The number of cases of foreigners visiting Japan on vacation and returning to their home countries without paying medical expenses, despite having visited a hospital in Japan due to illness or injury, is increasing and becoming a problem in Japan.

According to the “Survey on Medical Treatment of Foreign Visitors to Japan” conducted by the Japan Tourism Agency from October 2023 to February 2024, approximately 4% of foreign visitors to Japan became ill or injured during their trip to Japan, and 60% of them had cold or fever symptoms.
About 73% responded that they had purchased travel insurance for their trip to Japan.

On the other hand, many of those who had not yet subscribed gave reasons for not subscribing, such as “was not aware of it” or “did not feel the need for it,” while other reasons included “short length of stay” and “being confident of my physical strength.
However, regardless of the length of stay or one’s physical fitness, it is possible to encounter a situation that requires a visit to a hospital, such as sudden illness or injury due to an accident.

You might have to pay a lot of money for the hospital.

If you are injured or become ill while traveling and receive treatment at a Japanese hospital, you will incur expensive medical expenses. If you visit a hospital without travel insurance, you may be charged several hundred thousand to several million yen for treatment.
In the past, there have been cases in which a traveler was so badly injured or seriously ill that he or she needed to be accompanied by a doctor when returning to Japan, and the total cost, including medical expenses, was close to 10 million yen.

If a foreign traveler returns to Japan without paying the medical expenses, the hospital will be responsible for the unpaid medical costs.
If such nonpayment continues to accumulate in the future, it could lead to hospital bankruptcy, and there is a risk of backlash from the Japanese people.

Travel insurance can be purchased after entry into Japan.

The Japanese government is promoting the purchase of travel insurance for foreigners visiting Japan.
Normally, this insurance is purchased in the home country before departure, but in fact, private Japanese insurance companies sell “travel insurance for foreigners visiting Japan” that foreigners can purchase after arriving in Japan, and the Japanese government recommends this.

“TOKIO OMOTENASHI POLICY” offered by Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd. in Japan allows foreigners to purchase insurance within 5 days of their arrival in Japan.
The policy covers up to 10 million yen for medical and transportation expenses, and includes various services such as interpretation service and negotiation of cashless response for medical expenses.
The premium for a 7-day plan is 2,960 yen.

TOKIO OMOTENASHI POLICY

It is important to have travel insurance in case of sudden illness or injury while traveling in Japan.