VOL.210 DECEMBER 2025
SCHOOLS IN JAPAN
[Policy-Related News] Ensuring safety and peace of mind for all visitors traveling to Japan
From Mt. Fuji to Tokyo Skytree, Japan is a country full of appealing sightseeing attractions, not to mention the beauty of its natural scenery throughout all four seasons and its delicious and healthy cuisine. As a tourist destination, it is popular among visitors from around the world. This article provides useful information for international visitors to Japan, aiming to ensure they can enjoy trips with peace of mind.
Now that the COVID-19 pandemic that swept the world in the early 2020s has subsided, the tourism industry is once again booming. In 2024, Japan recorded a record high of around 36.9 million visitor arrivals.1 While the number of international visitors enjoying various sightseeing experiences in Japan is increasing, there are increasing risks that they may encounter unexpected problems, such as sudden injuries or illnesses, natural disasters, or related disruptions to public transportation services. The Government of Japan is therefore providing various information for international visitors to help them enjoy their travels in Japan safely and encourages them to be prepared for potential problems.
Preparing for unexpected injuries or illnesses occurring during trips
A major concern for travelers is the risk of accidents, injuries and illnesses. There is a possibility of falling ill or unexpected injuries due to unfamiliar climates and environments. It is important to be aware that public health insurance and medical insurance from the visitor’s own country does not cover costs when attending a Japanese hospital. If a patient’s treatment is not covered by insurance, they have to pay in full costs incurred from treatment, which can amount to a substantial sum even in the case of minor injuries. Additionally, if medical expenses go unpaid, these visitors may be denied to enter into Japan in the future.
Visitors are recommended to take out private travel insurance that includes medical coverage as part of their preparations for travel. This kind of insurance often includes services such as interpretation and assistance in finding or arranging medical services, supporting a safe and secure stay in Japan.2 There are also insurance plans that can be enrolled online immediately even after entering Japan; visitors are strongly recommended to purchase private travel insurance. For more details about insurance available after arriving in Japan, please refer to the “JAPAN: the Official Guide” page on the website of Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO).
If visitors actually need to receive treatment in Japan due to illness or injury, they are invited to make use of the “For safe travels in Japan - Guide for when you are feeling ill” page on the JNTO website, where they can search for medical institutions offering foreign language support.
>Preparing for natural disasters
Japan is a disaster prone country, and visitors to the country may encounter earthquakes, tsunamis or torrential rains during their trip. Such disasters can also cause disruptions to public transportation services or closures of sightseeing spots.
The “Safety tips” app, supervised by the Japan Tourism Agency, allows users to receive earthquake early warnings, tsunami warnings, emergency warnings and other information via push notifications, in 15 languages.3 It also provides links to other websites where users can obtain more information in case of a disaster, including flowcharts showing what actions visitors should take, and communication cards in several languages. For more details about the “Safety tips” app, please refer to Fig. 1 and the JNTO website (English, Korean and Chinese (Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese) only).
Figure 1. Overview of Application for Information Provision in Time of Disaster “Safety tips“
- 1. Based on “Trends in Visitor Arrivals to Japan,” part of Japan Tourism Statistics, JNTO.
- 2. As the services that can be used will vary depending on the insurance company and the plan in question, users are recommended to confirm the precautionary notes provided for each insurance plan before applying to enroll.
- 3. Supported in Japanese, Burmese, Chinese (simplified/traditional), English, Indonesian, Khmer, Korean, Mongolian, Nepali, Portuguese, Spanish, Tagalog, Thai, Vietnamese.
Photo: PIXTA
