Compare Travel Insurance in Japan

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20 live offers compared from 20 providers, from ¥4000 /year. Updated daily.

What is travel insurance in Japan?

Travel insurance (kaigai ryoko hoken for overseas trips) covers medical emergencies, trip cancellation, baggage loss, delays and personal liability while travelling. For Japanese residents heading abroad — where public health insurance does not apply — overseas medical cover is the headline benefit, since foreign hospital bills can be very high. Domestic travel insurance also exists for trips within Japan.

How the Japanese market works

Travel insurance is a non-life (sonpo) product sold by general insurers, direct online brands and travel-linked providers. Tokio Marine, Mitsui Sumitomo (via group brands), Sony Sonpo, AXA Direct Japan, Zurich Japan, Allianz Japan and CHUBB Japan Insurance offer per-trip and annual multi-trip policies, while travel-affiliated options like ANA Travel Insurance and Aioi Nissay Dowa integrate cover with bookings. Many credit cards also bundle limited automatic travel cover.

Benefits

Overseas medical cover — pays for treatment, hospitalisation and emergency evacuation abroad, where Japanese public insurance does not reach.

Cancellation and delay — reimburses non-refundable costs and expenses if trips are cancelled, cut short or delayed.

Baggage and liability — covers lost or damaged belongings and personal liability for accidental harm to others abroad.

How to choose

Prioritise a high overseas-medical and emergency-evacuation limit — this is the cover that matters most. Compare cancellation, baggage and liability limits, whether the insurer offers cashless overseas treatment and 24-hour Japanese-language assistance, and any exclusions for pre-existing conditions or hazardous activities. Check whether existing credit-card cover is enough for a short trip, and consider an annual multi-trip policy if you travel often.

Leading providers in Japan

Tokio Marine and Sony Sonpo are major domestic non-life insurers with strong assistance networks. AXA Direct Japan and Zurich Japan compete online on price and convenience, Allianz Japan and CHUBB Japan Insurance bring global claims reach, and Aioi Nissay Dowa and ANA Travel Insurance integrate cover with travel bookings for added convenience.

What it costs

A typical single overseas trip commonly costs around ¥4,000, varying by destination, trip length, traveller age and cover level. Longer trips, higher medical limits and adventure-activity add-ons raise the premium, while annual multi-trip plans can offer better value for frequent travellers. Domestic-trip cover is generally cheaper given lower medical exposure within Japan.

Protections and regulation

Travel insurers are licensed non-life companies supervised by the Financial Services Agency (FSA) under the Insurance Business Act. Policyholders are protected by the Non-Life Insurance Policyholders Protection Corporation of Japan if an insurer fails, and clear policy disclosure is required. Twenty-four-hour overseas assistance desks provide practical support with hospitals and emergencies during a trip.

Common questions

Isn't credit-card cover enough? Sometimes for short trips, but card cover often has low medical limits and conditions, so a dedicated policy is safer for serious medical risk.

Are pre-existing conditions covered? Often excluded or requiring disclosure — check the policy and, if needed, choose an insurer that offers cover for declared conditions.

Travel Insurance in Japan — FAQ