Travel insurance and other helpful tips
Let’s face it, getting sick or injured is never fun, especially while traveling in a country where the language and the system are unfamiliar. Although, Japan is one of the safest countries to visit, according to the Japan Tourism Agency, approximately 5% of all foreign travelers get ill or injured during travel. Furthermore, of those who get sick, 30% of them require medical attention. So, here are some valuable tips and information to be mindful of before traveling to Japan to safeguard your health, money, and peace of mind.
Quick Links
- You Are in Good Hands: Quality Healthcare in Japan
- Travel Medical Insurance: Purchase before arriving vs after
- Recomeneded Travel App
- How to find hospitals and clinics with English speaking staff
- Useful Contact Information
- Tips for solo female travelers
- Consider joining a guided tour
You are in Good Hands: Quality of Healthcare
If you wonder about the quality, cleanliness, and effectiveness of medical facilities of hospitals and clinics in Japan, you are in good hands. According to the World Health Organization, Japan ranks 10th place on the performance of its health care system in the world with a good ratio of doctors to population (3 per 1000 people, which is similar to Canada and the UK). Japan also has the longest life expectancy in the world, which suggests its high quality of healthcare system, according to the National Institute of Medicine. Japan has high standard care available through universal coverage for its citizens. Although travelers are entitled to the same quality care, unfortunately, the universal coverage does not apply to the travelers and are asked to pay the whole sum, which can be expensive. The best way travelers can benefit from cost-effective, high-quality care is to have travel medical insurance.
So, now that the good quality healthcare system puts you at ease, let’s talk about travel insurance and other helpful tools to get the care you need.
Travel Medical Insurance: Purchase before arriving vs after
Travel insurance protects while traveling, including lost luggage, missed flights, tour costs, and medical care when needed. There are many different options with different coverages which you can purchase before you leave on your trip. You may find travel insurance through independent insurance companies, an organization like AAA, or even through your credit card company.
However, travel insurance can be costly and may not be for everyone. Although travel insurance is highly recommended, for those, the option of purchasing medical insurance in Japan best fits their budgets. The basic medical insurance for travelers is approximate $8-10/per day depending on the type of activities and pre-existing medical conditions and can be bought once in Japan.
Please note that medical insurance does not cover other travel-related issues such as lost luggage, missed flights, and other more likely incidents during transit.
To purchase travel medical insurance in Japan, visit the Japan National Travel Organization site here.
Reccomened Travel App
Download The Japan Official Travel App from Japan National Travel Organization as it has valuable tips and information on finding routes, disaster alerts, medical needs, etc.
How to find hospitals and clinics
Despite all your effort in avoiding injuries and illness, sometimes unfortunate things happen, and you may need medical assistance. Below is a link to hospitals and clinics with foreign language services. Enter your location to find out the nearest medical facility that offers foreign language services.
https://www.jnto.go.jp/emergency/eng/mi_guide.html
Useful contact information
911 for Medical Emergencies/Fire (Ambulance services in Japan are free)
110 for police
Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) operates a visitor hotline 24 hours, 365 days a year. Call for tourist information or assistance in the case of accidents, illness, natural disaster, and emergencies.
Japan Visitor Hotline: 050-3816-2787
Service Hours: 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
Languages Available: English, Chinese, Korean, Japanese
Tips for solo female travelers
Click on the link below to learn how to stay safe and maximize travel if you are a solo female traveler in Japan.
Consider Joining a Guided Tour
Even with travel insurance, navigating the Japanese medical system or asking for help can be challenging. Consider joining guided tours with Tanpopo Journey and travel with a Japanese-speaking guide so when you need assistance, they can assist you in making arrangements, so you save time, money, and peace of mind.
