Japan Travel Insurance

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Wowee does Japan have something for everyone!  It's no wonder that The Land of the Rising Sun's tourism numbers are going gangbusters. Whether you're a skier, want to soak up the ancient temples, emerse yourself in the karoke scene, take a trip on a bullet train, or indulge in the weird and wonderful dishes....A trip to Japan with all it's wacky ways will not disappoint!

Despite its appeal, no trip comes without some risks and it can be tough to navigate a new land when you don't speak the local lingo. From Tokyo tummy,  monkey bites or earthquakes, travel insurance is essential to protect you from travel troubles on your Japanese holiday.

The following guide will help you navigate around the tricky world of travel insurance, so strap in and enjoy the ride.
 

Japan Rugby World Cup 2019

With thousands of fans soon to descend upon various venues across the whole of Japan, travel insurance can ensure your trip gets you out of the blocks to a spectacular start.
 
When you’ve invested time and money travelling to a major sporting event like the 2019 Japan World Cup. Flights, event tickets, accommodation and rental car deposits can amount to a small fortune. A travel insurance policy can save you massive costs, particularly if a last minute emergency forces you to cancel your trip.

What does travel insurance cover for the Japan rugby world cup?

 
Medical
Medical fees abroad can be exorbitant, and Japan is no exception. Hospital costs in Tokyo can reach up to $10,000 per day while repatriation back home can soar into the hundreds of thousands. Your policy will cover you for any injuries or sickness you sustain while on your trip to Japan.
 
Pick pocketing
Whilst Japan is a safe country, there is also more risk of pickpockering with large sports crowds. Should your wallet get pinched from your pocket, be sure to report it to the police and get a report so you can claim on your travel insurance when you get home.
 
Alternative transport
Those travelling to Japan for the rugby will no doubt be counting down the moments to kick-off. With so much at stake, travellers can take comfort that in the event of a transport disruption, travel insurance may help you get to the game on time. Flight cancellations and travel delays are a common frustration when travelling. In the event of unforeseen transport interruptions on your way to a match, your policy may pay your alternative travel expenses should you be unable to reach your venue. This can be truly beneficial when you’re at risk of missing out on your special event.

Cancellations
It’s important to remember that airlines don’t cover you if you need to cancel for circumstances beyond your control, such as sudden illness or injury, where travel insurance does. When you consider the cost for prepaid event tickets, combined with airlines and hotels notoriously bumping up their prices during major sporting and cultural events, it’s a very small price to pay.
 
Flight delays
It’s should be comforting for sports fans with travel insurance to know that in most cases policies would cover for the cost of their ticket price, flight costs and pre-paid accommodation in the event of a flight delays or cancellations due to bad weather.
 
Family emergency & sickness
If sudden sickness or family emergency have caught you off guard and you’re unable to make a long-awaited rugby trip, you may be able to seek reimbursement of your prepaid event tickets, flights and accommodation with travel insurance. This feature would come under the ‘Cancellation and Lost Deposits’ benefit and would be covered in international comprehensive policies.
 

what it doesn't

• Riding risky: It’s a tried and true tourist tradition to hire mopeds or scooters on holiday, despite most having never attempted to do so! Whilst Japanese roads are well developed, attemping to read local road signs when on-the-go can make driving in Japan hairy to say the least. Be warned that your insurer will not cover you if you are found riding without a current Australian license (valid in the country you are in) or a helmet.
   
• Unattended items: Opps I left my bag behind on the bullet train is not a covered reason. Keep a strong hold over all your belongings as leaving your stuff unsupervised in a taxi, at a temple, or whilst eating tepanyaki will not be covered for.
   
• Being intoxicated: On sake, two sake, three sake...floor! Whilst having a few tipples on your trip is what holidays are all about, any claims related directly to alcohol and drugs will not be paid. Have fun in moderation!
   
• Terrorism and travel warnings:  While the chances of getting caught up in an act of terrorism are small, it’s still a good idea to keep up to date with travel advisories on sites like smarttraveller.gov.au.  Generally travelling against DO NOT TRAVEL warnings from the Australian Government will jeopardize your cover.
   
• High risk activities: Adventure activities are plentiful in Japan. Some of the worlds best snowy fields are an adventure playground for adrenaline junkies.  But watch out, as participating in particularly risky activities such as climbing (where ropes are needed), cliff jumping or sky diving may not be covered by your policy.  Be sure to scan your policy’s small print to check out which of your preferred heart pounding activities are covered.
   
• Pre-existing conditions: Medical conditions that exist before you travel are generally not covered, but it pays to check. You can sometimes pay a bit extra to get some conditions covered. Check your policy wording to see what conditions are covered automatically, and which ones require a medical assessment first.
   
• Unreported items: You need to report theft or loss to the relevant authority ASAP (and your travel insurance provider) within 24 hours.

how to save on Japan travel insurance

 

• Choose your destination wisely – You might be able to save yourself a few buckaroos by finding an insurer that classes Japan in its own price bracket, rather than grouped under Asia.
   
• Consider how often you travel - If you travel a few times per year, you could save by purchasing an annual multi-trip policy rather than purchasing a policy each time you take off.
   
• Combine policies - If travelling with your family or a companion, a joint policy is often cheaper than purchasing separately.
   
• Increase your excess - Most insurers allow you to lower your premium by opting to pay higher excess in the instance that you need to make a claim.
   
• Shop around - You'll be amazed at how much travel insurance quotes can vary. Offers by travel agents or airlines usually have commissions added on. In fact, you can save up to 50% by shopping around, so it pays to buy your travel insurance direct. Doing your comparison online will allow you to compare loads of quotes in seconds. Yippee.
   
• Pick the right level of cover - Whether you're a budget conscious backpacker, or spenaholic skier it pays to compare travel insurance policies to find the right cover for your trip. The cost of travel insurance can vary enormously! Say you’re 30 (ish) years old and you’re going to Japan for a one-week holiday. Depending on your preferred level of cover, you can expect to pay anywhere from $22 to $150

Basic policies for around $20 – $60 you an expect (generally speaking) medical, personal liability and unexpected travel expenses. 

Mid-level policies for around $30 – $80 you can get decent cover which includes benefits like medical, cancellation, personal liability as well as some cancellation and luggage cover. 

Comprehensive policies for around $50 – $150 offers generous cover including medical, cancellation, personal liability, luggage, luggage delay expenses, hospital cash allowance, travel documents and unexpected travel expenses.