Advertiser Disclosure

Complete Guide To Travel Insurance For Japan

Candiece Cyrus
Forbes Staff

Published: Jul 5, 2024, 2:29pm

Johanna Leggatt
editor

Edited By

Editorial note: Forbes Advisor Australia may earn revenue from this story in the manner disclosed here. Read our advice disclaimer here.
Complete Guide To Travel Insurance For Japan
Getty

Table of Contents

{{ tocState.toggleTocShowMore ? 'Show more' : 'Show less' }}

Japan is a popular holiday destination for Australians, with Asia being the closest continent to us. This year, Australian tourist numbers to Japan are up 12% compared to pre-pandemic numbers, and Japan is now the third-most visited country among Australians after Indonesia (Bali) and New Zealand. And it’s not hard to see why. If you visit today, one dollar will buy you 102 yen—a rate that hasn’t been this favourable in years.

So whether you’re planning a city break in Tokyo, a nature escape on Yakushima island or something in between, travel insurance for Japan can safeguard your trip.

Japan and Australia do not share a reciprocal healthcare agreement, which means treatment could be expensive should you have a medical emergency during your stay. A policy for Japan could cover these costs, as well as a number of other unexpected expenses that may crop up while you’re away.

Find out how travel insurance for Japan works below.

Do I Need Travel Insurance for Japan?

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

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

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

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

What Does A Comprehensive Travel Insurance Policy For Japan Cover?

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

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

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

Other benefits can include cover for:

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

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

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

Does Travel Insurance for Japan Cover Sports and Activities?

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

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

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

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

What Types Of Travel Insurance Policy Are There For Japan?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tips For Travelling To Japan

Check the DFAT’s advice

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

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

Make Sure Your Passport Is Valid

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

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

Stay Up To Date with Vaccinations

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

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

Have the Right Currency

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

Know the Rules for Driving in Japan

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

Emergency Services

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

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the best travel insurance policy for Japan?

As with any type of travel insurance, there is no one-fits-all policy, as each traveller has their own requirements. Shopping around is best, to find a policy to suit your needs, for a competitive price.

When comparing policies, it’s important to weigh up the cover provided against policy price and the excess levied. An excess is a set amount payable by the policyholder on each accepted claim. The higher the excess, the lower the policy price usually is. Often insurers offer various excess options to suit the traveller.

Cover for trip cancellation should match the cost of the holiday, and the luggage cover limit should be enough to replace the belongings you’re taking with you, should something happen to them. Note that there is usually a total limit on how much you can claim for baggage, as well as a single item limit which caps the amount that you can claim for each lost or stolen item.

How much does travel insurance for Japan cost?

Insurers take a number of variables into account when determining the price of a policy. This includes holiday destination and duration, and the type of policy chosen.

There are also optional extras that travellers can choose to purchase, such as cover for their devices, high-risk sports, snow sports, or a cruise.

An insurer will also consider factors such as a traveller’s age and any pre-existing conditions they may have. These are conditions the traveller had before taking out the policy. Travellers must declare these on applying for cover. If they don’t, and then later make a claim related to the condition, they may invalidate their policy.

Insurers tend to place an age limit on their cover, and charge mature travellers more to be insured. Only some cover pre-existing medical conditions, and often charge more to do so. This is because statistically, maturer travellers and those with pre-existing conditions are viewed as more likely to make a medical claim.

For a ballpark figure on what a policy for Japan can cost, Forbes Advisor reviewed quotes from multiple insurers, for travellers with no pre-existing conditions and in need of no extra cover.

We found that travel insurance for a 30-year-old travelling to Japan for two weeks could cost anything between $30 and $190 dollars. For a 60-year-old travelling for a month, it ranges between $60 and $390 dollars.

Do Australians need a visa for Japan?

Australian citizens can visit Japan for up to 90 days visa-free if travelling for leisure or for business purposes.

Does Australian Medicare cover you in Japan?

No, as there is no reciprocal health arrangement between the two countries. Instead, in order to be covered for any medical expenses while overseas, you will need to take out travel insurance.

Travel Insurance Guides
Travel Insurance By Destinataion
Travel Insurance Reviews

More from   Advisor

The information provided by Forbes Advisor is general in nature and for educational purposes only. Any information provided does not consider the personal financial circumstances of readers, such as individual objectives, financial situation or needs. Forbes Advisor does not provide financial product advice and the information we provide is not intended to replace or be relied upon as independent financial advice. Your financial situation is unique and the products and services we review may not be right for your circumstances. Forbes Advisor encourages readers to seek independent expert advice from an authorised financial adviser in relation to their own financial circumstances and investments before making any financial decisions.

We do not offer financial advice, advisory or brokerage services, nor do we recommend or advise individuals to buy or sell particular stocks or securities. Performance information may have changed since the time of publication. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Forbes Advisor provides an information service. It is not a product issuer or provider. In giving you information about financial or credit products, Forbes Advisor is not making any suggestion or recommendation to you about a particular product. It is important to check any product information directly with the provider. Consider the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS), Target Market Determination (TMD) and other applicable product documentation before making a decision to purchase, acquire, invest in or apply for a financial or credit product. Contact the product issuer directly for a copy of the PDS, TMD and other documentation. Forbes Advisor adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. To the best of our knowledge, all content is accurate as of the date posted, though offers contained herein may no longer be available. The opinions expressed are the author’s alone and have not been provided, approved or otherwise endorsed by our partners. For more information, read our Advice Disclaimer here.
Candiece Cyrus Forbes Staff

I have been writing for newspapers, magazines and online publications for over 10 years. My passion is providing, in a way that is easily accessible and digestible to all, the knowledge needed for readers to not only manage their finances, but financially flourish.