The Complete Guide to Travel Insurance for Japan

Traveling abroad is always exciting, but you should make plans in advance.

For the intelligent traveler planning a trip to Japan, travel insurance is essential for protecting yourself from unforeseen events.

This blog post is your complete guide to understanding and obtaining travel insurance for Japan. 

You will also learn how to find the best travel insurance plan for your trip at the most affordable price.

With the correct information and the right travel insurance plan, your trip to Japan can be an unforgettable experience.

When should you buy travel insurance?

You can purchase travel insurance or add it later when you book your trip. It’s up to you. 

If there is a chance that your plans could change or if you have a pre-existing medical condition, then purchasing travel insurance before booking your trip may be ideal. 

You must speak with your doctor before purchasing travel insurance if you have concerns about your health or a pre-existing medical condition. 

Your doctor can advise you on whether or not you must purchase travel insurance before booking your trip. 

If you decide to purchase travel insurance before booking your trip, try to find out what is and isn’t covered by their plan so that there are no surprises.

When buying travel insurance, you’ll need to provide personal information about yourself (name, address, and date of birth) and details of your trip (dates, destination, and length). 

You can purchase travel insurance from the airline you are traveling with, your credit card company, or an independent company. 

Many credit cards offer travel insurance as a benefit of having their card, so check your statements to see if this option is available to you!

If you’re buying travel insurance independently, plenty of companies offer coverage at competitive prices.

What are the benefits of having travel insurance?

Travel insurance provides you with financial protection against unexpected events that can happen when you’re traveling. It can help offset the cost of:

• Loss or damage to your belongings
• Medical expenses
• Cancellation or interruption of travel plans, including flights and hotel reservations
• Loss or damage to your passport (or card)
• Loss or damage to money and credit cards

Travel insurance can protect you if your belongings are lost, stolen, or damaged; it can also get medical attention when necessary. 

What does a Japan travel insurance cover?

If you’re traveling in Japan, it’s essential to have insurance coverage for what might happen. Travel insurance can help cover expenses related to the following:

• Emergency medical treatment.
• Accidental death, dismemberment, and trauma (ADT): If something wrong happens that causes permanent disability or disfigurement, like a car accident.
• Lost luggage/personal effects: The insurance will reimburse you up to a specific limit if your baggage is lost or stolen during travel. This may include coverage for fragile items such as jewelry or high-end cameras.”
• Cancellation due to an illness or accident: This coverage can help pay for nonrefundable expenses, like airline tickets, hotel reservations, and tour fees.
• It also covers trip interruption, which reimburses you for additional costs if something happens before departure that prevents your trip from continuing as planned.

What is Not Covered by Travel Insurance for Japan?

There are a few things that travel insurance for Japan will not cover. 

For example, some policies will not cover you for any pre-existing medical conditions. 

So, suppose you have a heart condition or diabetes. In that case, your travel insurance will not cover you if you have a heart attack or need to go to the hospital for your diabetes.

Another thing that is typically not covered is anything related to illegal activity. Your travel insurance will not cover you if you get robbed or pickpocketed. 

And, if you lose your passport or have it stolen, your travel insurance will not cover the cost of getting a new one.

Most travel insurance policies will not cover you for any trip that is less than three days long. So, if you’re taking a quick weekend trip to Japan, your travel insurance will not cover you.

A few other things are typically not covered by travel insurance, but these are the most common. It’s always a good idea to read your policy carefully to ensure you know what is and is not covered.

What Kind of Travel Insurance Do I Need for Japan? 

If you plan to visit Japan, you must understand what travel insurance you need. The country can be expensive, so your policy must cover all expenses if something goes wrong. 

Many assume they don’t need travel insurance because they only go on short trips.

But even if you’ll only be gone for a few days, it could still cost thousands of dollars to get home in an emergency, such as an illness or injury while traveling abroad. 

There are many things to consider when choosing a travel insurance policy, including what kind of medical coverage you need. 

In Japan, you’ll want a plan that covers emergency medical expenses and repatriation in case of injury or illness. If you’re traveling with children, ensure your policy covers them; too many don’t! 

The best way to find out if you need travel insurance is to ask yourself what would happen if something went wrong on your trip. 

Are you able to afford a medical evacuation? If not, it’s worth getting coverage before you go abroad.

How much does it cost to go to the hospital in Japan?

If you need to go to the hospital in Japan, it will cost you between 5,000 and 15,000 JPY if you have insurance.

If you don’t have insurance, it will cost you between 20,000 and 50,000 JPY. 

If you need to go to the emergency room, it will cost you between 10,000 and 15,000 JPY with insurance.

How Much Does Travel Insurance for Japan Cost?

The cost of travel insurance for Japan depends on the length of your trip and the amount of coverage you need. For example, a one-week policy might cost around US$8.60, while an extended trip might cost more.

There are also different travel insurance policies, so you must decide what coverage you need. 

For example, SafetyWing offers travel medical insurance starting at $42 monthly.

Travel insurance prices are based on factors such as:

• The age of the traveler (generally younger people pay less)
• The length of stay in Japan (longer stays usually cost more)
• The type of coverage you need (medical evacuation is more expensive than standard medical care) 
• The country where you live (some countries have cheaper premiums than others) 
• The type of travel insurance you purchase (some policies cover more than others) 
• Your medical history.

Best Travel Insurance for travel to Japan

There are a few things to consider when choosing travel insurance for Japan. 

The first is if you need medical coverage. If you plan on doing any adventurous activities, you’ll want to ensure you have a range. And finally, you’ll want to choose a policy with good overall coverage.

With all that in mind, here are our top three picks for travel insurance for Japan:

SafetyWing: This is an excellent option if you’re looking for medical coverage. Their Travel Medical Insurance policy offers $500,000 in COVID-19 medical coverage.

World Nomads: This is our top pick for overall coverage. Their policy offers up to $5 million in medical coverage, $500,000 in trip cancelation and interruption coverage, and $250,000 in baggage and personal effects coverage.

TripProtector Preferred: This is an excellent option if you’re looking for adventure coverage. Their policy provides $500,000 in COVID-19 medical coverage and up to $500,000 in trip cancelation and interruption coverage.

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FAQ:

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Does travel insurance cover natural disasters

Travel insurance protects you against events that could leave you stranded in a foreign country with no way home. Natural disasters are one example of these situations, which occur more frequently in Japan than in most other places on Earth.

As such, it’s essential to know whether your travel insurance will cover you in case of a natural disaster. Unfortunately, not all policies do.

It’s best to look at your policy and determine whether it covers “acts of God” or “nature.” 

However, suppose the policy says nothing about acts of God or nature. In that case, you’ll need to read carefully through each section to find out precisely what is and isn’t covered by your traveler’s insurance plan.

Can I buy travel insurance after my trip is booked?

Yes, you can buy travel insurance at any time before your trip.

We recommend purchasing travel insurance before your trip to avoid any unexpected events during your journey. 

Does U.S. medical insurance cover you in Japan?

Most U.S. medical plans don’t provide any coverage outside the U.S. 

Even if you have comprehensive health insurance through your employer, there are still significant international gaps in what they cover.

Suppose someone gets sick or injured while traveling abroad. In that case, they could pay thousands out-of-pocket before their primary insurer even kicks in, which might not happen if their policy excludes overseas care.

Travel insurance can help fill those gaps.

The bad news is that it isn’t cheap, especially if you want to cover pre-existing conditions or have a family. But it may be worth looking into if you’re going abroad for an extended time (like more than 90 days).