Travel insurance for Japan.
Japan doesn’t ask tourists for insurance yet. But visitors pay the full bill, and unpaid bills can get you refused entry next time. Here is what to know.
The rules
What Japan asks of visitors.
Checked against official sources on 23 October 2026. Entry rules change, so check again before you fly.
- Not required, but strongly advised
Japan’s tourism agency tells visitors to buy private medical insurance with enough cover, because bills can be very high.
Source: mlit.go.jp - Unpaid bills can block your next visit
Visitors who leave medical bills unpaid may be refused entry to Japan in the future.
Source: mlit.go.jp - Insurance may become a must with JESTA
In December 2025, Japan said it is considering making private health insurance a must for visitors who use JESTA, its planned travel authorisation. JESTA is due in fiscal 2028.
Source: english.adnkronos.com - Departure tax now 3,000 yen
From 1 July 2026, the tax on leaving Japan went up from 1,000 to 3,000 yen. It is usually added to your ticket.
Source: japan.travel - Digital nomad visa: 10 million yen
Nomad visa holders need medical insurance with at least 10 million yen of treatment cover for the whole stay. Credit card insurance counts if it gives the same cover.
Source: moj.go.jp - Some common medicines are banned
Cold and flu medicines with pseudoephedrine, Vicks inhalers and some codeine painkillers are illegal to bring in. Check before you pack.
Source: gov.uk
What care costs
If something goes wrong, this is the bill.
What a visitor pays without insurance. Prices vary by hospital and change every year.
- Bike crash: 7.5 million yen
A visitor hit by a bicycle had a collapsed lung and broken ribs. Surgery, 19 days in hospital and a flight home with a doctor came to 7.5 million yen.
Source: jnto.go.jp - Heart attack: 10 million yen
Surgery, 45 days in hospital and a flight home with a doctor came to 10 million yen.
Source: jnto.go.jp - You pay the whole bill
Visitors without insurance should expect to pay the full cost of any treatment.
Source: gov.uk
What to look for
Choosing travel cover for Japan.
Ankyro checks each of these on every plan, so you don’t have to read the fine print.
- At least 10 million yen of medical cover
Japan’s own examples run from 7.5 to 10 million yen for 1 hospital stay and a flight home. Pick a limit above that.
- Cash-free payment
Clinics often take cash only. Check the insurer can pay the hospital, or that you can claim back fast.
- English help 24/7
Not every hospital has staff who speak English. An assistance line that can talk to the hospital for you is worth a lot.
- Ski and hiking cover
If you ski in Hokkaido or hike in the Alps, check those activities and rescue costs are covered.
Before you land
Sort these before you fly.
- Emergency number
Call 119 for an ambulance or fire. You can’t choose which hospital the ambulance takes you to.
- Carry some cash
Card payment is often only accepted at major hospitals. Clinics usually want cash.
- Mobile data
A data eSIM or a data-only tourist SIM is the easy choice for a short trip. Pocket wifi rental is common too.
- Visitor hotline
The Japan Visitor Hotline, 050-3816-2787, helps 24/7 in English, Chinese and Korean.
Common mistakes
3 we see all the time.
- 01Bringing cold or flu tablets with pseudoephedrine. They are illegal in Japan.
- 02Leaving a hospital bill unpaid. You may be refused entry next time.
- 03Buying a cheap plan with a low limit. Japan’s own examples reach 10 million yen.
Travel insurance stops when the trip ends, and most visas for living in Japan don’t accept it. See what Japan asks of residents.
Questions
People also ask.
Is travel insurance required for Japan?+
Not yet. Japan strongly advises it, and is considering making it a must for JESTA users from fiscal 2028.
How much does a hospital cost in Japan for tourists?+
Visitors pay the full bill. Japan’s own examples are 7.5 million yen for a bike crash and 10 million yen for a heart attack, with a flight home.
What happens if I can’t pay a hospital bill in Japan?+
Visitors with unpaid medical bills may be refused entry to Japan in the future.
Can I buy travel insurance after arriving in Japan?+
Yes. Japan’s tourism office says some private plans can be bought after you enter Japan, with cover up to 10 million yen.
Other trips
Going somewhere else?
Visiting Singapore? Care is excellent and expensive. Living here and going abroad? MediShield Life does not pay overseas. Here is what to check.
02Schengen visaA Schengen visa needs travel medical cover of at least 30,000 euros, valid in every Schengen country, with repatriation. Here is what passes, and what doesn’t.
03MalaysiaVisiting Malaysia? Public hospitals charge foreigners full price. Living here and going abroad? Your cover at home stays at home. Here is what to check.
04ThailandThailand doesn’t ask tourists for insurance. But hospitals want a payment guarantee before they treat you, and private care is not cheap. Here is what to know.
06USA visitorsThe US doesn’t ask visitors for insurance. But a few days in hospital can cost more than a car. Here is what care costs, and what a visitor plan must cover.
07Bali and IndonesiaIndonesia doesn’t ask tourists for insurance yet. But a broken leg in Bali can cost over 160 million rupiah, and serious cases can need a flight out. Here is what to know.
08Dubai and the UAEDubai’s law says visitors must be insured, and the 5-year tourist visa asks for proof. Care is good but private, and an unpaid bill can stop you leaving.
09VietnamVietnam doesn’t ask tourists for insurance. But private hospitals cost a lot, and a motorbike crash can stop you leaving the country. Here is what to know.
10SpainPublic care in Spain is free with an EHIC or GHIC. Private clinics, dental care and the flight home are not. Here is what the card leaves to you in Spain.
11MexicoMexico doesn’t ask tourists for insurance. Private hospitals in big cities are good, but most want payment first, and Medicare won’t pay.
12FranceCare in France is not free, even with an EHIC or GHIC. You pay upfront, claim back part, and the flight home is never covered. Here is what to check.
13ItalyThe EHIC and GHIC work in Italy’s public system, but you still pay fees, most medicines and any private doctor. Here is the Italian bill the card leaves you.
14GermanyWith an EHIC or GHIC, most care in Germany costs little. Private extras, mountain rescue and the flight home are on you. Here is what to check.
15PortugalPublic care in Portugal is mostly free with an EHIC or GHIC. Private clinics, medicines and the flight home are not. Here is what to check before you fly to Portugal.
16Costa RicaCosta Rica doesn’t ask tourists for insurance. Only first emergency care is free, private clinics want payment first, and extensions have their own rules.
17ColombiaMost tourists need no visa and no policy for Colombia. If you do need a visa, insurance is part of it. Private clinics want payment first.
18South KoreaKorea doesn’t ask tourists for insurance, and the national scheme is not for short trips. Hospitals expect you to pay on the spot, then claim.
19Australia working holidayThe 417 and 462 visas don’t make you buy health insurance. But you pay every medical bill yourself, unless your passport gets you limited Medicare. Here is who is covered and what to buy.
20New Zealand working holidayMost working holiday visas for New Zealand require medical and hospital insurance for your whole stay, and you can be asked for proof when you land. Here is who is exempt and what to buy.