Best Travel Insurance for Japan: Review of Options in Australia [2025]

From the spectacular spring cherry blossom season to vivid autumns, snowy winters, bountiful dining options, quirky karaoke bars and more, Japan is a dynamic and enchanting destination that Aussies can’t seem to get enough of.

In fact, nearly 1 million Australians visited Japan in 2024 compared with 613,062 in 2023 and these numbers are expected to continue climbing throughout 2025.¹ Offering visitors such a diverse range of things to do across all seasons, ensuring you plan and pack well, including arranging appropriate travel insurance, is a must.

In this guide, we dive into why travel insurance for Japan is as essential as your passport when travelling there. Reviewing a mix of insurance providers and policy types, inclusions and what to watch out for, we’ve got the details you need to find the best travel insurance for Japan based on your needs and budget. We'll also introduce to you Wise Travel Card that can help you save on international transactions with currency conversions at mid-market exchange rates.

Table of contents
5 providers for travel insurance for Japan 1. Allianz 2. 1Cover 3. Cover-More 4. AHM 5. Southern Cross

Do you need travel insurance for Japan?

Just like all travel outside Australia, obtaining travel insurance before you depart is strongly recommended. While Japan has excellent medical facilities and offers care on par with Australia, should you need to access these, it will be at your own cost. You may also be required to pay upfront before any assistance is provided, which could mean needing to find thousands of dollars urgently during an emergency.²

You may also be restricted in terms of accessing preferred care or that appropriate to your needs or unable to be repatriated home if needed, unless you have the means to pay for this yourself.

To avoid these challenges and ensure you have access to essential medical care as well as cover for cancellations, theft, rental car excess, adventure activities and more, travel insurance for Japan is vital.

What is the best travel insurance for Japan from Australia?

There’s no single ‘best’ travel insurance policy for Japan, as the right choice depends on various factors, including your age, trip duration, planned activities, any pre-existing medical conditions and more.

To find a policy that suits your needs, we advise considering the following:

• Check if your age and trip length are within the policy’s coverage limits
• Review whether any family members traveling with you are covered or if they can be added
• Investigate how pre-existing conditions are handled and whether they’re covered, excluded or require special approval
• Verify which activities are included and whether additional fees apply for specific ones
• Look into any excess fees, their amount, and when they must be paid
• Ensure that medical and repatriation coverage limits are sufficient for Japan’s healthcare system
• Review the insurer’s customer support options to ensure they offer assistance when needed while in Japan

How much does travel insurance for Japan cost?

As with all destinations, travel insurance for a trip to Japan depends on factors such as your trip details and personal coverage needs. If you're planning to hit the slopes for skiing or snowboarding, keep in mind that many standard policies don’t automatically cover snowsports. As such, you may need to add an extra level of coverage, often at an additional cost.

Generally, a basic policy that only covers medical and dental expenses will be more affordable than a comprehensive plan that includes trip cancellations, lost baggage and adventure sports coverage.

Lastly, since Japan’s healthcare system is high-quality but can be costly for visitors without adequate insurance, it’s important to ensure your policy provides sufficient medical coverage. This means focusing more on benefit limits than policy cost is a wise move, but you don’t have to spend big to secure this. Taking the time to compare different insurers and their offerings can help you find the best policy for your needs and budget.

5 providers for travel insurance for Japan

To help you compare travel insurance options for Japan and find the best fit for your trip, we’ve compiled a selection of policies from some of Australia’s leading insurers. Whether you’re after the cheapest travel insurance for Japan or a plan with extensive coverage at a competitive price, there are plenty of options to choose from.

To give you a clear understanding of how coverage levels differ, we’ve also included both a budget-friendly option and a more comprehensive policy from each insurer.

1. Allianz

Allianz is a globally recognised insurance provider with over 100 years of industry experience. They offer a variety of travel insurance options tailored to different needs.³ Their travel insurance features include:

• 24/7 global emergency assistance
• Multiple policy options designed to cater to varying levels of coverage and budgets
• Optional extras such as Cruise, Snow, and Adventure Packs allowing customised coverage based on your travel needs and planned activities

Coverage	Basic Plan⁴	Comprehensive Plan⁴
Overseas Medical Expenses and Repatriation Costs	Unlimited coverage	Unlimited coverage
Overseas Emergency Dental	AUD 2000	AUD 2000
Hospital Incidentals	Nil	AUD 6000
Luggage and Travel Documents	Nil	AUD 5000
Travel Delay	Nil	AUD 2000
Cancellation	Depends on level of cover chosen	Depends on level of cover chosen
Personal liability	AUD 1.5 million	AUD 2.5 million
Skiing and snowboarding cover	Optional add-on	Optional add-on

Please note: Coverage limits are subject to terms, conditions, and exclusions as outlined in the PDS.

As seen 31 March 2025

2. 1Cover

Advertising simplified insurance options to suit every need and budget, award-winning insurer 1Cover offers a limited number of travel policies that provide⁵:

• 24/7 emergency assistance
• Quick and easy online claims lodgement and processing
• Straightforward pre-existing condition declarations and optional added coverage for these

Coverage	Basic Plan⁵	Comprehensive Plan⁵
Overseas Medical Expenses and Repatriation Costs	Unlimited coverage	Unlimited coverage
Overseas Emergency Dental	AUD 2000	AUD 2000
Hospital Incidentals	Nil	AUD 6000
Luggage and Travel Documents	Nil	AUD 5000
Travel Delay	Nil	AUD 2000
Cancellation	Depends on level of cover chosen	Depends on level of cover chosen
Personal liability	AUD 1.5 million	AUD 2.5 million
Skiing and snowboarding⁶ cover	Optional add-on	Optional add-on

Please note: Coverage limits are subject to terms, conditions, and exclusions as outlined in the PDS.

As seen 31 March 2025

3. Cover-More

Boasting over 35 years of experience in the industry, leading insurer Cover-More covers an estimated 15 million travellers globally each year.⁷ As one of Australia’s most well-known travel insurers, they offer:

• 24/7 emergency medical assistance with specialised support centres in Australia, Argentina, the UK and Canada
• Customisable travel insurance plans with changeable coverage limits and a choice of optional extras
• A range of policy levels to suit various budgets and coverage requirements

Coverage	Basic Plan⁸	Comprehensive Plan⁸
Overseas Medical Expenses and Repatriation Costs	Unlimited coverage	Unlimited coverage
Overseas Emergency Dental	AUD 2000	AUD 2000
Hospital Incidentals	Nil	AUD 6000
Luggage and Travel Documents	Nil	AUD 5000
Travel Delay	Nil	AUD 2000
Cancellation	Depends on level of cover chosen	Depends on level of cover chosen
Personal liability	AUD 1.5 million	AUD 2.5 million
Skiing and snowboarding cover	Optional add-on	Optional add-on

Please note: Coverage limits are subject to terms, conditions, and exclusions as outlined in the PDS.

As seen 31 March 2025

4. AHM

Providing health insurance for over 40 years, AHM believes Australians desire and deserve no-nonsense insurance options and advertises as offering exactly that.⁹ Their travel insurance includes:

• 24/7 emergency and medical assistance
• A choice of comprehensive and international medical only plans, with the option for annual multi-trip coverage for frequent travelers
• A choice of optional extras such as coverage for motorcycle or moped use, snow sports, increased luggage limits and more

Coverage	Medical Only Plan¹⁰	Comprehensive Plan¹⁰
Overseas Medical Expenses and Repatriation Costs	Unlimited coverage	Unlimited coverage
Overseas Emergency Dental	AUD 2000	AUD 2000
Hospital Incidentals	Nil	AUD 6000
Luggage and Travel Documents	Nil	Luggage AUD 15 000 Documents AUD 8000
Travel Delay	Nil	AUD 2000
Cancellation	Nil	AUD 3000 (can be increased)
Personal liability	AUD 2.5 million	AUD 2.5 million
Skiing and snowboarding cover	Optional add-on	Optional add-on

Please note: Coverage limits are subject to terms, conditions, and exclusions as outlined in the PDS.

As seen 31 March 2025

5. Southern Cross

Only launched in 2009, Southern Cross is comparatively new to Australia’s travel insurance market but states that they have already insured over 6 million travellers globally since their inception. Part of the New Zealand-owned Southern Cross Group, they offer¹¹:

• 24/7 emergency assistance globally
• A dedicated support team for streamlined claims submission and processing
• A variety of policy types to suit different budgets and coverage needs

Coverage	Medical Only Plan¹²	Comprehensive Plan¹²
Overseas Medical Expenses and Repatriation Costs	Unlimited coverage	Unlimited coverage
Overseas Emergency Dental	AUD 2000	AUD 2000
Hospital Incidentals	AUD 3000	AUD 3000
Luggage and Travel Documents	Nil	AUD 25 000 for luggage AUD 1000 for documents
Travel Delay	Nil	AUD 2000
Cancellation	Nil	AUD 2500 (can be increased)
Personal liability	AUD 1 million	AUD 1 million
Skiing and snowboarding cover	N/A	Optional add-on

Please note: Coverage limits are subject to terms, conditions, and exclusions as outlined in the PDS.

As seen 31 March 2025

Things to keep in mind

• Ski and Snowboard Cover. If you plan to ski or snowboard in Japan, check whether your policy includes snowsports coverage. Snowsports are not typically included in most base policy offerings so you’ll need to make sure you have appropriate Japan ski insurance in place.
• Natural Disasters. Japan is prone to typhoons, earthquakes and heavy snowfall. Look for coverage that includes trip cancellations or delays due to unpredictable natural events such as natural disasters and weather delays.
• Purchase Early. Additionally, it is advisable to purchase a policy as soon as possible after booking your trip. Should a natural disaster occur, you’re only insured for cancellations if the policy was taken out before the event occurs.
• Train Travel. If you're using Japan’s extensive train network, check that your policy covers unexpected cancellations or disruptions, including Japan Rail Pass refunds.

Heading to Japan? Get more JPY for your AUD with the Wise card

When planning your trip, it's crucial to consider how you'll spend in Japan. High foreign transaction fees or unfavorable exchange rates can quickly inflate your travel costs. The Wise card is a simple way to save up to 7x when you're spending internationally. You can spend in 150+ countries at mid-market rate — basically the rate you see on Google. With no foreign transaction fees and low, transparent pricing, Wise usually gives you the best value for your money.

Simply create a Wise account for free, order a card and top-up AUD to get started. Having a physical Wise card allows you to make chip and pin payments, as well as make some free ATM withdrawals each month for when you're abroad. You can get digital cards and add to your Google or Apple Pay wallet for instant use. Spend directly with the Wise account in AUD and let auto-conversion do the trick or convert in advance to your desired currency. You can hold and exchange 40+ currencies in your Wise account and spend the currencies you hold for free.

Wherever your travel takes you, the Wise card makes spending money abroad cheaper and easier.

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This general advice does not take into account your objectives, financial circumstances or needs and you should consider if it is appropriate for you. Savings claim based on our rates vs. selected Australian banks and other similar providers in Jan 2025. To learn more please visit https://boost-dividend.live/au/compare%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E

Please see Terms of Use and product availability for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.

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Sources:

1. ABC News - Japan Travel
2. Smartraveller - Japan
3. Allianz - About
4. Allianz - Table Of Benefits pg. 8, 17
5. 1Cover - About Us & Policy Comparison
6. 1Cover - Optional Ski Cover
7. Cover-More - About
8. Cover-More - Policy Comparison
9. AHM - About
10. AHM - Benefits Tablepgs. 3-6
11. Southern Cross - About
12. Southern Cross - Medical Only Policy
13. Southern Cross - Comprehensive Policy

Sources checked on: 31 March 2025