Travel Insurance for Japan from £20.20^
Key takeaways
The average cost of travel insurance for Japan is £48.31
^ It can protect you if you have medical emergencies, trip cancellations or lost luggage
Medical standards in Japan are high, but so are costs of care – make sure you're covered
Do I need travel insurance for Japan?
Holiday insurance is not a legal requirement. But without it you will be personally responsible for paying all the costs if something goes wrong with your trip.
Travel insurance can financially protect you if your holiday to Japan is unexpectedly cancelled, you need medical treatment while travelling, or your valuables are lost or stolen.
According to the latest data from the Association of British Insurers:
British residents had to make 574,000
^ claims on their travel insurance in 2023The average claim amount was £972
^ and the average medical claim £1,750^ In contrast, you can find travel insurance to Japan from just £2.49
^
What type of travel insurance do I need for Japan?
Japan is typically covered under worldwide travel insurance policies.
The specific type of policy you need depends on your travel plans:
One trip to Japan only
If you are only visiting Japan, choose single-trip travel insurance and select Japan as your destination.
One trip to Japan and other countries
Combining a holiday in Japan with visits to other countries, perhaps on a backpacking trip?
Single-trip travel insurance can cover multiple countries as long as:
You don’t head home in-between countries. For that you need multi-trip insurance.
You are not away for a long time (policy-dependent, but usually a month). For that, you need backpackers’ insurance.
Several holidays throughout the year
You might be able to save money by selecting an annual multi-trip travel insurance policy.
If you plan to visit the USA, Canada or somewhere in the Caribbean, you need to select a worldwide policy that specifically covers these countries.
Travelling with a medical condition
You can get travel insurance with a pre-existing medical condition, but it may be more expensive than a standard policy.
How much is travel insurance for Japan?
The table shows the average prices paid by our customers for holidays to Japan this year. Average price means 51% of customers paid this amount or less. Cheapest price means 10% of customers paid this price or less.
Cheapest price | Average price |
|---|---|
£2.49 | £48.31 |
Can I get last minute travel insurance for Japan?
Yes, it is possible to get last-minute travel insurance up to the day of your departure, although not all insurance providers will offer this.
Compare last-minute travel insurance quotes | Cover from just ££3.77
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Is it cheaper to buy travel insurance closer to my departure date?
No, it is usually more expensive to buy travel insurance last-minute.
If possible you should buy your holiday insurance as soon as you book your trip. That way you'll be covered if you have to cancel your Japan holiday.
What should my travel insurance policy for Japan include?
🚩Different travel insurance policies have different inclusions and exclusions. You should always read your documents and check what you're covered for.
Standard travel insurance will usually cover:
Illness and accidents
Trip and activity cancellations
Lost luggage (including your passport)
Theft
Repatriation (bringing you home if you are seriously injured, ill or dead)
Personal liability (you are responsible for accidentally harming someone or their property)
What isn’t covered by travel insurance to Japan?
Typical exclusions include:
Undeclared pre-existing medical conditions
'Unforeseeable' disasters including terrorism, war, strikes and natural disasters
Alcohol and drug-related incidents
Travel to areas advised against by the government (found on the FCDO website)
Adventure or winter sports
💡 Top tip: You can upgrade your insurance to include add-ons like winter sports, gadget cover and travel disruption cover.
Remember your excess!
Your excess is the amount of money you must pay towards any insurance claim you make. It is a fixed amount regardless of the claim size and it is set in advance when you take out your policy.
Increasing your excess can lower the cost of your policy, but make any claims less affordable.
Medical care in Japan
Japan has been added to the FCDO's list of countries where there is a risk of methanol poisoning from drinking low-quality alcohol. ➡️ Learn how to protect yourself.
Cover for medical treatment costs is a vital part of travel insurance. Medical standards in Japan are very high, but so is the cost of care, and the UK currently has no reciprocal healthcare agreement in place with Japan. This means you’ll either face the full costs of healthcare or you’ll be denied treatment if you don’t have adequate cover.
It’s also worth noting that some medicines commonly found in the UK are illegal in Japan. Their strict anti-stimulant laws mean certain painkillers or flu remedies are off the table.
Can I get travel insurance for Japan if I have a pre-existing medical condition?
Yes, you can get travel insurance cover with a pre-existing medical condition, but it may be more expensive than a standard policy.
A pre-existing condition is any medical issue for which you had symptoms, medication, medical advice, treatment, or tests before you took out your insurance policy. It includes mental health conditions and disabilities.
You must disclose all pre-existing medical conditions. If you don't, your insurer can refuse to pay out for a claim.
Compare medical conditions travel insurance quotes | Cover from just £4.83
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Do I need vaccinations to visit Japan?
🚩 Vaccination recommendations may be different for individuals with specific health conditions. We recommend speaking to your doctor before travelling.
The NHS Fit for Travel website recommends that your regular vaccinations are up to date before you travel to Japan, including your flu and Covid-19 vaccines if you are eligible for these.
Visitors may also wish to consider a tetanus vaccine. Individuals considered at the highest risk may choose to vaccinate against Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Japanese Encephalitis, and Tick-borne Encephalitis.
Do I need a visa to visit Japan?
🚩 Visa requirements for a country can change. For the most up-to-date information, check the UK government’s foreign travel advice website.
You can get a visa on arrival in Japan for tourism or business. This visa will last up to 90 days. You do not need to apply before you travel.
What travel insurance do I need for skiing in Japan?
You need to have winter sports cover. Skiing and snowboarding are not usually covered under standard travel insurance policies.
The average price our customers currently pay for insurance with winter cover is £48.05
You may be able to add winter sports cover to your existing travel insurance for a fee. Travel insurers will also often bundle together winter sports cover and adventure sports cover.
What travel insurance do I need for hiking in Japan?
You may need to have adventure sports cover. Heavily urbanised cities like Tokyo, Kyoto, and Hiroshima might make up a big part of Japan’s tourism industry, but in reality, over two-thirds of the country is covered in natural beauty. In the almost 3,000km stretch from north to south, you’ll see volcanoes, mountains, rivers, lakes, jungles, forests, beaches, and an array of wildlife.
Standard travel insurance policies often will not cover hiking above a certain height or in riskier locations. If your hiking trip involves mountaineering or using climbing equipment you'll almost certainty need extra cover.
You may be able to add adventure sports cover to your existing travel insurance for a fee. Travel insurers will also often bundle together adventure sports cover and winter sports cover.
Do I need cover for extreme weather or natural disasters in Japan?
Yes, it is worth considering travel insurance that includes cover for extreme weather and natural disasters in Japan. Although rare, the biggest travel risk in Japan is natural disasters, including earthquakes that can sometimes trigger tsunamis.
Over the centuries, Japan has learnt to cope with these events, which means you will rarely find yourself in a situation of danger. However, taking out travel insurance that provides cover for natural disasters that may disrupt your trip is always a wise option.
How do I claim on my travel insurance?
Report the incident you want to claim for to your insurer as soon as possible
If something is stolen, report it to the local police within 24 hours and get a report
Keep records of what has happened, including photos or videos and the contact details of anyone involved
Read our guide to making a claim on your travel insurance.
Find cheap Japan travel insurance with MoneySuperMarket
Compare quotes from different insurers to find the best price for the level of cover you want. Don't want this task on your to-do list? We can do the work for you, saving you time and money.
Plus, we offer our travel insurance customers rewards! Get a voucher of up to £5
Just sign up to our free SuperSaveClub before you buy your travel policy.
Compare travel insurance quotes | Japan cover from just £2.49
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Author
Beth Leslie
Senior Insurance Content Editor
Beth is an experienced writer and editor who specialises in financial and economic content. She is currently the Senior Insurance Content Editor for MoneySuperMarket. Beth is passionate about making...
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Katie Bishop
Insurance writer
Katie Bishop is an author and journalist with a decade of writing and editing experience. She has previously worked as an economics editor at Oxford University Press, and her business and finance...
