A Simple Guide to Home Insurance in Japan

Poste date: Sunday, August 25, 2024

Living in Japan as a foreigner, you may face challenges due to culture shock, language barriers and just plain cross-cultural misunderstanding. But beyond these obvious daily experiences, foreign residents may also have to overcome hurdles in times of stress or disaster. When you own or rent a property in Japan and something goes wrong, what do you do? While the best plan is to prepare ahead with relevant insurance as you would in your own country, finding and buying home insurance in Japan can be tough even if you speak Japanese well. Fortunately, we’re here to help.

In addition to explaining the basic coverage and cost of a typical Japan insurance policy for home or rental, this handy guide also includes a list of English-speaking insurance agencies in Tokyo to help you make the best decisions possible during your stay.

Home Insurance in Japan: The Basics

Fire Insurance

When you rent or own a home or business in Japan you need fire insurance. In fact many apartments require fire insurance in their leasing contract.

Simply stated, fire insurance covers your prized possessions in the case of damage by fire, smoke etc. But the great news is that your plan will also usually cover other damages, caused by events as common as the following:

  • When a wayward toddler breaks your computer or the antique pottery you’ve collected in your travels.
  • When your washing machine gets overexcited and overflows, soaking your floor and the neighbors room downstairs.
  • When you are practicing to be the next David Beckham and your soccer ball takes a dramatic turn, hitting and injuring someone nearby.

How much does fire insurance cost?

Average fire insurance in Japan costs between ¥20,000 - ¥40,000 for 2 years, with the price being a bit higher depending on what other options you choose to add. Of course, you should check with your insurance company both for the exact prices and possible additions to your plan.

What does it cover?

Fire insurance coverage mainly includes these 3 categories:

Home Contents

- Designed to keep your possessions safe. The cost of your policy will be decided based on your valuables. This figure is set in broad groupings with coverage limits and not as an itemized plan more commonly available in other countries

Tenant Liability

- This covers accidents causing damage inside the home or even to your neighbor’s units. Things like an overflowing bathtub, a gas fire when someone forgets that frypan full of potatoes on the stove or other mishaps.

Personal Liability

- This very helpful part of Japan insurance plan covers you in case someone’s property is damaged or they become injured either due to an accident involving you or through negligence on your part. For example, if you are in a bike accident and run into someone on the street, this part of your insurance plan would cover medical costs and property damages for the other person involved.

Please note that some companies provide insurance for their international employees living in Japan on temporary contracts. You should confirm if this is the case for you and ask for details of what is included in your coverage. You might still want to add a Japanese fire insurance policy to make sure you are covered for household emergencies and accidents.

Although it may seem as if earthquakes should be part of this coverage, in reality regular fire insurance in Japan does not cover natural disasters. Fortunately there is an additional insurance option, appropriately called earthquake insurance, that is there to help in those dangerous situations.

Earthquake Insurance

As you probably already know, living in Japan means that it is necessary to prepare for earthquakes. However, Japan insurance policies dictate that fire insurance does not cover damage caused by earthquakes, including fire-related damage that may spread as a result of one. Therefore it is essential to add additional earthquake insurance to your policy. Be aware that you can only get this coverage as an add-on, as it is not sold as a stand alone product. Japan Earthquake Insurance Guide: A Simple Q&A

How much does earthquake insurance cost?

According to Japan’s Ministry of finance, earthquake insurance policy fees are different in each prefecture with the minimum cost being around 6500 yen and the maximum around 32,600 yen per year. Please see their website for further details.

Ministry of Finance Japan: Outline of Japan’s Earthquake Insurance System

What does it cover?

Earthquake insurance is exclusively for earthquake disasters. It covers loss of your personal items (including household goods) as well as property damage caused by fire, destruction, landslides, and rubble or water damage, assuming that all of the former happened as a result of earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and tsunami.

Please note that your add-on earthquake coverage will not cover precious metals, jewels and antiques with values exceeding 300,000 yen per item or per set, currency, securities, deposits and savings certificates, revenue stamps, postage stamps, or automobiles.

 

Getting your Japan Insurance Policy Needs Met

When either renting or owning property in Japan, choosing, purchasing and maintaining insurance to help cover the costs of damage, loss, liability and earthquake and disaster damage is crucial for your safety and peace of mind.

While we understand that some may choose coverage with firms outside Japan, we would like to help you make the best policy choices for you and your family in the country you will be calling home for the next few months or years.

To that end, we have compiled a short list of English-speaking insurance companies that can give overall policy advice, provide an estimate and help you file all the necessary documentation. They will give you a clear understanding of your policy and all the costs involved so that you can feel comfortable and confident in your choice of insurance coverage.

English Speaking Home Insurance Companies in Tokyo

TRINITY Inc.

Fire Insurance, property and casualty insurance, Life Insurance, Automobile insurance. We provide foreigners residing in Japan with various insurance products. Difficult product explanation and the complicated procedures are all available in English.

http://www.japaninsurance.net/about_us.html

TEL: 0120-467-873


Chubb Insurance

https://www.chubb.com/jp-en/

TEL: 03-6364-7000


 

Located in the site of Shinagawa Prince Hotel which also has amusement facilities including theater, aquarium, and tennis courts. High-grade reception service and home security service.

JPY 430,000 - 470,000/month

Ebisu and Hiroo, the popular area as elegant and celebrity-like, but many restaurants, convenience stores and restaurants are open late. They are making your Tokyo life like an easy place to live. The rooms are fully furnished and come with high quality furniture and appliances for your immediate living. Internet and utilities are included in the rent. Smart TVs, premium wireless speakers and spacious beds are also included.

JPY 364,000/month

Gotanda Sta. is in a 3 min. walk. It is situated in a very convenient location, next to TSUTAYA. The Meguro River is very near by. It has the luxurious entrance as well as functional in-house facilities. The units on higher floors get an excellent view.

JPY 200,000/month

Exterior of First Real Tower Shinjuku
Sale Property tag

Located an 8-min walk from Shinjuku Station is a large-scale tower apartment which stands along Otakibashi-dori Street and overlooks the hustle and bustle of the downtown Shinjuku. It comes with Sky Lounge on the top floor, concierge service, and various shared facilities such as meeting room, music room, fitness gym, laundromat, and public bath with a spacious changing area and a sauna room (some are pay facilities). Double security system by vein authentication. Having a pet animal and playing musical instruments are allowed (need to follow the detailed rules).

JPY 179,800,000

Exterior of Cross Air Tower
Sale Property tag

This super-high-rise tower apartment with 42 floors above ground and a total of 689 units was built in January 2013 in the large-scale redevelopment area of Ohashi, Meguro-ku, which is a landmark tower in Ikejiri-Ohashi area. The view lounge on the 39th floor offers panoramic views of Central Tokyo. There is a supermarket on the 2nd floor, a party room on the 6th floor, a municipal library and a municipal community center on the 9th floor, and the air gardens on the 3rd and 9th floor are directly connected to the aerial park on the rooftop of Ohashi Junction. Luxurious shared facilities and services include a grand lobby with over 7m high open ceiling space, hotel-like shared spaces, a fitness gym, a guest room, a party room, and concierge services. The neighboring area is dotted with commercial facilities and rich nature such as along Meguro River and in Saigoyama Park, so you can enjoy a nice and rich urban life.

JPY 218,000,000 - 238,000,000

Exterior of Park Court Aoyama The Tower
Sale Property tag

Located in Minami-Aoyama 2-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Park Court Aoyama the Tower, formerly sold by Mitsui Fudosan Residential and Iconique Special Purpose Company and constructed by Obayashi Corporation, was completed in March 2018. It is a large-scale tower condominium with a total of 163 units and 26 floors above ground and one basement floor. The stylish and modern form with graceful curves is eye-catching. Park Court Aoyama the Tower offers a wide range of common facilities and amenities, including an infinity pool, jet bath, fitness gym, sky lounge, club lounge, guest rooms, etc. A private garden surrounded by greenery on the second floor and a concierge who will support your comfortable living and provide attentive services. The 24-hour manned management system and auto-lock system at the entrance linked to the intercom with TV monitor support the security of your residence. The nearest station to Park Court Aoyama The Tower is Aoyama-itchome Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line. It is a 3-minute walk from the station to the apartment. Aoyama-itchome Station on the Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line and Toei Oedo Line is also a 3-minute walk away, and Nogizaka Station on the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line is a 7-minute walk away, providing convenient access to transportation. In preparation for disasters The latest technology employed for maximum safety of the building. Emergency generators placed available for 72hours Stockpile warehouse place on all the floors for storage of disaster stockpile.

JPY 598,000,000