Here’s what you need to know about travel insurance for Japan, with an overview of some of the options available.
Summary: It isn’t mandatory to have travel insurance before coming to Japan, but experts recommend it. Uninsured healthcare in Japan can be expensive, and the healthcare system can be hard to navigate. Also, Japan is prone to earthquakes and typhoons, and no matter how careful you are, accidents can happen. One option is SafetyWing, which offers travel medical insurance starting from US$56.08 for four weeks.
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.
Do I need travel insurance for Japan?
To put it simply: When you’re traveling — anywhere in the world — a lot could go wrong. Apart from the obvious travel disasters (think lost luggage, stolen 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.
Safety in Japan
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.
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.
Delayed flights, lost luggage — and missed tours
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.
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 and other health concerns
The pandemic made many of us nervous about international travel. Since restrictions have mostly been lifted, you don’t need to worry too much about it affecting your travel anymore. That being said, it’s still a good idea to check whether your plan will cover any potential COVID-19 related expenses. Not all do!
Japanese encephalitis
An older concern is Japanese encephalitis, which can be contracted via mosquito bites across most of Asia — not only in Japan. You might hear about it in travel forums. 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 for Japan: What should your policy cover?
Generally speaking, the biggest items when it comes to travel incidents are medical expenses, sudden cancellations due to pre-departure illness, and emergency evacuations, which can run into the tens and even hundreds of thousands of dollars. So check that the Japan travel 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 extensive 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.
SafetyWing
SafetyWing offers travel medical insurance. Plans start from US$56.08 for four weeks for travelers under 40, and go up with your age.
You can extend your plan 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. You can also kick off your SafetyWing travel medical insurance plan any time, even when already on the road.
Besides emergency medical, their policy covers the travel basics, including trip interruption, personal liability and lost luggage. SafetyWing also covers COVID-19 and unplanned quarantine.
Travelex
Travelex has been around for quite a while, and is a popular choice with North Americans. They have a good reputation and a range of travel insurance plans, which are customizable with “upgrades”. Notably, their Travel Select plan has kids-included pricing for children 17 and under, making it one for families to consider.
It’s important to note that their Travel Basic and Travel Select plans — which are classified as comprehensive — must be purchased no later than the day prior to departure. Their Travel Med plan can be purchased after departure, but provides less coverage. They also offer simple “Flight plans”. COVID-19 is treated like any other illness.
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. A fairly new insurer, they are expanding throughout Asia and seem to offer some of the cheapest plans we could find online, starting from approximately ¥1,700 for a single trip to Japan.
Their plan ticks all the usual travel insurance boxes, including medical evacuation cover, which is unlimited. They have a “Cancel for any reason” feature, which covers you for canceling, postponing or cutting short a trip. You can add COVID-19 cover to your policy, too.
Atlas Travel (World Trips)
Starting at approximately US$15.00 for a two-week trip to Japan, Atlas International Travel Medical Insurance 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.
You can extend or renew your policy for up to 364 days, making it an option for longer-term travel. COVID-19 is covered. Note that Atlas is part of the World Trips portfolio.
AIG Travel Guard
AIG Travel Guard insurance gives customers the ability to adapt their plan to their needs. Offering four tiers of cover, you can choose whether you want ironclad protection, incidental cover, or something in between.
The second tier, Essential Cover, starts at US$56.08 for a week-long trip, and is fairly rugged. It offers a healthy amount of medical cover, and also covers travel issues like delays or cancellations. COVID-19 coverage is possible.
For remote workers: Insured Nomads
For longer stays, it’s worth looking into “digital nomad insurance”. This insurance is specifically aimed at visitors staying in Japan for several months and working remotely. One provider is Insured Nomads, who offer coverage for up to a year.
Coverage overview
This is intended as a very brief overview only. Always check the coverage and T&Cs carefully on your own!
| Provider | Coverage |
|---|---|
| SafetyWing | Medical and emergency dental expenses, trip interruption, travel delay, lost luggage, natural disasters, political evacuation, emergency medical evacuation, personal liability, accidental death & dismemberment |
| Atlas International | Medical & repatriation expenses, indemnity benefit & visitation expenses, travel assistance, travel delay, lost luggage, personal accident, crisis response, personal liability, terrorism |
| Travelex | Trip cancellation, interruption and delay; emergency medical and dental coverage; emergency medical evacuation; accidental death & dismemberment, travel assistance services |
| FWD | Medical expenses, theft or damage to personal belongings, baggage delay, travel delay, liability cover, emergency assistance, travel disruption, travel inconvenience, emergency family travel, death or permanent disability |
| AIG | Medical expenses, theft or damage to personal belongings, baggage delay, travel delay, liability cover, emergency assistance, travel disruption, travel inconvenience, emergency family travel, death or permanent disability (non-flight) |
Notes on the insurers:
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.
Japan travel insurance FAQs
What happens if I get sick as a tourist in Japan?
You’ll probably want to visit one of the English-speaking clinics in Tokyo. If at all possible, first check your travel insurance provider’s policy on where you can go, and what paperwork you’ll need to get.
Once you’re there, you’ll be asked for your insurance details, so make sure you have them with you. Then you’ll get to see the doctor, and explain what you need. If there is no English-speaking doctor available, refer to our guide to getting the important details across in Japanese.
If it’s a minor problem, they’ll likely send you on your way with a prescription, which you can pick up at a local pharmacy. Keep your insurance handy, as the pharmacy may ask for it as well. If it’s something more serious, the doctor may run some tests, or refer you to a larger hospital with specialists.
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 — and which policy you choose. 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 US$56.26. 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 May, 2024, by Shyam Bhardwa.
