Travel Insurance For Trips To Japan

Above, yours truly at the Great Buddha of Kamakura during G-TOUR in 2004.

Taking a vacation trip to Japan is down the road, just how far down the road is anyone's guess. Right now, Japan is not allowing any tourism in the country thanks to the pandemic. 

However, when it does reopen to vacation travelers, there's one thing vacationers should consider: travel insurance.

Forbes.com has posted an article on travel insurance for trips to Japan.

I purchased travel insurance for Japan only once, and that was for the 2004 G-TOUR. I've been to Japan eight times total.

When I go again, I will probably purchase travel insurance, given my, um, "advanced age".

Forbes begins their article with:

With so much to see and do, planning a trip to Japan can involve as much research, organization and attention to detail as preparing a chanoyu orchado, the country’s traditional tea ceremony. You likely will include stays in Tokyo and Kyoto to eat world-class cuisine and visit centuries-old temples and perhaps plan to experience the hot springs in Hakone and go white-water rafting on the Oboke Gorge on Shikoku Island.

Make sure to check the current visitor entry requirements for Japan so that you’re prepared for the necessary Covid testing and quarantine requirements.  Also know that buying a travel insurance plan to protect your trip investment is a smart move.

“For virtually any international destination, I would recommend purchasing a travel insurance product that includes coverage for trip cancellation, trip interruption, trip delay, medical expense, medical evacuation and baggage,” says Scott Adamski, spokesperson with AIG, which offers Travel Guard policies.

While you can buy travel insurance up to 24 hours before you leave, waiting until the last minute means you forgo important benefits.To get the most protection from a travel insurance policy, Adamski recommends you buy coverage within 15 days of the initial deposit date for the trip. That way you can get features that depend on an early purchase date. These include pre-existing medical condition waiver exclusion and “cancel for any reason” coverage.

Here’s what you should consider when buying a travel insurance policy for a trip to Japan.

To read more, go here.