Travel insurance for Japan

Any travel insurance policy for a trip to Japan from Australia should cover – at a minimum – medical emergencies in case you get injured or become ill overseas. In addition to medical cover, other options for consideration include:

• travel delays
• cancellations
• theft, pickpocketing or lost luggage and personal effects
• personal liability
• emergency repatriation and medical evacuation.

Additionally, if you’d prefer to drive around rather than fly or take the train, consider an international travel insurance policy that either covers your rental vehicle excess, or offers this coverage as an optional extra.

No matter what you are planning on your trip, the exact coverage available will depend on your insurer and your policy as each will offer different coverage limits. There are multiple levels of cover available, from basic to comprehensive travel insurance, to suit different travellers’ needs. Before journeying to Japan, be sure to read the PDS prior to buying travel insurance cover to ensure you understand the limits, sub-limits and exclusions of your policy.

Travel insurance for Japan will exclude illegal activities, incidents that occur while intoxicated and travelling against government warnings. Exclusions will vary between insurers, so it’s important to read your Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) to understand what your policy includes and excludes.

Common exclusions include:

• Illegal activities. If your claim results from an incident where you knowingly did something reckless, high-risk or unlawful, you may not be covered and your insurer will likely reject your claim.
• Intoxication. If you were drunk or under the influence of drugs at the time of the incident you’re claiming for, your policy will likely not cover you and any claims will likely be rejected.
• Travelling against government warnings. Your travel insurance for Japan may not cover you if you enter a region with an active ‘Do Not Travel’ travel alert issued by Smartraveller.

No, skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling and other winter sports are usually not included in a travel insurance policy unless you purchase add-on cover. As snow sports are some of Japan’s most popular activities for locals and tourists, many may be looking for policies that offer coverage. Luckily, most insurers do offer winter sports cover as an optional extra. The extra you pay in travel insurance premiums could be offset by the peace of mind of knowing your hospital bills and other medical costs are covered if you have an accident on-piste, as well as things such as lost passes and cancellations of tours.

Japan is home to several gorgeous hiking trails that are a great way to view shrines, temples and the Japanese countryside, so it may be something you’re considering doing on your Asian holiday. For example, Mount Takao is a highly recommended hike if you like cherry blossoms, as they bloom across the entire area in spring.

Be sure to check whether your travel insurance policy automatically covers hiking (and to what heights) or if you need to purchase an adventure add-on for coverage.

Travel insurance won’t cover street karting under rental vehicle excess cover; instead, you’ll need to purchase an adventure add-on that includes this cover. Although street go-karting has been made as safe as possible with new road rules, you’re still driving through congested Tokyo streets in an open, low-riding vehicle. Be sure to check with your insurer and street karting company whether you’d be covered by your travel insurance if there’s an accident. But before you don your cosplay outfit and take a spin through the streets of Akihabara, you’ll need to show your international driving permit and passport, and be aged at least 18 years.

Earthquakes, typhoons, tsunamis, landslides and volcanic eruptions are all possible in Japan. Case in point, a magnitude-7.1 quake hit Japan’s southernmost island, Kyushu, on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, causing loss of life and property damage.

Fortunately, the quake failed to trigger one of the destructive tsunamis that Japan is especially prone to. In fact, whereas beachgoers in Australia might see signs warning of rip or stinger dangers, at Japan’s beaches they caution visitors to watch out for tsunamis.

While you can’t do anything about natural disasters, you can control how you respond to them. For one, make sure you’re aware of the extent that natural disasters are covered by your travel insurance policy.

If you purchase travel insurance for Japan before any natural disaster becomes a known event, depending on your policy, your insurer could cover certain expenses, such as any cancellation fees incurred prior to departure. Keep in mind that avalanches and volcanic eruptions may not be included under regular natural disaster cover; they may cost an additional premium and there may be other exceptions too.

As a general rule, don’t venture into any regions with active travel warnings. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) will issue such warnings on the Smartraveller website.

The Australian Government advises Australians to reconsider their need to travel to the restricted areas near the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant that leaked lethal radiation in a 2011 earthquake.³ Smartraveller advised as of July 2, 2026 that, “Radiation levels in most parts of Japan, including Tokyo, are within the normal range”. It reported, “Restricted zones exist around the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant”.

Japan has an exceptionally low crime rate, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take precautions. Keep a close eye on your valuables and personal effects in public places or else claims for their loss or theft may not be covered.

Japan has a universal healthcare system that keeps costs affordable for citizens and residents but visitors are not included, which can make hospital treatment and healthcare quite expensive for uninsured tourists. So travellers who don’t want to risk a hefty medical bill might do well to consider travel insurance for Japan, so your insurance provider may help meet the cost of your overseas medical expenses on your behalf.

Furthermore, Japan has reported a few endemic diseases, including Japanese encephalitis, measles and rubella, so it’s a good idea to consult your GP well in advanced of your planned departure to discuss any vaccinations you may require.

Emergency services in Japan are available by calling 119 for ambulance and fire and 110 for police.