You may want to go to Japan for professional or personal reasons, for an internship or a vacation! That’s why you need to think about taking out travel or expatriate health insurance for you and your family. This will help you avoid unexpected financial, health and legal risks. When choosing health insurance in Japan, pay particular attention to repatriation cover, hospitalization costs, civil liability and emergency medical expenses.
Political system: Constitutional monarchy
Capital: Tokyo
Surface area: 377,972 km²
Population: 125.1 million
Languages spoken: Japanese
Currency: Yen
Visas Japan
First of all, if you’re a French national, you don’t need a visa for a stay of less than three months. All you need is a valid passport covering the period of your intended stay. You must be able to show proof of a return or onward ticket (with visas or residence permits for the return or onward country, if required).
French Embassy in Tokyo
11/44 Chome Minami Azabu – Minato-Ku Tokyo 106
Tel: 81 542 088 00
Fax: 81 5423 088 47
Embassy of Japan in Paris
7, avenue Hoche – 75008 Paris
Tél: 01.48.88.62.00
Fax : 01.42.27.50.81
E-mail : info-fr@amb-japon.fr
Vaccines and Safety in Japan
Vaccination
At present, Japan does not impose any compulsory vaccinations for incoming travelers, except in special cases linked to global epidemics (such as the COVID-19 pandemic).
Here are the recommended vaccines:
- Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (DTP): These vaccines are often administered as a single shot. It’s a good idea to make sure your vaccinations are up to date.
- Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR): As these diseases are present worldwide, it is advisable to have received this vaccination.
- Flu : Recommended if you travel during flu season (November to March).
- Hepatitis A : Recommended for those planning to stay in rural areas or eat in uncontrolled establishments.
- Hepatitis B: Recommended for long stays, especially for those who may have sexual contact with local residents or require medical attention.
- Japanese encephalitis: Recommended if you plan to stay in rural areas for more than a month, especially during mosquito season (May to October).
- Rabies : Recommended for travelers who may come into contact with wild animals or in remote areas.
Health insurance in Japan
Why take out health insurance in Japan when traveling or living there? Quite simply because healthcare costs can quickly reach very high levels abroad. In addition, health insurance is compulsory in Japan so that public or private institutions can take care of you. Repatriation cover is also an essential criterion. In the event of a serious accident, medical repatriation to the nearest medical center or to the country of residence may be necessary. Depending on where you are at the time of the accident, and on the medical prognosis, it may be necessary to charter a helicopter or medical aircraft.
Mondassur can help you choose your health insurance in Japan by helping you compare the different offers on the market. Depending on your profile, we can also offer you different insurance packages. These include travel insurance, international student insurance and expatriate insurance.
