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Travel Insurance for a trip to Japan

Japan offers amazing food, culture, onsens, temples and more. Make sure you're covered for emergency medical expenses, baggage and more.

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Looking to escape the heat of Australia? Mate, grab your skis and head straight for the powder capital of the world, Niseko, Japan. Or a Cherry Blossom Festival between March and May is more your style?

SRua Garrett at night
Sunset over Tokyo. Photo credit: Getty Images / Matteo Colombo

Japan offers a unique blend of both ancient and modern cultures that Australians can’t get enough of. But as with every great adventure can come misadventure, which is why it’s always a good idea to consider travel insurance.

Have you already started your journey around Japan and realised you should have considered packing travel insurance in that duffle bag? World Nomads travel insurance can help. With World Nomads, you can purchase travel insurance while travelling anywhere, instantly online (a waiting period may apply for some benefits).

What does world Nomads travel insurance cover?

Look, we all know sometimes things don’t play out the way we plan…sometimes that knee-deep powder can cause injuries you’d rather avoid. But with World Nomads travel insurance, you could be covered for your hospital stay, should your skiing adventure go sideways (pun intended).

Our Standard and Explorer plans can offer cover (up to the benefit limits) for:

  • Your entire family (our cover includes two adults and up to eight dependents on one policy)
  • Trip interruption and trip cancellation
  • Lost, delayed, or stolen baggage
  • Overseas emergency medical expenses
  • Cover for medical evacuation and repatriation
  • Cover for some Coronavirus-related events
  • 24/7 access to our dedicated Emergency Assistance Team
  • Cover for more than 150 adventure activities and sports while in Japan

Why should I consider travel insurance when going to Japan?

Osaka, also known as the "Kitchen of Japan" is famous for its street food – some of its most popular dishes being okonomiyaki (a savoury pancake), and kushikatsu (deep-fried skewers). But what happens if you pick a vendor with less-than-par seafood for sale? Food poisoning in a foreign country isn’t much fun, but it can be less stressful if you have purchased travel insurance – especially if you require hospitalisation.

Although Japan’s regarded as a relatively safe country, we all know that opportunists are everywhere, which is why it’s important to always keep your valuables safe and visible. If however, you do find yourself victim to pickpocketing while bargain shopping in the bustling markets of Ameya-Yokochō, our Standard and Explorer plans offer theft protection (up to policy limits).

busy crossing on Japan
Busy crossing in Japan. Photo credit: Unsplash / Jason Ortego

What are the benefits of World Nomads travel insurance when in Japan?

Trip interruption and trip cancellation

Imagine this…you’ve spent months planning your trip to Mt Fuji. You’ve booked and paid for non-refundable e-tickets to climb that beast over two days. You’re pumped. Then, someone at home gets sick and requires hospitalisation right before you’re scheduled to leave.

We may not be able to get you on that mountain as planned, but our Standard Plan covers you for up to AUD$5,000 of non-refundable cancellation/ trip interruption costs. Our Explorer Plan offers unlimited coverage for unavoidable insured events.

Note: Always refer to your Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) for further details on various limits, benefits, available upgrades, and our terms and conditions before you buy a policy.

Delayed, lost, or stolen baggage

Japan’s home to the Shibuya Scramble aka one of the world's wildest pedestrian crosswalks where literally thousands of people cross the road at the same time. That said, it’s easy to see why things can go amiss in all the hustle and bustle.

World Nomads may cover (up to the policy limits) the loss, theft or damage to your baggage, sporting equipment or personal belongings if you’re the victim of theft while in Japan, or if your bags are lost in the big city chaos. Our Standard Plan can cover up to AUD$2,000 and our Explorer Plan can cover up to AUD$10,000.

Overseas emergency medical expenses and cover for COVID-19 related events

Japan’s healthcare system is usually regarded as amongst the best in the world. That said, to receive medical treatment in Japan, you typically need to show proof of insurance.

If you’re planning to visit Japan, we recommend you research your travel insurance options. World Nomads two plans (Standard and Explorer) both offer coverage for overseas medical expenses, emergency dental, medical transport, cover for some Coronavirus -related events, and if necessary, repatriation costs. You can get an instant quote 24/7.

Tsutenkaku is a tower and well-known landmark of Osaka, in the Shinsekai district of Naniwa-ku. Photo credit: Getty / fotoVoyager

What’s not covered?

Understanding what’s not covered is just as important as knowing what your insurance does cover you for. Things that won’t be covered by travel insurance include, but are not limited to:

  • Medical evacuation or repatriation for any incidents related to drug and alcohol abuse, or that is not pre-authorized by a physician.
  • Trip cancellation for events that occurred before your policy was purchased (natural disaster, strike, etc.).
  • Any existing medical conditions which are not automatically covered. Check your PDS carefully.
  • Not having visas or passports issued on time or not properly fulfilling the entry requirements of your destination.
  • Leaving your gear behind, or not keeping an eye on your things and they get stolen.
  • Travelling to, planning to travel to, or choosing to remain in a country or region that is subject to a ‘Do Not Travel’ warning issued by the Australian Government (see www.smartraveller.gov.au)

Travel insurance doesn't cover everything. All the information we provide is a brief summary. It does not include all terms, conditions, limitations, exclusions, and termination provisions of the plans described. Please carefully read your PDS for a full description of coverage. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

Traveller tip 1: Japan is prone to earthquakes, typhoons, and other natural disasters, so it's important to stay informed and prepared in case of an emergency – which is why we provide up-to-date travel alerts to all our policyholders.

Traveller tip 2: if you’ve suffered a theft, get a police report (and any other supporting reports/documents to submit with your online claim, as soon as you realise you have items missing.

Traveller tip 3: planning a summer holiday in Japan? Grab a snorkel and check out the Okinowa shipwrecks in October – majority of the crowds (and typhoons) have gone for the season, and the water’s still warm. World Nomads offers adventure travel insurance for more than 150 adventure activities, sorts and experiences across two levels of coverage, check out how you can benefit from our Standard and Explorer plans.

Travel Insurance Benefits: how we can take care of you

Trip Cancellation

Protect your trip from unexpected cancellation.

  • Explorer Plan: Unlimited
  • Standard Plan: $5,000
Trip Protection
  • Unexpectedly hospitalised?
  • Travel buddy unfit to travel?
  • Close relative suddenly dies?

We’ve got your back.

Emergency Medical Overseas

Take the pain out of medical costs.

  • Explorer Plan: Unlimited
  • Standard Plan: $5,000,000
Emergency Medical Insurance
  • Need meds quick?
  • Accidentally injured?
  • Suddenly sick?

We’ve got your back.

Emergency Medical Transport

We'll get you to hospital lickety-split

  • Explorer Plan: Unlimited
  • Standard Plan: $500,000
Evacuation and Repatriation
  • Banged up abroad?
  • Need a hospital urgently?
  • Medivac home?

Help starts here.

Protect your gear

Cover your stolen or damaged gear and tech.

  • Explorer Plan: $10,000
  • Standard Plan: $2,000
Protect your gear
  • Passport stolen?
  • Airline lost your gear?
  • Bags delayed?

Help starts here.

  • Overseas Medical Expenses
  • Emergency dental treatment
  • 24 hour assistance
  • Emergency medical transport & repatriation
  • Cancellation costs
  • Trip interruption costs
  • Compassionate emergency visit home
  • Resumption of trip
  • Theft or accidental damage to baggage and personal items
  • Baggage delay over 12 hours
  • Funeral expenses overseas or repatriation of remains
  • Personal liability
This is a general summary for Australian residents only. Restrictions, exclusions and limitations will apply. Benefit limits may vary depending on the plan chosen. Check the policy documents for full details.

24/7 emergency assistance

If you need medical assistance or emergency medical evacuation our team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year before and during your trip.

Are you in need of emergency assistance right now?

Phone: +61 2 8263 0470 or Phone: +61 2 8292 1470 (reverse charges via an operator from anywhere in the world)

Contact the team

Get an instant travel insurance quote

Simple and flexible travel insurance designed by travelers, for travelers. See why over 3 million travelers have chosen World Nomads for more than 20 years.