Travel Insurance for Japan
After planning your flights, where you will stay and deciding whether you need an airport transfers or parking, having a policy in place to cover you can save you a considerable amount of money if something goes wrong. With Holiday Extras, you can select the best travel insurance for your personal needs, with cover in place in the event of cancellations, if you lose or damage your luggage, or if you need emergency medical treatment while in Japan.
When you're on holiday in Japan, the last thing you want to experience is hassle. With the right travel insurance cover, you don't have to worry about how you'll pay for your medical bills while abroad, or if you need a new flight because you missed yours due to your car breaking down en route to the airport.
We want you to focus on what Japan is: this little Pacific archipelago has much to offer the intrepid traveller, from the vast urban sprawl of Tokyo, to the serene tranquility of the forested mountains. With so much to experience and enjoy from Japanese culture, history and its breathtaking landscape, you'll inevitably want to plan your next trip as soon as you get back.
Have a read through this page to learn some surprising reasons why travel insurance to Japan is so important.
Compare travel insurance Japan cover levels
When choosing your Japanese travel insurance, you have the option of either single trip or annual, both with three varying cover levels:
| Emergency medical and repatriation expenses | |||
| Cancellation | |||
| Curtailment and loss of holiday | |||
| Personal possessions | |||
| Passport and other documents | |||
| Personal money | |||
| Baggage Delay (outward journey) | |||
| Missed departure | |||
| Missed connection | |||
| Personal liability | |||
| Legal costs and expenses | |||
| Scheduled airline failure | |||
| End supplier failure | |||
| Pet Care |
*Or as specified on your schedule
Medical insurance
Despite being a highly-developed country with solid healthcare facilities, Japan is no exception when it comes to getting travel insurance.
There is a heightened need for proof of insurance when accessing medical care in Japan. This is partly caused by the fact that the Japanese national health insurance scheme covers a high percentage of the population, doctors can be reluctant to treat foreigners who aren't part of the system. As such, it's highly likely that you'll be asked to provide evidence of travel insurance before any treatment is given. Having your policy documents close to hand - whether that means bringing a physical copy of the documents with you or having digital access - is very important.
In Japan, common drugs and prescription medicines that you may have been able to purchase from supermarkets in the UK, are only available in drugstores. Prescription medicines are allowed into the country, so long as they are brought in quantities sufficient for personal use.
If you're travelling with pre-existing medical conditions you won't need to worry about receiving assistance in Japan, so long as you have declared your conditions when purchasing your policy, and have proof of your cover.
Natural disasters
Located over the boundary of several tectonic plates and containing over 110 active volcanoes, natural disasters are not uncommon in Japan. That being said, don't let this deter you from visiting this beautiful country. So long as you have at least a basic grasp of typical disaster procedures together with travel insurance that has you covered, there really is little to worry about. Holiday Extras offers natural disaster cover as an add-on to your policy, should you want that extra peace of mind.
Earthquakes and Tsunamis
Japan is classed as a major earthquake zone, and during the course of your trip, you might experience the common minor tremors that the population has grown accustomed to. Minor tremors are of very little consequence, at the most resulting in delays to public transport.
Tropical cyclone season
Tropical typhoon season runs from May to October, with the southern areas of the country particularly at risk. Even so, there's little to fear as the country has developed advanced weather prediction technology, capable of anticipating the probable course of a typhoon days before it's strike. You can monitor the progress of approaching storms on the website of the Japan Meteorological Agency.
Getting into Japan
Do I need a visa to visit Japan?
According to the latest information given by the Foreign Office, you can enter Japan as a visitor for up to 90 days without a visa if you have a British Nationals or British National (Overseas) passport. You may need to provide evidence of a return or onward ticket. If you plan to stay for longer, make sure to apply for an extension before the initial 90 days end. Under the 90-day 'temporary visitor visa', you can extend your stay to a maximum period of 6 months.
The visa is only valid if the purpose involves:
- Sightseeing
- Visiting relatives or friends
- Recreation
- Convalescence
- Conferences, unpaid lectures and meetings
- Contents
- Short business trips
Places to visit in Japan
These are some of our favourite places to visit in Japan. Have fun ticking them off your travel checklist:
- Visit Kyoto's ancient sites - Containing 17 world heritage sites and over 2,000 temples and shrines, Kyoto is the place to visit for an experience of the country's rich ancient heritage. The iconic Kinkakuji temple is a must see, with it's breath-taking golden-gilded exterior casting dazzling reflections into the serene waters nearby.
- Lodge with the Monks in Mount Koya - If you're searching for a unique cultural experience, then spending a night at the birthplace of Shingon Buddhism may just be for you. Get a taste of what life is like as a monk, eating the vegetarian cuisine and attending morning prayers.
- Niseko ski resort - Take a trip to Japan's northern island for a spot of skiing, or (if it happens to be summer) some white-water rafting, mountain biking or kayaking!
- Hike the Northern Alps - An excellent location for both casual and serious hikers alike. For the seasoned hiker, there's the opportunity to explore the mystery of the virgin forests and take on the most challenging peaks of the northern Alps, some reaching up to 10,000 feet.
- Roppongi - Tokyo's famous 'red-light' district, this is a priority location for those seeking to experience the city's colourful night-life. Filled with attractive clubs, bars and restaurants both classy and garish, you'll be spoilt for choice in this vibrant area of downtown Tokyo.
Japan: at a glance
- What is the currency in Japan? Yen (¥)
- What is the time difference between the UK and Japan? Japan is 9 hours ahead of the UK
- How long does it take to fly to Japan from the UK? Between 11 hours and 16 hours
- What is the best mode of transport to get around Japan? The most efficient way to see Japan is by train
- What is the capital of Japan? Tokyo
- What is the main religion of Japan? Shinto and Buddhism are the two major religions
- How many islands make up Japan Overall, there are 6,852 islands, with 430 occupied and 5 "main" islands
Holiday Extras Travel Insurance is sold and administered by Holiday Extras Cover Limited who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under registration number 828848.
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Holiday Extras Travel Insurance is provided by Taurus Insurance Services, an insurance intermediary licenced and authorised in Gibraltar by the Financial Services Commission under Permission Number 5566 and authorised to passport general insurance intermediary services into the UK and registered with the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK under registration number 444830.
The insurance is underwritten by Great Lakes Insurance SE. Great Lakes Insurance SE is a German insurance company with its headquarters at Königinstrasse 107, 80802 Munich. UK Branch office: 10 Fenchurch Avenue, London, EC3M 5BN, company number SE000083. Great Lakes Insurance SE, UK Branch, is authorised and regulated by Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht. Deemed authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority. Firm Reference Number: 769884. Subject to regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority and limited regulation by the Prudential Regulation Authority. Details of the Temporary Permissions Regime, which allows EEA-based firms to operate in the UK for a limited period while seeking full authorisation, are available on the Financial Conduct Authority’s website.