Which Japan TravelCare plan should you choose? A review of 5 essential cover points

For many Hong Kong people, travelling to Japan has become like “going back home”, so it is not unusual to visit several times a year. However, when purchasing TravelCare, many people compare prices first, but when something actually goes wrong, the real issue is often not whether they have bought cover, but whether their policy covers what they need.

In particular, trips to Japan in recent years have gone far beyond shopping, hot springs and viewing cherry blossoms. Skiing, self-drive holidays, climbing Mount Fuji, running marathons and even activities such as skydiving and paragliding are becoming increasingly popular. In addition, Japan has seen occasional outbreaks of infections such as influenza and Norovirus in recent years, making it more common than expected to fall ill suddenly while travelling.

This time, 10Life has summarised the key TravelCare cover points to look out for when travelling to Japan, as well as common questions about skiing, self-drive holidays, high-risk activities and earthquakes, making it easier for everyone to choose suitable cover before setting off. 

When comparing Japan TravelCare, many people look at the price first, but the coverage provided is often more important. Medical expenses in Japan are not inexpensive, and different ways of travelling may also affect the cover required.

Generally, you should first consider the following:

• Medical expenses cover  
• Personal Accident Benefit  
• Baggage and personal belongings cover  
• Trip cancellation and delay cover  
• Emergency assistance services  

TravelCare may seem straightforward, but many claims disputes actually arise from overlooking details that are easily missed.

For many people buying TravelCare, the main concerns are flight delays or lost luggage. In reality, however, one of the situations in which travel insurance is most commonly needed is falling ill.

In recent years, cases of influenza, norovirus and gastroenteritis have occurred in Japan from time to time. Coupled with the cold winter weather, packed itineraries and changes in eating habits, many travellers have experienced problems such as fever, gastrointestinal discomfort and dehydration.

Even for something as simple as a common cold or acute gastroenteritis, medical expenses in Japan may not be inexpensive. The costs of outpatient treatment, emergency care and even hospitalisation can easily amount to thousands or tens of thousands of Hong Kong dollars.

Therefore, when comparing TravelCare plans, it is advisable not to compare premiums alone, but also to consider:

• Whether the medical cover is sufficient  
• Whether outpatient and hospitalisation cover is included  
• Whether cover for follow-up consultations in Hong Kong is included  
• Whether 24-hour overseas assistance is provided  

When travelling, the biggest concern is not falling ill, but discovering that you have insufficient cover when you are in an unfamiliar foreign country.

To give an example from my own experience, I went to Fukuoka, Japan last year for a 4-day, 3-night trip. After several days of indulging in food and drink, I began experiencing a sore throat on the third day, so I saw a doctor locally. I initially thought it was just a minor ailment, but unexpectedly, I started feeling increasingly unwell the day before I was due to return to Hong Kong. On the second day after returning to Hong Kong, I developed severe ear pain. It was only after seeking medical attention that I discovered the bacterial infection had spread to my ear, causing otitis media.

I subsequently saw a specialist three times in total, and it took around two months for my ear to recover fully. Overall, my medical expenses came to nearly HK$10,000. However, as I had fallen ill in Japan during the trip and had already purchased TravelCare, all the related medical expenses and follow-up treatment costs after returning to Hong Kong were eventually reimbursed in full, saving me a considerable amount.  

Skiing in Hokkaido is a popular winter trip for many Hong Kong residents, but even if a policy states that it covers high-risk activities, this does not mean that all skiing situations are covered.

Many TravelCare policies only cover activities within designated areas of ski resorts. If you ski outside the ski resort (off-piste), or take part in competitions or professional activities, you may not be covered.

In addition, many policies also impose altitude limits, generally at around 5,000 metres. Therefore, if your itinerary involves skiing, besides checking whether it includes “high-risk activity cover”, it is also advisable to read the policy terms carefully. 

Further reading: 【Skiing TravelCare】Prone to injury while skiing? How do you make an insurance Claim? (Includes an exclusive travel insurance rating)

In recent years, many travellers have experienced activities such as skydiving, paragliding, bungee jumping and diving in Hokkaido or rural areas. However, high-altitude activities have always been an area that insurance companies handle with particular caution.

Some Hong Kong TravelCare plans only provide cover if specific conditions are met, such as:

• the activity is recreational or undertaken as a hobby  
• it is arranged by a qualified operator  
• it is led by a licensed instructor  
• specified safety requirements are met  

If the activity is professional, competitive or exceeds the specified altitude limit, it may be classified as an excluded activity.

Activities such as marathons, triathlons and cycling races

In recent years, many Hong Kong travellers have flown to Japan specifically to participate in events such as the Tokyo Marathon. Many insurance companies cover amateur sports, but this is usually subject to the activity being non-professional, non-occupational and non-elite competitive in nature.

In other words, participation in an amateur category may be covered, while professional-level events may not be included. If you plan to participate in a professional marathon, you will need to purchase marathon-related insurance.

Mount Fuji climbs, rock climbing and challenging off-road activities

Mount Fuji has become a popular item on many travellers’ “bucket list” in recent years. As Mount Fuji is approximately 3,776 metres above sea level, generally below the 5,000-metre limit commonly found in many policies, ordinary mountain-climbing activities may usually be covered.

However, if the activity involves:

• crampons  
• ropes  
• technical rock climbing  
• challenging off-road routes  

additional cover may be required, and you may even need to purchase mountaineering insurance in Japan.  

Another common concern when travelling to Japan is earthquakes. Whenever a major earthquake occurs in Japan, many travellers are most concerned about the following: Can booked flights and hotels be cancelled? Will TravelCare provide compensation?

Generally speaking, most TravelCare policies cover injuries, medical expenses or unforeseen incidents caused by earthquakes during the trip.

However, when it comes to trip cancellation, the key consideration is usually not whether an earthquake has occurred, but whether the event is already considered a “Known Risk”. If the incident had already been announced, a travel advisory had already been issued, or it was already known that the destination had been affected before the insurance was purchased, the resulting losses may not be covered.

Therefore, if your travel plans have been confirmed, it is generally advisable to purchase insurance as early as possible.

Further reading: 【Earthquake TravelCare】Does travel insurance cover earthquakes when travelling to Japan? Timing of purchase + claims guide 

Self-drive holidays in areas such as Hokkaido and Okinawa are very popular. However, many travellers assume that purchasing TravelCare means all rental car risks are covered, but this is not necessarily the case.

Car rental in Japan generally includes basic motor insurance, but in the event of an accident, travellers may still need to pay an “Excess” and other additional fees, such as CDW, SCDW or NOC (Non-Operation Compensation).

Most TravelCare policies in Hong Kong mainly cover the rental car excess, namely the portion that travellers still have to pay themselves after the rental company’s insurance takes effect, rather than directly replacing motor insurance.

Therefore, before departure, we recommend checking the following at the same time:

• What cover is included by the car rental company  
• Whether CDW／SCDW or NOC waivers can be purchased  
• Whether your TravelCare includes rental car excess cover  
• Avoid discovering only after an accident that you thought you were “fully covered”, when there are actually still gaps in cover.

Further reading: 【Japan Self-Drive Holiday Guide 2026】12 key points for Hong Kong people driving in Japan  

Many people assume that as long as their stay is short, such as an exchange programme, study tour or Working Holiday of less than three months, they can simply purchase standard TravelCare. However, TravelCare typically only covers trips undertaken for the sole purpose of tourism, and generally does not cover study tours or working holidays.

If your purpose of going to Japan involves an exchange programme, studying or Working Holiday, the scope of cover may differ even if your stay is short.

For example, standard TravelCare may not include:

• Interruption of tuition
• Course cancellation
• Issues with long-term accommodation arrangements
• Injuries sustained during work
• Arrangements for visits from family and friends

If you are undertaking long-term study abroad, a study tour or Working Holiday, it is recommended that you choose a relevant insurance plan, such as “Overseas Study Insurance” or “Working Holiday Insurance”.

When comparing Japan TravelCare policies, the most common mistake is to look only at the price. This is particularly important for skiing, self-drive holidays, hiking and high-risk activities, as different companies may have significant differences in their definitions of high-risk activities, excesses and scope of cover. Saving a few dozen dollars on the premium may not make much difference; what really matters is whether the cover is suitable for your way of travelling.

To learn more about TravelCare, visit 10Life’s TravelCare comparison, which uses an actuarial rating system to help you choose the insurance product that best suits your needs.  

When is the best time to buy Japan TravelCare?

It is generally advisable to take out insurance as soon as your flights and hotel have been confirmed. This is because certain benefits, such as trip cancellation cover, are only valid if the policy is purchased before the incident occurs. If you wait until an earthquake, typhoon or travel warning has emerged before buying insurance, it may be regarded as a “known risk”.

How many trips to Japan do you need to take in a year for annual travel insurance to be suitable?

If you only travel once or twice a year, single-trip travel insurance is generally sufficient; however, if you travel abroad more than six times a year, Annual Trip Travel Insurance may be more cost-effective.

As earthquakes occur frequently in Japan, is it already considered a “known risk”?  

Insurance companies generally do not automatically regard a destination as a “known risk” simply because it is located in an earthquake zone. The key consideration is usually whether a specific incident has already occurred and whether the event has affected travel arrangements.

In other words, the fact that Japan is prone to earthquakes does not necessarily mean that you will not be covered; what usually affects cover is whether the earthquake has already occurred, been widely reported, or even led to a travel warning being issued. This is because TravelCare primarily covers unforeseen events, rather than risks that have already materialised.  

This English version of this article has been generated by machine translation powered by AI. It is provided solely for reference purposes. In the event of any discrepancy or inconsistency between this translation and the original Chinese version, the Chinese version shall prevail.