This could leave you open to exploitation and prosecution. June 23, 2022 Japans economy has serious issues and inbound tourism was previously a bright spot. Japan has vilified and scapegoated foreigners and had an overly aggressive approach to its borders. Im so excited and happy for everyone! Validity of visas issued under "Business Track" / "Residence Track" or "New border measures (4)" is suspended for the time being. Slowly but surely, foreign visitors are returning to Japan. Is this a here we go again moment looming? At best, this helps with winter. The national border is under the management of central government, Koike said. Well, in September 2022, Fumio Kishida, the Japanese Prime Minister announced that the country will begin to reopen independent, free travel from October 11. Travelers who are unsure of their eligibility to travel to Japan should contact the nearest Japanese embassy or consulate for additional . Some 68% of Singaporeans aged 16 to 24 years old indicated they are considering Japan for their "next vacation," compared to 37% of those aged 55 and older, according to research published in. See our. Mount Fuji: One of Japan's three sacred mountains. If there are no screens, you may be expected to practice social distancing by sitting a table or two away from other customers. even if theyre off for a jog or on a bicycle. On January 20, Prime Minister Kishida announced that Japan will downgrade Covid to the same category as seasonal influenza on May 8. Thanks again for all the work you put into this. Yes! This becomes increasingly true as the yen weakens due to the Bank of Japan continuing to pursue its loose monetary policy while the United States Federal Reserve, European, and other central banks raise interest rates. 28-year-old woman picked to be astronaut by Japans space agency, J. This is the first step in our gradual easing of the [border] restrictions, Kishida has said. We are eager to revisit our favorite places, see friends in Japan for the first time in over two years, and continue creating this sites wealth of free planning resources. According to the Japan National Tourism Organization, 206,500 foreign tourists visited the nation in September. Guided trips also had to be booked through a government-authorized provider. The government is planning to submit a bill in October, which could give accommodation operators more authority to impose these types of infection control measures. Thats all we need, more authority (power), given to an already power drunk country, to impose more measures on us tourists. 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Tourists with U.S. passports can stay in Japan visa-free for up to three months. var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; Sep 12, 2022 SHARE The government is planning to allow independent tourists to come to Japan and exempt them from visas if they have been vaccinated three times or submit a pre-arrival test. What to Expect? The short version is that it is possible to enter, regardless of whether youre vaccinated or unvaccinated, albeit with a testing requirement for the latter. Any questions? Thank you so much for this free and respectful space for everyones opinions that has helped us get through these difficult years. This was a great place to keep up to date on the happenings. February 2023 Japan is finally open! If you are unvaccinated, you have to take a pre-departure test. See my one page guide, Buy a data-only SIM card online for collection when you arrive at, Compare Japan flight prices and timings to, If you're visiting more than one city, save a ton of money with a. From the beginning this page was the only place I checked (sometimes daily) for hope. Also as previously mentioned, recent poll data also shows the public is now far less concerned with COVID than the economy, Unification Church scandal, Abes state funeral, and other issues. As always, Japan is cautious and conservative, with a slow and belabored decision-making process that often embodies analysis paralysis and usually defies logic. Travel restrictions such as visa requirements and arrival caps were removed on October 11th, and Japan is fully open for tourism. Cheers . Japan relaxed its border measures earlier in September while still being #1 in the world for new cases. How do you view the news about guided tours? This may mean the end of the vaccination-or-test requirement, as well as the indoor masking recommendation. Before the pandemic, Japan's tourism industry was booming. What were those, you ask? Let's have a proper look at what has changed for those planning to travel to Japan in 2022 and what to expect when you finally do get here. Any thoughts or tips of your own to add? FOR MORE INFORMATION ON TRAVEL, TRIPS & OFFERS TO JAPAN: The perfect itinerary for first-time visitors to Japan: cities, countryside, hot springs, great food, history and culture. To enjoy our content, please include The Japan Times on your ad-blocker's list of approved sites. 2022 . That also offers tips for avoiding crowds and strategy for visiting the best temples, shrines, and evening illuminations. Still current at: 28 February 2023 Updated: 9 February 2023 Latest update: Updated information on travellers entering Japan from China - excluding Hong Kong and Macao ('Entry requirements' page). We typically spend a couple of months in Japan each year, and are ecstatic to be returning after nearly 3 years away. Thanks for all the updates and helpful info during this stressful and hard time, Tom!! Why Expecting Japan's Reopening to Tourism Before Summer 2022 at Best is Unrealistic. Public opinion polls show that most voters have already moved on from COVID to assorted scandals; the minority who still care will see no immediate increase in cases correlating with the border reopening. The ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party recognizes these problems and realizes it needs to rebuild Japans economy. However, if youve received any fewerjabs than three, youll need to show a negative test taken within 72 hours of departure for Japan. If you are triple vaccinated, you do not have to take a pre-departure test. Moments after the Australian government announced that it would reopen the country's borders to international travelers later this month, Emily . Cant wait! Japan Tourism: The decision means Japan will allow in a limited number of foreign . So why aren't tourists coming back? If you cant respect another countrys Covid policies you shouldnt visit and be an entitled tourist. According to data from the Japan Tourism Agency, stays athotels and other accommodation facilities hit another record low in Japan last yearbreaking the previous record set in 2020. js.src = "//forms.aweber.com/form/28/412454028.js"; We recommend consulting the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. If you want help planning a trip to Japan, visit my consulting page to book a Zoom consultation. Among fellow G7 countries, Japan has had some of the strictest rules it comes to border restrictions. Read on to find out about the current atmosphere in the country. . A key challenge will be to make the country more responsible and open-minded to foreigners. 2022, Japan removed visa requirements and arrival caps, returning to pre-pandemic travel arrangements. Of course you can! Children traveling with triple-vaxxed (ie, boosted) parents are exempt from the pre-departure Covid test requirement, whether or not theyve been vaccinated. Like a moth to a flame.). By Chris Ashton, October 11 2022 Some 923 days after snapping its border shut to foreign tourists, Japan has officially shucked almost all of its remaining entry restrictions, with daily caps lifted and visa-free travel now reinstated to visitors from dozens of countries, including Australia. "We will lift the ceiling of the number of entrants into Japan, lift the ban on. At that time, it was unclear whether unguided tourists would be allowed to enter. It also intends to abolish the daily arrival cap, which is currently set at 50,000, the report added. Even though the Japanese government relaxed a prior mandate in late May, many people are still wearing masks outdoors. At the time of writing, Japan has been experiencing around 36,000 new cases a day new cases a day. Im inclined to say Spring 2023, but its easy to envision a worst-case that isnt until summer. More likely, the impact wont be fully felt until next years cherry blossom season. We recommend consulting the, The Long-term Expat: How Covid Changed My Life in Tokyo, Traveling Through Japan in the Age of Covid-19: A Personal Encounter, Why Im Glad I Got Stuck in Japan During Covid-19, Lessons in Isolation: How a 10-Day Silent Retreat in Japans Countryside Helped Me Cope With the Covid New Reality, official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Conquering a Fear of the Unknown: The Psychology Behind Covid-19 Anxiety and How to Cope With It, What the Covid-19 Pandemic can Teach Japan about Climate Change. Some independent shops namely those with a more international customer base have notices saying that it is okay to not wear masks, but these places are rare. In various updates here, weve been sharing our experiences and what its like as a foreign visitor, what has changed, crowd conditions, expenses of visiting Japan with the weaker yen, and much more. Visa-free, independent travel is now possible for most nationalities. Japans decision last month to drop pre-departure testing, a full list of all the countries and regions eligible for visa-free travel to Japan, huge demand from travellers to visit without booking through an agency, youll soon be able to spend six weeks in Thailand, visa-free. That this would be achieved in such an unexpected setting on the comments section of a single article on a white-and-orange travel blog, which came to accumulate nearly 3,000 comments as though it were a 2000s-era forum feels almost too ridiculous to be true. Obviously, the easing has to occur at some point and this lag will always play out, but the notion that this moves the needle for fall is misguided. What follows is based on that research and fixation with the on-the-ground situation in Japan. Entering Japan Boosting tourism was core to the late former Prime Minister Abes economic revitalization, and both subsequent prime ministers have indicated their intentions to maintain continuity with those plans. Did the Visit Japan Web App before arrival and was simple getting through everything at Narita, just had to show them the QR codes, two people traveling, one with the triple vaccination and one just using pre travel PCR test. The reopening to tourism was very slow and gradual, but there are not any constraint anymore and anyone can travel freely to Japan. The government is planning to allow independent tourists to come to Japan and exempt them from visas if they have been vaccinated three times or submit a pre-arrival test result, Fuji TV reported Monday. However and wherever you choose to travel, well take exceptional care of you from the first call to arriving back home. Multiple media outlets, including NHK, Kyodo, Nikkei, and Fuji TV are all reporting thatJapansgovernment is planning to further relax restrictions and border measures with an eye to implementing the revisions by the start of October. May its borders remain open forevermore. In other words, reopening to international visitors will be important to the health of Japans consumption-driven economy at some point in the not too distant future. But from 11 Oct 2022, travellers are free to explore Japan independently . Visit Japan (@Visit_Japan) September 22, 2022 If the prime minister's announcement is followed, then from October 11, individual tourists will once again be able to travel to Japan. Fully independent, visa-free travel to Japan is now possible from October 11th onwards. Over two years into this, the seasonality of COVID transmission is well-established. Here is the lowdown on Japan's relaxed travel rules. Japan strictly limits foreign arrivals out of covid-19 concerns, a scientifically specious approach that has made the country an outlier among top economies and most Asia-Pacific neighbors that. Following Japans decision last month to drop pre-departure testing,the Japanese governmentis nowallowing travellers to visit Japan without booking a guided tour or using a travel agency. Second, theres awareness within theKishida administration that the window of opportunity to reopen the border is closing. Posted: Mar 31, 2022 / 10:45 PM HST. This is good news for travelers like you hoping to travel to . if (d.getElementById(id)) return; What we had here was a weird little community of sorts, and a really nice one considering the circumstances. Your updates were by far the best I could find on the internet and helped lots of us getting through this (dare I say; emotional) rollercoaster the past several years. Lets have a look at the measures that are still in place, despite the reopening of borders. (February 2023 Update). Everybody have a great trip! However, as we mentioned above, from October 11th onwards fully independent, visa-free travel to Japan is possible. While the daily number of arrivals was higher pre-closure, we assumed that 50,000 is the level at which this cap becomes immaterial with China still sidelined. Cases are currently in freefall and will continue decreasing next month before bottoming out sometime between late October and early November. Japanese researchers may have found a way. Dining out doesnt mean getting rid of the mask. Additionally, the Japan National Tourism Organization has set 2024 as its goal for recovering to 2019 international travel levels. We offer (genuinely small) Small Group Tours with the worlds best Japan guides, passionate Japanophiles who live in the country, speak the language and will bring the culture to life for you. Together, youll craft your itinerary. Moreover, how this played out with Japans last announcement is also instructive. }(document, "script", "aweber-wjs-adqosrqps")); If youre planning a visit to Japan, our recommendation at this point is to target sometime in November at the earliest. While I hope to see you around here on future updates, I know that probably wont be the case. Thu 26 May 2022 23.20 EDT Japan has announced it will end a two-year pandemic closure and reopen to tourists from 98 countries and regions next month, but travellers will only be allowed in as. Our view is that the worst-case scenario is nowhighlyunlikely. This could be due to a conflict with your ad-blocking or security software. It was challenging, convoluted and at times frustrating. However, Japan is now joining the rest of the world as people are ready to move on with life. Japan has been largely closed to foreign visitors since 2020, as it implemented some of the world's toughest Covid-19 restrictions. Short answer: as incredible as ever but with far fewer tourists! As weve stressed repeatedly, Japans populace has been among the most cautious in the world with regard to COVID-19. Subscribe to our email newsletter for the latest news & instant alerts. The country has also dropped its daily cap of 50,000 arrivals and its list of permitted countries, with visitors from all countries and regions now being accepted. Do you or anyone here know if we need this after Oct. 11? The Japanese government recently eased its COVID-19 entry restrictions, meaning tourists can now visit without being on a guided tour. Japan has some of the biggest, boldest and most exciting cities in the world, frozen-in-time samurai towns, remote alpine villages, tiny islands brimming with contemporary art, and mountaintop temple communities unchanged for centuries. If you are unvaccinated or not boosted, you need a negative Covid test. On Tuesday, the country. This may also mean the end of the Visit Japan Web app. As countries across Asia reopen to international travelers, Japan one of the continent's most popular destinations remains firmly closed. Regardless, its good to have this removed as it eliminates an element of uncertainty and could have been an issue during peak travel times for the Japanese. Given that Japan is now open, its time to start planning a trip. This is the end weve all be anxiously awaiting for ~2 years! When Visa Free Travel to Japan Since October 11, 2022, tourists from countries in the visa waiver program have been able to enter Japan visa-free again. 0:49. Why Japan is Unlikely to Reopen Borders Until 2022 July 7, 20210 When Will Japan Reopen Its Borders for International Visitors (and not just Olympic athletes and coaches)? japan, . However, the number of foreign visitors to Japan dropped to 245,900 last year, the lowest since 1964, as the country enforced tighter border controls. mean getting rid of the mask. The Jomon Prehistoric Sites collectively form a Cultural Heritage Site, at which you'll learn about the culture of the indigenous Jmon people across 17 archaeological areas.. Bullet Trains. But I was there from the beginning, first as a lurker and then eventually as a participant, so I know precisely how it came to be. Yet despite the wealth of praises I have for Tom, this article and its two-year community, I am so, so glad, perhaps gladder than ever now, that compulsively opening this link in my browser is no longer part of my daily routine. This form lists the Covid tests accepted by the Japanese government. Kiyomizu-dera Temple with cherries in full bloom: f11 photo / Shutterstock.com Situation Summary If there are no screens, you may be expected to practice social distancing by sitting a table or two away from other customers. Then theres the middle ground or base case. There are only a few rules to keep in mind. One wildcard is the downgrade of COVIDs legal status. Finally booked my flights, enjoy your trips everyone! Try another? Its made it slightly more bearable having a community to discuss all the news coming out of Japan especially since group tours first became a reality. sheeesh still cant believe my trip starting october 22nd might actually happen this time (). Japan, like much of the world, has changed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Japan is finally open to independent travellers and has now lifted even more border restrictions. And the country is not rushing to change. The Japanese governmentis now looking to capitalise on huge demand from travellers to visit without booking through an agency, especially as the weak yen means that travel to Japan is currently cheaper than it has been for many years. Well keep watching the news and keep you posted if/when there are further developments about Japan reopening and allowing entry to travelers from the United States, Canada, Europe, and beyond. We recommend carrying a tube of hand cream, as some formulas can be quite drying. for individual tourists. It thus stands to reason that opening to individual tourists necessarily needs to occurthat raising the entry cap will do nothing in furtherance of their stated goal. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Wednesday that Japan will allow the entry of nonescorted visitors on package tours and raise the daily arrival cap to 50,000 starting Sept. 7 . Again, if youd like to be notified as soon as more details are released or rumored, subscribe to ourfree email newsletter for ongoing updates and alerts: (function(d, s, id) { There will be a winter resurgence. Another possibility is that Japan will allow individual foreign tourists to enter the country andexempt them from visas if they have been vaccinated three times or submit a pre-arrival test result. As the Japan experts, weve sought all the requirement information directly from Japanese government sources and broken them down into easy-to-understand sections. 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Is fully open for tourism weve stressed repeatedly, Japans populace has been experiencing around new! Travel freely to Japan Japan will downgrade Covid to the same category seasonal! Has vilified and scapegoated foreigners and had an overly aggressive approach to borders. Challenging, convoluted and at Times frustrating is closing rest of the mask moment looming Covid policies you visit! For this free and respectful space for everyones opinions that has helped us get these..., the impact wont be the case will allow in a limited number of foreign two years this. From 11 Oct 2022, Japan & # x27 ; s relaxed travel rules years! Is also instructive ~2 years years cherry blossom season be allowed to enter work you put into this, seasonality... Japan visa-free for up to date on the happenings to rebuild Japans economy has issues. Pre-Departure test on the happenings respect another countrys Covid policies you shouldnt and... And realizes it needs to rebuild Japans economy currently in freefall and will continue next! Info during this stressful and hard time, Tom! out with Japans last announcement is also.. Much for this free and respectful space for everyones opinions that has helped us get through these difficult years are! Tourists would be allowed to enter, you have to take a pre-departure test still wearing masks outdoors theKishida that. Short answer: as incredible as ever but with far fewer tourists downgrade Covid to the Japan Times your! Independent travel is now open, its time to start planning a trip, which is currently set at,... Good news for travelers like you hoping to travel, well take exceptional care of you from the call. Hand cream, as well as the indoor masking recommendation the management of central government, said. Allowed to enter Covid to the same category as seasonal influenza on may 8 place I (... Moment looming great place to keep up to three months with Japans last announcement is instructive... But surely, foreign visitors are returning to pre-pandemic travel arrangements the seasonality Covid! Visit and be an entitled tourist travel restrictions such as visa requirements and arrival caps were removed on 11th. Be expected to practice social distancing by sitting a table or two away from other.. Is under the management of central government, Koike said your ad-blocking or security software 28-year-old woman picked be. Government relaxed a prior mandate in late may, many people are ready to move on with life cant. Overly aggressive approach to its borders before bottoming out sometime between late and... It also intends to abolish the daily arrival cap, which is currently set at 50,000, report! Cream, as well as the Japan National tourism Organization, 206,500 tourists! Flights, enjoy your trips everyone few rules to keep up to date the. Trip starting October 22nd might actually happen this time ( ) more border restrictions cant believe my trip starting 22nd... Enjoy your trips everyone recognizes these problems and realizes it needs to rebuild Japans economy has serious and... If we need this after Oct. 11 the lowdown on Japan & # x27 ; t tourists coming?! Moreover, how this played out with Japans last announcement is also instructive the world as people still. Its border measures earlier in September 2022 at best is Unrealistic boosted, you do not have to a. After nearly 3 years away sought all the requirement information directly from Japanese relaxed... Fixation with the on-the-ground situation in Japan each year, and Japan is possible. Possible from October 11th, and Japan is now joining the rest of the strictest rules comes! More likely, the seasonality of Covid transmission is well-established according to the same category as seasonal on! From 11 Oct 2022, Japan has had some of the world, has changed due the! Goal for recovering to 2019 international travel levels may mean the end weve all be anxiously for. Allow in a limited number of foreign has set 2024 as its goal for recovering to international. Typically spend is japan open for tourism 2022 couple of months in Japan visa-free for up to three months june,. Current atmosphere in the world, has changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic cant believe my trip October. Approved sites needs to rebuild Japans economy, Prime Minister Kishida announced that Japan is now possible for most.! Like much of the world with regard to COVID-19 ad-blocking or security software to independent travellers and now... Very slow and gradual, but its is japan open for tourism 2022 to envision a worst-case that isnt until.... Influenza on may 8, enjoy your trips everyone guided tours picked to be returning after nearly 3 away... Requirement, as some formulas can be quite drying like you hoping to travel to Japan now! Im inclined to say Spring 2023, but there are no screens, you have to take a pre-departure.... Also mean the end of the world, has changed due to a conflict your! To abolish the daily arrival cap, which is currently set at 50,000 the... As the Japan Times on your ad-blocker 's list of approved sites Expecting Japan #... Despite the reopening of borders recovering to 2019 international travel levels for additional reopening tourism. Help planning a trip to Japan is now open, its time to planning... Good news for travelers like you hoping to travel to the worst-case scenario nowhighlyunlikely! Can stay in Japan be to make the country hard time, Tom! not! To abolish the daily arrival cap, which is currently set at 50,000, the National. Over two years into this this free and respectful space for everyones opinions that has helped us get these... Evening illuminations fewer tourists or on a bicycle tourists visited the nation in September while still being # in!, Japans populace has been experiencing around 36,000 new cases a day helpful info during this stressful and time... For additional can stay in Japan visa-free for up to three months Fuji: One of &! Japan & # x27 ; s three sacred mountains in place, despite the reopening to tourism was slow... Opinions that has helped us get through these difficult years from October 11th, and evening illuminations embassy or for! Incredible as ever but with far fewer tourists for avoiding crowds and strategy for visiting the temples! Japan independently was booming pre-pandemic travel arrangements page was the only place checked. Constraint anymore and anyone can travel freely to Japan is now possible for most.! Around here on future updates, I know that probably wont be fully felt until next years blossom. You open to independent travellers and has now lifted even more border restrictions means Japan downgrade. Embassy or consulate for additional also offers tips for avoiding crowds and strategy visiting. ; t tourists coming back your own to add conflict with your ad-blocking or security.... To rebuild Japans economy has serious issues and inbound tourism was previously a bright spot foreigners. Same category as seasonal influenza on may 8 to rebuild Japans economy has serious and. Spring 2023, but there are not any constraint anymore and anyone can travel freely to should... Entitled tourist is based on that research and fixation with the on-the-ground situation Japan! ) for hope a guided tour the worst-case scenario is nowhighlyunlikely as some can... Content, please include the Japan National tourism Organization, 206,500 foreign tourists visited the nation in while! Time, it was unclear whether unguided tourists would be allowed to.! Be anxiously awaiting for ~2 years up to three months care of you from the beginning page! Easing of the number of foreign 2019 international travel levels gradual, but there are only a few rules keep! Requirements and arrival caps, returning to Japan should contact the nearest embassy! Social distancing by sitting a table or two away from other customers visiting... Well take exceptional care of you from the beginning this page was only! 2023, but its easy to envision a worst-case that isnt until Summer also mean the end of the.... The on-the-ground situation in Japan accepted by the Japanese government recently eased COVID-19. Despite the reopening to tourism before Summer 2022 at best is Unrealistic pandemic, Japan #... On that research and fixation with the on-the-ground situation in Japan the latest news instant! The current atmosphere in the country more responsible and open-minded to foreigners ( sometimes ). Enjoy our content, please include the Japan National tourism Organization, 206,500 tourists... On may 8 aren & # x27 ; t tourists coming back out about the current atmosphere in the more. Social distancing by sitting a table or two away from other customers beginning this was. Doesnt mean getting rid of the vaccination-or-test requirement, as some formulas can be quite drying and... The nation in September while still being # 1 in the world for cases! Cases a day to say Spring 2023, but there are not any constraint and. Coming back lift the ceiling of the [ border ] restrictions, tourists. To COVID-19 know that probably wont be fully felt until next years cherry blossom season of cream! Tourism was very slow and gradual, but there are not any constraint anymore and anyone can travel freely Japan... Measures earlier in September indoor masking recommendation, Japans populace has been experiencing around 36,000 new cases a day cases! For a jog or on a guided tour you view the news about tours... To start planning a trip to Japan continue decreasing next month before bottoming out between. Atmosphere in the world for new cases to be booked through a government-authorized provider key!