoming travel plans. More on that below.

An older concern is Japanese encephalitis, which can be contracted via mosquito bites across most of Asia—not only in Japan. Luckily, it is extremely rare. It is estimated that less than one in a million travelers to Asia will contract the disease, and for most humans, it will be asymptomatic. A vaccine is available, but only recommended for those who will stay longer than one month in high-risk areas. Generally, bug-bite prevention is recommended as a first-line defense.

Other than that, it’s generally advisable to check that all your vaccines are up to date before embarking on your Japan trip.

Travel insurance and cancelations due to COVID-19

You might be wondering if your insurance covers cancelations due to COVID-19. In short, it will vary depending on your insurance provider. As always, check with your travel insurance provider and read the fine print and special conditions carefully. Never assume anything!

Travel insurance for Japan: What should your policy cover?

Generally speaking, the biggest items when it comes to travel incidents are medical expenses and emergency evacuations, which can run into the tens and even hundreds of thousands of dollars. So check that the Japan travel insurance or Japan travel health insurance policy you sign up for provides enough cover to make you feel comfortable.

Keep in mind that medical expenses really are for unforeseen situations and emergencies like accidents, or getting sick on the road. Medical tourism, check-ups or preventative treatments are usually not covered.

Anything else you might want to add to your travel insurance policy for Japan depends on what your itinerary looks like.

Comparing Japan insurance options for different types of travelers

Just a quick note before we get into it (another disclaimer): Always read the policy wording for any insurance very carefully before signing up. Terms and conditions can change over time, and also differ depending on factors like your age, country of residence, or how high you want your cover to be. 

We can’t recommend one best Japan travel insurance policy for everyone because we all travel differently, but we hope this overview is a starting point for you to find travel insurance for Japan that suits you, personally, best. Also, prices are subject to change.

Travel medical insurance: SafetyWing

SafetyWing offers travel medical insurance at affordable rates, starting from approximately US$42 for four weeks, for travelers under 40.

What is different about their plan is that you can extend it indefinitely, until it reaches the maximum of 364 days — after which you can renew your policy. This makes it an interesting choice for long-term travelers and digital nomads. SafetyWing rolled out their travel medical insurance a few years ago and recently added other health insurance products for those without a fixed residence in one country.

A bonus is that you can kick off your SafetyWing travel medical insurance plan any time, even when already on the road . Besides emergency medical, their policy also covers the travel basics, including trip interruption, personal liability and lost luggage. Since August 1, 2020, SafetyWing has also covered COVID-19, and from April 15, 2021, unplanned quarantine is covered, too.

While it may be a fairly new kid on the insurance block, founded in 2017, SafetyWing is underwritten by Tokio Marine, one of the biggest underwriters in the world.

Another option for Southeast Asians: FWD

If you are from Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong , Macau, Cambodia or the Philippines, you might want to take a look at FWD for travel insurance. Another fairly new insurer, they are expanding throughout Asia and seem to offer some of the cheapest plans we could find online, starting from approx. ¥ 2,200 for a single trip to Japan.

Their plan ticks all the usual travel insurance boxes, including medical evacuation cover, which is unlimited. It also seems to cover skiing—but confirm this with them.

Two other Japan travel insurance options: Atlas International and Travelex

Starting at approximately ¥ 1,800 for a two-week trip to Japan, Atlas International is available to citizens of most countries. They offer you the option to play with the sliders, so you can e.g. add a deductible to bring down the premium or push up the cover if you are happy to pay a bit more.

Travelex has been around for quite a while and is a popular choice with North Americans. They have a good reputation and their starting rates are affordable; however, their medical expense cover for US citizens might be a bit low, depending on your needs.

Japan travel insurance comparison chart

Here is a quick, rough comparison of the different insurers we’ve mentioned that offer cover for trips to Japan for global citizens. Remember, all prices are approximate and subject to change and will vary depending on your age, country of residence, length of stay and specific circumstances! Where basic vs. extended plans were available, we picked basic for the sake of comparison.

Scroll to see all the options, if they don’t show up on your screen.

Coverage overview

This is intended as a very brief overview only. Always check the coverage and T&Cs carefully on your own!

Notes on the insurers: Allianz Travel offers three different levels of coverage from Bronze to Silver, with varying premiums and covers. Available to residents of Singapore. --> SafetyWing has a higher premium for those over 39 years of age. Travelex is a US insurer, but available for global citizens. Conditions may vary by country of residence, age and—notably—the total value of your trip that you want to insure. FWD is available to citizens of 10 Asian countries and regions: Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Japan and Macau, though the available insurance products differ by location.

You ask, we answer.

Is travel insurance required for Japan?

Generally, no—travel insurance is strongly recommended , rather than required, for Japan.

How much is travel insurance to Japan?

The cost of travel insurance for Japan depends on which provider you use for your policy. As a rough guide, it can range from ¥ 1,000 to ¥ 8,000 for a one-week trip, depending on your age, place of residence, itinerary, and preferences.

If you are under 40, a month-long travel medical insurance policy through SafetyWing will set you back approximately ¥ 4,700 , or 42 USD. It’s a good idea to compare multiple policies to work out which is the best deal for your visit to Japan.

What’s the best travel insurance in Japan for foreign residents?

If you are a foreign resident of Japan, looking for travel insurance for your upcoming trip OUT of Japan, you have access to the insurance providers listed above, as well as local providers. If you have a Japanese credit card , you could start by asking whether any travel insurance is provided through that, and go from there.

Post first published in February, 2020. Last updated in December, 2021.

• Health insurance
• Medical insurance
• Travel insurance

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訪日外国人向け保険・インバウンド保険

TOKIO OMOTENASHI POLICY | Tokio Marine & Nichido

Overseas travel insurance for foreigners visiting japan (even if you are a japanese national returning to japan temporarily) for up to 31 days., = insurance for visiting japan =.

Chinese(Simplified) | Chinese(Traditional语言) | 한국 | 日本語

What is TOKIO OMOTENASHI POLICY?

TOKIO OMOTENASHI POLICY  is an overseas insurance policy in case of sudden illness or injury for foreigners visiting Japan and or Japanese national’s returning to Japan temporarily for up to 31 days that can be purchased online.  (Insurance can be purchased online).

If you need to see a doctor or hospital care is necessary the insurance company should be contacted and your medical expenses will be paid directly from the insurance company to your caregiver. (Cashless)

TOKIO OMOTENASHI POLICY is easy and reasonably priced because it is specialized for illness and injury, the premium is less expensive than general overseas travel insurance. (Easy and Reasonable). 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 In addition by using the dedicated application, you will be able to use support functions for certain troubles and natural disasters that might occur during your stay in Japan.

( You can easily contact the insurance company via the app)

Click for Apprication ↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓

For example, if something like this happens…

Sudden illness… Prepare for sudden illness during your stay in Japan.

Unlike your everyday life, the environment and food changes when you travel may or may not have an effect on your health.

Even if you are a foreign national that is  accustomed to eating Japanese food and enjoy eating other local dishes or unusual foods that you have never seen before. It could be a difference in temperature or many other things that may affect your health.

We are no longer in a era where we can say,  “That will never happen to me so I’m fine”

We are also prepared for the new type of Coronavirus (Covid-19)

Unexpected injury… You were supposed to be enjoying yourself…

Covers injuries that occur during sports such as skiing

Traveling is a fun time, but injuries that occur during such times are common occurrences.

But, you also need to be careful about injuries that may occur during sports such as skiing.

Injuries that occur during these times are normal, but you should also be careful about injuries that occur during sports such as skiing.

Injuries may also occur during normal, everyday life. We provide coverage for injuries caused by sudden, accidental, and outpatient accidents.

Expensive medical bills… No way Why me …

In some cases, hospitals won’t accept medical examinations…

Foreign travelers and others who do not have health insurance.  (100% self-payment).

There are cases where you will be charged an outrageous amount of money… It is very common.

Credit cards are not accepted at hospitals… you have to pay in cash.

Even medium-sized hospitals such as municipal hospitals and city hospitals do not accept credit card payments.

Also smaller clinics are known not to accept credit card payments.

The insurance company will pay directly to the hospital or pharmacy

By contacting us before you go to the hospital, we contact the hospital first. We will contact the hospital before you go to the hospital so that you can concentrate on your treatment.

Please be aware that foreign visitors who fail to pay their medical expenses may be denied entry into Japan in the future. Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)

Non-payment of medical treatment by foreign travelers in Japan has become a problem, and the government has taken such measures.

Of course, Japanese nationals are no exception.

Incidental Services

The following services are also included in the package…

Lost or stolen passport or credit card…

Traveling is always fraught with problems, but there are some things you should never lose. (Available in a variety of languages)

Internet connection lost…

We provide information on useful apps for using public Wi-Fi provided at tourist spots. We provide information on useful applications (with free Wi-Fi functionality for an unlimited period of time)

Insurance Amounts

Coverage item: medical treatment and transportation expense coverage (for foreign visitors to japan).

Covers medical treatment expenses for sudden illness or injury.

If you contact the insurance company before going to the hospital, the insurance company will pay the treatment expenses directly to the hospital. (To contact the insurance company, you need to install the application.)

　10,000,000 yen (including covid-19 infection)

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 Rest assured that 100% of your expenses for medical treatment, medicine, hospitalization, surgery, and medical transportation to your home country will be covered up to 10 million yen.

Insurance Premiums

Insurance premiums vary depending on the period of insurance.

Please check

There are some important points to note.

About the insurance period

The insurance period is from the day after the date of application or the day of entry into Japan , whichever is later, to the day of completion of departure procedures from Japan.

Example: ① If you apply after entering Japan and apply today, set tomorrow as the insurance start date.

Example: ②Even if someone in Japan applies, depending on the country of departure, someone arriving tomorrow or later may not be able to apply.

(Please apply after entering Japan)

If you are staying in Japan for more than 32 days. (You need someone living in Japan. You can not buy Insurance by yourself) >> Click Here <<

What if it happens outside of Japan?

This insurance policy covers medical and pharmaceutical costs arising from injuries or illnesses occurring in Japan, as well as the cost of repatriation of the patient to his/her home country.

(Accidents outside of Japan are not covered.)

The required documents

Since enrollment is completed online, there are no documents required.

However, please be aware that you may not be able to use the insurance if you make a false declaration.

Common example: 　An application was submitted more than 5 days after entry to Japan, but an error occurred, so an incorrect date of entry was entered and insurance was purchased. 【The insurance cannot be used】

Can I apply from abroad?

The application site can only be accessed from within Japan, Hong Kong, China, or Korea.

How can I confirm the operation of the screen before I leave Japan? >> Click Here <<

↓↓↓ Click the banner to apply ↓↓↓↓

<Recommended Environment>

PC Microsoft Windows 7, 8, 8.1: Internet explorer 11.0 or higher, latest version of chrome Microsoft Windows 10 : Internet explorer 11.0 or higher,  Microsoft Edge ,  the latest version of chrome

Smartphones and tablets Android 4.4 or later:  Latest version of chrome iOS 8.4 or later:  Latest version of safari

Please note that there are some cases where  Firefox cannot be used.

For those who cannot proceed to the TOKIO OMOTENASHI POLICY application page >> Check this page <<

If you have any questions, please contact us by e-mail. mail:  [email protected]

Underwriting Insurer Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co.

Handling agency OFFICE21 Co., Ltd.

This homepage provides an overview of the insurance policy. Please be sure to read the “Explanation of Important Matters” carefully before you make a contract. If you have any questions, please contact our agent.

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Travel Insurance for Japan

Travel Team | Apr 12, 2024

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From the buzz of city life in Tokyo to the majestic views of Mount Fiji, there are many amazing places to visit in Japan. But before you book your trip, you’ll want to consider travel insurance options and learn more about what to expect when visiting Japan.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at options for travel insurance, requirements for traveling to Japan, and offer destination-specific travel tips so you can make the most of your trip.

Do I Need Travel Insurance for Japan?

Travel insurance is not required to visit Japan. However, it’s still a smart idea to have in case of trip cancellation, lost luggage or medical emergency.

Should You Buy Travel Insurance for Japan?

Whether traveling to Japan or any other international destination, travel insurance is always recommended. Your domestic health insurance often does not cover you in another country. That means that if you get sick or hurt during your trip in Japan, you could have costly medical bills to pay out of pocket. Plus, you never know when an unexpected event could put the money you spent for your trip — from flights and hotels to shrine tours and sumo wrestling tickets — at risk.

Japan Travel Insurance Coverage Options

Seven Corners offers several plans that can be customized to meet your needs, whether you’re traveling internationally or in your own country. Coverage options can differ depending on the plan, specific benefits and add-ons you choose, and your state or country of residency. The travel insurance benefits below can be found in many of Seven Corners’ plans. Consider all of your options to best protect your trip to Japan.

Trip Cancellation

Seven Corners can reimburse you for the prepaid, nonrefundable trip expenses you insured if you have to cancel your trip for a covered reason. Covered reasons vary by plan, but they can include triggers such as an illness that prevents you from traveling or inclement weather, like a hurricane.

For the flexibility to cancel your trip for any reason, not just those listed in your plan document, consider adding optional Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) coverage

Trip Interruption

An interruption often means you ended your trip and returned home early, but it can also include needing to start your trip late. Trip interruption benefits can reimburse you for the prepaid, nonrefundable trip expenses you didn’t use if you must interrupt your trip for a covered reason. They can also cover transportation expenses resulting from a covered trip interruption.

For more flexibility to interrupt your trip and still be reimbursed, consider adding optional Interruption for Any Reason (IFAR) coverage . This allows you to interrupt your trip for any reason, such as not feeling safe at your destination or simply changing your mind about travel, not just the covered reasons listed in your plan document.

This benefit can cover expenses resulting from a delay, whether you’re en route to Japan, returning home, or even in the middle of your trip. To be reimbursed, the trip delay must be caused by a covered reason, such as a flight delay lasting the required amount of time.

Lost or Delayed Baggage

If you’re on your way to Japan and your baggage is delayed by your airline or other common carrier, Seven Corners will reimburse you to replace necessary personal belongings. Necessary personal items include things like clothing or toiletries — the things you need most so you can continue on your trip.

If your baggage is lost, delayed, damaged, or stolen during your trip, your travel insurance could pay to replace or repair the insured items.

There are some requirements and exclusions for both lost and delayed baggage. These include items such as laptops and jewelry, which may not be covered. Your luggage also must be delayed for the length of time stated in the plan before you are eligible for reimbursement.

• Travel Medical

Travel medical insurance can cover expenses for medical treatment if you get sick or hurt during your trip. This is particularly important when your domestic health insurance does not provide coverage overseas.

Seven Corners Trip Protection plans for U.S. residents provide coverage for Emergency Accident and Sickness as well as Emergency Dental expenses. Seven Corners also provides travel medical plans. This robust medical coverage is available to both U.S. and international residents.

For frequent travelers, we offer annual multi-trip plans with both trip protection and travel medical coverage. These provide the coverage you need most with even more convenience than single-trip plans.

Emergency Medical Evacuation and Repatriation

Sometimes adequate medical care is not available at your destination. If you get sick or injured during your trip to Japan and transferring you to another facility is deemed medically necessary, Seven Corners will pay for and arrange an emergency medical evacuation. We will also arrange your return home where you can continue your recovery.

Accidental Death and Dismemberment

This Seven Corners benefit provides coverage for loss of life or limb resulting from an injury caused by an accident during your trip to Italy.

What Is The Best Travel Insurance for Japan?

Seven Corners Trip Protection is our most popular plan for U.S. residents traveling to Japan. With this plan, you’ll find coverage to protect your trip expenses, belongings, and emergency medical expenses. We also offer an annual trip protection plan for multiple trips, perfect for frequent travelers to Japan or anywhere else in the world.

Seven Corners Travel Medical Insurance provides great levels of confidence for U.S. and non-U.S. residents traveling to Japan. These plans offer robust coverage for medical expenses if you become ill or injured during your trip. You want to be able to get the care you need without having to worry about how you’ll pay for it, and travel insurance can help you do that.

Finding the best travel insurance for your special trip to Japan is easy. Answer a few simple questions on our interactive guide and we’ll show you the best options for you and your trip. The quick quote you get is hassle-free and there’s no commitment on your part. If you have questions or need additional support, you can also contact our licensed agents . We’re ready to help you choose the best travel insurance for a vacation to Japan.

How Much Does Travel Insurance to Japan Cost?

The cost of travel insurance varies by plan as well as a number of other factors. For trip protection plans, the cost is based on your trip expenses and is generally 4-10% of your total insurable trip cost. See how to calculate your trip cost and make sure you have the right amount of coverage. 

The cost of a travel medical plan is based on:

• The plan you choose
• The length of your trip
• Medical maximum, deductible, and other add-ons you select when customizing your plan

Get a quick quote when you answer a few simple questions about your trip to Japan and see what kind of coverage could be best for you.

Travel Requirements for Japan

Before heading off on your vacation to Japan, it’s important to consider what travel documents and requirements your destination has. Let’s take a closer look at what you’ll need when traveling to Japan.

Visa Requirements for Japan

If you have a United States passport you do not need a visa to visit Japan as long as your trip is shorter than 90 days.

There are many countries whose residents are exempt from needing a visa for a short-term visit to Japan. Check out the full list here .

If you plan to stay longer than 90 days, learn more about the procedures for long-term stays here .

Documents and Forms

You’ll need to bring your passport when traveling to Japan. Be sure to carry your passport at all times during your trip, as it’s a legal requirement, and you may be asked to show identification. It’s also important to ensure your passport is valid for the duration of your stay.

Public Health Requirements

As of January 19, 2024, there are no COVID-19 restrictions in place when traveling to Japan.

You won’t need to provide a negative COVID test or proof of vaccination to enter the country.

However, the Centers for Disease Control recommends getting up to date on COVID-19 vaccines before traveling and wearing a mask in crowded places on your trip.

Bringing Medication into Japan

It’s important to note that many common medications in the United States, including Tylenol, Nyquil, and Advil Cold & Sinus, are illegal in Japan. There are limits to the amount of medication and medical devices you’re allowed to bring in.

If you have to exceed these limits, you’ll need to obtain a “Yunyu Kakunin-sho” (importation certificate). You can apply for your certificate online .

Travel tip: Start the process of applying for your Yunyu Kakunin-sho early, as it may take several weeks to process.

Travel Information & Safety Tips for Japan

Want to learn about the weather at your destination? Looking for more info on transportation? Check out these travel and safety tips for a deep dive into what you can expect on your trip to Japan.

Is Japan safe to visit?

Japan is generally a safe place to visit. . Crime is low, but pickpocketing does happen in crowded areas like public transport or tourist attractions. Always be aware of your surroundings when traveling in public, and make sure your valuables are secure.

Be especially cautious if you plan to visit entertainment or nightlife districts like Shibuya, Roppongi, Kabuki-cho, or Ikebukuro. These areas have instances of drink-spiking, assault and robbery.

If you’re a United States citizen traveling to Japan, you can enroll in the free Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) as an additional safety precaution. Through the program, you’ll get up-to-date information about safety precautions in your destination country. It will also help the U.S. Embassy and your friends and family contact you in case of an emergency.

Travel tip: If you need emergency services in Japan, dial 110 for police and 119 for fire truck or ambulance.

What languages are spoken in Japan?

The vast majority of the population (99.2%) speak Japanese as their first language. Korean is the next most popular language, spoken by 0.5% of the population, followed by Chinese at 0.2%. People in large cities may speak English, but it’s not considered common. Japan is ranked 87th in English proficiency out of 113 countries.

What currency is used in Japan?

The currency in Japan is the Japanese Yen. As of January 19, 2024, one United States dollar is equal to 148 Japanese Yen.

For the most current currency rate, check out this currency exchange tool .

What is the weather like in Japan?

In the spring, Japan is moderate to cool, with temperatures averaging in the mid-seventies in most places. It is one of the most popular times to visit Japan, as the cherry blossoms bloom. Cherry blossoms tend to peak around late March to early April.

Summer in Japan starts with a rainy season in June, followed by hot and humid months in July and August. There are many nice beaches in Japan where you can cool off with swimming or snorkeling. Popular spots include Kotohiki in Kyoto and Kamakura.

In the fall, temperatures dip, and leaves change in Japan. Temperatures can range from 40s to 70s. Fall is a great time to head to the countryside to experience nature and autumn foliage. 

Winter in Japan is dry and cold. Pack a thick coat, as temperatures can drop into the 20s. Skiing is a popular winter activity, especially in areas like Hakuba, Nagano, Niseko, and Hokkaido.

Food and Water Safety in Japan

Feel free to drink tap water anywhere in Japan. Many metro stations have water stations, so if you carry a reusable water bottle, you’ll be able to fill it up on the go. It’s generally safe to eat produce from local markets as well. 

There are many outdoor markets across Japan offering a wide range of foods. Check them out here .

Food Etiquette in Japan

In Japan, chopsticks are the most common eating utensil. It’s important to know how to use them properly when dining out at a Japanese restaurant. Here are the do’s and don’ts of using chopsticks:

• Use the provided chopstick rests
• Place food from shared bowls on your own plate before putting it in your mouth
• Pick up small bowls or plates and bring them closer to your mouth while eating

Don’t

• Use one chopstick in each hand
• Lick or chew on chopsticks
• Stab food to pick it up
• Point at someone with your chopsticks
• Use chopsticks to grab a bowl or shift it toward yourself

Transportation

Japan has an efficient, punctual public transportation system. Japan’s four main islands are covered by an extensive railway network that you can use to move between major cities.

If you plan to move between cities a lot during your trip,  consider purchasing a Japan Rail Pass . This pass allows for unlimited train rides for 1, 2, or 3 weeks.

Do I need a power adapter for my electronics?

Japan uses Type A and Type B power sockets, the same as those used in the United States. However, type B is not as common.

If you’re traveling with Type A two-pronged electronics, you shouldn’t need an adapter. If you’re traveling with Type B three-pronged electronics, it’s a good idea to have an adapter with a two-prong plug.

U.S. Embassy and Consulate Information for Japan

Before traveling to Japan, you should know the location of the nearest Embassy or Consulate to where you’re staying. Here’s a full list of Embassy and Consulate locations.

U.S. Embassy in Tokyo:

1-10-5 Akasaka

Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-8420 Japan

U.S. Consulate in Naha:

2-1-1 Toyama,

Urasoe City, Okinawa 901-2104

U.S. Consulate in Osaka:

2-11-5, Nishitenma,

Kita-ku, Osaka 530-8543

U.S. Consulate in Sapporo:

Kita 1-jo Nishi 28-chome, Chuo-ku,

Sapporo 064-0821, Japan

U.S. Consulate in Fukuoka:

5-26 Ohori 2-chome, Chuo-ku,

Fukuoka 810-0052

U.S. Consulate in Nagoya:

Nagoya International Center Bldg. 6F

1-47-1 Nagono, Nakamura-ku, Nagoya 450-0001

Contact Seven Corners about Travel Insurance for Japan

Finding the best travel insurance doesn’t have to be hard. For more than 30 years, Seven Corners has been helping travelers to Japan choose the right plan so they can explore more confidently. Get a quick, hassle-free quote online or chat with a licensed Seven Corners agent . We’ll answer all your questions and help you customize your coverage for your next Japanese adventure.

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Best Travel Insurance for Japan: Your Worry-Free Guide

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‌Best Japan Travel Insurance for Young Travelers: Aegis 

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Planning a trip to Japan is exciting, as a rich cultural heritage, vibrant cities, and breathtaking natural settings await you. Though generally considered a safe travel destination , a trip to Japan can still be perilous, as you could encounter natural disasters such as earthquakes or typhoons, travel delays, injuries, or illness. Before you take off for the Land of the Rising Sun, look into travel insurance that can offer reassurance and relieve some of the uncertainties of international travel. 

While travel insurance isn’t required to visit Japan, getting it can safeguard your travel investment and give you peace of mind as you travel. Whether you need to cut your trip short, experience a medical emergency, or have unexpected travel disruptions, travel insurance can protect you financially and help you connect with the necessary resources.

Read this guide to find everything you need to know about insurance policies for trips to Japan, including when it’s a good idea to buy it, what it costs, what’s covered, and examples of real travel insurance plans you can use for your next trip there.

The 5 Best Travel Insurance Policies for Japan

Travel insurance for Japan can be affordable and offer comprehensive coverage. We checked out quotes for policies that at least include trip cancellation and interruption insurance and coverage for medical emergencies. What you pay depends on your age, coverage, trip cost, and other factors, so we’ve run the numbers for various scenarios to give you an idea of what you can expect in terms of coverage and cost.

Consider these travel insurance policies for a trip to Japan:

Affordable travel insurance policies are plentiful for young travelers because insurance companies generally offer reasonable rates for young adults. For a weeklong trip to Japan, a 25-year-old can expect to pay $35 for an Aegis Go Ready Choice policy . This policy offers trip cancellation coverage for 100% of your trip cost and trip interruption for up to 150%. You can even get covered for an employment layoff after a 14-day wait as long as you’ve been employed for 2 continuous years. Emergency medical coverage offers $50,000 in secondary coverage, including COVID-19, and $250,000 in medical evacuation and repatriation coverage.

Though seniors should expect to pay more for travel insurance than younger travelers, Tin Leg’s economy policy may still be cost-effective and offer valuable coverage at a relatively low price. A 65-year-old would pay $90 for this policy, which offers up to 100% of your trip cost for trip cancellation and interruption insurance. There’s $20,000 for secondary emergency medical coverage and up to $100,000 in medical evacuation and repatriation benefits.

If you’re concerned you may need to cancel your trip to Japan for reasons not covered by the policy’s regular trip cancellation coverage, Cancel for Any Reason benefits can help. With Seven Corners Trip Protection Basic coverage, you can get up to 75% of your nonrefundable trip costs back if you need to cancel your trip. This policy also offers up to 100% trip cancellation and interruption for covered reasons, $100,000 in secondary emergency medical coverage, and $250,000 in medical evacuation and repatriation benefits. This policy costs slightly more than others at $106.50 for a 45-year-old .

Whether you’re planning to hit a Japanese ski resort, go whitewater rafting, or hike Mount Fuji, a travel insurance policy that covers adventure sports can help if you get hurt. With a Battleface Discovery Plan , you can get coverage for sports and adventurous activities that would otherwise be excluded. This policy is $71.84 for a 45-year-old and also offers up to 100% coverage of your trip costs for trip cancellation, 150% for trip interruption, $100,000 in secondary emergency medical coverage, and $500,000 in medical evacuation and repatriation benefits.

Japan has dropped its requirements for vaccination certificates and predeparture tests, but COVID-19 can still interfere with your Japan travel plans. A travel insurance policy that covers COVID-19 offers protection if you need to cancel or cut your trip short due to COVID-19. With the Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection ExactCare Value plan , you pay $49 for a 45-year-old and get up to 100% reimbursement for trip cancellation or interruption for covered reasons, including COVID-19. And if you get hurt or seriously ill while you’re visiting, the $15,000 in secondary medical coverage and $150,000 in medical evacuation benefits can help you get the medical treatment you need.

Wherever you travel, getting travel insurance can be worth it if you have nonrefundable travel expenses at stake. It is especially helpful if medical care is costly at your destination. It can also be worth it if you’re unfamiliar with your destination and expect to need travel assistance .

Japan is typically considered a moderately expensive travel destination, especially during peak travel times such as cherry blossom season . You likely have significant travel expenses invested in your upcoming trip to Japan. If those expenses are nonrefundable, such as flights without change options or prepaid hotel bookings, travel insurance can protect those payments and give you money back if you need to cancel your trip or cut it short for a covered reason.

While Japan has excellent medical services and universal health care that covers Japanese citizens, health coverage is not extended to visitors. Medical treatment can be costly in Japan , and it’s unlikely your U.S.-based health insurance offers coverage in Japan. Getting travel insurance for your trip to Japan that includes emergency health coverage can help you pay for medical expenses if you need treatment while you’re in Japan — or if you need evacuation for health reasons.

Visiting Japan can be confusing for new visitors, particularly if you’re traveling without a guide. Although travel insurance is most helpful for major problems, such as canceling or cutting your trip short or getting emergency medical care, this coverage can also come in handy if you use your travel insurance company’s travel assistance hotline for less catastrophic issues. For example, a travel hotline can help you get a prescription replaced or get connected with emergency cash or roadside assistance. Travel assistance hotlines may also offer translation services.

Comprehensive travel insurance for Japan typically costs 5% to 10% of your total nonrefundable expenses for the trip. This type of travel insurance generally covers trip cancellation and interruption, emergency medical treatment, emergency medical evacuation and repatriation, and 24-hour travel assistance. 

Let’s say you’ve booked a $2,000 trip. Reasonable travel insurance costs would be $100 to $200.

What you actually pay for Japan travel insurance depends on various factors, including:

• How much your trip costs
• How long you’re traveling
• How old you are
• Where you’re traveling
• The coverage options you choose
• The level of deductibles you opt for
• Coverage limits
• Optional features, such as CFAR or adventure sports coverage

See our guide to average travel insurance costs for more insight into what you should expect to pay for a travel insurance policy.

What Japan Travel Insurance Covers

Coverage varies depending on the travel insurance policy, with some Japan travel insurance plans offering more coverage areas or higher benefit amounts than others. Still, most comprehensive Japan travel insurance policies include coverage for:

• Trip Cancellation: Trip cancellation insurance enables you to cancel your travel plans for any covered reason and receive full reimbursement for your nonrefundable travel expenses. 
• Trip Interruption: Similar to trip cancellation insurance, trip interruption insurance can reimburse you for nonrefundable travel expenses if you need to cut your trip short. Some policies offer a 150% reimbursement of your travel costs.
• Emergency Medical: Travel insurance policies with emergency medical coverage can pay out benefits if you need emergency medical treatment during your trip. Some offer primary coverage, which kicks in immediately, while others have secondary coverage, which requires you to use other available insurance coverage first before you can get benefits.
• Emergency Evacuation: If you encounter a serious medical condition and need to be moved for medical care, travel insurance with emergency evacuation benefits can pay for the cost of transportation and care to an acceptable medical facility.
• Delayed or Lost Baggage: You may need to buy replacement clothing, toiletries, and other necessities if your baggage is lost, stolen, or damaged. Coverage for delayed or lost baggage can reimburse you for these expenses.
• Rental Car Collision: Travel insurance policies may offer coverage for car rental damage so you can decline the rental company’s coverage.
• Travel Assistance Hotline: Your travel insurance coverage may include access to a travel assistance hotline that can offer help, such as directing you to medical facilities, connecting you with local resources, or communicating with loved ones on your behalf during an emergency.

You can choose from various travel insurance options for a trip to Japan. While we’ve highlighted comprehensive travel insurance plans with coverage for trip cancellations, medical emergencies, and more, you can customize your policy with as little or as much coverage as you need.

For example, you may look for a policy that offers emergency medical coverage or a policy that’s just for trip cancellation and interruption . Limiting your policy to specific coverage areas may offer savings. Or you may decide to upgrade your comprehensive travel insurance policy to include CFAR coverage or adventure sports , depending on your needs.

It’s a good idea to compare your travel insurance options before you buy a policy. Look at these factors that can influence how much you pay, your coverage, and how well your travel insurance policy works for you:

• Cost: Compare prices before you choose a policy — but also verify coverage so you’re comparing policies fairly.
• Coverage Options: Find out the details of what’s covered and the limits of how much you’re covered for. Also, understand policy limitations so you’re clear on what you’re protected for — or not.
• Policy Details: Get information such as how soon you need to cancel to get full reimbursement for your travel, what steps you need to take to get emergency medical coverage, and how to get travel assistance.
• Eligibility: Some travel insurance policies have eligibility restrictions for factors such as age and destination, so verify that you and your trip are eligible for coverage.
• Customer Reviews: Reading customer reviews can help you understand the experience others have had with a particular provider. You can learn what to expect from claims and customer service and how well the coverage works.

You have a few options for purchasing travel insurance for a trip to Japan. Usually, travel insurance for Japan is available when you book your travel, through a travel insurance website, or directly with travel insurance companies .

As you book your travel arrangements, particularly air travel or hotels, you may be offered travel insurance at booking. Though some airlines offer travel insurance, it’s also common to see third-party travel insurance offered when you book with online travel agencies such as Expedia and Booking.com . 

If you’d like to shop multiple policies at once, you can use travel insurance comparison websites such as Squaremouth . On these sites, you enter your trip information and get quotes from travel insurance companies. This approach can be good for comparing costs and coverage among policies available for your trip. 

Another option is buying travel insurance directly from an insurance company. Typically, you can get quotes from travel insurance companies and set up your policy online. You might consider buying directly if you’ve compared options and chosen a policy that works for you or if you’ve worked with a travel insurance company before and want to get another policy for an upcoming trip.

Weighing your options can save you money and help you find the right coverage at the best price, but don’t take too long to buy travel insurance. We recommend buying travel insurance within 2 weeks of your first trip payment for the best coverage.

While you can buy travel insurance for Japan, keep in mind you may already have some coverage. For example, travel credit cards, such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve ® and The Platinum Card ® from American Express , frequently offer travel insurance benefits such as trip cancellation and interruption, rental car collision damage waivers, emergency medical coverage, and baggage insurance. Of course, you should read the details of this coverage to understand policy limitations. You may find the coverage lacking and decide to get a travel insurance policy to make sure you’re covered for everything you want.

See what’s covered and what’s not with credit card travel insurance in our guide to the best credit cards for travel insurance and protection .

Getting travel insurance before your trip to Japan can relieve stress and protect your travel investment. Whether you’re seeking affordability or comprehensive coverage, Japan travel insurance can cater to diverse needs. Understand your options, find the best travel insurance policy for your needs, and journey to Japan with confidence, knowing you’re covered for the unexpected.

For the trip cancellation and interruption insurance benefit of The Platinum Card ® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

For the car rental loss and damage insurance benefit of The Platinum Card ® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

For the baggage insurance plan benefit of The Platinum Card ® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card ® from American Express, click here .

Frequently Asked Questions

Do i need travel insurance for japan.

Travel insurance isn’t required when you’re visiting Japan. However, you may want to get travel insurance if you have significant nonrefundable travel expenses, you’re concerned about paying for medical care while in Japan, or you want to take advantage of additional travel insurance benefits.

How much does travel insurance to Japan cost?

Japan travel insurance is usually between 5% to 10% of your insured trip cost. For example, you should expect to pay between $100 to $200 to insure a $2,000 trip.

Does Japan have free health care for travelers?

Japan offers universal health coverage for citizens, expats, and long-term foreigners living in Japan. However, there is no free health care for tourists or short-term visitors.

What happens if you don't have health insurance when traveling in Japan?

If you need medical care when traveling in Japan and you don’t have health insurance, you have to pay full price to see a doctor and get treatment. You may be required to pay upfront or show proof of financial responsibility.

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About Jessica Merritt

A long-time points and miles student, Jessica is the former Personal Finance Managing Editor at U.S. News and World Report and is passionate about helping consumers fund their travels for as little cash as possible.

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5 Best Travel Insurance for Japan – Requirements and Cost

Home | Travel | Asia | 5 Best Travel Insurance for Japan – Requirements and Cost

When traveling abroad, get a policy from one of the  best travel insurance companies . Y ou can get a  5% discount   on Heymondo , the only insurance that pays medical bills upfront for you, HERE!

If Japan’s ancient temples and captivating landscapes are calling you, make sure you get Japanese travel insurance so you’re covered for any mishaps. You should visit this country at least once, but it’s also essential to plan for the unexpected. After all, anything can happen while traveling!

I’ll tell you upfront that travel insurance for Japan isn’t a requirement for entering the country. However, I consider it essential any time you take a trip. Besides, healthcare in Japan is super expensive, so it’s much better to pay for insurance beforehand rather than deal with huge medical bills in an emergency.

We’ve been using Heymondo for years now, and it’s proven to be one of the best travel insurance companies . It offers an excellent coverage-to-price ratio, and it’s one of the few providers that pays your medical expenses upfront , so you don’t have to pay out of pocket and file a reimbursement claim. You can use our Heymondo discount code for 5% off your policy.

5% OFF your travel insurance

Another great option if you’re traveling on a budget is SafetyWing . However, bear in mind that it has a $250 deductible per claim , and in case you need medical assistance, you will need to pay for it from your own pocket and then fill out a claim for reimbursement once you’re back home. I’ll share more about these and other travel health insurances for Japan below so you can find the perfect plan for your trip purpose and budget.

Guide to the best travel insurance for Japan

This article will cover everything you should know about travel health insurance for Japan , including:

Japanese travel insurance price comparison

Best travel insurance for japan, what does japanese travel insurance cover.

Tips for finding the best travel insurance for Japan

Do you need travel insurance for Japan?

No, travel insurance isn’t an entry requirement for Japan , but taking out a policy is always wise. This is especially true in a country like Japan, where medical services come with a steep price tag. While I hope you don’t have to deal with an accident or sickness during your trip, if you do, at least you’ll have the peace of mind of being covered by your Japanese travel insurance .

With travel medical insurance for Japan , you won’t have to worry about the expenses related to an injury or illness. Many policies also include benefits like trip interruption and baggage loss, but I’ll talk about that later .

Here is a chart that gives you a better idea of how much travel insurance to Japan costs . As you can see, the price ranges from around $1.50/day to $6/day. Of course, it’s also important to look at the coverage amounts and additional benefits before choosing a company.

For this comparison, I chose the best Japanese travel insurance plans from five top providers. I simulated the costs for a 30-year-old American traveling to Japan for two weeks with a trip cost of $2,500:

*Price used for example

This is just an example, but you’ll see that some insurance policies offer more coverage than others. Deciding which benefits you want is essential to choosing the best plan for you. Don’t worry; I’ll help you narrow down the options !

Let’s dive deeper into the best travel insurance for Japan . While we’ve been using Heymondo for years (and absolutely love it), I know everyone has different needs. For example, if you’re on a budget and primarily interested in medical-related protection, SafetyWing is an excellent choice.

Below, I’m sharing the five insurers that stand out in terms of pricing, coverage, and benefits.

• Heymondo , the best travel insurance for Japan
• SafetyWing , a cheap travel insurance for Japan
• IMG Global , a good Japanese travel insurance for seniors
• Travelex , a basic insurance for travel to Japan
• Trawick International , a great medical travel insurance for Japan

1. Heymondo , the best travel insurance for Japan

First, Heymondo is the best Japanese travel insurance for those looking for a high amount of medical coverage. With the Heymondo Top plan, you’ll have $250,000 in emergency medical coverage and $500,000 for evacuation and repatriation. There are also great trip-related benefits like baggage loss protection, travel disruption, and trip cancellation.

Unlike other insurers, Heymondo pays your medical bills upfront , so you don’t have to pay out of pocket and file a claim for reimbursement. Just use the 24/7 app to contact the customer support team, and they’ll tell you the nearest hospital or clinic to go to. By the time you arrive, they’ll have paid everything for you, so you can focus on getting better. The customer support app is also handy for quick questions or concerns, as you can chat with a doctor without going to a medical center.

Indeed, Heymondo isn’t the cheapest option. Still, it’s competitively priced and offers incredible protection for unforeseen health emergencies, which is crucial for a country like Japan, where medical care is expensive.

We’ve had to rely on our Heymondo insurance throughout the years, and the company has always taken great care of us. From lost luggage and flooded camera equipment to countless stomach problems, Heymondo has supported us through it all.

Now that we’re traveling full-time, we use their long-stay travel insurance and can confidently recommend it. If you choose this company, take advantage of our Heymondo discount below .

2. SafetyWing , a cheap travel insurance for Japan

SafetyWing is another worthwhile travel insurance for Japan . As I mentioned above, it’s a good choice if you’re more concerned about medical coverage and on a tight budget. SafetyWing’s Nomad Insurance is one of the best cheap travel insurance plans , although it does come with a $250 deductible.

If you’re a digital nomad or staying in Japan for a while to work, this is a convenient insurance policy since it automatically renews every 28 days until you pick an end date. Also, if you’re traveling with family, keep in mind that SafetyWing allows you to add two kids under age 10 to your policy for free.

It’s true that SafetyWing insurance offers fewer trip-related benefits, but it still comes with a decent amount of trip interruption and baggage loss protection. However, it doesn’t cover trip cancellation. Unlike Heymondo , SafetyWing requires you to pay any medical expenses upfront and file a claim for reimbursement.

3. IMG Global , a good Japanese travel insurance for seniors

IMG Global is another Japanese travel medical insurance that stands out mainly because of its variety of plans. For example, its GlobeHopper Senior plan is one of the best travel insurances for seniors , covering individuals up to 99 years old.

There are also policies for families, students, and expats, and IMG offers travel insurance for pre-existing conditions . Whether you’re taking a short trip or planning a longer visit to Japan, you can find a plan that meets your needs.

As for the price of this travel insurance to Japan , it depends on the specific policy and your chosen coverage limits. While this kind of customization is nice to have, it can also drastically increase the price. I recommend reading through the conditions and exclusions to know exactly what’s covered and what’s not.

Overall, IMG’s medical-related coverage is quite good. The company can cover up to 100% of your costs if your trip is canceled (up to 150% if it’s interrupted). However, its baggage protection isn’t as high as that of other companies like Heymondo , and IMG doesn’t pay your medical bills upfront, so you’ll have to file a claim to get reimbursed for out-of-pocket healthcare expenses.

4. Travelex , a basic insurance for travel to Japan

Travelex is another option and a good overall travel insurance for Japan , thanks to its travel and medical-related coverage. It only has two plans to choose from, so you don’t have to stress out about finding the perfect one. However, the policies aren’t as customizable as those with other providers.

The Travel Basic plan includes $15,000 for emergency medical services and $100,000 for repatriation. While the Basic plan is on the cheaper end, it offers a lower amount of coverage. The Travel Select plan costs around $30 more but bumps your coverage to $50,000 and $500,000 for emergency medical and repatriation, respectively. Still, I don’t think this is enough for Japan.

The Select plan can also cover pre-existing conditions with a 60-day look-back period. Moreover, this plan is one of the best travel insurances for families , allowing you to add children aged 1-17 at no additional premium.

However, when you compare Travelex to other insurers like Heymondo , it’s clear that the latter provides excellent protection and coverage limits for around the same price. I would favor Heymondo over Travelex, especially if you’re looking for the best travel insurance for Japan .

5. Trawick International , a great medical travel insurance for Japan

Lastly, Trawick International is another travel health insurance for Japan worth considering. It offers a variety of plans with travel benefits like emergency medical expenses coverage, evacuation and repatriation, and trip interruption protection.

That said, Trawick has limited baggage loss coverage and is better known as a medical-only travel insurance . If you’re a senior traveler or want coverage during your trip for a pre-existing condition, this could be a great option since some plans offer this benefit. Some add-ons, such as rental car coverage and Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR), are also available.

While the trip cancellation and interruption benefits are good, the amount of emergency medical coverage is relatively low. The plan we looked at provides similar coverage to Heymondo but at a higher price. Also, Trawick International doesn’t pay your medical expenses upfront, so you’ll have to pay out of pocket and then file a claim for reimbursement.

Remember, you should look at more than just the price when purchasing health insurance for traveling to Japan . The types of coverage below are must-haves for any policy:

Emergency medical expenses

Emergency medical coverage is the amount your insurer will pay for any doctor’s visits, tests, treatments, and hospitalizations you need if you get sick or hurt. You want this amount to be as high as possible, especially when looking for Japanese travel insurance .

Important ! Read through the conditions and exclusions, so you know exactly which illnesses and incidents are included.

Repatriation & early return

Repatriation will cover the transportation costs involved in sending you back to your home country due to serious illness, injury, or death. This type of coverage is usually included in Japanese travel health insurance , but it’s always a good idea to double-check.

Along the same lines, early return coverage pertains to situations where you must go home early due to an unforeseen event.

Baggage loss, delay & theft

Luggage issues are all too common while traveling, so this type of coverage is a no-brainer. It’s especially important in big cities like Tokyo and Osaka, where pickpockets like to target tourists. Of course, there can also be problems with the airline losing your bags.

Make sure your travel insurance to Japan includes this benefit so you can replace your clothes and toiletries without paying out of pocket. If you’re bringing a laptop or camera gear, check if your policy covers electronic equipment (some companies offer it as an add-on).

Trip interruption & cancellation

Trip interruption coverage amounts vary depending on the provider, but it’s another essential component of the best Japanese travel insurance . If something unexpected interrupts your trip, this benefit will cover the incurring costs for accommodation and meals.

Trip cancellation is not always included in travel insurance for Japan, but it’s well worth adding as an extra. You can learn more about this benefit in our guide to the best trip cancellation insurance . Remember, this isn’t the same as Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) insurance , but I’d look into it if you want the option of canceling your trip and recouping the costs.

Other coverage

Adventure sports protection is another type of coverage you can add to your Japanese travel insurance policy . Activities like scuba diving, whitewater rafting, and bungee jumping fall under this category. Even hiking at high altitudes is considered risky, so I recommend adding this coverage if you plan on participating in extreme sports and activities.

Finally, natural disasters like tsunamis, typhoons, and earthquakes aren’t uncommon in a country like Japan. Including this type of protection in your policy is a good idea .

Now that you know the best Japanese travel insurance companies and what your plan should cover, here are some final tips:

• Look for the best coverage : Rather than focusing on the price of the policy, look at the amount of medical coverage it includes. It’s better to pay a little more for the best coverage. For example, Heymondo isn’t the cheapest option, but it has excellent protection benefits.
• Choose a company that pays your bills upfront : When you get hurt or sick while abroad, you don’t want to think about the medical bills; you just want to get treatment. The best Japanese travel insurance will pay your healthcare expenses upfront so you can focus on recovering. This is another reason why we love Heymondo . Other companies make you pay out of pocket and file lots of paperwork so you can get reimbursed, and in a country like Japan, the prices can be steep.
• Consider the onboarding process and policy contract : An insurer’s website and onboarding process can tell you a lot. Getting a quote should be fast and straightforward. Also, make sure you can read through all the terms and conditions before buying.
• Pay attention to the company’s customer service : This is an integral part of having travel insurance for Japan . No matter the time, you want to be able to contact customer service and get assistance in your language. Heymondo has a convenient 24/7 app to chat with a doctor and access your insurance documents.

If you’re still wondering if travel insurance is worth it for a trip to Japan, my answer is a resounding yes! While Japan is a safe country, it’s impossible to predict the future, so it’s better to be covered for unforeseen injuries, illnesses, and events.

Moreover, if you’re visiting big cities like Tokyo, you risk dealing with pickpockets and thieves. Japan is also known for being a site of natural disasters, particularly strong storms and tsunamis. Having a policy with natural disaster coverage and early return benefits is essential.

Heymondo covers all these things and more, so if you choose this Japanese travel insurance , don’t forget to get 5% off with our Heymondo discount code .

FAQs – Travel insurance in Japan

To finish up, here are some common questions and answers about choosing the best travel insurance for Japan :

Do I need insurance to travel to Japan?

No, you don’t need Japanese travel insurance to visit the country. However, I highly recommend it, especially since healthcare in Japan is so expensive.

What is the best travel insurance for Japan?

Heymondo is the best travel health insurance for Japan because it pays your medical bills upfront. Other excellent options include SafetyWing , IMG Global , Travelex , and Trawick International .

How much is travel insurance for Japan?

Travel insurance for Japan ranges from around $1.50/day to $6/day.

The best travel insurance to Japan should cover emergency medical expenses, repatriation, baggage loss, and trip cancellation.

What’s not covered by travel insurance in Japan?

Most policies don’t include adventure sports or Cancel For Any Reason coverage, but you may be able to add these benefits for an extra fee.

That concludes our guide to the best travel insurance for Japan ! I hope this article helps you pick the perfect plan for your needs so you can enjoy your trip in total confidence. If you have any questions or want to share your experience with one of these Japanese travel insurance companies , please leave me a comment below. I’d love to hear from you!

Stay safe, and have a great time in Japan!

Don't miss a 5% discount on your HeyMondo travel insurance  

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Travel Insurance for your holidays in Japan and abroad

Travel insurance for japan.

If your dream vacation is a trip to Japan, you will want to be sure you can enjoy every moment of it even if things do not go as planned. Discover all the ins and outs with this guide to Japan with travel insurance . Will discuss the details on costs, requirements, essential coverage, COVID-19 restrictions, and some handy tips for your trip.  

• What should your Travel insurance cover for a trip to Japan? 

How does Travel Insurance for Japan work?

How much does travel insurance cost for japan.

• Our Suggested AXA Travel Protection Plan

What types of Medical Conditions do AXA Travel Protection Plans cover?

Any covid-19 restrictions for u.s. visitors, what if i have a pre-existing medical condition, how do axa travel protection plans work, what should your travel insurance cover for a trip to japan.

At a minimum, your travel insurance to Japan should cover trip cancellation, trip interruption and emergency medical expenses. When it comes to international travel, the US Department of State outlines key components that should be included in your travel insurance coverage. AXA Travel Protection plans are designed with these minimum recommended coverages in mind.

• Medical Coverage   – The top priority is making sure your health is in order. With AXA Travel Protection, you can have access to quality healthcare during your trip overseas in the event of unexpected medical emergencies.    
• Trip Cancellation & Interruptions  – Assistance against unexpected trip disruptions can dampen the mood, AXA Travel Protection offers coverage against unforeseen events.   
• Emergency Evacuations and Repatriation   – In situations where transportation is dire, AXA Travel Protection offers provisions for emergency evacuation and repatriation.   
• Coverage for Personal Belongings  – AXA offers coverage for your belongings with assistance against lost or delayed baggage.   
• Optional Cancel for Any Reason  – For added flexibility, AXA offers optional Cancel for Any Reason coverage, allowing you to cancel your trip for non-traditional reasons.  Exclusive to Platinum Plan holders. 

In just a few seconds, you can get a free quote and purchase the best travel insurance for Japan.

Imagine this: you are exploring Japan’s plethora of vending machines in the city of Tokyo. From ramen noodles to exotic drinks, you can’t help but try it all. Suddenly, you feel queasy and uneasy. The snacks from a vending machine must have been spoiled. With AXA Travel Protection, we can help assist or guide you to the nearest hospital. Whether the situation goes from bad to worse, AXA is there to help you create a plan of action. Here’s how travelers can benefit from an AXA Travel Protection Plan:

Medical Benefits: 

• Emergency Medical Expenses: Should you fall ill or have an accident during your trip, your policy may offer coverage for medical expenses, including hospital stays and doctor's fees. 
• Emergency Evacuation & Repatriation: In case of a serious medical emergency, your policy may include provisions for evacuation to the nearest appropriate medical facility or repatriation. 
• Non-Emergency Evacuation & Repatriation : In non-medical crises (e.g., political unrest), your policy may cover evacuation or repatriation, subject to policy terms. 

Baggage Benefits: 

• Luggage Delay: If the airline delays your checked baggage, your policy might offer reimbursement for essential items like clothing and toiletries. 
• Lost or Stolen Luggage: In the unfortunate event of permanent loss or theft of your luggage, your policy may offer reimbursement for its value, assisting you in replacing your belongings. 

Pre-Departure Travel Benefits: 

• Trip Cancellation: You may be eligible for reimbursement if you cancel your trip due to a sudden illness or injury. 
• COVID-19 Travel Insurance: Coverage is available for trip cancellation and medical expenses related to COVID-19, subject to policy terms and conditions. 
• Trip Delay: If your flight faces delays due to unforeseen circumstances, you may have coverage for additional expenses such as meals and accommodations. 

Post-Departure Travel Benefits

• Trip Interruption: In case of an unexpected event, you could be eligible for reimbursement for the unused portion of your trip.
• Missed Connection: If you miss a connecting flight due to delays or cancellations, this coverage may help with expenses like rebooking fees and accommodations.

Additional Optional Travel Benefits:  

• Rental Car (Collision Damage Waiver): Exclusive to Gold & Platinum plan policy holders, this optional benefit gives travelers extra coverage on their rental car against damage and theft. 
• Cancel for Any Reason: Exclusive to Platinum plan policy holders; this optional benefit gives travelers more flexibility to cancel their trip for any reason outside of their standard policy. 
• Loss Skier Days: Exclusive to Platinum plan policy holders, this optional benefit offers reimbursement to mitigate some costs associated with pre-paid ski tickets that you or your traveling companion cannot use due to specified slope closures. 
• Loss Golf Days: Exclusive to Platinum plan policy holders, this optional benefit offers reimbursement to mitigate the expenses linked to prepaid golf arrangements that you or your travel companion are unable to utilize due to specified golf closures. 

In general, travel insurance to Japan costs about 3 – 10% of your total prepaid and non-refundable trip expenses. The cost of travel insurance depends on two factors for AXA Travel Protection plans:

• Total Trip cost:  The total non-prepaid and non-refundable costs you have already paid for your upcoming trip. This includes prepaid excursions, plane tickets, cruise costs, etc. 
• Age:  Like any other insurance type, the correlation is rooted in increased health risks associated with older individuals. It's important to note that this doesn't make travel insurance unattainable for older individuals. 

With AXA Travel Protection, travelers to Japan will be offered three tiers of insurance:  Silver,   Gold  and  Platinum . Each provides varying levels of coverage to cater to individual's preferences and travel needs.

Our suggested AXA Travel Protection Plan

AXA presents travelers with three travel plans – the Silver Plan ,  Gold Plan , and  Platinum Plan , each offering different levels of coverage to suit individual needs. Given that Brazilian hospitals often do not accept U.S. health insurance or Medicare, we genuinely recommend travelers consider purchasing any of these plans, particularly for the crucial coverage they offer for emergency accident and sickness medical expenses. If you're seeking added protection for your Japan adventure, opt for the Platinum Plan. With the optional Cancel for Any Reason addition, enjoy increased flexibility for unforeseen changes in your travel agenda. Plus, Rental Car (Collision Damage Waiver) can offer coverage as you navigate the breathtaking landscapes of Thailand in your rental vehicle.

AXA covers three essential types of medical expenses:

• Emergency Medical
• Emergency evacuation & repatriation 
• Non-medical emergency evacuation & repatriation 

Emergency Medical: Can cover medical expenses, hospital stays, and even emergency evacuations, covering the expenses of hefty bills and ensuring access to quality healthcare while away from home.

Emergency Evacuation and Repatriation: Can cover your immediate transportation home in the event of an accidental injury or illness. 

Non-Medical Emergency Evacuation and Repatriation: Offers assistance in unexpected situations such as political unrest or natural disasters, ensuring safe and timely relocation to a secure location or repatriation back home. 

There are no restrictions related to COVID-19 for U.S. visitors traveling to or from Japan at this time. U.S. travelers will not have to show proof of COVID-19 testing or vaccination records and you do not have to quarantine either. Regulations change regularly, so it is best to double-check right before you go. For up-to-date information on requirements for COVID-19 and other travel restrictions visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan website.

Traveling with pre-existing medical conditions can complicate your plans, but with AXA Travel Protection, we're here to support you during your trip. Our Gold  and Platinum Plans offer coverage for pre-existing medical conditions. The Platinum plan, in particular, is our highest-offered choice for travelers who want our highest coverage limits and optional add-ons Whether your pre-existing medical condition is covered on a travel insurance plan depends on when you were diagnosed with the condition. Any condition you had within 60 days before your policy began is not covered, although if your physician diagnoses you with a condition after the effective date of the policy, your travel insurance coverage applies. NOTE: – Your state of residency may affect your coverage, so be sure to read your policy thoroughly.

Suppose you are traveling from Houston to Japan with a layover in New York City. The snow is pelting down, and the airline cancels your connecting flight in New York. A quick call to AXA's concierge services will get you a referral for a hotel and a ride to get you there. You also get reimbursed for extra expenses like meals, toiletries and other incidental expenses (up to the per-day limit) until you can get a new flight to Japan.

FAQs About International Travel Insurance for Japan

1. can you buy travel insurance after booking a flight.

You can buy travel insurance even after your flight is booked.

2. When should I buy Travel Insurance for Japan?

It's advisable to purchase travel insurance for your trip as soon as you have made your initial trip deposit (prepaid and non-refundable trip costs.) AXA Travel Protection offers coverage as soon as you purchase your protection plan. We can give coverage against unforeseen events before you leave for your trip. Additionally, our policies offer coverage for preexisting medical conditions and Cancel for Any Reason if you purchase your protection within 14 days of making your initial trip deposit.

3. What is needed to visit Japan from the USA?

To visit Japan, you will need a valid passport for the duration of your stay, a visa (unless you are visa-exempt), an onward or return ticket, and a QR code from the Visit Japan Web website . While travel insurance is not required, it is valuable to have.

4. What happens if a tourist gets sick in Japan?

If you become sick in Japan, travelers with AXA Travel protection can contact the AXA Assistance hotline at  855-327-1442 . Contact information is typically provided within the insurance documentation. Please ensure to read through your policy details and information.

5. Does Japan have free health care for travelers?

No. Japan has a public health care system, but it is not available for tourists.

Disclaimer: It is important to note that Destination articles are for editorial purposes only and are not intended to replace the advice of a qualified professional. Specifics of travel coverage for your destination will depend on the plan selected, the date of purchase, and the state of residency. Customers are advised to carefully review the terms and conditions of their policy. Contact AXA Travel Insurance if you have any questions.  AXA Assistance USA, Inc.© 2023 All Rights Reserved.  

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Guide to Travel Insurance

Get the best protection while you're in japan.

Whether you’re traveling abroad for the first time or the tenth time, it can be an unsure experience when it comes to your health. Especially in recent times, people are learning how important it is to have the proper travel health insurance for those times you find yourself injured or under the weather in a foreign country.

Benefits for Japan visitors

From lost luggage to typhoons, there’s plenty to worry about on a trip to Japan. And there’s also plenty to look forward to. So much so that you might overlook something as basic and granted as your health. And while out-of-pocket charges in Japan tend to run cheaper than in the USA (think Canada costs), you might still want to consider travel insurance as a necessity.

Japan enjoys many over-the-counter medicines that other countries do (albeit under different names), so you should be able to find allergy or cold medicine rather easily. But what if it’s something more serious? Developments like the sudden outbreak of COVID-19 had many visitors worried about traveling. Not to mention hospitalization costs add up quickly. Travel insurance can really save your wallet in the long run.

Protection from natural disasters

While health concerns may be the primary reason to invest in travel insurance there are plenty of other reasons to consider it. It’s true that Japan has a very low crime rate and that pocketed wallets aren’t going to be a huge worry—in fact, many people leave their purses and bags on chairs at cafes to “reserve” their seats—but what Japan lacks in crime; nature makes up for.

Typhoon season , in particular, can put a spanner in the works regarding travel plans. With every year seeing the season begin earlier and end later; you can expect train and flight delays, flash flooding, and canceled tours. Typically, typhoon season starts around August and goes on until October, which is also when some truly spectacular festivals are held. The ever-unpredictable earthquakes can also be a source of worry and fear for people unused to them.

This isn’t to say that you have to invest in travel insurance. Ultimately, that decision is up to you and should be based on a number of factors.

Finding an insurance plan

Travel insurance plans come in all shapes in sizes and there is no one-size-fits-all plan. However, you’ll definitely want one that covers the basics at least.

• Valid in Japan : That is the most basic of basic and there aren’t any major plans that exclude Japan.
• Cancellation coverage : You want to make sure that the plan covers any canceled reservations and plane tickets.
• Full medical coverage : Your plan should cover all necessary medical expenses including in and outpatient procedures, ambulance rides, and even evacuation needs if you require being flown back to your home country.
• Gear or luggage coverage : Just because theft is rare in Japan doesn’t mean that it’s nonexistent. And if you’re traveling with expensive gear such as cameras or sports equipment, you’ll want to make sure that it’s insured.
• Dangerous activity coverage : If you’re planning on doing some extreme sports while in Japan, you’ll definitely need this coverage as most average plans don’t cover scuba diving, skiing, or other sports injuries.
• Proof of insurance : In our world of electronic documents, it may seem enough to have an email confirmation or picture of insurance. But you’ll need a hard copy or printed document showing that you have proof of insurance or risk being turned away when you ask for help.

Travel insurance providers

No matter where you’re from, these three travel insurance providers are bound to have coverage for you:

Atlas Travel Insurance

Atlas Travel Insurance covers all the basics and provides assurance that you’re being looked out for. Travel with peace of mind with dental and health insurance as well as evacuation coverage in the case that you need to return to your home country for treatment. It also covers lost luggage.

Safety Wing

You can get Safety Wing medical coverage even if your journey has already begun. Not to mention, you can get coverage for the whole family, children included. Safety Wing includes unforeseen troubles like travel delay, lost checked luggage, natural disasters, and more.

World Nomads

World Nomads insurance is tailored for the thrill-seekers and adventurers of the world. Those who enjoy extreme sports and more daring experiences might do well to look into the coverage offered by World Nomads. It also does more than cover your health, it also takes care of your gear and luggage.

• Essential Guides

Serena Ogawa @serena.ogawa

Associate Editor for Japan Travel.

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• Super fast claims via their 100% digital platform with a helpful mobile app
• Faye makes it easy to add-on coverage for vacation rentals, adventure/extreme sports, pet emergencies, and “cancel for any reason” at competitive prices
• Underwritten by Crum & Forster, Faye is known for its exceptional customer support, with 4.8/5 stars on Trustpilot

• SwiftScore Our SwiftScore is a unique and proprietary insurance ranking system objectively comparing key metrics which are most important to travelers. Learn more at the end of this page.

BEST POLICY FOR

Travelers Aged 55+

• Pre-existing medical conditions are covered for a reasonable fee and they offer “cancel for any reason” as an add-on
• $2,000 COVID quarantine coverage available w/ Safe Travels Voyager plan
• Founded in 1998 and underwritten by Nationwide and GBG Insurance

BEST WEBSITE FOR

Filtering Plans

• This comparison website has the most comprehensive filters especially for Covid-19 which helps you search for the specific benefits you need
• They have “Zero Complaint Guarantee” which promises a fair claims process
• Established in 2003, Squaremouth has consistently been recognized for it’s exceptional customer service

BEST POLICY FROM

An Established Brand

• Well rounded, inexpensive travel insurance plans from an established and top rated global insurance company
• AXA has plans that cover pre-existing conditions and their “Platinum” plan covers “cancel for any reason” with an optional add-on. They also offer helpful 24/7 Worldwide Travel Assistance Services
• Founded in 1959 and underwritten by Nationwide

Family Travel

• Their “Trip Interruption for any Reason” feature allows you to get a 75% reimbursement for any additional expenses if you decide to go home early from your trip
• They have a variety of insurance products to suit any travel needs
• Founded in 1993 and underwritten by Nationwide Insurance

$521 Per Year

Long-term Travel

• Ideal for digital nomads and long-term travel, available to anyone anywhere
• Scored lower because short-term travel coverage isn’t as robust as competitors
• Founded in 2018 and is underwritten by Lloyds of London

CAN YOU CANCEL YOUR TRIP FOR ANY REASON?

Japan travel insurance FAQs

What is the best travel insurance company.

Currently, there are 22 trusted and well-established travel insurance providers. The best way to determine which can offer you the best plan for your vacation to Japan is to use a comparison website. I like Withfaye .com since it only features policies from the most reputable companies and has good customer service. I also find their filters helpful in sorting through plans to determine which ones suit my needs.

How long will my Japan travel insurance plan be valid?

This depends on the type of plan that you purchase. Single-trip travel insurance will cover you from when you leave home for your vacation to Japan until you get home. That said, policies that do not include trip cancellation coverage are called International Medical policies. These plans often provide coverage for 1 year, but some you can renew for up to 3 years. Annual travel insurance plans provide medical care and evacuation coverage for multiple trips within the space of a year.

I’m healthy and in shape. Do I still need trip insurance?

Regardless of how healthy or fit you may be, trip insurance protects you financially against unforeseen events and accidents, such as injuries, sudden illnesses, trip cancellations, and lost, stolen, or damaged luggage. Having the right policy in place before you leave on your vacation to Japan will put you at ease, knowing that your investment in your trip is covered.

Where can I find the cheapest trip insurance plan?

I’ve noticed that the cheapest plan doesn’t always suit a traveler’s insurance needs. Therefore, I recommend using a comparison site like Withfaye.com and applying the necessary filters to determine the best-priced policy that meets your coverage requirements.

What is Trip Interruption coverage, and how does it work?

Trip Interruption applies to unexpected events that lead to you having to end your vacation early and go home. These are usually significant incidents, such as terrorist attacks, termination from your job, natural disasters, or the passing, illness, or injury of your or any other traveler insured on your policy. Your Trip Interruption benefits are calculated based on your “total trip cost” (see the next FAQ below) and become active as soon as your Japan vacation begins, which is why trip insurance providers classify them as “post-departure” benefits.

How is “total trip cost” defined when it comes to insurance?

Travel insurance companies calculate your Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption benefits based on your “total trip cost,” so you must list it correctly on your policy application. For this reason, never list your total trip cost below what it is to get a cheaper plan. If you do not list it accurately, you will be deemed ineligible for the benefits should you ever need them. To calculate “total trip cost,” add up the full cost for your prepaid, non-refundable expenses for your Japan trip. These include airfare, cruise fees, hotels, ground transportation, retreats, tours, event tickets, activities, classes and other entertainment. Remember to factor in everything you’ve paid for in advance, for which you cannot get a 100% refund should you need to cancel. Also, you must include any penalties you’d incur if you cancel, regardless of whether you prepaid or not.

Does travel insurance coverage extend to the death of a relative?

This will depend on the travel insurance policy you decide to purchase. Some plans offer more comprehensive coverage than others. For example, with the cheapest plans, your provider may not offer bereavement benefits if the cause of the death is a pre-existing condition or suicide. On the other hand, many policies with higher rates will reimburse you, irrespective of the reason for death. Always read the full details of any plan before purchasing to ensure it will give you the coverage you need and want. You will also want to look into how each travel insurance company defines “covered relatives.” Do “covered relatives” include grandparents? In-laws? Siblings? Aunts and uncles? What about pets? Be sure you understand this before you buy a policy, as it differs between providers.

Will travel insurance protect me against vacation rentals that go wrong?

Depending on your trip insurance plan and provider, you may be eligible for Trip Interruption or Trip Cancellation benefits in such situations. Remember that the more expensive policies will generally cover it. For added protection, you can buy a “Cancel for Any Reason” (CFAR) upgrade package, which will reimburse 50-75% of the cost.

Most common problems while traveling in Japan and how to avoid them:

Travelers in Japan have much less to worry about with respect to illnesses than they would if they were vacationing in tropical and subtropical destinations. Typical ailments usually include the flu, the common cold, and food poisoning. Be aware that the summer is monsoon season, which means hot, humid, and rainy weather. Stay hydrated and well-rested. Otherwise, you run the risk of fainting and experiencing heat stroke. Should you come down with any illness, you can rest easy knowing that Japan has a world-class medical system. Depending on where you are in the country, you may want to have an oral translation app on your phone. You can also visit Japan Hospital Search , which provides helpful information about Japanese medical services and “International Hospitals” throughout the country.

Traveling around Japan is safe and convenient. That said, most tourist-related accidents and injuries are commonplace, such as tripping and falling, car accidents (they drive on the left side of the road) or any injuries resulting from adventure or outdoor activities. When it comes to the latter, it’s worth noting that the Japanese are very thorough when it comes to heeding safety protocols.

Japan consistently ranks within the top 10 safest countries in the world. Muggings are very uncommon. In fact, the Japanese have such tremendous regard for other people’s possessions that they quickly turn them into the police or a business’ lost and found. That said, it’s always good to be aware of your belongings, no matter where you are.

Emergency resources for Japan

Phone numbers.

To reach the police in Japan, dial 112. To contact fire, ambulance, and emergency services, dial 119. Since you may have difficulty getting an English speaker, here is a handy guide that shares how to communicate your problem in Japanese, including a pronunciation key.

US embassy or consulate details

The US has an embassy in Tokyo. There are also consulates in Fukuoka, Nagoya, Naha, Osaka, and Sapporo. Their addresses, phone numbers, and information about citizen services are all available on the website .

Other local knowledge that is helpful for travelers:

Accommodations.

Japan offers travelers a wide selection of accommodations to suit various preferences and budgets. From international and Japanese luxury hotels to business hotels, traditional Japanese inns (ryokan) , hostels, capsule hotels , and vacation rentals. One thing that most tourists in Japan can be caught off-guard by is that hotels charge by night and by person too. The same is true for ryokan, but it seems to make more sense since your stay includes meals. I mention this just in case you are traveling as a couple or family since it might make more sense to book a vacation rental. Ryokan are scattered about the countryside and in popular mountain towns. Ryokan perpetuate one of the most admirable qualities of traditional Japanese culture: omotenashi (ensuring the customer comes first). Most have tatami mat rooms where guests sleep on elegant and comfortable Japanese mattresses, but some also offer western-style rooms. They are known for serving guests exquisite local and seasonal food, typically in the form of kaiseki, a multi-course meal of small plates. Locals and visitors love onsen ryokan, which are ryokan with natural hot spring baths. They offer guests calm and soothing environments to soak in the various baths. However, you must observe strict onsen etiquette, so be sure to study before arriving . The most important thing to remember is that most onsen prohibit people with tattoos from using any public baths. (Some rooms come with private baths.) This is because the Japanese have long associated tattoos with those involved in organized crime. And since one must get fully naked at onsen, even those with the tiniest body art will be asked to leave. Nevertheless, more and more onsen are now accepting guests with tattoos, so if this is you, a quick internet search will yield plenty of options.

Communication

You can easily find high-speed internet in all major Japanese cities and airports. Additionally, all Japan Rail East and West trains offer up to 3 free hours of WiFi service. Furthermore, as do many parts of Tokyo, downtown Kyoto has free public WiFi. You can check out the availability map and login instructions here . Finally, if you can’t seem to find a nearby WiFi connection, Mcdonald’s and Starbucks locations throughout Japan will let you get online for free. As for your accommodation, always determine in advance whether it has free WiFi access. Many places, even major hotels, charge for the service. If you need consistent and reliable internet access, consider renting a WiFi hotspot at the airport upon arrival. Using online calling and messaging apps that can run off WiFi is much more affordable than using an international roaming plan from your US-based mobile carrier. That said, if your phone is unlocked, you can purchase a Japanese SIM card at the airport.

Japan is a predominantly cash-based society, so having plenty of it on hand is essential for your visit to Japan. The country’s currency is the yen. The Japanese pronounce it ‘en’ (silent y), whose currency symbol is ¥. They use a mix of coins and bills. The smallest denomination for banknotes is ¥1,000. The other most frequently used denominations are ¥5,000 and ¥10,000. Unlike in the US, where we have separate names for our bills (dollars) and our coins (cents), in Japan, they have only one word for both notes and coins (yen). You will find ¥1, ¥5, ¥10, ¥50, ¥100, and ¥500 coins. If you don’t want pounds of loose change filling your pockets or floating around your bag daily, I recommend bringing a coin purse. While many businesses throughout the country do not accept credit and debit cards, ATMs abound. You will find them at bank branches and in thousands of 7-11s and post offices across the country (Japan Post). Withdrawing cash with your American debit card will get you the best exchange rate, even when factoring in bank fees. Remember to notify your US bank of your travel dates for Japan before leaving home. If you don’t, you risk having your card blocked for “suspicious activity.”

Food & Drink

Japan is known worldwide for its healthy and tasty cuisine ( washoku ). From a US$5 bowl of ramen to a several-course Michelin-starred meal, there are plenty of options for all budgets and preferences. During your time in the “Land of the Rising Sun,” be sure to try some of the favorite national dishes, including sushi and sashimi, okonomiyaki , kare-raisu (curry rice), ramen, tempura , udon and soba noodles, gyoza , mochi (rice cakes) and more. National drinks include matcha , sake , amazake , shochu and umeshu . 

Remember that most meals come with chopsticks; if you order a soup or curry, expect a meal-appropriate spoon. Forks and knives are sometimes available, particularly in restaurants in large cities popular among tourists, such as Tokyo, Kyoto or Osaka. Don’t be shy to ask! Knowing how to use chopsticks will make your life easier, so consider practicing before you leave for your vacation in Japan. For restaurant etiquette, see the Local Customs section below.

You can’t mention Japanese cuisine without talking about the tens of thousands of convenience stores ( konbini ) that offer a bounty of pre-made meals that go far beyond the greasy pizza slices and bags of chips typical of those in the US. From freshly made sandwiches to onigiri , bento boxes , sushi, smoothies, parfaits, salads and steamed chicken, you can eat well and cheaply by making a quick stop at the nearest 7-11, Lawson or FamilyMart. 

Vending machines are even more prolific than convenience stores, which total well into the millions. While Japanese vending machines sell everything from batteries to condoms, food and drink-centric machines dominate. You can purchase anything from fruit and vegetables to hot meals, hot drinks, sushi, milk, sake, beer, sandwiches, ice cream, snacks, instant ramen and eggs. 

Just note that vending machines all tend to be in Japanese, so you may need to ask a passerby for help. Simple pointing and showing them your money should be enough to get someone to help you. To be safe, always have exact change, as many machines do not give change.

Getting Around

Japan is the land of punctual, fast and clean nationwide transportation with an incredible network of buses, trains and ferries. They make getting around the Land of the Rising Sun pleasant and efficient.

There are, of course, some caveats. Avoid using trains during rush hour (8-9:30 am and 5-7 pm) unless you enjoy squeezing into trains like sardines in a can. Another thing to be mindful of is that the last trains in Tokyo usually run between midnight and 1 am. If you need to catch two or more trains back to your accommodation, get on the first one by 11 pm, so you don’t miss your transfer. Finally, always know when the last train is, wherever you are, or you risk having to fork out a significant amount of money on a taxi.

Also, you may notice pink signs plastered to the train platforms with times listed on them. These designate that the train car (usually the last) is only for women (and children) during the specified hours. Due to the problem of women getting groped on packed trains, the government and private train companies stepped up to create this safe alternative. 

Bullet trains, known as shinkansen , are the quickest way to travel between the country’s largest cities. You can reach nearly every populated part of Japan with local buses. Moreover, long-distance “ highway buses ” also offer that same level of connectivity but at a much slower pace and lower price. 

Since Japan is a nation of islands, its ferry network is extensive. Ferries transport people, bicycles and cars. It costs approximately ¥100 per hour of travel time to bring a bike onboard. The price for transporting a car includes the driver’s fare but not for other passengers. While ferries may seem appealing, finding English-speaking staff, including ticketing agents, can be challenging. You can check a complete national listing for ferries here .

Of course, if you’re comfortable driving on the left side of the road and feeling adventurous, renting a car can be a fun option instead of mass transit if you’re in Hokkaido or Okinawa. Otherwise, be prepared to move about on highways that lack scenery at very slow speeds. Even though rental car fees are reasonable, finding parking can be a challenge, not to mention the steep tolls and parking fees you’ll need to pay. 

It’s safer and simpler to rent cars at large railway stations than at the airport or in major cities since navigating one’s way through confusing urban highways and countless on- and off-ramps can be stressful. To drive in Japan, you will need your US driver’s license and an International Driver’s Permit, which you can apply for via mail or at your local AAA office . 

While you can book rental cars through international companies such as Hertz, Avis or Budget, you’ll most likely pick up your vehicle from a local partner company (as noted on your reservation). You will get a better rate if you book directly with one of the many popular Japanese companies like Nissan Rentacar, Toyota Rentacar, Nippon Rentacar, and more.

The official language of Japan is Japanese. Foreigners often find Japanese grammar confusing, but it’s simpler than English. For example, there is no difference between singular and plural nouns. And unlike most European languages, no feminine and masculine articles (for nouns) require memorization. Additionally, there are only a few exceptions to the verb and adjective conjugation rules, making it as straightforward as possible. Nevertheless, Japanese speakers adjust their words and expressions to suit the status of the person they speak with. This includes choosing the appropriate pronouns since, for example, there are multiple options for “I” or “you” based on the status and relationship of the people involved. Moreover, people use different language when speaking with their bosses or strangers as they do with their friends. For instance, in many restaurants and hotels, staff speak keigo, an honorific style of language, to their guests. Written Japanese is a bit more complex, as there are three different character sets. The easiest is hiragana, followed by katakana and kanji, the most difficult. Kanji comprises many thousands of Chinese characters. The good news is that pronunciation is relatively easy. The biggest question on tourists’ minds is whether they’ll be able to get by without knowing Japanese. The answer, of course, depends on where you plan to travel in Japan. If you’re sticking to the most popular cities, such as Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima, you should be OK. However, arm yourself with some essential Japanese words and phrases outside these cities. Either way, doing your best to use even a tiny bit of the language is a great sign of respect. Here are a few to get you started:

• konnichiwa (こんにちは) – hello / good afternoon
• ohayo- gozaimasu (おはようございます) – good morning
• konbanwa (こんばんは) – good evening
• sayo-nara (さようなら) – goodbye
• hai (はい) – yes
• ee-eh (いいえ) – no 
• mizu (水) – water
• kohii (コーヒー) – coffee
• dorippu kohii (ドリップコーヒー) – drip coffee
• kafe rate (カフェラテ) – café latte 
• esupuresso (エスプレッソ) – espresso
• soy miruku (ソイミルク) – soy milk
• kudasai  (ください) – please
• ____ o kudasai (__をください) – I would like____, please.
• arigato gozaimasu (ありがとうございます)  – thank you
• sumimasen (すみません) – excuse me
• gomen-nasai (御免なさい) – sorry
• wakarimasen (わかりません) – I don’t understand.
• O-tearai wa doko desu ka? (お手洗いはどこですか?) – Where is the restroom/toilet?

Younger Japanese adults and anyone working in tourism will likely be more conversant in English than the average person walking down the street. Sometimes, if you ask a random Japanese person a question or for help, they might wave you off, not because they are trying to be rude, but because they are embarrassed about not being able to speak English or knowing the answer to your question. Their response is more about saving face than anything. Be aware that when Japanese people speak English, their Ls and Rs often sound similar, so be patient and appreciative of their efforts.

Local Customs & Other Essential Information

Japan is one of the most polite countries you will ever visit, and the people place much importance on having proper manners. Japan’s culture revolves around trying not to impose on or inconvenience others. As a result, being mindful of your surroundings at all times is necessary. A typical example of rude behavior is blocking walkways and doorways with your luggage or your body. The Japanese also view walking and eating as inconsiderate (unless you’re at a street food market). Smoking is quite commonplace in Japan. Interestingly, you can smoke in many restaurants but smoking outdoors is restricted to designated areas where ashtrays are provided. Public displays of affection are also very uncommon, even amongst the younger generations. You may occasionally see a couple holding hands, but this is not the norm. Don’t be surprised if you see a couple standing and waiving on a train platform less than a foot from each other. Therefore, keep your public displays of affection to a minimum and know that kissing in public is an absolute no-no. Another practice that strikes American visitors as odd is the apparent absence of trash cans in public. Convenience stores, train stations, and designated recycling bins will have some. In general, people carry their trash with them until they can dispose of it at home or the office. You must follow specific rules when visiting Buddhist temples or Shinto Shrines. The first is not to take photographs inside any buildings. However, taking pictures on temple or shrine grounds is usually permitted. When in doubt, inquire with members of staff. Second, remove your shoes before entering temple buildings. If you are wearing a hat, you must remove that as well. Most temples and shrines have shoe racks. Be aware that you have to wear socks inside at all times. Third, dress conservatively since these are sacred sites cherished by the Japanese. Appropriate attire means wearing long pants or skirts (knees covered), shirts that cover the shoulders, and, if you’re wearing socks, make sure they are clean and presentable. Japanese dining etiquette also presents a whole other set of expectations and practices. Learning the basics will help you have a more pleasant experience. Culture requires you to formally thank your server or host (arigato gozaimasu) and show appreciation for the food and its presentation. You can also compliment your host by slurping your noodles and soup. Moreover, being polite in Japan means taking small, manageable bits, eating all of your food, and learning chopstick and drink-pouring etiquette . Be careful to avoid eating directly from communal plates (always bring the food to your plate), disassembling your meal, putting your elbows on the table or talking louder than the local patrons.

The Japanese do not tip. In fact, most consider it rude to do so. If you ever leave a tip on a table in a restaurant, your server or another staff member may run after you to give it back, thinking you forgot it. Some workers may reluctantly receive your tip, but only so they don’t have to explain why it’s culturally inappropriate or feel like they are being inconsiderate towards you. (Japanese speakers of English do not abound as they may in other Asian countries.) While the Japanese do not practice tipping, you may notice an extra charge on your bill (check) of ¥300-¥1,000 when you eat in restaurants or cafés, particularly in an izakaya (pub). This is known as a table charge or otoshidai. It’s similar to the service charges you often find added to your restaurant bills in other countries. You can usually tell if you will find a table charge on your check by whether or not your server brings you a small dish or snack upon being seated. Even though tipping is not something Japanese people do, the country has a strong gift culture. For example, if you plan to join a tour or a class, you may want to bring small gifts from home that are “American” to thank your guide or teacher. Doing so will be met with deep appreciation.

What to pack for Japan

Apart from Travel Insurance, we recommend you bring the following items for maximum health, safety and enjoyment of your trip to Japan.

A final note about travel insurance for Japan

I have spent dozens of hours researching travel insurance, including getting quotes and comparing coverage from all the most popular brands. Regardless of where you’re going I am confident that you will also find that Withfaye.com offers the best way to compare policies with the ideal combo of coverage and price.

I wish you and yours an incredible journey.

SwiftScore Ranking Methodology

• Average price for a 2-week vacation based on a 35-year-old California resident traveling to Japan with a $3,500 trip cost
• Coronavirus coverage
• Cancel for any reason (CFAR)
• AM Best rating of the underwriter
• Key policy details including cancellation, interruption, emergency medical evacuation, and baggage & personal effects
• Ease of sign up
• Policy language clarity
• User reviews

How To Choose Your Japan Travel Insurance (2024 Guide)

By: Author Sylvia

Posted on Last updated: January 22, 2024

Wondering if you need Japan travel insurance?

It’s a question we often get and the quick answer to this question is YES.

Although chances are small that you will encounter any problems while traveling in Japan, it’s better to be safe than sorry. 

In this post, we answer a lot of questions you may have about travel insurance and healthcare in Japan.

We also compare two popular travel/medical insurances to see which is the best travel insurance for your Japan trip.

We retained SafetyWing and HeyMondo for this comparison because they’re available worldwide.  There’re certainly many more travel medical insurances but they’re usually only available in one country and it would obviously not be possible to discuss them all in this post.

Are you older than 69 but still feel far too young to stay at home? We are happy to hear that and couldn’t agree more! Many insurance policies only offer coverage up to age 69, but fortunately there are others as well. In this overview we included VisitorsCoverage . They offer coverage from age 14 days to 99 years.

Good preparation is very important when taking out travel medical insurance.

Therefore we do recommend comparing the prices and coverage of SafetyWing , HeyMondo , and VisitorsCoverage with other insurances that are available in your home country. 

We also did this and noticed that those insurances are usually more expensive than the ones we discuss here and they don’t necessarily offer better coverage. 

But first, let us take a look at some questions you might have about your health insurance in Japan.

There is a really good chance that this post contains affiliate links. If you click one of them, we may receive a small commission (for which we are deeply grateful) at no extra cost to you.

We updated this post in February 2023.

Table of Contents

Is Healthcare Expensive in Japan?

Healthcare isn’t too expensive for Japanese residents since they have a national health insurance scheme.  This covers all Japanese nationals, although a small fraction do not enjoy this benefit.

As a foreigner, you will have to pay the full price if you haven’t taken out travel insurance.

When you get ill and need to seek medical help, or in the worst case, go to the hospital, the medical bill could turn out very expensive. 

Tourists pay at least double, and sometimes the fourfold of Japanese.

The website of Japan Health says the average cost for the first consultation at a clinic is between 20,000 and 50,000 yen ( 182 USD – 450 USD).

We have also heard stories about hospitals that won’t even treat you if you don’t have proof of insurance.

Does My Health Insurance Work in Japan?

This is another question that many people ask.

Many people think that their healthcare insurance covers them internationally.

Unfortunately, that’s not true.

Most regular health insurances stop at the border.

In some rare cases, care providers have partnered up with international insurance companies.

Although this is more the exception than the rule you could always contact your local insurance company to check if they provide coverage in Japan.

Make sure to request some proof of your health insurance if it provides cover for Japan.  Hospitals are often reluctant to treat foreigners if they’re not sure they have proper insurance.

Having proof of insurance is really crucial in Japan.  It will save you from a lot of trouble and it will ensure you get the care you need a lot faster. 

Is Having Japan Travel Insurance Worth The Cost?

Travel Insurance, like any other form of insurance, is something that you rather not need.

But you know you will kick yourself if you don’t have insurance at the moment that you need it.  

It’s all about peace of mind.

I learned my lesson in the United States.

I once had to pay high out-of-pocket expenses there because I was not properly insured and I don’t want to end up in the same scenario again. 

Healthcare in Japan is not as expensive as in the United States but the last thing you want to hear in the hospital is that they won’t start treating you before they have been able to swipe your credit card.  Certainly not in a life-threatening situation.

These days we always take out travel insurance before we leave on vacation.  Our advice is for you to do the same.  It’s absolutely worth the cost and you will be glad you did in case things go awry.

Good travel insurance doesn’t only cover medical costs but also things like theft and travel inconveniences.

As a result, it is not only useful if you have health problems, but it can also provide a more comfortable journey.

Document Everything

This is something that many people forget but it is crucial if you want to be reimbursed by your travel insurance.

You need to document everything that you may eventually want to be reimbursed.

This means you need to have receipts of costs you made regarding your accident or your illness. 

Keep all the paperwork and all the receipts and take pictures of it so you have an online backup.  You make your claim online so you will need a digital copy eventually anyway.

Remember, the more proof you have the better.

You should also keep the purchase receipts of your phone, laptop, camera gear and other valuables that you take with you when you travel.  In case they get lost or stolen you will need these as proof that you bought them (and for how much).

You will also need proof that you had them with you.  Therefore we recommend taking pictures of the contents of your bags or some pictures with your gear at your vacation destination.

Lastly, the insurance companies will ask for a police report in case of theft so don’t forget to stop by the police.

When To Buy Travel Insurance For Your Japan Trip?

Although all three insurance companies allow you to subscribe to their insurance when you’re already abroad (many don’t!), we recommend not waiting that long.

The insurance only covers things that happen after you’ve bought it. 

Therefore it’s best to buy your insurance as soon as your dates are fixed and you’ve bought your plane tickets.

HeyMondo and VisitorsCoverage both cover trip cancellations. If for some reason you need to cancel your trip after you’ve bought your tickets you know you’re covered and you will be reimbursed.

What To Look For In A Travel Insurance Policy For Japan?

Valid in japan.

First things first, it’s of course of utmost importance that Japan is covered by your travel insurance.

We know of no travel insurance that excludes Japan but obviously you should check this before you subscribe.

Pre-Trip Cancellation

Pre-trip cancellation is included in most but not all policies.  (It’s not included with SafetyWing)

We really advise taking out insurance where this is included as a trip to Japan can be rather expensive.

Although it’s not fun when you have to cancel your upcoming Japan trip, it’s even less fun when you cannot recover the money you already spent.

HeyMondo and VisitorsCoverage both cover trip cancellation. If for some reason you need to cancel your trip after you’ve bought your tickets you know you’re covered and you will be reimbursed.

Proof Of Insurance

As we already mentioned above, Japanese hospitals and clinics will often ask for proof of insurance before they start treatment. 

Therefore we advise you to double-check that the insurance plan will provide a document that clearly states that you are insured.  Carry this on you during your trip so that you can show it when required.

Medical Emergencies And Evacuation

This is, of course, the primary reason to take out Japan travel insurance.  This is a crucial aspect of your insurance policy.

Cheaper policies often have low limits. 

If you become hospitalized in countries such as Japan where the healthcare costs are relatively expensive you can quickly hit those limits and you would end up paying huge sums yourself despite your travel insurance.

When comparing different policies definitely check the limits on medical expenses, the areas of cover for emergency evacuations, cover for emergency dental work, etc.

If you take out travel insurance it’s better to pay slightly more for a good cover than a cheap alternative that lets you down when you need it.

We also advise you to carefully check the general exclusions.

Baggage And Personal Belongings

Although Japan is one of the safest countries we ever traveled to, theft can always happen.  You can also forget something or it can be damaged by accident. There are also occasions when the airline loses your luggage.

Good travel insurance also covers these things.  Make sure to check if this is included and up to what amount you can be compensated for loss or theft.

This is especially important if you are traveling with camera gear, a laptop, or other valuables.

Some insurances have an option to increase the coverage limit for an extra fee.  If you have expensive phones, cameras or other electronics it may be worthwhile to increase the limits if you want the amounts you receive to be anywhere near what you need to replace your goods.

Natural Disaster

Although chances are slim that something will happen while you are on holiday, Japan sometimes gets hit by an earthquake or a typhoon.

So we advise you to check what your travel insurance covers when a natural disaster happens.

Especially when you are traveling during August and September since this is the season that you have the biggest risk of seeing your travel plans ruined by a typhoon.

Dangerous Activities

Some activities are seen as dangerous and are excluded.

You can be amazed at what, at first glance, innocent activities are on this exclusion list in your travel insurance policy.

Here’s a non-exhaustive list of things that you can find excluded in some policies:  skiing, scuba diving, climbing (eg. Mt. Fuji ), snow scooter trips, and more.

Many of those activities are covered if they’re done as a guided tour but we advise, once you have fixed all your plans, to check them with your travel insurance policy to be sure you’re covered.

What’s The Best Travel Insurance For Japan

It’s not easy to point out the best travel insurance for Japan since a lot will depend on what’s important to you and the activities you want to do. 

When we looked for insurance ourselves, we came across the insurance of HeyMondo and SafetyWing. 

If you want even more options look at VisitorsCoverage , this a highly-rated insurance broker with a wide selection of policies for everybody aged 14 days to 99 years.

Both companies offer policies for a single trip, allow you to purchase or extend your policy while you are traveling and have 24/7 support.

HeyMondo Travel Insurance 

Heymondo was born with the mission to make travel insurance easy.

The company was established in February 2017 and currently, we already serve half a million travelers a year.

They not only take care of finding and offering you the insurance that best suits you, but they also provide you with all the support you need.

Pros And Cons Of HeyMondo

Below we list the pros and cons of HeyMondo travel insurance.

Pros Of HeyMondo

Available to everyone.

HeyMondo Travel Insurance plans cover people from all over the world, regardless of your country of residence.

Competitive Pricing

They provide a lot of coverage for a fair price.

You can choose between the HeyMondo Top and the slightly more expensive HeyMonodo Premium Package which has a higher coverage.

You can also opt for Medical coverage only.

You always get a detailed quote that clearly shows what’s covered.

Family Policies

Going on a family trip? No worries, their policies include coverage for families and children.

Easily Purchased

You can purchase your policy online in a few minutes.

You just need to choose between a single trip and multi trips in one year, fill out the country or countries you are traveling to, your country of residence, the start and end date of your trip, the number of travelers, and your email address.

After you have entered this information you immediately receive a detailed quote.

It couldn’t be easier. 

Can Be Purchased While You Are Already At Your Destination

Yes, you can purchase HeyMondo Travel Insurance while you are already at your destination.

The only thing you should bear in mind is that a 72-hour grace period will apply from the date of purchase until the insurance takes effect.

Just don’t forget to check the box that says “Already abroad” on the dates field.

A Wide Range of Adventure Activities

The Heymondo travel insurance plans already cover numerous adventure activities such as jet skiing, kayaking, snowmobiling, hiking and even trekking at an altitude below 3000 meters.

If you add the adventure sports add on a whole range of more adventurous sports such as white-water rafting, canyoning, diving, some underwater activities, horse riding, climbing, fencing, caving at depths of less than 150 meters, water skiing, fly surfing, kitesurfing, bicycle touring, mountain biking, quad biking, rafting, abseiling, bungee jumping, survival, trekking at altitudes of up to 5,000 meters and any activity of similar characteristics are included.

Carefully read the policy to see what is and isn’t included.

Note that skiing is never included.

24-Hour Assistance Services

Through the HeyMondo App, you can request assistance (via phone or chat) 24/7 at no cost.

Going On A Cruise

Are you making a cruise in Japan?

Then you can opt for the cruise add-on.

With this add-on, you are also covered while traveling on a cruise ship, for any medical assistance you may need on board.

Cons Of HeyMondo

Heymondo scores 4.3 on Trustpilot.

You can also find lots of bad reviews regarding just about every travel insurance company. 

This is mostly because those people have the wrong expectations about their insurance.  

They take out insurance, they don’t check the policy in detail, and they expect that they’re covered for everything.

We don’t want you to have a bad experience so we want to set those expectations straight. 

This is a list of things that are not covered and can be seen as negative for HeyMondo.

No Possibility To Upgrade Your Policy Once It Has Been Issued

You can’t upgrade your cover once the policy has been issued. 

No Possibility To Extend Your Policy Once It Has Been Issued

Only the Heymondo Long Stay insurance gives you the possibility to extend your coverage up to a maximum of 12 consecutive months.

If you have another type of single-trip insurance, you will have to take out new insurance for the dates that you are going to extend your trip.

Be careful to do so at least three days before the old policy expires since there is a 72-hour “grace period” until your new policy takes effect when buying when you are already abroad.

You May Have To Pay Extra For Certain Adventure Activities

If you plan on doing what is considered more extreme adventure activities, you may have to upgrade your travel policy to be covered.

Carefully check the policy to see what is and isn’t included.

When You Take Needless Risks You Aren’t Covered

HeyMondo covers a wide range of adventure activities but one condition is that you never put yourself at needless risk during these activities.

Drugs Or Alcohol Injuries And Illnesses Aren’t Covered

This is not different from any other insurance.  Drugs and alcohol are a big no. 

If you have an accident or injure yourself or somebody else when you are under the influence you will not be reimbursed.

Non-Emergency Treatment That Can Wait Until You Return Home

Inpatient treatment check-ups and continuing treatment of chronic conditions abroad is not covered.

Sexually transmitted diseases

Syphilis and AIDS are not covered.

Pre-Existing Medical Conditions

This is also typical for all insurances. 

Any pre-existing medical conditions are not covered under this policy.

Ongoing Treatment At Home

The insurance only covers the costs abroad.  The costs of ongoing treatments once at home are no longer covered by your travel insurance.

Lower Coverage For Electronics

Electronic coverage is for your electronic equipment (laptop, tablet, camera, and the like and its accessories) up to 50% of the baggage coverage in case of theft, as well as for total or partial loss due to the carrier, or damage as a result of fire or assault. 

The limits are however on the low side and probably won’t be enough to cover the replacement costs if you’re traveling with expensive gear.

• Single trip: general limit of 69 years, except for trips lasting more than 30 days, which is lowered to 49 years.
• Long Stay general limit of 49 years.
• Annual multi-trip: general limit of 49.

HeyMondo Travel Insurance Conclusion

HeyMondo offers travel insurance at a fair price in line with the coverage they provide. 

Although already a lot of sports are included you can add the adventure sports add-on to get more coverage.

Get your free quote now: HeyMondo

SafetyWing Insurance 

SafetyWing also started in 2017.

SafetyWing’s travel medical insurance is underwritten by Tokio Marine, one the of largest and most solid insurance companies in the world.

This makes it a very reliable solution if you’re looking for trusted and affordable insurance. 

Even if something would happen to SafetyWing you would still be taken care of by Tokio Marine.

SafetyWing insurance can be taken out as regular travel medical insurance, with a start date and an end date. 

In addition, the company also provides a product for long-term travelers. 

They can subscribe to their insurance with monthly payments, similar to subscriptions to Netflix or Spotify.

Both plans are very flexible.  The regular plan can be taken out abroad and can be extended abroad.  The subscription plan can be started and stopped anytime.

SafetyWing is available to people in 180 countries.

Pros And Cons Of Safety Wing

Pros of safety wing , available to almost anyone from any country.

Almost anyone can purchase SafetyWing travel medical insurance.

Note that if you are from Iran, Syria, North Korea, or Cuba ( or have Cuba as your citizenship) it is not possible.

You also can’t buy SafetyWing insurance when your address is in Florida.

If your address is in Canada, Australia or Washington, Maryland or New York you must be physically located outside of the country or state to purchase insurance.

They cover a lot at a low price.

If you’re under the age of 50 you may find that SafetyWing offers much better value compared to other insurance companies including HeyMondo.

Above that age, SafetyWing becomes much more expensive and a lot less attractive.

If you travel to the US you will also need to pay an additional fee which makes them a little less attractive for these trips.

By default, SafetyWing shows a quote for 28 days according to their subscription plan.  You can add an end date in the second step and then you will receive a proportional price. 

The pricing model is exactly the same, if you travel for 14 days your quote will be half of the price of the 28-day subscription model.

Note that you always have a $250 deductible and that the maximum limit of coverage is lower than with HeyMondo.

Easy Subscription Process And Flexible

The subscription process is simple and straightforward.  

By default, SafetyWing proposes a monthly subscription plan, if you want a fixed end date for your policy you add it in the second step. 

Next you the destinations where you’re traveling.

You only need to add the first destination for your coverage to be valid worldwide but SafetyWing recommends adding all destinations so they can issue visa letters if you would need them.

Next, you add the details of the persons who will be traveling with you.  2 children up to 9 years old can travel with you for free.

That’s all it takes.  Your date of birth and your home country is stored in your profile so you only need to input them once.

You can purchase your travel insurance before or even during your trip.   

Long-term subscribers can pause their plan if they interrupt their trip to say hi to friends and family at home and restart it once they fly back abroad.

Covers a Wide Range Of Adventure Activities

SafetyWing does cover a wide range of sports activities. 

They cover the most common sports such as kayaking, skiing, scuba diving, etc. 

Adrenaline junkies who plan on doing more extreme sports might find that their activity of choice is not covered.

There’re other minor differences such as this example regarding hiking, HeyMondo covers hiking without paying extra up to 3.000 meters, and SafetyWing up to 4.500 meters. (which is enough to climb Mt. Fuji) 

You can find a complete overview of sports that are included and excluded in the FAQ on their website.

You Can Get Travel Insurance For A Travel Companion And/ Or Children

It’s easy to take out travel insurance for the people who are traveling with you, no matter if they are family or friends. 

All can be done in 1 go.

2 children under 10 (1 per adult) can be included with no extra cost under the condition that their parents are traveling with them.

The children must be at least 14 days old.

Claims Can Be Made Online

You can file a claim by filling out a claims form and uploading it together with photos or screenshots of receipts to WorldTrips’ online portal.

You can read full instructions on their  claims page  (log in to your SafetyWing account to access this page).

Cons Of SafetyWing

There are bad reviews about every travel insurance company but SafetyWing has a solid 4.3 ranking on TrustPilot . 

Better yet, this is not only for people who had no problems during their trip.  Also, people who had to file a claim shared positive reviews.

Here are some more things to consider before you take out insurance from SafetyWing:

High-Riks Sports Activities Are Not Covered

Most common sports are included but more adventurous sports are not.  Make sure to check the FAQ on their homepage to see if what you’re planning to do is included or not.

When you take needless risks you aren’t covered

Substance Abuse

This is not different from any other insurance.  Drugs and alcohol are a big no.  If you have an accident or injure yourself or somebody else when you are under the influence you will not be reimbursed.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases And All Diseases Related To HIV

These are not covered

Cancer Treatment

All forms of cancer/neoplasm are not covered

Pre-Existing Conditions

Any pre-existing medical conditions are not covered under the policy except charges resulting directly from an Acute Onset of these conditions.

No Coverage For Electronics

Electronics such as phones, laptops, and cameras are not covered.

At the moment personal belongings like electronics and cash are only covered if they are on lost checked luggage or if surrendered after kidnap or express kidnap.

Other than that there is no coverage at the moment.

Trip Cancellation Is Not Included But The Policy Has A Trip Interruption Provision

The policy has the Trip Interruption provision that can cover the cost of a one-way economy ticket back home when you need to cut short your trip after an unexpected death or fire in your house, however, reservations are out of policy terms.

Please see an excerpt of the policy below with more information: 

Make sure that costs such as non-refundable airplane tickets and non-refundable hotels are covered by other insurance.  To book those you could use credit cards that come with trip cancellation coverage.

$250 Deductible

A deductible is an amount the insured needs to pay before the insurance will pick up the tab. 

In this case, it means that if your hospital bill is $500, you would need to pay $250 yourself and SafetyWing will reimburse the other $250.

There is one deductible per certificate period.  The certificate period cannot be longer than 364 days.  Long-term subscribers who continue their subscription beyond the year get a new deductible in the new year.

The deductible does not apply to all aspects of the coverage.  Some treatments such as emergency dental care and urgent care come without a deductible. 

Check the full policy wording on the SafetyWing website for the exact details.

Not All US Citizens Can Buy SafetyWing Travel Insurance

If you are a U.S. Citizen and live in Washington, Maryland, or New York you can not be physically present in those locations when you purchase the insurance.

You will not be directed to an alternative site in this case, you just won’t be able to make the purchase.

You would need to leave the state, or country before you can purchase the insurance. 

SafetyWing Conclusion

SafetyWing is one of the newer kids on the block. 

Their travel medical insurance is cheap and although their coverage is not as extensive as those of other insurances it will be sufficient for most travelers and for the majority of trips to Japan.

SafetyWing would be our first choice for Japan but we can’t repeat this enough.  Don’t take out this insurance just because it’s cheap.  Make sure to verify if the coverage will be sufficient for the things you plan to do.

Get in touch with SafetyWing if there’s any doubt. 

If you mail or call you will also get a better idea of how fast and how professional they respond.

Get Your Free Quote Now: SafetyWing

VisitorsCoverage Travel Insurance

VisitorsCoverage is a travel insurance broker. We noticed that both HeyMondo and SafetyWing had 1 major flaw, namely the age limit of 69 years. That’s why we started looking for a good, reliable partner for travel insurance that you can still go to after that age. That’s how we found VisitorsCoverage.

On their website you can easily search for a good policy by entering your age, place of residence, and destination. You can choose from Medical Insurance & Trip Insurance. The first only covers medical emergencies during your trip while Trip Insurance goes further and will reimburse the costs of your trip if you need to cancel it. Trip Insurance is currently only available for US residents.

Pros And Cons of VisitorsCoverage

Pros of visitorscoverage, a wide selection of policies.

By collaborating with different parties, VisitorsCoverage can offer a wide range of policies to all kinds of travelers.

Almost no age restriction

While some policies have an age limit of 85 years most can be taken out by travelers up to the age of 99.

Will you be cruising around Japan?

At VisitorsCoverage you will find plans specifically tailored to cruisers.

Cruise Policies may be for you if you booked your flights separately from your cruise. They will reimburse the costs to still join your cruise in case your original flight was delayed or canceled. They also cover other typical cruise expenses like prepaid tours you may need to skip because you are ill and any medical assistance you may need on board.

The Travel Medical Plans can be purchased while you are already at your destination. Just know that anything that has happened before you purchased them will usually not be covered. (this is common for almost all insurance policies) That is why we recommend never waiting too long.

But if you have forgotten it anyway, you can always take out a travel medical plan while at your destination.

Cancel for any reason

Many policies allow for the addition of a Cancel for Any Reason option. Interruption for any reason is also available. It is expensive but it ensures that your plans remain completely flexible.

To add this option you need to subscribe your policy within 20 days of the first payment towards your trip and no later than 2 days prior to departure.

Easy to find the policy you need

Reviewers say it’s easy to find the policy you need and, if necessary, VisitorsCoverage’s experienced team was able to assist them through the process.

Policies can be extended

Most policies can be extended, just don’t wait till the very last minute and give it 2 days for everything to be taken care of.

Excellent reviews

VisitorsCoverage has a 4.6 rating on Google and a 4.8 rating on TrustPilot with over 5500 reviews.

Cons of VisitorsCoverage

Despite the high ratings of VisitorsCoverage at both Google and Trustpilot, you will still see that there are also a number of bad reviews, mainly about the handling of claims.

This is not uncommon for insurance-related matters and is due to a combination of causes. It is a fact that people are more likely to write a review when things do not go as planned.

It also stems from the fact that the small print of insurance policies regarding exclusions or reimbursement limits often causes dissatisfaction. Insurers are notorious for not paying unless they really have to.

We don’t want you to have a bad experience and therefore we recommend always reading all the information available that can be found. You can check the Plan Brochure, there’s a FAQ about each plan, and if you look up the policy on their site using the search feature you can usually find even more details about the policy.

I’ve also found that the Ask The Expert feature can be very helpful in checking specific details about the coverage.

Adventure Activities

VisitorsCoverage’s offering also includes policies suitable for more adventurous trips like skiing and snowboarding but we couldn’t find any that cover ski trips to Japan.

Trip Insurance only for US Citizens

Travel Medical Insurance is available to all but trip insurance is currently only available to those living in the United States.

If you have a longstanding health condition you will probably have experienced that it can be hard to find good travel insurance. VisitorsCoverage offers a number of policies that cover, even though with limits, pre-existing conditions but those are unfortunately only for travel to the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

VisitorsCoverage Travel Insurance Conclusion

VisitorsCoverage scores high grades and has many returning customers. As a travel insurance broker, they offer travel insurance from different providers. Their customers claim this is all done at a fair price in line with other similar policies. 

It’s easy to compare the different policies and they offer 24/7 chat support. Customer Service can also be reached by phone (during office hours), e-mail and WhatsApp.

Both HeyMondo and SafetyWing are good and trusted insurance companies that are open to the majority of people.

SafetyWing is remarkably cheaper than HeyMondo and it’s probably one of the cheapest options available on the market today.

You can do an incredible deal by taking out insurance from SafetyWing.

Above we already mentioned some of the reasons why this is the case and you have to weigh up the cheap price and the coverage.

Here’s a short recap of the most important differences: SafetyWing does not come with trip cancellation, they have a deductible of $250 dollars, cover lower expenses, and theft or loss of electronics is not covered.

There’s no need to pay for a Ferrari if all you need is a regular car.

If those are things you don’t need then SafetyWing is the perfect and reliable solution for you.

Otherwise, we advise you to opt for HeyMondo.

HeyMondo has tailor-made policies for each trip & traveler (short and long-term trips). They also cover medical expenses up to $10,000,000 USD and have no deductibles or out-of-pocket expenses. They also have a 50% cover for your electronics.

Lastly, VisitorsCoverage is a great broker to check for insurance if SafetyWing and HeyMondo didn’t work for you.

Remember that we have written this comparison to the best of our knowledge. We have used the information that was available at the time of writing.  We regularly check and update our articles but it is always possible that these policies have changed and are no longer in-line with what we have written.  It’s your responsibility to check the details of your travel policy.  This comparison is for informational purposes only and we cannot be held reliable if something is different from what we have written.

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• Key takeaways

Do I need travel insurance to visit Japan?

Our top picks for the best travel insurance for japan, how much does travel insurance for japan cost, why you need travel insurance to visit japan, what does travel insurance for japan cover, what isn’t covered by travel insurance for japan, tips for getting the best travel insurance for japan, japan travel information & requirements, japan travel insurance faqs, related topics.

Travel Insurance for a Japan Vacation: Tips & Safety Info

• Japan does not accept U.S. health insurance , so it’s wise to purchase travel medical insurance for your trip.
• Given Japan’s high rate of earthquakes, tsunamis and typhoons, travel insurance is a good idea for all travelers .
• According to our research, our top picks for travel insurance for Japan come from Tin Leg , Generali , and IMG Global Travel Insurance . ( skip ahead to view these plans ).
• Comprehensive travel insurance policies typically cover medical care, medical evacuation, baggage and trip delays, interruptions and cancellations .
• The cost of travel insurance varies dramatically between travelers and insurance providers. The cheapest plans cost as little as $1 per day .
• To find the best travel insurance policy to suit your needs, we recommend using our online comparison tool .

Japan is a bucket-list destination for many travelers. While the country itself is generally safe — the Global Peace Index ranks it among the top 10 most peaceful countries in the world — every trip comes with some risk. Whether you’re visiting for a week or a month, travel insurance for Japan can help protect your physical and financial health.

Trips to Japan can be expensive; travel insurance helps you recoup costs in case of unexpected delays or cancellations. Most policies come with medical coverage, which is helpful if you’re injured while skiing in Hokkaido or hiking Mt. Fuji.

This guide is designed to provide the information you need to choose and purchase a travel insurance policy for Japan, including:

• Travel insurance requirements for Japan
• Typical coverage options
• How much you can expect to pay for a Japan travel insurance policy

Our top picks for the best japan travel insurance

• Tin Leg: Best Rated Overall
• Generali Global Assistance: Best Value with Robust Coverage
• IMG: Best for Travel Delays

Generali Global Assistance

Japan does not require you to have insurance during your visit, but it’s always a good idea to purchase a policy. While you probably won’t encounter any violent crime or political unrest, insurance can help protect you if something goes wrong before or during your trip.

Many travel insurance policies will help you recoup non-refundable costs if you need to cancel your trip for a covered reason—for example, if you come down with a bad illness or are called for jury duty. If you have a medical emergency in Japan, insurance can also help cover your hospital bills. It can even pay for medical transport back to the United States if needed.

Purchasing travel insurance can help you prepare for the risks that are inherent to any trip to Japan, such as those discussed below.

Best Rated Overall

Why we like it.

• Excellent primary coverage for medical expenses
• High limit for emergency evacuation coverage
• Optional cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage available
• Comes with coverage for hurricanes and inclement weather
• Coverage for pre-existing conditions is available if purchased within 14 days of the trip deposit
• Baggage delay coverage requires a 24-hour waiting period
• Low coverage limits for baggage and personal effects

Best Value with Robust Coverage

• High emergency medical and medical evacuation coverage
• Cancelation & interruption coverage
• Offers hurricane and weather coverage
• Extensive loss or delay coverage.
• No pre-existing condition coverage

Best for Travel Delays

• Purchase your plan up until one day before you depart
• Generous limits for trip delays, emergency evacuation, and more
• Pre-existing condition waiver available if purchased within 20 days of initial trip deposit
• 24/7 emergency travel assistance included
• Coronavirus-related medical expenses covered
• Plan gets notably more expensive with age

For basic medical and medical evacuation coverage, travel insurance for a trip to Japan can cost as little as $1 per day. For more comprehensive coverage, we found more plans typically cost around $7 to $11 per day.

To give you an idea of the possible costs of insuring a trip to Japan, we’ve collected a variety of quotes. 

The prices for the quotes are based on these details:

• Age: 35 years old
• Destination: Japan
• Trip Length: 7 days
• Trip cost: $2,000

This table shows our quotes for basic travel insurance. As you can see, the cheapest travel insurance costs less than $1 per day.

Example Where Plan Doesn’t Reimburse the Full Trip Cost

We got more quotes from the same providers for policies that also include trip cancellation and trip interruption coverage. These quotes show that this type of protection costs around $7 to $11 per day.

Example Where Plan Does Reimburse the Full Trip Cost

Costs for a Japan travel insurance plan can vary considerably from person to person. Generally, a comprehensive travel insurance policy to Japan will cost 5-10% of your total trip cost.

Some of the factors that affect your premium are:

• Cost of the trip
• Length of the trip
• Time elapsed between the initial trip deposit and the policy purchase
• Optional add-ons, such as Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) coverage

Risk of earthquakes and natural disasters

Japan sits at the intersection of four different tectonic plates, which means that earthquakes are common. There are usually 1,500 every year , including four to seven major earthquakes .

Much of the tectonic activity in the region happens under the ocean, which means that Japan also experiences more tsunamis than any other country in the world. The Great East Japan earthquake of 2011 created a catastrophic tsunami with waves up to 132 feet tall .

Japan’s high rate of earthquakes and tsunamis alone is reason enough to buy a travel insurance policy. If your trip is disrupted or delayed or you’re injured in a natural disaster, your policy can provide emergency assistance, financial reimbursement and peace of mind.

Risk of extreme weather

Because of its location and topography, Japan is prone to a variety of extreme weather conditions that could affect your journey. Typhoons are common between May and October; they can bring high winds, landslides and destructive high tides. If you’re traveling to northern Japan in the winter, there’s a chance of severe snowstorms. The possibility is particularly high in Aomori City, Sapporo and Toyama — the top three snowiest major cities in the world . Extreme weather can inhibit your ability to move around Japan. Insurance can help you recover some of the lost costs from delays or rerouting. 

Risks related to adventure sports

Are you planning to hike, ski or snowboard in Japan? You’re not alone; many people love to experience the country’s spectacular landscapes through adventure sports. If you break an arm on the ski lift or need to be airlifted off of a mountain after an injury, travel insurance can help protect you from high medical bills.

Insurance coverage can vary by provider and plan. Before you buy a policy for a Japan trip, make sure you read the benefits carefully to understand what’s covered. 

Some of the most common coverage types include the following.

Trip cancellation insurance

Trip cancellation insurance reimburses you for non-refundable trip costs in case you need to cancel your trip. Keep in mind that the cancellation must be for a reason that’s covered under the policy. For many providers, this includes unexpected natural disasters or the sudden death of a family member. If you have travel insurance for Japan, you’ll likely be covered if a surprise earthquake hits your destination.

For insurance that covers any type of cancellation, you can purchase cancel for any reason (CFAR) insurance . With this type of coverage (which is often sold as an add-on), you can cancel for any reason at all and the provider will reimburse you for around 50% to 70% of your total prepaid travel costs.

Trip delay insurance

Delays happen, especially when you’re making the long journey to Japan. Trip delay coverage can reimburse you for the costs you incur in these situations. If the airline cancels your flight, your policy can help pay for things such as a hotel room and a taxi.

Trip interruption insurance

Trip interruption coverage helps mitigate the financial losses if you need to come home early from your trip to Japan. Depending on the policy, you might be able to get reimbursed for the part of the trip you’re unable to complete. Need to buy a new flight home? Some policies will help you pay for it.

Keep in mind that trip insurance coverage only kicks in under certain circumstances. Usually, the cancellation must be for reasons out of your control, such as a health emergency that makes it impossible for you to continue with the trip.

Travel medical insurance

Medical coverage is one of the most important parts of a travel insurance policy. American health insurance doesn’t usually work outside the United States , and costs can add up quickly if you experience an illness or injury. Medical insurance reimburses you for out-of-pocket expenses; some providers can even bill the hospital directly.

When you have travel medical insurance, you can explore Japan with peace of mind. And if you slip on temple steps in Kyoto and need a doctor’s attention, you won’t need to bear the costs of the emergency room bills.

Medical evacuation insurance

Travel medical insurance covers the costs of medical transportation in an emergency. Depending on the extent of your injuries, this might involve flying you from a remote part of Japan to a better-equipped hospital in a large city. In some cases, it means transporting you home to receive continuing care in the United States. Many policies also pay for a friend or family member to fly to Japan and escort you home. If you pass away during your trip, some providers include coverage to repatriate your remains.

Medical transportation can be extremely expensive, so it’s important to look closely at the limits on your insurance policy. Make sure you have ample coverage, especially if you’re visiting Japan’s dense wilderness areas or exploring far-flung parts of the country.

Insurance for personal items

Your baggage is your lifeline while you’re visiting Japan; insurance for personal items can help you recoup costs if your luggage is lost, stolen or damaged. It’s particularly important if you’re bringing expensive items. Packing a high-end camera to capture the cherry blossoms? If it’s stolen, insurance can prevent a complete loss. Every policy has its own rules for covered possessions, so read the fine print carefully before you buy.

Rental car coverage

A rental car is a great way to get around Japan, and rental insurance is a good way to protect yourself in the case of a collision or other accidental damage. Many Japanese roads are famously narrow, so it’s nice to have ample coverage.  

As you’re comparing travel insurance plans for a trip to Japan, make sure you understand the things your policy does not cover. For example, travel medical coverage typically doesn’t apply to routine checkups.

Other common exclusions are:

• Participating in extreme sports or risky activities
• Pre-existing conditions
• Excessive alcohol or drug use
• Pregnancy (unless you’re experiencing a complication)
• Non-emergency dental care
• Trips that go against medical advice

Use these tips to find the best possible coverage for your trip to Japan:

If you purchase a single-trip policy soon after you make the first deposit, you may be eligible for additional benefits. For example, some companies cover pre-existing medical conditions but only if you buy within 21 days of the deposit.

Consider your activities.

Compare your plans to each insurance plan’s inclusions and exclusions to ensure that you’re covered. If you want to do extreme sports, you may be limited to specific providers.

Check transportation rules.

Coverage often applies to common carriers such as major airlines and train companies. If you get injured while riding in a friend’s car, your policy may not cover the medical bills.

Use a comparison tool.

An online comparison tool allows you to view multiple coverage options at once, so you can easily compare policies to find the best deal.

Are there COVID-19 restrictions for U.S. tourists?

No — Japan ended its requirements for vaccination and negative COVID-19 tests in April 2023.

Do I need a visa or passport to travel to Japan?

If you’re an American traveling to Japan, you do not need a visa for tourism or business visits of 90 days or less. You will, however, need a valid passport. The passport must be valid for the duration of your stay in Japan.

Is it safe to visit Japan?

Japan is widely regarded as a safe destination. The country has less crime than many other developed nations; for example, its homicide rate is considerably lower than the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Of course, you should still take normal precautions to prevent pickpocketing and petty theft.

Japan is a politically stable country, but it’s important to keep an eye on tensions between South Korea and North Korea. The Korean peninsula is close to Japan, so an escalating situation could impact your trip. This scenario is unlikely — but to stay up-to-date, consider registering with the U.S. Department of State Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). After you sign up, the U.S. Embassy will keep you abreast of any emergencies that arise.

Will my U.S. health insurance work in Japan?

Most U.S. health insurance plans do not work in Japan.

Is health care free for tourists in Japan?

If you’re a tourist in Japan, health care is not free; you’ll need to pay with cash or by card. However, ambulance rides are free to everyone in Japan, even for foreign visitors.

Are there any travel restrictions to Japan?

As of January 2024, Japan does not have any restrictions for travelers.

Imogen Sharma is a freelance writer with an extensive portfolio, covering topics such as finance, business management, investing, and startups. Before becoming a full-time writer, Imogen managed high-volume fine dining restaurants in London with a knack for pricing and P&L management that contributed to sustained growth.

Imogen has contributed bylined and ghostwritten content for thought-leading publications in business, finance and technology. Topics covered include business loans, personal loans, startup funding and real estate investments.

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Policy Details

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For your holidays in Japan and abroad

Japan readily becomes a top tourist destination with its rich history, exciting culture, delectable food, and diverse landscape. According to estimates, about 30 million tourists visit this East Asian country every year. It was also ranked as the number one tourist destination in the world on the Travel and Tourism Development Index 2021 of the World Economic Forum. If you plan to visit Japan to have the many unique experiences it is known to offer, you would want to know if the country requires international travelers to carry insurance. Read on to know all about Japan’s travel insurance requirements.

Does Japan Require Travel Insurance?

US citizens do not need travel insurance for Japan, as it is only a requirement for travelers who need a visa for Japan. US citizens are exempted from the visa for short-term stays in Japan, up to 90 days. However, getting a travel insurance policy is encouraged as a travel insurance policy will come in handy in any unforeseen situation. The US Department of Health also strongly encourages carrying supplemental insurance that covers medical treatments and evacuation.

One primary reason why it is encouraged that you take travel insurance for Japan is that the country’s medical system requires foreigners to show proof of funds to cover their entire cost of treatment before providing any medical services. You don’t want to be in a situation where you’re denied medical care because you cannot prove your ability to pay. Therefore, it’s best to carry travel insurance for Japan with adequate medical coverage.  

Japan Travel Insurance FAQs

What documents do i need to travel to japan.

American citizens traveling to Japan require a passport valid for the intended duration of the stay and at least one blank page. You may also be required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination.  

Does Japan require International Medical Coverage?

Japan does not require international medical coverage, but it is highly encouraged that tourists carry one to pay for any medical emergency.  

What vaccinations are required to visit Japan?

You may only be asked to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination, but the CDC suggests getting the following vaccines as well before traveling to Japan:  

• Hepatitis A and B
• Japanese Encephalitis
• Tick-borne Encephalitis
• Routine Vaccines – Chickenpox, MMR, Flu, Polio, Shingles, and Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis

Why choose AXA Travel Insurance for Japan?

AXA travel insurance is the most complete travel coverage you could get. The plans include an extensive range for trip cancellation, travel interruption, baggage loss, emergency medical treatment and evacuation, and much more. Contact us to learn more and find the best travel insurance for your Japan visit.  

What are the neighboring countries of Japan?

Japan is an island nation, so it doesn’t share land borders with any country. However, it does share maritime borders with several countries in the east. These include:  

• South Korea
• North Korea
• The Philippines

What is the best time of year to visit Japan?

The best time of the year to travel to Japan is between March and May to witness the gorgeous cherry blossoms. However, it is also the peak tourist season, so be prepared for large crowds. September to November is also an excellent time to visit Japan weather-wise.  

What is the local currency of Japan and its exchange rate for USD?

The currency of Japan is the Japanese Yen, and its current exchange rate for USD is 1 Japanese Yen = 0.0075 USD.  

Are credit cards widely accepted in Japan? If yes, which ones?

Even though the prevalent form of payment is still cash in Japan, credit cards are generally accepted in most places. Visa and MasterCard are Japan's two most widely accepted international credit cards. Some areas may also take American Express cards, but some may deny them due to their high merchant fees.

What local customs and cultural norms tourists visiting Japan should be aware of?

Japanese are known for their strong cultural values and firm adherence to traditions. Here are some of the things tourists visiting Japan should be careful of to avoid hurting the locals’ sentiments:  

• Japanese do not tip. In some places, tipping may even be considered rude or insulting.
• Avoid talking loudly on public transport.
• Dress modestly and be respectful in temples and shrines. Also, avoid talking loudly.
• Littering is an offense in Japan.
• Eating or drinking on the subway or while walking is considered rude.
• It’s considered rude to bring dirt to someone’s house. So, if you’re invited to a local’s house, you should take off your shoes at the door and wear guest slippers.

AXA already looks after millions of people around the world

With our travel insurance we can take great care of you too

Japan Travel Insurance

• Get a Quote
• Renew/Extend Coverage
• Retrieve Quote

Do you require trip protection?

Tell us about your travelers.

Easily renew or extend your coverage.

If you have saved a quote within the past 14 days you can quickly and easily retrieve the quote and add, modify and change information for that quote. In the top right corner of the quote you saved you will see a unique number.

Is Travel Insurance Required to Enter Japan?

Travel insurance for Japan is optional, but it is recommended that you have a travel insurance plan that covers medical expenses.

What do I need to enter Japan?

Prior to May 8, 2023 – Travelers must provide proof of triple COVID-19 vaccination OR a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of departure.

Beginning May 8, 2023 – Testing and proof of vaccination are no longer required. At this time, “all border measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 will be lifted,” according to Japan.travel .

Should I buy travel insurance for my trip to Japan?

When traveling outside of your home country, it is always a good idea to have travel medical insurance at a minimum. Many traditional health insurance plans only cover you when you are in your home country, and once you leave, you may be on the hook for any emergency medical expenses that come up. Travel medical insurance can help alleviate those costs when you become accidentally injured or ill while traveling.

We recommend purchasing a comprehensive trip cancellation insurance plan that provides emergency medical benefits along with additional coverage if something unforeseen occurs before or during your trip to Japan.

Do the trip cancellation plans from Trawick International cover COVID-19?

Yes, most of our plans treat COVID-19 like any other sickness.

Optional Cancel for Any Reason coverage:

On some trip cancellation plans, Trawick International offers Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR), which provides reimbursement for up to 75% of prepaid, nonrefundable payments made for your trip if you cancel your trip for any reason not otherwise covered by this policy - like border closures or travel bans. This coverage MUST be purchased with the initial policy and within 21 days of the initial trip deposit date, and the full, nonrefundable trip cost is insured. (This benefit is not available in every state).

Optional Interruption for Any Reason coverage:

Like CFAR, Interruption for Any Reason (IFAR) coverage is available on some trip cancellation plans as an option. IFAR provides reimbursement for up to 50% of prepaid, nonrefundable payments made for your trip if you leave your trip early for any reason not otherwise listed on your plan, even if it is just because you want to come home early. This coverage must also be purchased with the initial policy and within 21 days of the initial trip deposit date, and the full, nonrefundable trip cost is insured. (This benefit is not available in every state).

How much does travel insurance for Japan cost?

Travel insurance generally costs a small percentage of your trip cost. Trawick takes several factors into account to make sure the coverage and cost are based on your specific trip cost, age of travelers, trip duration, and other factors.Any optional benefits will add to the cost, as well.

When purchasing a plan with trip cancellation, we recommend that you include all non-refundable travel expenses so you can recover the investment in the event your trip is canceled or interrupted.  By bundling all your trip costs into one policy, you will be able to obtain the most coverage possible for your trip.

When should you buy travel insurance?

To maximize your benefits, we recommend purchasing travel insurance within 21 days of the initial trip deposit date and include all prepaid, nonrefundable trip costs. By doing this, you will be eligible for CFAR and financial default on select trip cancellation plans. Of course, you can still purchase travel insurance after 21 days, but you may not be eligible for certain time-sensitive travel benefits. 

What travel insurance is right for my trip to Japan?

Trawick International Customer Service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to help answer questions, help you decide which plan is right for you, and give you a no-obligation travel insurance quote. They can also help if you have already purchased insurance but need to make a change to it. Please contact us by email, phone, or live chat right here on our website.

PLEASE NOTE: Guidelines may have changed since this was published. Before traveling, you should always check your destination's COVID-19 situation and travel requirements. Countries may have their own entry and exit requirements. Additionally, always check for travel advisories in the area to which you are traveling. Refer to https://www.cdc.gov/ and https://travel.state.gov/content/travel.html for up-to-date information and guidelines.

Privacy Policy

Trawick International’s Privacy Policy

Welcome to our website.  We appreciate your interest in us.  We take the privacy of our customers very seriously and are committed to protecting your privacy. This policy explains how we collect, use, and transfer your personal data, and your rights in relation to the personal data stored by us when you use our website or otherwise engage with our services.

Effective October 3, 2023

This policy sets out the following:

• What personal data we collect about you and how;
• How the data is used;
• Our legal basis for collecting your information;
• Who we share your data with;
• Where we transfer your information;
• How long we retain your information for;
• Your rights and choices in relation to the data held by us;
• How to make a complaint in relation to the data held by us;
• How to contact us with any queries in relation to this notice, or the personal data held by us.

Who is Trawick International?

Trawick International (“we,” “us,” or “our”) provides worldwide travel medical insurance, travel insurance, trip insurance for trip cancellation or trip interruption, international student insurance, group travel insurance, and many other products designed specifically for those traveling.  Our travel insurance programs are designed for those traveling to the USA, individuals traveling abroad, US Citizens who are traveling in the USA and non US citizens traveling from their home country but not visiting the USA.  We offer an extensive worldwide network of quality physicians, hospitals, and pharmacies.  We cover employees, corporations, schools, frequent world travelers, international students, study abroad programs, missionary trips, and just the casual vacation traveler.  Our individually customized plans can cover hospital stays, doctor visits, x-rays, prescriptions, ambulance, emergency evacuation, repatriation, flight insurance, trip interruption, trip cancellation, trip delay, and lost baggage.   

For the purposes of European data protection laws, if you are visiting our  website www.trawickinternational.com (or otherwise engaging with our services from the European Economic Area (or "EEA"), the data controller of your information is Trawick International.

What is personal data?

In this privacy policy, references to "personal information" or "personal data" are references to information that relates to an identified or identifiable individual. Some examples of personal data are your name, address, email, and telephone number, but it may also include information such as your IP address and location in certain jurisdictions.

What personal data do we collect?

We collect personal data that you provide to us when you sign up for our services, such as your contact information and financial information. We may also collect commercial information based on how you interact with our services, such as the products or services you’ve purchased or other Internet or network activity, such as your website browsing history or mobile device information.

Below are some more details on the type of personal data we collect.

Information that is provided by you:

In order to provide services to you we may ask you to provide personal information. This may include, amongst other things, your name, email address, postal address, telephone number, gender, date of birth, passport number, bank account details, credit history and claims history, citizenship status, marital status depending on the service you are seeking. The personal information that you are asked to provide, and the reasons why you are asked to provide it, will be made clear to you at the point at which we ask you for it or upon request.

Some of the information that you provide may be “special category” (or “sensitive”) personal data. Sensitive personal data relates to your racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, or trade union membership, genetic data, biometric data for the purpose of uniquely identifying a natural person, data concerning health or data concerning a natural person’s sex life or sexual orientation, and can sometimes be inferred from other, non-sensitive, information that you have provided.

Information that we collect on our website:

When you visit our website, we will seek your consent to collect certain information from your device. In some countries, including countries in the EEA, this information may be considered personal information under applicable data protection laws.

Specifically, the information we are seeking to collect includes information like your IP address, device type, unique device identification numbers, browser type, broad geographic location ( e.g., country or city-level location) and other technical information. We may also collect information about how your device has interacted with our website, including the pages accessed and links clicked.

Collecting this information enables us to better understand visitors to our website, where they come from, and what content on our website is of interest to them. We use this information for our internal analytics purposes and to improve the quality and relevance of our website to our visitors.

Some of this information may be collected using cookies and similar tracking technology, as explained further under the heading “Cookies" below.

Information that we obtain from third party sources:

From time to time, we may receive personal information about you from third party sources but only where we have checked that these third parties either have your consent or are otherwise legally permitted or required to disclose your personal information to us.

For information about a third party’s usage and/or sharing of your personal data, please refer to the third party’s own privacy statement.

We may, where we are legally permitted to, also collect personal data from the following sources in order to provide services to you:

• Credit reference agencies;
• Anti-fraud and other databases;
• Government agencies;
• Electoral register;
• Court judgments;
• Sanctions lists;
• Family members; and
• In the event of an insurance claim: the other party to the claim, witnesses, experts, loss adjusters, solicitors, and claims handlers.

How is personal data used?

We may need to use your personal data in order to carry out the following activities:

• To set you up as a new client (including carrying out “know your customer” checks);
• To provide you with an insurance quote;
• To provide our products and services to you;
• To respond to your inquiries;
• To accept payments from you;
• To communicate with you about your policy;
• To renew your policy;
• To obtain reinsurance for your policy;
• To process insurance and reinsurance claims;
• For general insurance administration purposes;
• To comply with our legal and regulatory obligations;
• To model our risks;
• To defend or prosecute legal claims;
• To investigate or prosecute fraud;
• To respond to your enquiries; or
• To secure our network and our website, debug the website and repair errors;
• To conduct audits related to our interactions with you;
• To make our products and services better and to develop new products and services;
• To send you notices and information regarding our products or services, including notifying you about special promotions or offers, where we are legally permitted to do so; and
• Enforce our Terms and other usage policies and comply with legal requirements.

Our legal basis for collecting your information:

Our legal basis for collecting and using your personal data will depend on the personal data concerned and the specific context in which we collect it.

We will normally collect personal data where we need the information to provide you with our services / perform a contract with you, where the processing is in our legitimate interests and not overridden by your data protection interests or fundamental rights and freedoms, or with your consent.

In some cases, we may use your personal data for a legal obligation, e.g., in order to complete “know your customer” and money laundering checks before taking you on as a new client.

If we ask you to provide personal information to comply with a legal requirement or to perform a contract with you, we will make this clear at the relevant time and advise you whether the provision of your personal information is mandatory (as well as of the possible consequences if you do not provide your personal information). You are under no obligation to provide personal data to us. However, if you should choose to withhold requested data, we may not be able to provide you with certain services.

Similarly, if we collect and use your personal information in reliance on our legitimate interests (or those of any third party), we will make clear to you at the relevant time what those legitimate interests are.

If you are a UK resident, we may collect and use your personal information, including sensitive personal information, on the basis of the insurance derogation in the UK Data Protection Act 2018.

If you are an EU resident, we may collect and use your personal information, including sensitive personal information, on the basis of the substantial public interest of insurance purposes, as regulated in the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

If you have questions about or need further information concerning the legal basis on which we collect and use your personal information, please contact us using the contact details provided under the “Contact Us" section below.

Who is your personal data shared with?

We may disclose your personal information with the following categories of recipients.

• To our group companies, third party service providers and partners who provide data processing services (for example data hosting and storage companies, email marketing affiliates, and payment and claims processing companies) or who otherwise process personal information for purposes that are described in this Privacy Policy (see “How is personal data used?”).
• To any competent law enforcement body, regulatory, government agency, court or other third party where we believe disclosure is necessary (i) as a matter of applicable law or regulation, (ii) to exercise, establish or defend our legal rights, or (iii) to protect your vital interests or those of any other person;
• To a potential buyer (and its agents and advisers) in connection with any proposed purchase, merger or acquisition of any part of our business, provided that we inform the buyer it must use your personal information only for the purposes disclosed in this privacy policy;
• To any other person with your consent to the disclosure.

We do not sell (or exchange) your personal information for monetary compensation.

If you are a US resident, from time to time we may share your personal information with third parties for a third party’s own direct benefit and this type of sharing may be considered a sale under certain applicable laws. For more information on the type of information we may share in this manner, please contact us.

International Transfers

Your personal data may be transferred to, and processed in, countries other than the country in which you are resident. These countries may have data protection laws that are different to the laws of your country.

Specifically, the servers of Trawick International are located in the United States. Trawick International partners with many other international companies.  This means that when we collect your information, we may process it in other countries.

We have taken appropriate safeguards to require that your personal data will remain protected in accordance with this privacy policy. We have also taken appropriate  safeguards with our third party service providers and partners.

How long is personal information retained?

We will keep your personal data on our records for as long as we have an ongoing legitimate business need to do so. This includes providing you with a service you have requested from us or to comply with applicable legal, tax or accounting requirements. It also includes keeping your data for so long as there is any possibility that you or we may wish to bring a legal claim concerning our services, or where we are required to keep your data for legal or regulatory reasons. Please contact us using the contact details provided under the “Contact Us" section below should you require further information on our record retention procedures.

We may also retain your personal data where such retention is necessary in order to protect your vital interests or the vital interests of another natural person.

Your Rights as a Data Subject

You have the right to opt out of marketing communications we send you at any time. You can exercise this right by clicking on the “unsubscribe” or “opt-out” link in the marketing e-mails we send you or contacting us.

If you are an EU resident, you will need to opt-in to receive marketing from us. If you then wish to unsubscribe at any point, you can do so by clicking on the “unsubscribe” or “opt-out” link in the marketing e-mails we send you or contacting us.

Similarly, if we have collected and processed your personal information with your consent, then you can withdraw your consent at any time. Withdrawing your consent will not affect the lawfulness of any processing we conducted prior to your withdrawal, nor will it affect processing of your personal information that was lawfully collected on grounds other than consent.

You have the right to complain to a data protection authority about our collection and use of your personal information. For more information, please contact your local data protection authority.

We respond to all requests we receive from individuals wishing to exercise their data protection rights in accordance with applicable data protection laws.

You may exercise any of your rights in relation to your personal data by contacting us using the details set out in the “Contact us” section at the bottom of this page.

If you are resident in the UK or EU, your principal rights under data protection law are as follows:

• the right to access;
• the right to rectification;
• the right to erasure;
• the right to restrict processing;
• the right to object to processing;
• the right to data portability;
• the right to complain to a supervisory authority; and
• the right to withdraw consent.

If you wish to access, correct, update or request deletion of your personal information, we will ask you to provide us with a copy of any two of the following documents: Driver’s license; Passport; Birth certificate; Bank statement (from the last 3 months); or Utility bill (from the last 3 months). With regards to your right of access, the first access request will be complied with free of charge, but additional copies may be subject to a reasonable fee.

In addition, you can object to processing of your personal information, ask us to restrict processing of your personal information or request portability of your personal information.

If we have collected and processed your personal information with your consent, then you can withdraw your consent at any time. Withdrawing your consent will not affect the lawfulness of any processing we conducted prior to your withdrawal, nor will it affect processing of your personal information conducted in reliance on lawful processing grounds other than consent. You have the right to complain to a data protection authority about our collection and use of your personal information. For more information, please contact your local data protection authority.

Contact details for other data protection authorities in the European Economic Area, Switzerland and certain non-European countries (including the US and Canada) are available  here .

If you are based in the UK or EU, you may exercise any of your rights in relation to your personal data by contacting us using email or you can use the details set out in the “Contact Us” section at the bottom of this page.

If you are resident in the US, applicable law may entitle you, upon verifiable request, to receive disclosures relating to:

• The categories and specific pieces of information we have collected;
• The categories of sources from which the personal information is collected;
• The business or commercial purpose for collecting personal information; and
• The categories of third parties with whom we share personal information.

If you wish to exercise any of the rights described above, we will ask you to verify your identity. We generally will not charge to reply to your request, but we may charge a reasonable fee or refuse your request if the request is unjustified or excessive.

Automated decision making

In some instances, our use of your personal information may result in automated decisions being taken (including profiling) that legally affect you or similarly significantly affect you.

Automated decisions mean that a decision concerning you is made automatically on the basis of a computer determination (using software algorithms), without our human review. For example, in certain instances we may use automated decisions to establish whether we will propose insurance coverage to a prospective insured. We have implemented measures to safeguard the rights and interests of individuals whose personal information is subject to automated decision-making.

When we make an automated decision about you, you have the right to contest the decision, to express your point of view, and to require a human review of the decision.

As mentioned above, we may use your personal data to send you marketing materials.

If you are a UK or EU resident, you will need to opt-in to receive marketing from us. If you then wish to unsubscribe at any point, you can do so by clicking on the “unsubscribe” or “opt-out” link in the marketing e-mails we send you or contacting us.

If you are resident in the US, you do not need to opt-in to receive marketing materials from us, and you have the right to opt-out of receiving such communications. If you would like to stop receiving marketing information from us, please unsubscribe by clicking the “unsubscribe” link in the relevant marketing email or contacting us.

Trawick International is committed to keeping our customers’ data safe. We have security measures in place designed to protect against the loss, misuse, and/or alteration of personal data under our control. Although we cannot ensure or guarantee that loss, misuse, or alteration of data will not occur, we use our best efforts to prevent this. If you have any concerns that your Trawick International account or personal data has been put at risk, please contact us.

Our sites use cookies (a small piece of information that is placed on your computer when you visit certain websites) to distinguish you from other users, to track your browsing pattern and to build a profile of how you and other users use our sites. This helps us to provide you with a good experience when you browse any of our sites and also allows us to improve our sites. If you have an online account with us, we also use cookies to recognize you to pre-fill forms to save you time. Trawick International does not mandate cookies for you to access our sites and you may freely set your browser to reject all cookies or prompt you to accept or reject them. Some of the cookies we use are session cookies and only last until you close your browser, others are persistent cookies which are stored on your computer for longer. We may collect information through web beacons about your web browsing activities such as the address of the page you are visiting, the address of the referrer page you had previously visited, the time you are viewing the page, your browsing environment, and your display settings. We do this in order to optimize your browsing experience, the use of web-based services and provide you with relevant information on Trawick International products and services when you have opted-in to receiving such correspondence.

We will not respond to Web browser “do not track” signals. If you would like additional information about online tracking and various opt-out mechanisms, please see https://youradchoices.com/

Because we may link to social media sites, and from time to time may include third-party advertisements, other parties may collect your personally identifiable information about your online activities over time and across different web sites when you visit this Site.

Please note that not all tracking will stop even if you delete cookies.

Children's Data

Our websites and applications are not directed to children under 16 and we do not knowingly collect any personal information directly from children under 16. If you believe that we are processing personal information pertaining to a child inappropriately, we ask you to contact us using the information provided under the “Contact Us” section.

Changes to this Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time in response to changing legal, technical, or business developments. When we update our Privacy Policy, we will take appropriate measures to inform you, consistent with the significance of the changes we make. We will obtain your consent to any material Privacy Policy changes if and where this is required by applicable data protection laws.

You can see when this Privacy Policy was last updated by checking the “effective date” displayed at the top of this Privacy Policy.

Any changes will be effective only after the effective date of the change and will not affect any dispute arising prior to the effective date of the change.

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us using the following contact details:

Post Office Box 2284

Fairhope, Alabama USA 36533

Toll Free Telephone Number: +1 (888) 301-9289

Terms and Conditions of Use

Important information.

The information contained in this website is not intended to be an offer to sell or a solicitation in connection with any product or service by Trawick International Inc., in any jurisdiction where such an offer or solicitation would be unlawful or in which Trawick International, Inc., is not qualified to do so. Products and services described in this website may not be available in all jurisdictions. Not all insurance products described in this website are available to all persons in all States, Countries, or other jurisdictions at all times.

All products contain certain conditions, restrictions, limitations and eligibility requirements. The information contained in this website is not intended to be a complete description of all terms, exclusions and conditions applicable to the products and services. For complete terms, exclusions and conditions applicable to the products offered please contact Trawick International .

By using this website, you agree to the terms of its use. If you do not agree to these terms, PLEASE DO NOT USE THIS WEBSITE. For additional information or questions, please contact Trawick International or your independent insurance broker or agent.

TERMS & CONDITIONS OF USE

Effective Date: October 6, 2023

INTRODUCTION

THESE TERMS & CONDITIONS OF USE (“T&C”) GOVERN YOUR USE OF TRAWICK INTERNATIONAL, INC.’S (“COMPANY”, “WE”, “OUR”, OR “US”) WEBSITE LOCATED AT WWW.TRAWICKINTERNATIONAL.COM OR OTHER WEBSITES CONTROLLED BY COMPANY AND ITS AFFILIATES AS WELL AS ANY DOCUMENTS EXPRESSLY INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE AND ANY RULES AND POLICIES PUBLISHED ON THIS WEBSITE (THE “WEBSITE”).

BY ACCESSING THIS WEBSITE, YOU AGREE TO THE T&C, REVISIONS, AND MODIFICATIONS. ALL CHANGES ARE EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY UPON POSTING, AND APPLY TO ALL ACCESS TO AND USE OF THE WEBSITE THEREAFTER. ANY CHANGES WILL NOT EFFECT ANY DISPUTES ARISING PRIOR TO THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE CHANGE. WE MAY SEND YOU NOTICES WITH RESPECT TO THE WEBSITE IN VARIOUS MEDIUMS, INCLUDING BY EMAIL ADDRESS, POSTAL MAIL, AND/OR BY POSTING ON THE WEBSITE.

ARBITRATION NOTICE: EXCEPT FOR CERTAIN TYPES OF DISPUTES DESCRIBED IN THE “ARBITRATION AND CLASS ACTION WAIVER” SECTION BELOW, AND IF YOU DO NOT OPT-OUT AS SET FORTH IN THAT SAME SECTION, YOU AGREE THAT DISPUTES BETWEEN YOU AND COMPANY OR ITS AFFILIATES WILL BE RESOLVED BY BINDING, INDIVIDUAL ARBITRATION, AND YOU WAIVE YOUR RIGHT TO BRING OR RESOLVE ANY DISPUTE AS, OR PARTICIPATE IN, A CLASS, CONSOLIDATED, REPRESENTATIVE, COLLECTIVE, OR PRIVATE ATTORNEY GENERAL ACTION OR ARBITRATION.

ACCESS TO THIS WEBSITE

To access the Website or some of its resources, you may be asked to provide certain personal details or other information. It is a condition of your use of the Website that all the information you provide on the Website is correct, current, and complete.

In addition, certain other services of the Website, such as applying for coverage, may be governed by additional or different terms and conditions. You should carefully review those terms and conditions as they are referenced and/or presented to you.

We reserve the right to withdraw, amend, disable or suspend this Website, and any service or material we provide on the Website, in our sole discretion with or without notice. We will not be liable if for any reason all or any part of the Website is unavailable at any time or for any period. From time to time, we may restrict access to some parts of the Website, or the entire Website, to users, including registered users.

We have the right to disable any user name, password or other identifier, whether chosen by you or provided by us, at any time in our sole discretion for any or no reason, including if, in our opinion, you have violated any provision of the T&C.

Your privacy matters to us. Your use of the Website is also subject to our Privacy Policy that is available online here (“Privacy Policy”) and is incorporated into and made a part of these Terms of Use. The Privacy Policy is subject to change, and you are encouraged to review the Privacy Policy whenever you supply the Website with any information because you agree that Company can collect, use, and share your information consistent with that policy.

RESTRICTIONS ON USE

You may use this Website only for your internal, non-commercial purposes. You agree not to use this Website in any way that violates any applicable federal, state, local or international law or regulation. You further agree to maintain and update your registration data as needed to keep it accurate, current and complete. You may not use this Website or any of the content, defined below, contained on it for any other purpose, including any unpermitted commercial purpose, unless we provide our prior written consent to such use.

Uses requiring our prior written consent include the following, without limitation:

• Co-branding this Website;
• Framing this Website;
• Using any robots, scrapers, spiders, data mining tools, or any similar device, tool, software, or process;
• Hyper-linking to specific product or coverage information; or
• Reselling or remarketing the content, as defined below.

"Co-branding" means displaying a name, logo, trademark or other means of attribution or identification of any party in a manner reasonably likely to give a user the impression that the other party has the right to display, publish or distribute this Website or its content. You will cooperate fully with Company and its affiliates in causing any unpermitted or unauthorized activity of yours or a third party authorized by you to cease immediately. To the extent that such unpermitted or unauthorized use continues after notice from Company or its affiliates, you agree to pay or reimburse us for any and all costs (including attorney fees if applicable) associated with ending or terminating such use.

You agree not to impersonate or attempt to impersonate the Company, a Company employee, another user or any other person or entity (including, without limitation, by using e-mail addresses associated with any of the foregoing).

PROHIBITED USES AND ACTIONS

Additionally, you specifically agree not to:

• decompile, reverse engineer, disassemble, modify, reduce the Website to human perceivable form or create derivative works based upon the Website or any part thereof;
• disable any licensing or control features of the Website;
• “frame” the Website or any portion thereof or otherwise cause the Website or its contents to appear to be provided by anyone except Company and its affiliates;
• merge the Website or materials with another program or create derivative works based on the Website or materials;
• remove, obscure, or alter any notice of the copyright or other proprietary legends on the Website or materials;
• sublicense, assign, translate, rent, lease, lend, resell for profit, distribute or otherwise assign or transfer the materials or access to the Website to others;
• use the Website by means of any automated program, expert system, electronic agent or “bot,” and shall not give any person or entity access to the Website;
• utilize any “scraping,” copying, republishing, licensing, or selling the data or information on the Website.

PURCHASES AND PAYMENT

Company accepts a variety of payment methods as reflected on the Website. Before you can submit a request for purchase using the Website, you may be required to provide a valid card number and associated information for a payment card that you are authorized to use, including any of or all of the following: (i) your name as it appears on the card; (ii) the credit or debit card type, (iii) the card’s expiration date; (iv) any activation numbers or codes needed to charge your card; and (v) the billing address or zip code or postal codes associated with your card. You authorize Company and/or its affiliates, payment processor to use information you submit to charge your card or other payment method for the price of purchase requested, in addition to any taxes, fees, and charges as described in the T&C, at our convenience, including as early as at the time of the purchase request is submitted.

PROPRIETARY INFORMATION & TRADE SECRETS

The material and content accessible from this Website and any other website Company or its affiliates owns, operates, licenses or controls (the “content”) is the proprietary information of Company and its affiliates or the party that provided the Content to us, and Company and its affiliates or such party retains all right, title and interest in the content. Accordingly, the Content may not be copied, distributed, republished, uploaded, posted, rented, leased, distributed, modified or transmitted in any way without the prior written consent of Company and its affiliates, except that you may print out a copy of the content solely for your own personal use. In doing so, you may not remove or alter, or cause the removal or alteration of, any copyright, trademark, trade name, service mark or any other proprietary notice or legend appearing on any of the content. Modification or use of the content, except as expressly provided herein, may violate Company’s and its affiliates’ intellectual property rights or a third party’s rights. Neither title nor intellectual property rights in the content are transferred or licensed to you by these Terms or your access of this Website.

Certain information provided to you by Company or its affiliates through non-public portions of the Website may be confidential or trade secret information. You may use or disclose such information only to the extent necessary for the purposes it was disclosed to you. You may not use the Website to circumvent the terms of any referral agreement or in any other manner that is not consistent with the business purpose of the Website. When reasonable, you must return or destroy such information when you have fulfilled such purpose.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Company and its affiliates (or the party that provided to Company) are the owner or licensee of all intellectual property rights on the Website (including trademarks, service marks and logos) and in the material published on it. Those works are protected by copyright laws and treaties around the world. All such rights are reserved, and we or those parties retain all rights with respect to such respective marks. In accessing the Website you agree that you will access its contents and use it solely for your personal, non-commercial use. The Website, including its contents, may not be downloaded, copied, reproduced, transmitted, stored, sold or distributed without the prior written consent of the copyright holder. This excludes downloading, copying and/or printing of pages of the Website for personal, non-commercial home use only.

The Company’s name and logo may not be used in any way, including in advertising or publicity pertaining to distribution of materials on this Website, without prior written permission. You are not authorized to use our logo as a hyperlink to this Website unless you obtain our written permission in advance, although we permit you to use certain designated features of the Website to use our logo as a hyperlink for designated purposes. You may link to our homepage, provided you do so in a way that is fair and legal and does not damage our reputation or take advantage of it, but you must not establish a link in such a way as to suggest any form of association, approval or endorsement on our part without our express written consent.

Except as provided below, none of the materials of the Website may be copied, distributed, displayed, downloaded, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of Company and its affiliates or the intellectual property right owner. Unauthorized use of any materials contained on this Website may violate copyright laws, trademark laws, the laws of privacy and publicity, and/or other regulations and statutes. If you believe that any of the materials infringe on any of your intellectual property rights or rights of others, please contact us immediately at the address provided below. Except as expressly provided herein, Company and its affiliates and the third parties reserve all rights with respect to the Materials, and may pursue all legally available options under both civil and criminal laws (and may cooperate with law enforcement agencies) in the event of any violations, including but not limited to the right to terminate accounts of any user who has infringed a third party’s copyright. Pursuant to Title 17, United States Code, Section 512(c)(2), notifications of claimed copyright infringement should be sent to the Designated Agent. ALL INQUIRIES NOT RELEVANT TO THE FOLLOWING PROCEDURE WILL NOT RECEIVE A RESPONSE.

HYPER-LINKS

We may hyper-link from the Website to other websites that are not maintained by, or related to, Company or its affiliates. Such hyper-links are provided as a service to you, and the other websites may not be officially sponsored by or affiliated with this Website or Company and its affiliates. Such other websites are solely responsible for their content. We are under no obligation to maintain any link on this Website and may remove any such link at any time in its sole discretion for any reason whatsoever. Access hyper-links and third party websites at your own risk.

COMPANY AND ITS AFFILIATES MAKE NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES ABOUT THE CONTENT OF HYPER-LINKED OR THIRD-PARTY WEBSITES. SUCH HYPER-LINKS ARE PROVIDED TO YOU “AS-IS” “WHERE IS,” AND WE SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIM ANY WARRANTIES WITH REGARD TO COMPLETENESS OR ACCURACY OF THESE HYPER-LINKS OR THE WEBSITES THAT ARE HYPER-LINKED TO THIS WEBSITE. THE INCLUSION OF ANY HYPER-LINK TO A THIRD-PARTY WEBSITE DOES NOT NECESSARILY IMPLY ENDORSEMENT BY OR AFFILIATION WITH COMPANY AND ITS AFFILIATES OF THAT WEBSITE.

SOCIAL MEDIA FEATURES

This Website may provide certain social media features that enable you to:

• link from your own or certain third-party websites to certain content on this Website.
• send e-mails or other communications with certain content, or links to certain content, on this Website.
• cause limited portions of content on this Website to be displayed or appear to be displayed on your own or certain third-party websites.

You may use these features solely as they are provided by us and solely with respect to the content they are displayed with and otherwise in accordance with any additional terms and conditions we provide with respect to such features. Subject to the foregoing, you must not:

• establish a link from any website that is not owned by you.
• cause the Website or portions of it to be displayed, or appear to be displayed by, for example, framing, deep linking or in-line linking, on any other site.
• link to any part of the Website other than the homepage.
• otherwise take any action with respect to the materials on this Website that is inconsistent with any other provision of these Terms of Use.

You agree to cooperate with us in causing any unauthorized framing or linking immediately to cease. We reserve the right to withdraw linking permission without notice. We may disable all or any social media features and any links at any time without notice in our discretion.

SUBMISSIONS

You hereby grant to Company and its affiliates the royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, non-exclusive right and license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, create derivative works from, distribute, perform and display all stories, anecdotes, “Similes,” content, remarks, suggestions, ideas, graphics, inventions, methods, process, algorithms or other information communicated to us through this Website (collectively, the “Submission”), and to incorporate any Submission into other works in any form, media or technology now known or later developed. We may use any submission in our business (including without limitation, for products or advertising) without incurring any liability for royalties or any other additional consideration of any kind, and will not incur any liability as a result of any similarities to the submission that may appear in our future operations. By providing a Submission, you warrant that you have the right to provide the Submission and that all moral rights in the Submission have been waived.

COMPANY AND ITS AFFILIATES CANNOT AND DOES NOT GUARANTEE OR WARRANT THAT ANY FILES AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOADING FROM THE INTERNET ARE FREE OF VIRUSES, WORMS, TROJAN HORSES OR OTHER CODE THAT MAY HAVE CONTAMINATING OR DESTRUCTIVE PROPERTIES. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR IMPLEMENTING SUFFICIENT PROCEDURES AND CHECKPOINTS TO SATISFY YOUR PARTICULAR REQUIREMENTS FOR SECURITY, FOR ACCURACY OF DATA INPUT AND OUTPUT, AND FOR MAINTAINING A MEANS EXTERNAL TO THIS WEBSITE FOR RECONSTRUCTING LOST DATA. WE DO NOT ASSUME ANY RESPONSIBILITY OR RISK FOR YOUR USE OF THE INTERNET OR THE WEBSITE.

USE THIS WEBSITE AT YOUR OWN RISK. EXCEPT AS MAY BE EXPRESSLY STATED IN OTHER APPLICABLE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OR SIMILAR AGREEMENT, THE CONTENT IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND "AS AVAILABLE" AND WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED. WE DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES INCLUDING ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE OR NON-INFRINGEMENT. WE DO NOT WARRANT THAT ANY FUNCTIONS OR CONTENT CONTAINED IN THIS WEBSITE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR-FREE, THAT DEFECTS WILL BE CORRECTED, OR THAT THIS WEBSITE OR THE SERVER THAT MAKES IT AVAILABLE ARE FREE OF VIRUSES OR OTHER HARMFUL COMPONENTS. WE DO NOT WARRANT OR MAKE ANY REPRESENTATION REGARDING USE OF THE CONTENT OR RESULTS THEREOF IN TERMS OF ACCURACY, RELIABILITY OR OTHERWISE EXCEPT FOR THE PERSON AND/OR FOR THE USE INTENDED. THE CONTENT MAY INCLUDE TECHNICAL INACCURACIES OR TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS, AND WE MAY MAKE CHANGES OR IMPROVEMENTS AT ANY TIME. YOU, AND NOT COMPANY AND ITS AFFILIATES, ASSUME THE ENTIRE COST OF ALL NECESSARY SERVICING, REPAIR OR CORRECTION IN THE EVENT OF ANY LOSS OR DAMAGE ARISING FROM THE USE OF THIS WEBSITE OR THE CONTENT. WE MAKE NO WARRANTIES THAT YOUR USE OF THE CONTENT WILL NOT INFRINGE THE RIGHTS OF OTHERS AND ASSUME NO LIABILITY OR RESPONSIBILITY FOR ERRORS OR OMISSIONS IN SUCH CONTENT.

BY ACCESSING THIS WEBSITE, YOU UNDERSTAND THAT YOU MAY BE WAIVING RIGHTS WITH RESPECT TO CLAIMS THAT ARE AT THIS TIME UNKNOWN OR UNSUSPECTED, AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUCH WAIVER, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE READ AND UNDERSTAND, AND HEREBY EXPRESSLY WAIVE, THE BENEFITS OF SECTION 1542 OF THE CIVIL CODE OF CALIFORNIA, AND ANY SIMILAR LAW OF ANY STATE OR TERRITORY, WHICH PROVIDES AS FOLLOWS: "A GENERAL RELEASE DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS WHICH THE CREDITOR DOES NOT KNOW OR SUSPECT TO EXIST IN HIS OR HER FAVOR AT THE TIME OF EXECUTING THE RELEASE, WHICH IF KNOWN BY HIM OR HER MUST HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED HIS OR HER SETTLEMENT WITH THE DEBTOR."

The descriptions of products and services contained on this Website are intended to provide a reference guide to the types of products and services offered by Company and its affiliates and are not intended to be relied upon by clients or business partners. Some products and services referenced on this Website may not be available in all areas. Please contact us directly if you wish to obtain specific information concerning the products and services referenced on this Website. All of the information in this Website, whether historical in nature or forward-looking, speaks only as of the date the information was posted on this Website, and we do not undertake any obligation to update such information or to remove such information from this Website, if it is not or is no longer accurate or complete.

LIMITATION ON LIABILITY

TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW OR REGULATION, COMPANY AND ITS AFFILIATES, ITS SUBSIDIARIES, LICENSORS, SERVICE PROVIDERS, CONTENT PROVIDERS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INCIDENTAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, PUNITIVE, ACTUAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY OR OTHER DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOSS OF USE, REVENUE OR INCOME, PAIN AND SUFFERING, EMOTIONAL DISTRESS, OR SIMILAR DAMAGES, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES THAT RELATES IN ANY WAY TO THE USE OF OUR WEBSITE OR WHICH MAY ARISE OUT OF ANY PERSON'S ACCESS OR INABILITY TO ACCESS THIS WEBSITE OR RELIANCE ON THE INFORMATION CONTAINED ON THIS WEBSITE. TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, IN NO EVENT WILL THE COLLECTIVE LIABILITY OF COMPANY AND ITS AFFILIATES AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES, LICENSORS, SERVICE PROVIDERS, CONTENT PROVIDERS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, OFFICERS, AND DIRECTORS TO ANY PARTY (REGARDLESS OF THE FORM OF ACTION, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, OR OTHERWISE) EXCEED THE GREATER OF $100 OR THE AMOUNT YOU PAID TO COMPANY OR ITS AFFILIATES FOR THE APPLICABLE CONTENT OR SERVICE OUT OF WHICH LIABILITY AROSE. BECAUSE SOME STATES OR JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR THE LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, IN SUCH STATES OR JURISDICTIONS, COMPANY’S LIABILITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW IN SUCH STATE OR JURISDICTION WHICH YOU HEREBY CONSENT TO.

INDEMNIFICATION

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Company and its affiliates, its subsidiaries, licensors, content providers, service providers, employees, agents, officers, directors and contractors (the “Indemnified Parties”) from any breach of these T&C by you, including any use of the content other than as expressly authorized herein, and any claim that your submission violates a third party’s intellectual property or other rights, including the rights of publicity and privacy, or defames a third party. You agree that the Indemnified Parties will have no liability in connection with any such breach or unauthorized use, and you agree to indemnify any and all resulting loss, damages, judgments, awards, costs, expenses and attorneys’ fees of the Indemnified Parties in connection therewith. You will also indemnify and hold the Indemnified Parties harmless from and against any claims brought by third parties arising out of your use of the content and this Website.

INFORMATION YOU PROVIDE

You may not post, send, submit, publish or transmit in connection with the Website any material that:

• you do not have the right to post, send, submit, publish or transmit, including any proprietary material of a third party;
• advocates illegal activity or discusses an intent to commit an illegal act;
• is vulgar, obscene, pornographic or indecent;
• does not pertain directly to the Website;
• threatens or abuses others; or libels, defames, invades privacy or stalks; or is racist, harassing, threatening or offensive;
• seeks to exploit or harm minors or older adults by exposing them to inappropriate content, asking for personally identifiable details or otherwise;
• infringes any intellectual property right or other right of any entity or person, including violating anyone’s copyrights or trademarks, or their rights of privacy or publicity;
• violates any law or may be considered to violate any law;
• impersonates or misrepresents your connection to any other entity or person, or otherwise manipulates headers or identifiers to disguise the origin of the content;
• advertises any commercial endeavor (e.g., products or services) or otherwise engages in any commercial activity (e.g., conducting raffles or contests, displaying sponsorship banners or soliciting goods or services, or any combination thereof) except as may be specifically authorized on this Website;
• solicits funds, advertisers or sponsors;
• includes programs that contain viruses, worms, Trojan horses or any other computer code, files or programs designed to interrupt, destroy or limit the functionality of any computer software, hardware or telecommunications or any combination thereof;
• amounts to a "pyramid" or similar scheme;
• disobeys any policy or regulations established from time to time regarding use of this Website or any networks connected to this Website; or
• contains hyper-links to other websites that contain content that falls within any description set forth above.

WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MONITOR USE OF THIS WEBSITE IN ORDER TO DETERMINE COMPLIANCE WITH THESE TERMS OF USE, AND RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REMOVE OR REFUSE ANY INFORMATION FOR ANY REASON. NOTWITHSTANDING THESE RIGHTS, YOU REMAIN RESPONSIBLE SOLELY FOR THE CONTENT OF YOUR SUBMISSIONS. YOU ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT NEITHER COMPANY AND ITS AFFILIATES NOR ANY THIRD PARTY THAT PROVIDES CONTENT TO US WILL ASSUME OR HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY ACTION OR INACTION BY US OR SUCH THIRD PARTY WITH RESPECT TO ANY SUBMISSION OF YOURS. EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY PROVIDED HEREIN, COMPANY AND ITS AFFILIATES AND THE THIRD PARTIES RESERVE ALL RIGHTS WITH RESPECT TO THE WEBSITE, AND MAY PURSUE ALL LEGALLY AVAILABLE OPTIONS UNDER BOTH CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LAWS (AND MAY COOPERATE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES) IN THE EVENT OF ANY VIOLATIONS.

ARBITRATION AND CLASS ACTION WAIVER

PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING SECTION CAREFULLY BECAUSE IT REQUIRES YOU TO ARBITRATE CERTAIN DISPUTES AND CLAIMS AND LIMITS THE MANNER IN WHICH YOU CAN SEEK RELIEF FROM COMPANY. Excluding claims for injunctive or other equitable relief, for all other claims related to the Website, including any goods or services purchased through the Website, any dispute or controversy arising out of or relating to this Agreement, including without limitation, any and all disputes, claims (whether in tort, contract, statutory or otherwise) or disagreements concerning the existence, breach, interpretation, application or termination of this Agreement shall be resolved by final and binding arbitration pursuant to the Federal Arbitration Act and in accordance with the JAMS Inc. Comprehensive Arbitration Rules & Procedures then in effect. There shall be no right or authority for any claims to be arbitrated on a class action basis. The arbitration shall take place in Fairhope, Alabama or at the option of the party seeking relief, by telephone, online, or via written submissions alone; however such election shall not prohibit Company from attending such an arbitration in person. Said arbitration shall be administered by JAMS. The arbitral tribunal (“Tribunal”) shall be composed of one arbitrator, who shall be independent and impartial. If the parties fail to agree on the arbitrator within twenty (20) calendar days after the initiation of an arbitration hereunder, JAMS shall appoint the arbitrator. The arbitration shall be conducted in the English language. The decision of the arbitrator will be final and binding on the parties, subject to all rights of appeal allowed by JAMS. Judgment on any award(s) rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. The arbitrator shall have the authority to determine arbitrability of any disputes arising out of or relating to this Agreement. Nothing in this Section shall prevent either party from seeking immediate injunctive relief from any court of competent jurisdiction, and any such request shall not be deemed incompatible with the agreement to arbitrate or a waiver of the right to arbitrate. The parties undertake to keep confidential all awards in their arbitration, together with all confidential information, all materials in the proceedings created for the purpose of the arbitration and all other documents produced by the other party in the proceedings and not otherwise in the public domain, save and to the extent that disclosure may be required of a party by legal duty, to protect or pursue a legal right or to enforce or challenge an award in legal proceedings before a court or other judicial authority. The arbitrator shall award all fees and expenses, including reasonable attorney’s fees, to the prevailing party. Any judgment rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction.

You may choose to opt out of the agreement to arbitrate by mailing a written opt-out notice (“Notice”) to Company. The Notice must be postmarked no later than thirty (30) days after the date you accept these T&C for the first time. The Notice must be mailed to: Trawick International, Inc., Post Office Box 2284 Fairhope, Alabama USA 36533, to the attention of General Counsel. This procedure is the only mechanism by which you can opt out of the agreement to arbitrate. Opting out of the agreement to arbitrate has no effect on any other parts of this Agreement, or any previous or future arbitration agreements that you have entered into with Company or its affiliates.

GOVERNING LAW

These Terms of Use are governed and interpreted by the laws of Alabama, United States of America notwithstanding any principles of conflicts of law. We make no representation that materials on this Website are appropriate or available for use in other locations. Those who choose to access this Website from other locations do so on their own initiative and are responsible for compliance with applicable local laws.

If you are a consumer, the provisions in these T&C are intended to be only as broad and inclusive as is permitted by the laws of your State of residence. If you are a New Jersey consumer, the terms of “Disclaimer” and “Limitation of Liability” sections above do not limit or waive your rights as a consumer under New Jersey law and the provisions in this Agreement are intended to be only as broad and inclusive as is permitted by the laws of the State of New Jersey. In any event, we reserve all rights, defenses and permissible limitations under the law of your State of residence.

At this Website, Company and its affiliates make no active effort to collect personal information from individuals under the age of eighteen (18). We require that Website users must be of legal age to enter into agreements (typically, at least eighteen (18) years of age or older).

NOT A SECURITY OFFER

The information contained on this Website is not an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy any security. No security is offered or will be sold in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation, purchase or sale would be unlawful under the securities laws of such jurisdiction.

SEVERABILITY

If any part of the T&C is unlawful, void or unenforceable, that part will be deemed deleted and will not affect the validity and enforceability of any remaining provisions. The waiver of a breach of any provision of the T&C by a party will not operate or be construed as such party’s waiver of any other or subsequent breach. The T&C constitute the entire agreement between you and Company and its affiliates relating to this subject matter. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any additional terms and conditions on this Website will govern the items to which they pertain.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Company and its affiliates are an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to a policy of non-discrimination in employment on any basis including race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin. Consistent with the American Disabilities Act, applicants may request accommodations needed to participate in the application process.

For further information, or inquiries about the T&C, please contact:

Trawick International, Inc. Attn: General Counsel Post Office Box 2284 Fairhope, Alabama USA 36533 Toll Free: (888) 301-9289

NOTICE AND PROCEDURE FOR MAKING CLAIMS OF COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT

NOTE: THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS PROVIDED EXCLUSIVELY FOR NOTIFYING THE SERVICE PROVIDERS REFERENCED BELOW THAT YOUR COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL MAY HAVE BEEN INFRINGED. ALL OTHER INQUIRIES WILL NOT RECEIVE A RESPONSE THROUGH THIS PROCESS.

Pursuant to Title 17, U.S. Code, Section 512(c)(2), written notification must be submitted to the following Designated Agent/Service Provider:

Trawick International, Inc. Fairhope, Alabama USA 36533

Name of Agent Designated to Receive Notification of Claimed Infringement: Daryl Trawick

Full Address of Designated Agent to Which Notification Should be Sent: Post Office Box 2284 Fairhope, Alabama USA 36533

Telephone Number of Designated Agent: (888) 301-9289

To Be Effective, the Notification Must Include the Following:

• A physical or electronic signature of a person authorized to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed;
• Identification of the copyrighted work claimed to have been infringed, or if multiple copyrighted works at a single online site are covered by a single notification, a representative list of such works at that site;
• Identification of the material that is claimed to be infringing or to be the subject of infringing activity and that is to be removed or access to which is to be disabled, and information reasonably sufficient to permit the service provider to locate the material;
• Information reasonably sufficient to permit the service provider to contact the Complaining Party, such as an address, telephone number, and if available, an electronic mail address at which the complaining party may be contacted;
• A statement that the Complaining Party has a good faith belief that use of the material in the manner complained of is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law; and
• A statement that the information in the notification is accurate, and under penalty of perjury, that the Complaining Party is authorized to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed.

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Travel Insurance for a Japan Vacation (2024)

Travel insurance can protect your trip expenses, offering peace of mind during your vacation to Japan. See how to get covered and what travel insurance costs.

Jessica Bergin is a Barcelona-based Australian writer who has worked in the travel industry for half a decade. Her passion for adventure, travel, culture and lifestyle has helped her navigate a successful career in the writing industry, including for World Words.

Tori Addison is an editor who has worked in the digital marketing industry for over five years. Her experience includes communications and marketing work in the nonprofit, governmental and academic sectors. A journalist by trade, she started her career covering politics and news in New York’s Hudson Valley. Her work included coverage of local and state budgets, federal financial regulations and health care legislation.

Travel insurance for Japan can offer financial protection and peace of mind for your trip to the East Asian country. Japan is a top destination for sightseeing and adventure sports but is also prone to natural disasters like earthquakes and typhoons. Whether your flight gets delayed due to weather or you get hurt hiking Mount Fuji, a travel insurance plan can make a big difference.

Most travel insurance companies cover trip interruptions, lost or stolen baggage, emergency medical expenses and more. We at the MarketWatch Guides Team have reviewed the best travel insurance for a trip to Japan and offer a general overview of coverage benefits, requirements and costs.

Compare Japan Travel Insurance Companies

Why trust marketwatch guides.

Our editorial team follows a comprehensive methodology for rating and reviewing travel insurance companies. Advertisers have no effect on our rankings.

Companies Reviewed

Quotes Collected

Rating Factors

Do I Need Travel Insurance for Japan?

Travel insurance is not required to visit Japan but is recommended to cover unforeseen medical treatments abroad. Not all U.S. health insurance plans provide coverage in other countries — so you might not have coverage if you become hurt in Japan. However, you can obtain emergency medical coverage through a travel insurance plan. In case of an emergency, travel insurance can cover medical treatments, costs, evacuation and repatriation.

Moreover, Japan is prone to natural disasters like earthquakes, tsunamis and typhoons. Travel insurance can reimburse nonrefundable expenses in case of trip interruptions or cancellations due to unforeseen weather events.

Japan is known for its adventure activities , with skiing and hiking being among the most popular options. In addition to protecting you against certain injuries, some travel insurance products offer coverage for lost or stolen sporting equipment and gear.

Cancel for Any Reason Coverage

With cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage, you have more flexibility to recoup financial setbacks in case of trip cancellation. Most travel insurance providers have a predetermined list of reasons as to when you can receive reimbursement for canceling a trip, including:

• Death of a family member or traveling companion
• Hospitalization
• Unexpected court-ordered appointments
• Military orders
• Acts of terrorism or war

CFAR coverage guarantees protection for a range of additional reasons, including general decisions to change your plans. CFAR coverage is more expensive than standard travel insurance and typically costs 40% to 50% more than your standard insurance plan.

You cannot purchase CFAR insurance on its own when planning a trip to Japan. Most providers offer this coverage as an add-on benefit to your base coverage. However, companies may limit the timeframe in which you can upgrade to CFAR insurance and have limits on when to file a claim if you cancel your trip.

Gear Theft Protection

Theft and petty crime rates are low in Japan, making it one of the world’s safest destinations .

From the ancient traditions in Kyoto to the cherry blossoms in Kyushu, many visitors choose to capture their travels on camera or film. If you’re taking valuable equipment with you, travel insurance can protect you from financial loss. Here are some items that travel insurance may cover:

• Professional camera, tripod and gear
• Laptop, tablet or smartphone
• Sports equipment, like ski poles and protective gear

Most insurance policies have predetermined coverage limits, deductibles and exclusions. Check your policy wording to ensure you have coverage for valuable items you wish to bring on your trip. It may be best to leave irreplaceable items at home or locked in a hotel safe.

Medical Emergency Insurance and Emergency Medical Evacuation

Japan boasts a high-quality health care system , but you may face financial burdens if you need care without insurance. Some of the most reputable Japanese hospitals are St. Luke’s International Hospital in Tokyo and Kyoto University Hospital in Kyoto.

Here is what’s generally included in medical travel insurance coverage:

• Hospital fees
• Medical care and costs
• Operating room fees and anesthesia
• Ambulance costs
• Emergency dental work
• Lab tests and X-rays

Standard travel insurance policies may not provide medical coverage for extreme sports and adventure activities, but certain companies ( like Travelex ) offer adventure sports add-ons. Whether mountain biking in Osaka or snowboarding in Hakuba, travel insurance for medical emergencies can offer necessary medical protection in the event of an emergency.

The majority of travel medical insurance plans cover emergency medical evacuation and repatriation. If you can’t receive health care locally, your policy will cover you against the cost of evacuation to your home country.

Rental Car Protection

You need an international driver’s permit that has been issued in your home country to rent a car in Japan. Driving a car in big cities like Tokyo can be expensive and inconvenient. With traffic jams and the possibility of car accidents, rental car insurance can offer protection in case something goes wrong.

You can purchase travel insurance with rental car coverage. Protection varies by provider so be sure to check the details when you buy travel insurance. Policies may cover the following:

• Collision damage
• Windshield protection
• Roadside protection
• Theft protection

In the case of a stolen or damaged vehicle, standard travel policies offer rental vehicle excess to help you manage the costs.

As an alternative to driving, you can purchase a rail pass and utilize Japan’s railway systems to get between major areas.

Trip Cancellation Insurance

If you have to call off your Japan trip before departure, trip cancellation insurance can protect you from financial loss. Trip cancellation insurance offers reimbursement for nonrefundable and prepaid travel expenses up to a certain amount. Here are some generally accepted reasons to file a cancellation claim:

• Dangerous weather conditions or natural disasters
• Hospitalization or serious illness
• Death of a family member
• Acts of terrorism

As previously mentioned, purchasing CFAR coverage will give you more flexibility with trip cancellations.

How Much Does Japan Travel Insurance Cost?

The cost of travel insurance for a Japan vacation can differ depending on your age, trip details and coverage preferences. For example, your price may vary depending on your trip length and duration. Plan options can include single-trip and annual multi-trip policies.

To find a Japan travel insurance quote, you’ll need to supply the following information:

• Number of travelers
• Age of each traveler
• Destination country and city
• Country of residence
• Total trip price
• Trip length

When calculating your total trip price, factor in flights and accommodation. There are many cheap travel insurance options available if it’s your first time visiting Japan and you’re on a budget.

We requested quotes from ten travel insurance companies for their most affordable plan for a trip to Japan. The below quotes are for a 30-year-old traveler from Florida, traveling to Japan for ten days in September 2024, with a total trip cost of $4,000. Policies include coverage for cancellations, interruptions, delays, medical care and evacuation.

These quotes were collected in April 2024 for a trip in September 2024.

Each plan differs, but includes coverage for the following: 

• COVID-19 cancellation
• COVID-19 medical costs
• Cancellation coverage
• Trip interruption
• Medical evacuation
• Emergency medical coverage

How Do I Get Travel Insurance for Japan?

Before you purchase travel insurance, check to see what coverage you already have. For example, some credit cards offer travel insurance, and you should check to see if your health insurance extends abroad. Once you identify the coverage you already have, you can find a policy that fits your needs.

To ensure you get the best value for your money, it’s important to research and compare various trip insurance providers . Factor in your preferences and choose a policy with coverage tailored to you. Review policy exclusions and deductibles to see if it covers what you need and is in your budget.

Japan Safety Tips

Japan is considered a safe country to visit for tourists. When visiting the Land of the Rising Sun, safety concerns mainly revolve around natural disasters like earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis and typhoons. You can stay up to date on weather events by downloading Japanese disaster prevention apps on your mobile device.

Crime and Safety

By global standards, crime rates in Japan are extremely low . Theft is rare, and it is common to leave valuable items like laptops on tables in restaurants and cafes. Scams are unlikely, but can still occur in areas like Roppongi, Tokyo . Although risks are low, U.S. citizens should practice standard safety measures when traveling in Japan.

Day Trips, Tours and Excursions

A Japanese vacation offers opportunities for sightseeing and adventure. Whether you’re taking a day trip to Nara to see the wild deer or scuba diving on Miyako Island, buying travel insurance coverage can be a good idea. Japan travel insurance ensures peace of mind in case of unexpected injuries, medical expenses or emergencies. Some policies also cover gear and delays related to travel excursions, like hiking or golf.

As of May 2023, travelers are no longer required to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test result to enter Japan . International travel is open and the country has fully lifted coronavirus restrictions.

The Bottom Line: Is Travel Insurance for a Japan Vacation Worth It?

Although you do not legally need travel insurance to enter Japan, it is worth considering for your trip. The country strongly recommends travel medical insurance or a plan that offers medical coverage for expenses related to COVID-19 or emergency medical care. A comprehensive travel insurance plan can also cover you against financial losses in the case of trip cancellation, travel delays or natural disasters.

To decide if travel insurance is worth it , factor in pre-existing medical conditions and the type of activities you plan on doing in Japan. We recommend getting quotes from at least three providers before purchasing a policy.

Frequently Asked Questions About Travel Insurance in Japan

Can i claim flight compensation for a trip to japan.

U.S. airlines are not required to compensate you if your flight is delayed or canceled for reasons outside the airline’s control. But you may be able to claim compensation if you buy travel insurance with trip cancellation or interruption coverage. We have put together an article on how to claim compensation if you experience travel interruptions while flying.

Can foreign visitors get health insurance in Japan?

Japan provides free health care to its citizens and expatriates, not short-term visitors. Japan has a universal health care system for foreigners staying longer than a year. But some private U.S. health insurance plans may offer coverage abroad, or you can purchase travel insurance with emergency medical coverage.

What if I get sick in Japan?

Head to an emergency hospital or health care center if you fall ill when visiting Japan. If you require urgent help, you can call an ambulance via 119.

Can I travel to Japan on my own?

Solo travel in Japan is largely considered safe . The country is among the safest in the world, and getting around major cities like Tokyo and Kyoto is easy thanks to the country’s efficient transport links. If you plan to hike or participate in adventure activities, advise somebody of your whereabouts

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If you have questions about this page, please reach out to our editors at [email protected] .

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Espunis in Japan

Japan Travel Insurance: Secure your Trip

When planning a trip to Japan, it’s important to consider travel insurance to cover any unexpected event or cost. Medical treatment and emergency transport can be expensive, especially in a foreign country. Choosing the right travel insurance coverage can be daunting, but we’ve got you covered. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll highlight why you need travel insurance, what to look for in policies, and our top recommended insurance companies for Japan.

Why do I need travel insurance for Japan?

When planning a trip to Japan, it’s crucial to consider purchasing travel insurance. While Japan is a safe country to visit, accidents and unforeseen events can happen, and it’s always better to be protected by insurance. There are several key reasons why travel insurance is essential for Japan.

Medical Expenses

One of the most significant reasons to purchase travel insurance in Japan is to get coverage for medical expenses. Visitors to Japan may face high medical costs if they get sick or injured. Medical services in Japan are relatively expensive compared to many other countries, and without travel insurance, expenses can rapidly add up. Therefore, purchasing travel insurance that includes medical coverage is highly recommended.

Cancellation and Trip Interruption

Travel insurance that includes cancellation and trip interruption coverage provides peace of mind for travelers heading to Japan. Unforeseen events such as illness, natural disasters, or transport strikes might cause significant interruptions to travel plans, and cancellation coverage can help mitigate additional expenses.

Lost or Stolen Luggage

Losing a suitcase or having items stolen while abroad can be incredibly stressful. Purchasing travel insurance that includes coverage for lost or stolen luggage can help ease concerns. These policies often include compensation for lost or stolen personal belongings, including passports and other essential documents.

Adventure Activities

Those interested in adventure activities while in Japan should purchase travel insurance that includes coverage for such activities to ensure they are adequately protected. Coverage is recommended for activities such as mountain climbing, skiing, and scuba diving, which can be dangerous if proper safety precautions are not taken.

Transportation in Case of Emergency

When traveling to Japan, it’s essential to keep in mind that access to medical treatment may be limited in remote areas. Additionally, transportation in Japan can be costly, especially in emergencies. Travel insurance that includes coverage for emergency transportation can provide peace of mind and cover the cost of transportation in case of an emergency. In conclusion, purchasing travel insurance for a trip to Japan is crucial. Travel insurance will protect against potential expenses incurred during a trip, and it is always better to be prepared. With coverage for medical expenses, trip interruption, lost or stolen luggage, adventure activities, and emergency transportation, the right travel insurance policy will ensure a safe and enjoyable trip to Japan.

How much does travel insurance for Japan cost?

One of the major concerns for travelers is how much to expect when it comes to travel insurance costs for Japan. There are various factors that come into play when determining the cost, and it is essential to understand these to make an informed decision.

Factors That Determine the Cost

Below are some of the factors that determine the cost of travel insurance:

• • Length of the trip.
• • Age of the traveler.
• • Type of coverage required.
• • Pre-existing medical conditions.
• • Risks and activities involved.
• • The amount of coverage and deductibles.

The longer the trip, the higher the cost of travel insurance. Insurance companies take into account the duration of the trip, and some set a maximum number of days for coverage.

Age is also a critical factor in calculating the cost. Usually, older travelers will pay more for travel insurance than younger ones since they are deemed to be at a higher risk of requiring medical attention.

It is also vital to consider the type of coverage required. Comprehensive travel insurance, which includes medical coverage and trip cancellation protection, will naturally cost more than trip cancellation-only coverage or medical-only coverage.

Pre-existing medical conditions can also influence the cost of travel insurance, as some companies may exclude coverage for such conditions or charge additional fees for coverage.

Riskier activities like skiing or hiking may increase the cost of travel insurance, as these are presumed to carry higher risks of injuries. Moreover, coverage amounts and deductibles also play a role when it comes to the cost of travel insurance since a higher coverage amount or lower deductible would result in a higher overall cost.

In conclusion, the final cost of travel insurance will depend on different variables and is ultimately up to the traveler to decide how much coverage is needed and how much they are willing to pay.

What should you look for in the best travel insurance for Japan?

When searching for the best travel insurance for your trip to Japan, it is important to focus on specific coverage areas. Here are some of the most crucial aspects of coverage to consider:

Coverage for Medical Expenses

A major reason for getting travel insurance is to cover any medical expenses that may arise on your trip to Japan. The best travel insurance policies should cover expenses such as hospitalization, emergency medical transport, and medication if the policyholder falls sick or gets injured on the trip. It is essential to read the policy carefully and ensure that it provides coverage for risks related to pre-existing medical conditions and covers any COVID-19 related medical expenses.

Coverage for Cancellation and Trip Interruption

One of the essential aspects of travel insurance is coverage for cancellation and interruption. In some cases, travelers may need to cancel or cut short their trip due to unforeseen circumstances like personal illness or an emergency at home. Good travel insurance policies will cover such situations, providing reimbursement for any non-refundable costs of the trip.

Coverage for Lost or Stolen Luggage

No one wants to have their luggage lost or stolen while traveling. However, it can happen. That’s why it is important to make sure that your travel insurance covers lost, stolen, or damaged luggage. The policy should provide coverage for replacement or reimbursement of the lost or stolen luggage or travel documents.

Coverage for Adventure Activities

Japan offers many adventure activities like skiing, snowboarding, and surfing. It’s essential to ensure that your travel insurance policy covers the hazardous activities you plan to partake in. Get a policy that includes coverage for these activities to avoid incurring extra costs in case of accidents.

Coverage for Transportation in Case of Emergency

Travel insurance policies should provide coverage for transportation in case of emergency. The policy should cover emergency transportation to the hospital or a medical facility near your location, as well as transportation to return home if you need to end your trip due to a covered reason. The coverage should include expenses related to air ambulance, helicopter, or other forms of transport depending on the location and type of emergency.

In conclusion, choosing the right travel insurance for your Japan trip is essential to ensure that you are protected against unforeseen events that may occur during your travels. Consider the coverage areas we mentioned above when comparing policies to find the right one for your needs.

Top recommended travel insurance companies for Japan

If you’re planning a trip to Japan, having travel insurance is a must to protect you from any unforeseen events during your visit. Here are our top recommended travel insurance companies for Japan:

Stay Sure insurance

• Covers medical expenses up to £2 million
• Covers theft or loss of luggage, including mobile phones and other devices
• Covers civil liability
• Covers adventure sports and hazardous activities
• Assistance in English, Spanish, German, French, Portuguese, Italian, and Dutch

Mondo insurance

• Covers medical expenses up to £5 million
• Covers cancellation and interruption of travel up to £6,000
• Covers lost or stolen luggage up to £2,000
• Assistance in English and Spanish

InterMundial insurance

• Covers cancellation or interruption of travel up to £10,000
• Covers lost or stolen luggage up to £1,000
• Covers emergency dental expenses up to £200

AXA Assistance

• Covers medical expenses up to £10 million
• Covers lost or stolen luggage up to £2,500
• Covers sports and hazardous activities
• Assistance in English

Chapka Insurance

• Covers lost or stolen luggage up to £3,000

When it comes to selecting a travel insurance policy for Japan, we recommend focusing on comprehensive coverage for medical expenses, trip cancellation or interruption, lost or stolen luggage, and civil liability. Additionally, consider your individual needs and any adventure activities you may be doing during your visit. The above recommended travel insurance companies are some of the best in the market, and they offer different add-ons and packages to suit your needs. Don’t skip this vital protection so that you can have a peaceful trip knowing you’re covered in the event of an emergency.

How to choose the right travel insurance coverage for your trip to Japan

Assess your needs.

Before selecting a travel insurance policy for your trip to Japan, you should assess your needs based on your travel itinerary and personal needs. Consider the following factors:

• The length of your trip
• Activities you plan to engage in, such as skiing or hiking
• Pre-existing medical conditions
• Traveling with valuable items

Taking these factors into account will help you narrow down which coverage options to consider.

Personalize your policy

After assessing your needs, you can customize your policy to fit your specific requirements. Most travel insurance policies have an array of coverage options, and you can choose which coverage options and limits you need. For example, if you’re traveling with valuable items, you might consider purchasing a policy with high baggage coverage limits or choosing a policy that covers theft or loss of valuable items. You should also ensure that your policy covers any pre-existing medical conditions you may have. Additionally, for adventure activities, you may need to add coverage specifically for those activities. Overall, it’s important to take your time when choosing a travel insurance policy for your trip to Japan, as it can make all the difference in case of an emergency.

Frequently asked questions about travel insurance for Japan

What is the best travel insurance for Japan in terms of medical coverage?

When travelling to Japan, it is important to have sufficient medical coverage in case of emergency. The best travel insurance for Japan regarding medical coverage is one that covers at least £5m in medical expenses. Some recommended companies for medical coverage in Japan are Seguros IATI, Seguros Mondo, and InterMundial. Additionally, you should look for a policy that covers emergency medical transportation, as this can be very expensive in Japan.

Does travel insurance for Japan cover COVID-19?

Yes, several insurance companies offer coverage for COVID-19 in Japan. Some of our recommended companies like Seguros IATI, Seguros Mondo, and InterMundial offer coverage for COVID-19-related medical expenses, including hospitalization and emergency medical transportation. Be sure to check with your travel insurance provider to see if COVID-19 insurance coverage is included.

Is it mandatory to have travel insurance for Japan?

While it is not mandatory to have travel insurance for Japan, it is highly recommended. Healthcare in Japan can be quite expensive, and without insurance, you could face significant out-of-pocket costs for medical treatment or transportation in the event of an emergency.

Do I need travel insurance for Japan if I already have a European Health Insurance Card?

If you are a citizen of the European Union and have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), you will be entitled to basic medical assistance in Japan. However, the EHIC does not cover all medical expenses, and it does not provide coverage for things like emergency medical transportation or trip cancellation. Therefore, it is still recommended to have additional travel insurance when visiting Japan, even if you have an EHIC. In conclusion, when traveling to Japan, it is crucial to have travel insurance to cover any unforeseen medical expenses, trip cancellations or interruption, or lost or stolen luggage. Be sure to assess your insurance needs, personalize your policy, and compare prices and coverage from reputable insurance providers. With the right travel insurance in place, you can enjoy your trip to Japan with peace of mind.

In conclusion, if you’re thinking of traveling to Japan, it’s really important to ensure you have insurance that offers sufficient protection . After doing a lot of research and considering various options, we’ve personally chosen the best insurance providers for this destination. We want to emphasize that none of these companies are sponsoring us; we genuinely recommend them because we truly believe in their top-notch quality and extensive coverage . Remember, unexpected things can occur at any moment, and having a trustworthy safety net can truly make a world of difference. Wishing you a fantastic trip and hoping you have an amazing experience in Japan!😉

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A writer and editor at Monito, Jarrod is passionate about helping people apply today’s powerful finance technologies to their lives. He brings his background in international affairs and his experiences living in Japan to provide readers with comprehensive information that also acknowledges the local context.

Byron Mühlberg

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With its cherry blossoms, UNESCO-protected cuisine, and countless shrines and temples, Japan is a travel destination that has enchanted tourists from around the world. The country also boasts a superb healthcare system.

If you face a medical emergency during your Japanese travels, you’ll be in good hands. Still, it’s worth arriving in Japan with travel insurance so that you can visit their world-class hospitals, health clinics, and emergency services anytime with peace of mind. Japanese hospitals and clinics will not accept foreign health insurance and will require you to pay out of pocket unless you have travel insurance for Japan.

Online global insurance companies (known as 'insurtechs') like SafetyWing , VisitorsCoverage , and Insured Nomads specialize in low-cost Japanese travel insurance and in other countries worldwide. In our list below, we explore the three services we believe provide the best deals for young travellers, adventurous backpackers, holidaymakers looking for wide but affordable coverage, and families or groups.

Japan Insurance Profile

Here are a few of the many factors influencing the scope and cost of travel insurances for Japan:

Top Three Travel Insurances for Japan

• 01. Is travel insurance mandatory for Japan? scroll down
• 02. Best medical coverage: VisitorsCoverage scroll down
• 03. Best coverage for youth: SafetyWing scroll down
• 04. Best travel and medical combo: Insured Nomads scroll down
• 05. FAQ about travel insurance for Japan scroll down

Heading to Japan soon? Don't forget to check the following list before you travel:

• 💳 Eager to dodge high FX fees? See our picks for the best travel cards in 2024.
• 🛂 Need a visa? Let iVisa take care of it for you.
• ✈ Looking for flights? Compare on Skyscanner !
• 💬 Want to learn Japanese? italki is an excellent way to take one-on-one online lessons.
• 💻 Want a VPN? ExpressVPN is the market leader for anonymous and secure browsing.

Is Travel Insurance Mandatory For Japan?

No, there's currently no legal requirement to take out travel insurance for travel to or through Japan.

However, regardless of whether or not it's legally required, it's always a good idea to take our health insurance before you travel — whether to Korea or anywhere else. For what's usually  an affordable cost , taking out travel insurance will mitigate most or all of the risk of financial damage if you run into any unexpected troubles during your trip abroad. Take a look at the  top five reasons to get travel insurance  to learn more.

With that said, here are the top three travel insurances for Japan:

1st: VisitorsCoverage (Best Health Coverage)

Among the internet's best-known insurance platforms,  VisitorsCoverage  is a pioneering Silicon Valley insurtech company that offers comprehensive medical coverage for travellers going abroad to Japan. It lets you choose between various plans tailored to meet the specific needs of your trip to Japan, including coverage for medical emergencies, trip cancellations, and travel disruptions. With its easy online purchase process and 24/7 live chat support, VisitorsCoverage is a reliable and convenient option if you want good value and peace of mind while travelling abroad.

• Coverage 9.0
• Quality of Service 9.0
• Pricing 7.6
• Credibility 9.5

VisitorsCoverage offers a large variety of policies, and depending on your needs and preferences, you'll need to compare and explore their full catalogue of plans for yourself. However, we've chosen a few highlights for their travel insurance for Japan:

• Plan : Seven Corners Travel Medical Choice
• Price : $46.50 /traveler /month
• Add Canada and US Coverage: N/A
• Term Duration : Customizable
• Coverage : This plan covers most medical treatment, including emergency dental treatment, repatriation, eye exams prescription medication, and COVID-19 coverage.
• Deductible : Customizable ($0 - $5,000)
• Remove Deductible: Add $12 /month
• Maximum Limit : Customizable ($50,000 - $5,000,000)
• Best For : For online-savvy travelers, VisitorsCoverage plans are an excellent choice for comprehensive health coverage. With its flexibility in terms of duration and cancellation, it can be a hassle-free solution for those who need reliable travel insurance.

2nd: SafetyWing (Best For Youth)

Regarding petty crime, infrastructure, and accessibility to medical services, Japan is considered a very safe country. On top of this, young people are the least likely age group to sign up for a travel medical insurance policy (usually due to high costs). 

However, travel delays can happen to anyone. Japan is geographically prone to natural disasters, which is why low-cost travel insurance may be worthwhile for young tourists.

SafetyWing is an online travel insurance provider geared toward younger age groups known to offer some of the cheapest international travel insurance policies on the market . They even focus on insuring digital nomads and companies with remote teams. No matter where you are flying in from, SafetyWing stands out as an excellent choice for Japan travel insurance.

• Coverage 7.0
• Quality of Service 8.0
• Pricing 6.3
• Credibility 7.3

SafetyWing offers one standard plan for international travellers although their pricing differs by age group. Below, we focus on the youth category (10 to 39 years old) as we believe this is where SafetyWing's offer really sets itself apart.

• Plan: Insurance for nomads
• Price: Starting at $45.08 /traveler /month
• Term Duration: Up to 364 days
• Eligibility: Between 10 and 39 years (for the basic plan), you cannot travel in the US during your trip.
• Coverage: SafetyWing's basic travel is comprehensive and includes both medical- and travel-related benefits. A few highlights include COVID-19 coverage¹, hospital, ICU, and ambulance coverage², emergency dental coverage, physical therapy and chiropractic coverage, travel interruption and delay coverage, evacuation (medical or emergency political) coverage, and lost luggage up to $3,000.
• Deductible: $250
• Maximum Limit: $250,000
• Best For: Because of its low costs and low barrier to entry (you only need to sign up online ⁠— which you can even sign up when you're already travelling), we think SafetyWing is the best travel insurance for Japan for younger travellers looking to keep costs low while still getting decent coverage. 

If you're older than 39 years or you're looking for more coverage and don't mind paying a higher price, then we recommend looking at the options below.

¹ Covers testing and quarantine under certain conditions ² High-risk sports, pre-existing conditions, and cancer treatment aren't covered.

3rd: Insured Nomads (Best Trip & Medical Combined Coverage)

Aimed at nomads, couples, families, and groups who frequently travel abroad, Insured Nomads is another extensive insurtech platform offering travel insurance for Japan that's ideal for both medical and non-medical coverage. The minimum policy length is one year and is ideal for those who decide to stay in Japan for an entire year and for those who take frequent short-term trips in and out of their home country.

• Coverage 7.8
• Quality of Service 8.5
• Pricing 7.4
• Credibility 8.8

Insured Nomads offers a wide range of travel insurance policies, including a larger scope of medical-related coverages than the other providers in this article. This includes telemedicine, mental health coverage, airport lounge access, VPN for cyber security protection , and other membership benefits.

We detail Insured Nomads' basic travel insurance plan for Japan below:

• Plan: Travel Insurance World Explorer
• Price: From $86 to $114 /traveler /month
• Term Duration: One trip of between 7 and 364 days
• Eligibility: You cannot travel to Japan via Cuba, Iran, Syria, Sudan, North Korea, or the Crimea region
• Coverage: This plan offers a fairly comprehensive set of medal benefits and coverage for a basic Japan travel insurance plan. These include online consultation (telemedicine), medical, emergency, and accident coverage, Covid-19 coverage¹, outpatient and inpatient care, medical transportation coverage, evacuation and repatriation, life insurance, adventure sports and marine activity coverage, electronics, camera, cellphone, and sports equipment coverage, flight delay provisions.
• Deductible: $0, $100, $250, or $500 based on selection
• Maximum Limit: $250,000, $1,000,000, or $2,000,000 based on selection
• Best For: Although the most expensive of the plans we've looked at so far, we think Insured Nomads gives the best combination of medical and travel-related coverage, making it an ideal option for travellers to Japan looking for comprehensive benefits. (Insured Nomads also offers an even more comprehensive global health insurance plan for expats for those who plan to live in Japan for an extended period of time.)

¹ Coverage does not apply if travelling to a country with a Covid alert level of Level 4.

FAQ About Travel Insurance for Japan

No, you won't be required to get a travel insurance policy for Japan. However, we encourage you to do so because Japan does not accept foreign health insurance. Without travel medical insurance for Japan, you will have to pay the full cost of any medical treatment you receive.

As of March 31st, 2022, Japan has continued to close its borders to tourists. On February 24 2022, however, foreign nationals for diplomatic, business, and other authorized reasons became allowed to travel to Japan.

In the case of SafetyWing , costs start at $42 per month. The basic plan with VisitorsCoverage costs around $34.50 per month, and Insured Nomads ' main plan costs $84 per month.

Yes, foreigners can buy travel insurance and travel medical insurance while in Japan. However, only legal residents and citizens can obtain coverage with national Japanese health insurance.

Yes, with many insurers, you can purchase travel insurance for Japan even while you are in the middle of your trip. This is the case for SafetyWing , VisitorsCoverage , and Insured Nomads .

Yes, medical travel insurance is almost always worth it, and we recommend taking out travel insurance whenever visiting a foreign country. Taking out travel insurance will mitigate some or all of the risk of having to cover those costs yourself in case you need medical attention during your stay.

Yes, foreigners can open a bank account in Japan but only if they are legal residents of the country. You must present a government-authorized Japanese residence card in order to open a bank account in Japan. You may not open a bank account in Japan with a tourist visa.

Read our guide on how to learn fluent Japanese , just in time for your travels.

Other Guides About Japan and Travel Insurance

References Used in This Guide

Washoku. UNESCO.org . Accessed 31 March 2022. Healthcare in Japan for Tourists. Live Japan . 26 June 2020. Description of Coverage. SafetyWing . Accessed 31 March 2022. Travel Insurance Insurance Product Information Document. Insured Nomads . Accessed 31 March 2022. Measures for Resuming Cross-Border Travel. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan . 25 March 2022.

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Japan Travel Insurance

If you are planning a trip to Japan you may highly benefit from our Japan Travel Insurance.

 What is Travel Insurance?

Travel  insurance is  a  type  of insurance that covers the costs and  losses  associated with traveling. It is a plan you purchase that protects you from certain financial risks that can occur while traveling, such as a delayed suitcase, a trip cancellation, or a medical emergency overseas. Helps travelers deal with various contingencies that can occur during their trips.

The Significance of Travel Insurance

This insurance is significant because it offers travelers peace of mind and financial protection. It ensures that they are not burdened with exorbitant costs in case of unexpected incidents such as medical emergencies, trip cancellations, lost luggage, or other unforeseen events during their travels.

Benefits of Comprehensive Coverage

Comprehensive coverage is more than just protection; it's your ticket to peace of mind. It goes beyond addressing health risks and travel disruptions; it empowers you to immerse yourself in the Honduran experience fully.

best places to visit in japan

Mount Fuji located on the island of Honshū, is the highest mountain in Japan, standing 3,776.24 meters. It is the second-highest volcano located on an island in Asia (after Mount Kerinci on the island of Sumatra) and the seventh-highest peak on an island on Earth.

Mount Fuji has for centuries been celebrated in art and literature and is now considered so important an icon that UNESCO recognized its world cultural significance in 2013. As part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, Mount Fuji is climbed by more than a million people each summer as a mission, which ends beautifully with watching the sunrise from its summit.

Kyoto  officially Kyoto City, is the capital city of Kyoto Prefecture in Japan, on the island of Honshu.

This is one of Japan’s most visited cities, and one of the few cities in the country to be spared the devastation of WWII. Most visitors come here to explore Kyoto’s fine old streets and architecture, much of it unchanged since the Imperial family took up residence here more than 1,000 years ago. Even then, the city was Japan’s most important cultural center. This legacy, in fact, continues to this day with its many museums and art galleries, each bursting with important sculptures, paintings, and other art forms. Kyoto’s Buddhist-influenced architecture can be seen in its many well-preserved temples, 30 of which are still in use.

Continents:

The European continent is located completely in the northern hemisphere and mainly in the eastern hemisphere. Europe borders onto the Arctic Ocean in the North, the Atlantic Ocean in the west and the Mediterranean Sea in the South. There are 50 countries in Europe with a total of more than 748 million people living on the continent in 2021.

There are 49 countries in Asia according to the UN. The 10 biggest countries are listed in the right column of this page. Two of the Asian countries, Russia and Turkey, also share part of their territory on the European continent. Additionally there are two countries that only have limited international recognition: State of Palestine and Republic of China/Taiwan and some dependencies. Asia is the most populous continent with more than 4.7 billion people living there. (2022)

There are 54 countries in Africa – and 9 dependent territories. More than 1.3 billion people live on the African continent. This means about 15% of the world’s total population live in Africa! Even though Nigeria is only a third of the size of Algeria, it is the most populous country in Africa, with more than 219 million people.

NORTH AMERICA

Oceania is in a continental group consisting of 14 countries and includes Pacific islands and Australia. Often Australia is named as a continent, but this means that the many islands and countries except Australia would then be not included. Oceania in fact is mostly ocean and spans a vast area as you can see below.

Travel Insurance

Travel Insurance, Schengen visa travel insurance, Europe and Worldwide Single Trip and Multi-Trip Insurance policies.

The best tips for travelling to Tokyo

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updated 18.04.2024

Joining forces, our Japan travel experts and Rough Guides editors have put together a list of tips for travelling to Tokyo to make your experience truly memorable and carefree.

Entry requirements for travellers to Tokyo

Health and insurance, crime and personal safety, internet access and mobile phones, tailor-made travel itineraries for japan, created by local experts.

13 days  / from 3535 USD

Small Group Tour: Splendours of Japan

Discover the allure of Japan on our small group tour (max 16 guests). Unveil Tokyo, Kanazawa, Kyoto, Osaka, and Okayama through guided explorations. Immerse in tea ceremonies and relish in the captivating beauty of these iconic destinations. Regular departures ensure an unforgettable journey.

14 days  / from 4070 USD

Small Group Tour: Secrets of Japan

Embark on an exceptional small-group tour, available monthly, unveiling Tokyo, Hakone, Hiroshima, Osaka, Kyoto, and beyond. Uncover Japan's hidden gems, from serene shrines to bustling cities, and immerse in enchanting forests.

10 days  / from 2795 USD

Small Group Tour: Highlights of Japan

Exciting small-group tour with monthly departures. Immerse in Japanese culture, challenge a pro in a sumo suit, wander Arashiyama's bamboo groves in Kyoto, and relish a kaiseki feast with Maiko entertainment - all included in this fascinating small group tour.

All visitors to Japan must have a passport valid for the duration of their stay . At the time of writing, citizens of most Western countries can stay in Japan for up to ninety days without a visa, provided they are visiting for tourism or business purposes and possess a valid ticket out of Japan. Citizens of certain other countries must apply for a visa in advance in their own country. Visas are usually free, though in certain circumstances you may be charged a fee. 

The rules on visas do change from time to time, so check first with the nearest Japanese embassy or consulate, or on the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs website . 

Visa extension

For travellers from the UK and Ireland, among others, your stay can be extended for another three months. 

• To get a visa extension you’ll need to fill in two copies of an “Application for Extension of Stay”, available from the Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau at 5-5-30 Kōnan, Minato-ku (Mon–Fri 9am– noon & 1–4pm; T03 5796 7111). Go early in the day, since the process takes forever; note that your application may not be confirmed for two weeks . Bring along passport photos (and your passport, of course), a letter explaining your reasons for wanting to extend your stay, and the requisite fee. In addition, you may be asked to show proof of sufficient funds to support your stay and a valid onward ticket out of the country. 
• An easier option – and the only alternative available to nationals of those countries who are not eligible for an extension – may be a short trip out of Japan to a neighbouring country and back, though you may still have to run the gauntlet of immigration officials on your return.

Working holiday visa, volunteer visa and their specifics

Citizens of the UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, among other countries, can apply for a working holiday visa if they are aged between 18 and 30 (officially up to 25 for Canadians and Australians, though there are often ways around this if you’re under 30); this grants a stay of up to one year and entitles the holder to take paid employment so long as your stay is “primarily deemed to be a holiday”.

British nationals are also eligible for the volunteer visa scheme, which allows holders to undertake voluntary work for charitable organizations in Japan for up to one year. Your application must include a letter from the host organization confirming details of the voluntary work to be undertaken and the treatment the volunteer will receive (pocket money and board and lodging are allowed, but formal remuneration is not). You must also be able to show evidence of sufficient funds for your stay in Japan. Contact your local embassy or consulate to check the current details of the scheme.

Resident status

Foreigners legally allowed to stay in Japan for more than ninety days – basically, those with legal employment or married to a Japanese citizen – must obtain residency status before their first ninety days are up. Resident cards can be issued, with prior arrangement, at the main international airports, though most people end up applying at their local government office. 

The resident cards (Zairyū kādo; 在留カード) include your photograph and must (legally speaking) be carried at all times, though in reality they’re rarely checked. In addition, if you’re on any sort of working visa and you leave Japan temporarily, you must get a re-entry visa before you leave if you wish to continue working on your return. Re-entry visas are available from local immigration bureaus.

Tokyo, Japan

To find an English-speaking doctor and the hospital or clinic best suited to your needs, contact the Tokyo Medical Information Service (Mon–Fri 9am–8pm; T03 5285 8181); they can also provide emergency medical translation services over the phone. Major hotels usually stock a limited array of common medicines. 

Note that certain medications that are commonplace outside Japan are actually illegal here – some of the more prominent prescription drugs on the no-no list are codeine (beyond a certain amount) and some ADHD medications. The health ministry website has more specific details on these, and the forms you’ll need to fill in if you’re to bring these meds into Japan legally

Due to the high cost of hospital treatment in Japan, it’s essential to take out a good travel insurance policy , particularly one with comprehensive medical coverage.

The Japanese currency is the yen (en in Japanese). Notes are available in denominations of ¥1000, ¥2000 (rarely seen), ¥5000 and ¥10,000, while coins come in values of ¥1, ¥5, ¥10, ¥50, ¥100 and ¥500. Apart from the ¥5 piece, a copper-coloured coin with a hole in the centre, all other notes and coins indicate their value in Western numerals. 

Though credit and debit cards are far more widely accepted than they were a few years ago, Japan is mostly a cash society. The major overseas cards are now accepted in all convenience stores, and the majority of places in which you’re likely to eat, drink or shop. However, some retailers only accept locally issued cards, and many will only take cash. Conversely, others will accept Google or Apple Pay on your phone (local apps are more widespread, but require a domestic number to function). and at many shops, it’s possible to pay for goods with your Pasmo card .

• Although they don’t save you any money, the most convenient way to travel is to use a Pasmo or JR Suica stored-value card. Both can be used on all subways, many buses and both JR and private trains in the wider Tokyo area. The card can be recharged at ticket machines and ticket offices. Cards are available from ticket machines in metro and JR stations, for a minimum pre-loaded fee plus a deposit, which will both be returned to you when you cash in the card before leaving Tokyo – note that this can be done at Haneda airport, but not Narita.

Shinkansen Railway, Tokyo, Japan @ Shutterstock

Despite its reputation as an outrageously expensive city, with a little planning, Tokyo is a manageable destination even for those on a fairly modest budget. The key is to do what the majority of Japanese do: eat in simple restaurants, avoid the ritzier bars (or bars entirely; convenience-store alcohol is very cheap) and take advantage of any available discounts. 

Bear in mind that many of the best things to do in Tokyo are absolutely free. Some of the top places in town – in a very literal sense – won’t set you back a single yen. The most popular are: 

• the observatories at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
• Ebisu Garden Place (home to Longrain) 

The majority of temples and shrines are free, as are many museums and galleries – and a whole bunch more become so if you invest in a Grutto Pass . Lastly, there are free walking tours around Asakusa, Ueno and the Imperial City area. 

Holders of the International Student Identity Card (ISIC; isic.org ) are eligible for discounts on some transport and admission fees, as are children.

Tokyo boasts one of the lowest crime rates in the world. On the whole, the Japanese are honest and law-abiding; there’s little theft, and drug-related crimes are relatively rare. Nonetheless, it always pays to be careful in crowds, and to keep money and important documents stowed in an inside pocket or money belt, or in your hotel safe. 

The presence of police boxes ( kōban ) in every neighbourhood helps to discourage petty crime, and the local police seem to spend the majority of their time dealing with stolen bikes and helping bemused visitors – Japanese and foreigners – find addresses. In theory, you should carry your passport or ID at all times; the police have the right to arrest anyone who fails to do so. In practice they rarely stop foreigners, but if you’re found without ID, you may well be escorted back to your hotel or apartment to collect it.

Anyone found with drugs will be treated less leniently ; if you’re lucky, you’ll simply be fined and deported, rather than sent to prison. 

• Tokyo Metropolitan Police run an English-language hotline (T 03 3503 8484 ; Mon–Fri 8.30am– 5.15pm). 
• Another useful option is Tokyo English Language Lifeline (T 03 5774 0992 , telljp.com ; daily 9am–11pm).
• Emergency numbers: Police T 110 / Fire or ambulance T 119

Roppongi, Tokyo @ Shutterstock

Many visitors soon realize that Japan doesn’t quite live up to its tech-savvy reputation. A fair few local websites (including those of some expensive hotels and restaurants) are laughably bad; with italicized Times New Roman fonts and copious Clipart characters, many seem to have been imported directly from the mid-1990s. However, a whole bunch of businesses finally hauled their sites into the modern day during the Covid crisis in an effort to compete.

Wi-fi access has also become widespread, at last. Most big-city cafés offer it for free (some restaurants too), it’s par for the course at hostels and hotels, and available on many trains and Shinkansen. Many parts of the city also have some form of free access, typically courtesy of the local district government. Access is also enabled by portable hubs available to rent and travel around with.

Most foreign models of mobile phones will work in Japan – contact your mobile phone service provider before leaving your home country to make sure, and also to check the rates and charges for using data and making calls when travelling. It’s also possible to buy Japanese pay-as-you-go SIM cards from the major service providers (or nationwide electronics chains such as Yodobashi Camera and BIC Camera ), and of course these days it’s also easy to obtain an eSIM . 

It is also possible to rent a wi-fi hub for internet access while you are in Japan. These can be pre-ordered and collected from airports, as well as being rented at places around the city too.

Night Tokyo @ Shutterstock

Decent free maps of the city are available from any of the tourist information centres. Bilingual maps on public notice boards outside the main exits to most subway and train stations are handy for getting your immediate bearings – these are usually oriented the way you are facing, so if you’re facing southeast, for example, the top of the map will be southeast and the bottom northwest. 

There are also decent maps online. Google’s is typically excellent, while with a little hunting you’ll be able to find apps offering offline-friendly maps of the city. Perhaps equally useful are maps portraying the Tokyo subway network, since such maps are not always visible once you’re on the trains themselves.

Online editor at Rough Guides, specialising in travel content. Passionate about creating compelling stories and inspiring others to explore the world.

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15 Essential Travel Hacks When Visiting Japan

A sk anybody what's on their travel bucket list, and their response is sure to include "Japan." Thanks to a combination of rich heritage, lush landscapes, and labyrinth cities packed with skyscrapers, temples, and tourist traps alike, the country has soared in popularity, with American Express claiming that the number of bookings has increased by 1,300% since 2019 (via Bloomberg ).

Part of what makes Japan so alluring is that its culture and customs are so distinct and unique to those of other countries. That's also what makes it an overwhelming travel destination, especially for first-time visitors. If you start your journey in a major city like Tokyo, Yokohama, or Osaka, you're instantly immersed in a world of neon lights, bustling crowds, loud noises, a million different smells, and sensory overload.

With so much to see, do, and eat, a trip to Japan really isn't the kind of vacation you can make up as you go along. The last thing you need is to run into an easily avoided stumbling block like a lack of internet or 30 minutes spent figuring out the route to your next destination — which is why you'll want to arrive armed with as much knowledge as possible.

Read more: 28 Bucket List Destinations That Everyone Needs To Experience At Least Once

Get Quick Meals At 7-Eleven

It's tough to walk for longer than 20 seconds without stumbling upon a convenience store in Japan. Also known as conbini, these stores are usually open 24 hours a day and are packed full of affordable tasty treats that will keep you going without the time (and money) it takes to eat at an actual restaurant.

For as cheap as 200 yen ($1.34), you can enjoy the likes of onigiri rice balls, chicken karaage, sandos, oden, and bento boxes. We also recommend picking up taiyaki for a quick sugar boost. Shaped like fish and made of pancake or waffle batter, they're usually filled with red bean paste, custard, and chocolate and make for an endlessly addictive snack.

The most common store is 7-Eleven, which has over 20,000 locations throughout Japan and is miles above its U.S. counterpart in the culinary department. There are also over 15,000 FamilyMarts scattered across the country, but they typically don't offer as much variety.

Get Pocket Wi-Fi

Public Wi-Fi is surprisingly scarce in Japan, which can put you in some tough spots if you get lost mid-metro commute. Fortunately, pocket Wi-Fi exists -- and it is a lifesaver. For as cheap as $5 a day, you can rent a portable device that will allow you to access the internet on the go, even on the train. The majority will allow you to connect multiple devices at the same time and come in a variety of different speeds and GB, with some even offering unlimited data throughout your stay.  

If you rent in advance through a website like Ninja WiFi or Japan Wireless , you can pick up the device (also known by the much cuter name of a Wi-Fi Egg) at a designated counter once you've got through customs at airports including Haneda and Narita in Tokyo, Chubu Centrair, Kansai International, Fukuoka, and more. Once you're done, you can just pop it into the returns box at the airport on the way back. Easy.

Buy A JR Pass

Sadly, the JR (Japan Rail) Pass isn't as cheap as it once was. It surged in price by 70% in July 2023 as the yen continued to decline in value against other currencies around the world. However, if your itinerary includes extensive train travel, it's still worth the purchase.

The Japan Rail Pass will allow you to ride the rail to your heart's desire -- including the country's infamous, lightning-speed Shinkansen bullet trains (for a supplementary fee) and the Narita Express. It's more expensive to purchase once in Japan, so we recommend buying yours in advance on the JRailPass website where it costs $340.65 for seven days, $544.45 for 14 days, and $680.35 for 21 days.

If your visit is limited to just one or two cities, such as Tokyo and Osaka or Tokyo and Kyoto, then it probably isn't necessary. For example, a trip between Tokyo and Osaka typically costs $120 each way, which is considerably cheaper than forking out a few hundred dollars for a JR Pass.

Download Train Schedules And Maps

Japan has incredible public transportation. It also happens to be extremely overwhelming if it's your first (or second, or third) time in the country. Tokyo's metro can be especially confusing, with nine different train lines and 180 different stations to navigate. Its roads are even more complex with the majority not even having names, baffling even the city's own taxi drivers.

With that in mind, future-proofing for any situation where you may end up lost in an unknown place is always a good idea. Download or screenshot train schedules ahead of time through the JRailPass website, which offers both interactive and PDF versions of Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto's transportation systems. You can also download an offline version of the local area on Google Maps. This will also help if you face the aforementioned pesky issue of scarce public Wi-Fi, or if your portable Wi-Fi runs out of juice midday.

Use Citymapper

If you're visiting Tokyo, Citymapper is a must. Just like it does for multiple other cities across the globe, the award-winning app analyzes public transportation, congestion, and distance to figure out all the different ways you can reach your destination, and precisely how many minutes each option will take.

Whether it's walking, cycling, taxis, metro, or a combination of everything, all you need to do is select your chosen route and follow Citymapper's step-by-step instructions. When we say step-by-step, we mean it. The app's so smart that it will even tell you which exits and entrances to use at each station to make your journey as stress-free as possible. If you miss your stop or don't quite make your train, the app will also take that into account to restrategize your trip ASAP. You'll need to be online to request a new route, but if you check your journey ahead of time, you can save it to your homepage for offline use.

Visit Between January And March

There is no one "best" time to visit Japan, but there is a most convenient time. January to March tends to attract less crowds and will also usually bring the cheapest flights of the year. While it'll almost certainly be cold, you'll skip typhoon season and be in with a chance of seeing Japan in the snow.

If you do choose to visit at this time, just be sure to check the dates of the Lunar New Year (AKA Chinese New Year). This tends to be a public holiday across the region and will see cities across Japan packed with tourists. As it's such a popular time to travel, this will also be the exception to the "January to March is cheaper" rule with hotels and airlines driving up their prices over the holiday. The same is true of the end of March, which marks the beginning of cherry blossom season.

Make Advanced Reservations

There's a lot to enjoy in Japan. The problem is that everybody else wants to enjoy these things, too. Tourist attractions often book up months in advance, and a lot of them don't sell tickets at the gate, which doesn't leave much space for spontaneity for the average tourist visiting Japan .

If you plan on visiting the likes of the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo - The Making of Harry Potter, Tokyo Disney Resort, Ghibli Park, Shibuya Sky observation deck, Teamlab Planets, or the Studio Ghibli Museum, it's best to sort your tickets sooner rather than later. The Ghibli Museum is especially challenging, with tickets for the next month going on sale at 10 a.m. on the 10th of the month prior.

The same is true of the hotels at Tokyo Disney Resort . With one of the most impressive Disney hotel lineups in the world (including the MiraCosta, a hotel that is actually inside Tokyo DisneySea), rooms are in extremely high demand. These go on sale from 11 a.m. four months before the dates you hope to stay and are bookable through the Tokyo Disney Resort Online Reservations & Tickets website.

Download The Japan Connected-Free Wi-Fi App

If you don't want the responsibility of carrying around and charging pocket Wi-Fi, download the Japan Connected -free Wi-Fi app. Whether you need to double-check directions or just have a quick midday TikTok break, this handy tool will search over 170,000 internet hotspots to find the closest location to you. The majority of these will likely be at a 7-Eleven, where you'll almost always be able to go online.

As if that feature isn't useful enough, the app eliminates the need to fill in the registration forms that typically serve as a barrier before you can access public Wi-Fi. Fill out your name and email once and the app will complete each form on your behalf. While you used to need to be online to find the Internet (which kind of defeats the app's entire purpose), you can now download the offline map to ensure you can always find a connection. Just remember to be careful with what data you enter or share while using any public Wi-Fi network .

Japan has been a "cash is king" country for years, meaning paying with notes and coins is the default over ApplePay and credit cards. This attitude has slipped in recent years, but cash still has a strong grip on the country's residents with only 36% of people preferring cashless payments.

While you should be able to use your card in most major outlets and tourist locations -- such as department stores, malls, theme parks, supermarkets, and even taxis -- a lot of restaurants, cafes, and bars still prefer to be paid in cash. This number will be much higher outside of major cities, and many local restaurants, markets, or temples won't have the facilities to accept card payments even if they want to. Exchanging at least a chunk of your spending money into Japanese yen ahead of time will save you in sticky situations (plus it helps you control your spending, which is always a bonus).

Choose Taxis Over Ubers

Although Uber exists in Japan, it's not as widespread or commonplace as in countries like the United States, Canada, or the United Kingdom. Journeys tend to be more expensive than those taken with local cabs, making the latter the service of choice for locals and tourists alike.

The upside to Uber is, of course, the fact that it's so familiar for many tourists. It's easy to order your taxi and pay via card, and the entire process is in English. However, your cheapest option is to hail taxis on the street, as you won't need to pay a base fare for the pick-up service. It'll say on the front of a car in Japanese if it's occupied. It's also color-coded so tourists can understand. Red means it's taken. Green means it's available. If you do want to pre-book, most locals prefer to use the Go app for journeys anywhere within Japan's 47 prefectures. This works similarly to Uber, except it allows you to pay with both cash and card and will give you a flat rate for journeys to and from the airport.

Purchase A Suica Card

The question isn't so much what a Suica card can do ; what can't it do? This prepaid, contactless card can be repeatedly loaded up with more cash to pay for public transport, including the metro, trains, buses, and taxis. Beyond transportation, Suica is also accepted in many shops, restaurants, cafes, and even vending machines. Just look out for the Suica symbol to know if they do -- and if you can't spot it, it's at least worth asking.

You can purchase your card before arriving in Japan and return it at the end of your trip to recover your 500 yen ($12) deposit. Due to a manufacturing shortage, the sale of new Suica cards is temporarily on hold as of June 2023, but if you're on a temporary visa, you can still purchase a Welcome Suica card. This doesn't require a deposit, doesn't need to be returned, and is valid for 28 days. These can only be purchased inside Japan at locations such as Narita and Haneda airports and will come with a reference paper which you'll need to keep on your person at all times.

Utilize Storage Lockers

For security reasons, storage lockers are a rarity at train stations around the world. Japan is an exception. You'd be hard-pressed to find a major station without coin lockers (which, despite the name, can actually be used with a Suica card, too), and in Tokyo, most stations come equipped with storage facilities.

Baggage storage is one of those things you don't realize you'll need until you desperately need it. These lockers are useful if you only have a few hours before heading to your hotel or next destination and want to stow away your belongings so you can freely explore. They also happen to be extremely cheap, typically costing between $1 and $5. There's usually no problem finding a vacant locker, but if you are struggling, you can download the  SPACER app , which will allow you to find and reserve a locker at major stations such as Shinjuku, Osaka, and Shibuya in advance. This is currently only available in Japanese, but there are plans for an English version in the near future.

Avoid National Holidays

Lunar New Year isn't the only holiday worth skipping if you want to avoid the crowds. National holidays bring in huge crowds anywhere, but especially Japan, where workers get little annual leave and want to take advantage of the break. If you do decide to brave big attractions like Shibuya Crossing, Senso-ji Temple, or Tokyo Skytree, you'll likely find yourself shoulder-to-shoulder with fellow tourists.

For a quieter vacation, April 29 to May 6 -- or, Golden Week -- is one of Japan's busiest holiday periods. This tends to be the most hectic season for the likes of Tokyo Disney Resort and Universal Studios Japan, where you can expect to wait in long lines for everything, from the park entrance to the restrooms. While Christmas isn't a national holiday in Japan, it is for many other countries, meaning the festive season can also bring an influx of tourists to both of these locations. Late September (Silver Week), New Year, and the Obon Week in August are typically also very busy.

Claim Your Tax Refund

From clothes to gadgets, Japan is one of the most unique places for retail therapy in the world. If you're a tourist, you can also shop with the peace of mind that you'll get at least some of your money back. Any non-resident visiting Japan for less than six months can enjoy tax-free shopping, meaning you can reclaim 10% of the value of your purchase.

There are a few catches. First, you'll need to check that the store is in fact a "tax-free shop" by checking for a logo stating as such at the entrance. They're extremely common and can be found in the likes of Namba City, Echika Ikebukuro, and Seibu Shibuya. You'll also need to have spent more than 5,000 yen ($33) in the same store on the same day. Some stores will let you pay tax-free from the offset if you present your passport, while others will require you to present your receipt at a tax exemption counter on the same day to get your money back.

Download A Good Translation App

If you know Japanese, you're good to go. For those of us who aren't bilingual, Japan can be tough to navigate at times. While most signs in major cities will have translations, less than 30% of people living in Japan speak English, which means it's inevitable you'll hit the language barrier at some point during your stay.

A good translation app is a must, especially one that's able to translate pictures. Google Translate is always a go-to, but one of the best choices is iTranslate Translator . Not only can it tackle text, but you can also use it to scan and translate menus, signs, labels ... you name it. Best of all, it can work offline if you download the Japanese pack ahead of time. It's free to download but will cost you $5.99 a month to unlock its full potential. Considering how useful it is, it's better to spend $5.99 than find yourself stranded in a restaurant blind-ordering a dish because you can't read the menu.

Read the original article on Explore .

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Must-Visit Countries in April

Countries to Visit in April

• Cherry Blossom Season: April is synonymous with the mesmerising cherry blossom season in Japan, especially in cities like Kyoto and Tokyo.
• Hanami Festivals: Visitors can partake in hanami (flower viewing) picnics under blooming cherry blossoms.
• Budget Category: Moderate to high, depending on accommodation choices and travel activities.

Netherlands

• Tulip Season: April welcomes the vibrant tulip season in the Netherlands, particularly at Keukenhof Gardens and surrounding fields.
• Keukenhof Flower Exhibition: Travellers can explore the world's largest flower exhibition, showcasing millions of tulips and other spring blooms.
• Budget Category: Moderate, with options for affordable accommodations and public transportation.
• Songkran Festival: April marks the Thai New Year with the renowned Songkran Festival, known for its exuberant water fights and cultural celebrations.
• Beach Destinations: Visitors can also enjoy Thailand's tropical beaches and island getaways with pleasant weather.
• Budget Category: Varied, with options ranging from budget hostels to luxury resorts.
• North India: April offers an excellent time to explore the scenic beauty of North India, including destinations like Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
• Spring Festivals: Witness vibrant festivals such as Baisakhi in Punjab and Bihu in Assam, celebrating the harvest season.
• Budget Category: Flexible, with a range of accommodations and transportation choices to suit different budgets.
• Easter Celebrations: Experience the cultural richness of Italy during Easter, with elaborate processions, religious ceremonies, and festive feasts.
• Spring Weather: April offers pleasant weather for exploring Italy's historic cities, charming villages, and picturesque countryside.
• Budget Category: Moderate to high, depending on the region and type of accommodation.

United States

• National Parks: April marks the beginning of spring in the United States, making it an ideal time to visit iconic national parks such as Yosemite, Grand Canyon, and Yellowstone.
• Cherry Blossom Festivals: Cities like Washington, D.C., host cherry blossom festivals, featuring blooming cherry trees and cultural events.
• Budget Category: Varied, with options ranging from budget-friendly camping to luxury accommodations.
• Feria de Abril: Seville hosts the renowned Feria de Abril, a week-long celebration featuring flamenco, bullfighting, and traditional Spanish cuisine.
• Spring Weather: Enjoy mild temperatures and sunny days perfect for exploring Spain's historic cities, beaches, and scenic landscapes.
• Budget Category: Moderate, with a range of affordable accommodations and dining options available.
• Historic Sites: Visit iconic landmarks such as the Acropolis in Athens and the ancient city of Delphi.
• Island Hopping: Explore the stunning Greek islands, including Santorini, Mykonos, and Crete, with fewer crowds than the peak summer season.
• Budget Category: Moderate to high, with options ranging from budget accommodations to luxury resorts and island experiences.

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Travel Insurance For Vietnam: Everything You Need To Know

Updated: Apr 26, 2024, 11:14am

Table of Contents

Do australians need travel insurance for vietnam, what does travel insurance for vietnam cover, frequently asked questions (faqs).

Vietnam is an increasingly popular travel destination for Australians, with the country even hoping to encourage more Aussies to visit by potentially waiving visa requirements in due time.

The Southeast Asian country is set to be high on the list for Aussies going overseas in 2024. The number of Australian tourists in Vietnam now exceeds pre-pandemic levels: more than 317,000 Australians visited Vietnam in 2019 , while there were 390,000 Aussie visitors in 2023.

Plus, as more and more flights become available, such as low-cost carrier Vietjet Air launching a direct service between Hanoi and Melbourne earlier this year, getting to Vietnam is becoming easier for Australians.

If the direct flights, fascinating history, vast scenery and delicious food aren’t enough to convince Australian travellers, the cost may be. Vietnam is considered one of the cheapest travel destinations in the world for Australian tourists due to our strong conversion rate against the Vietnamese Dong and the nation’s low cost of living in comparison to our own.

And while cheap thrills may be what you’re after on your vacation, it’s important not to skimp on the necessities that may cost that little bit extra—such as travel insurance. This guide outlines what you need to know regarding travel insurance in Vietnam.

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Investing in travel insurance is a good idea for any overseas trip. Travel insurance policies can help protect you from having to dive deep into your pockets, with many offering unlimited medical treatment while abroad and cancellation cover for your trip should the unexpected occur.

Travel insurance is not just handy for medical purposes or travel changes, either. Your personal items can be covered, should any baggage go missing or an important item be stolen—which, unfortunately, often occurs in Vietnam.

Smarttraveller warns Australians to be alert at all times in Vietnam, considering petty theft–including bag slashing–is common in tourist areas and crowded places, especially during holiday times. Snatch-and-grab theft by thieves on motorcycles is also common, the website states.

Like most international travel insurance policies, you will be able to find basic coverage for your trip to Vietnam, or choose to opt for a more comprehensive, albeit more expensive, policy.

While a basic policy will often cover medical expenses and lost luggage,a comprehensive policy includes a lot more. Most basic policies also likely won’t offer compensation for travel delays, stolen cash, accidental death and more.

Additionally, if you are going on a trip to multiple countries within the year, it may be worth opting for an ‘annual multi trip’ insurance instead—making sure that there are no exclusions to the regions you are wishing to visit.

Visa Requirements For Australians Travelling to Vietnam

You’ll still be allowed to travel to Vietnam if you don’t invest in travel insurance, but you do so at your own risk—and, as stated, it is highly advised to have a travel insurance policy for any overseas trip.

However, what you cannot do is enter Vietnam as an Australian tourist without a tourist visa. While Vietnam will grant Australian citizens visas on arrival, applying for one online is much easier.

A tourist visa costs under $100 AUD; however the exact price depends on your length of stay.

The Vietnamese government may consider waiving visas for Australian citizens, especially since many other SEA countries have done so such as Indonesia and Thailand .

However, at the time of writing, Forbes Advisor Australia has confirmed that Australian citizens must still obtain a visa to visit Vietnam for tourism purposes.

The exact inclusions of your travel insurance will be dependent on your personal policy and the provider.

However, generally speaking, you can expect a travel insurance policy for Vietnam to offer some level of cover for:

• Medical expenses;
• Lost, damaged or stolen luggage;
• Travel cancellations or delays ;
• Personal liability;
• Credit card fraud;
• Covid-19 expenses;

If you are partaking in certain sports and activities, you will need to make sure that you choose a policy that covers them. You’ll also need to make sure that your policy covers any pre-existing medical conditions as well.

Plus, if you are travelling with valuables, you may wish to opt for a policy that lets you increase the protection cover on your items.

Ultimately, you need to consider what your trip consists of, what you will be taking with you, and your physical health to establish what policies would be appropriate for you.

From there, you can compare quotes of different policies and providers to ensure you have the optimal—yet affordable—cover for your trip to Vietnam.

Does Travel Insurance Cover The Ha-Giang Loop?

Considered one of the most scenic motorcycle routes in the world, the Ha-Giang Loop is a popular tourist activity in Vietnam for adventurous travellers. If the Ha-Giang Loop is one of your goals, you’ll need to make sure you have travel insurance that covers motorcycling.

Occasionally a policy may include this as one of their included ‘sports and activities’, but it is more often the case that you will need to purchase an additional ‘adventure pack’ that is either specific to, or includes, motorsports.

Even so, when purchasing an additional pack to cover motorbikes, you need to be cautious of the conditions. For example, some policies will only cover motorcycle riding if the bike you are riding has an engine under a certain size.

Often, coverage will cease and claims won’t be accepted if you haven’t been wearing the correct safety equipment such as boots and a helmet, or have been under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

What Does Travel Insurance Exclude?

Your travel insurance policy may exclude some activities that you wish to partake in, unless you can opt-in to purchase an additional adventure pack as explained above in regards to motorbike riding.

Just like with the inclusions of a policy, the exclusions depend on what type of policy you choose, and what provider you go with.

Commonly, however, you won’t be covered for instances where you:

• Break the law;
• Are under the influence of alcohol or drugs;
• Partake in an excluded activity;
• Receive medical treatment for a pre-existing condition that was not disclosed;
• Travel to a ‘Do Not Travel’ destination as outlined by Smarttraveller.

As always, it is essential to read the product disclosure statement (PDS) of your travel insurance policy carefully to understand what you will and won’t be covered for while overseas.

Do I need a visa to travel to Vietnam?

Yes, as of April 2024, Australian tourists still need a visa to travel to Vietnam. This visa can be obtained on arrival, or purchased online prior to travel. The visa takes approximately three days to process online, and the cost depends on how long you intend to stay in the country.

Does international travel insurance cover Covid-19?

Many comprehensive travel insurance policies now cover Covid-19, including medical conditions related to Covid-19 or trip cancellations due to a Covid-19 diagnosis. However, it is not guaranteed that all policies will. It’s important to check your policy’s PDS carefully to understand what it will and will not cover in regards to Covid-19 for both you and your travelling companions.

Related: Travel Insurance And Covid: Are You Covered?

How much does travel insurance cost for Vietnam?

The cost of your travel insurance for a trip to Vietnam will depend on your age, your health, the activities you wish to partake in, and the length of your stay.

For example, for a 34 year old with no pre-existing medical conditions travelling to Vietnam for two weeks, a policy from some of our top choices for comprehensive travel insurance would cost around $130 (based on quotes from Cover-More , 1Cover , and Fast Cover ).

The prices of these quotes would change depending on a chosen excess, cancellation cover, and any additional coverage options you may choose to purchase such as adventure packs or cruise cover.

Related: How Much Does Travel Insurance Cost?

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Sophie Venz is an experienced editor and features reporter, and has previously worked in the small business and start-up reporting space. Previously the Associate Editor of SmartCompany, Sophie has worked closely with finance experts and columnists around Australia and internationally.