The Japan Times LTD. All rights reserved. If there are no screens, you may be expected to practice social distancing by sitting a table or two away from other customers. July 20, 2021. Were preserving this for posterity, but everything that follows is now (thankfully!) Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! 28-year-old woman picked to be astronaut by Japans space agency, J. This will save you significant money on accommodations, attractions, temples, groceries, transportation, and even Michelin-rated restaurants! We also recommend consulting ourUltimate Guide to KyotoandUltimate Guide to Tokyoto plan. To learn more see our FAQ, Rust belt province got old before it got rich, as much of China will. The yen has fallen to a 24-year low of 144 to the dollar, likely contributing to the sense of urgency in the aforementioned interviews. Experience the best of Tokyo, Kyoto, Hakone and Kamakura on this 9-night, low-cost Small Group Tour. As of October 11, 2022, Japan is open for tourism for independent travelers without a guide or a packaged tour. During the Bloomberg New Voices panel,Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said she would open the countrys doors tomorrow if it were her decision. Either way, thats something to continue keeping in mind. Thank you so much for this free and respectful space for everyones opinions that has helped us get through these difficult years. And indeed, there was nothing today, either, or even this year so far because at last the Japan we loved, the Japan that rejected us against sense, science and reason, has finally provided a sensible, responsible option for people like us to enter the country, which was all we ever asked for in the first place. There will be a winter resurgence. These leaks came after Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Seiji Kihara spoke on Fuji TV over the weekend and stated thatJapan will consider easing all three restrictionsthe daily arrival cap, ban on individual tourists, and visa requirements. At best, this helps with winter. Thanks Tom, and everyone! Japansreclassification of COVID-19 to Class 5 came after a panel of experts under the health ministry agreed on the plan earlier in the day. Japan is open! This is the first step in our gradual easing of the [border] restrictions, Kishida has said. What were those, you ask? From 11th October onwards, visa-free travel will resume, and all arrival caps are being removed as well. Travel agencies eye discounts for those vaccinated for COVID-19. 1. 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. 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. 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. ), While presenting the above as a cautionary tale against optimism or over reliance on logic when assessing Japans decisions, thats exactly what Im going to do. 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. Fill in your vaccination status and other details on the Visit Japan Web page to skip the airport queues and facilitate a smooth entry into Japan. There is a lot of pent up demand for travel to Japan, so plane tickets and accommodations should be a priority. Though some things feel different, this nation Ive travelled for the last two months, ing and ing about the forty-seven prefectures as I once did in the 2010s, is certainly the same marvellous place that I fell in love with so long ago. Ive missed it so much. 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 next step for Japan, I think, is Corona downgrade and mask usage. Unlike the ever-sensational, click-hungry news, it was immediately clear whether something had actually happened (and thereby I could close out of the tab without being sucked into the latest round of Corona-related doom and gloom), and unlike virtually any other Japan-centric community Id encountered so far, it was a positive and generally healthy environment with a pleasant, level-headed and responsible leader at its helm. Can you write one last update about the boarder being opened. The good news is that we now have an answer to questionsweve been asking for nearly two years! Those reading regular updates on Japans reopening are not representative of international travelers at large. Learn about the current situation, checklist for tourists, entry restrictions and safety measures before you travel. You will be free to make your own choices where masks are not advised we wouldnt recommend choosing not to wear one where they are advised. If youre planning a trip to the Japan, check outour other posts about Japanfor ideas on other things to do! Think those will stick around for several months, or are simply theater to shift public opinion? This could be due to a conflict with your ad-blocking or security software. Japan Airlines planes at Narita International Airport: EQRoy / Shutterstock.com. On September 22, 2022, however, Prime Minister Kishida finally revealed that these restrictions would be scrapped. As governor of Tokyo, that would be tomorrow.. Japan's borders could be set to reopen in March after being closed to tourists for two years. 2023 Yosemite Firefall Viewing Guide: Best Dates, Reservations Info & Face Masks in Japan: Rules v. Reality (2023), Please subscribe to our FREE email newsletter, Japan Fall Colors Forecast & Autumn Foliage Viewing Guide, Tokyo Disneyland 40th Anniversary 'Dream-Go-Round' Details, New Parade & Japan Reopening Disney Tourist Blog The KKK News. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced the news in September at a press conference. Im inclined to say Spring 2023, but its easy to envision a worst-case that isnt until summer. The definitive guide to Japans tourist reopening in 2022, However, after more than two and a half years of waiting, the country fully reopened to tourism. Thank you, for this wonderful site with its very helpful regular updates! This may mean the end of the vaccination-or-test requirement, as well as the indoor masking recommendation. This is good news for travelers like you hoping to travel to . Before heading to Japan to travel, make sure to check the most up-to-date information. For these two-plus years, weve been closely monitoring the situation in Japan, watching several hours of NHK each day and reading multiple Japanese news sources. TOKYO . In June, the country first reopened to leisure travelers from 98 countries including the U.S., but officials required a visa . Statements by politicians and medical advisors, gradual border relaxation measures, and other changes could be interpreted as Japan laying thegroundwork for a resumption of normalcy and the countrys eventual reopening. If you want a copy of thistotally freeeBook and Japan reopening updates, all you need to do issubscribe to our newsletter! We recommend checking with the facilities you want to visit before heading out. TOKYO, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Japan's government is planning to waive tourist visa requirements from some countries as part of a further easing of border controls enacted to stop the spread of COVID . If you cant respect another countrys Covid policies you shouldnt visit and be an entitled tourist. Both of these statements are reassuring given the current border closures, and indicate that Japan will unwind its travel ban in months, not years. Kiyomizu-dera Temple with cherries in full bloom: f11 photo / Shutterstock.com, Last Update: February 28, 2023 (this page will be updated as needed). If there are no screens, you may be expected to practice social distancing by sitting a table or two away from other customers. 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. Turkey's largest city, Istanbul has a number of major attractions derived from its historical status as capital of the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires.These include the Sultan Ahmed Mosque (the "Blue Mosque"), the Hagia . On January 20, Prime Minister Kishida announced that Japan will downgrade Covid to the same category as seasonal influenza on May 8. TOKYO -- Japan on Monday provided details of its full-scale tourism reopening, following Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's announcement last week. Japan open for tourism After almost two and a half years of strict Covid-19 protocol and restrictions, this is a major shift in policy. Thanks, [] to individual tourists for the duration of the festivities. The specifics are not consistent among outlets, so lets start with where theyre in agreeance. Quite simply,Japan is inflicting pain on itself by remaining closed. Thanks to so many of you regular readers and commenters who made the last couple of years easier, shared articles, optimistic/pessimistic updates, and so much more. Domestic hurdles: the possible come back of GoTo Travel and July's election. Yes, visa free tourism resumed October 11, 2022. Previously, travel requirements included booking your trip through a government-approved tour operator and also obtain a visa and ERFS certificate, but both these requirements are no longer necessary. Who knowsit still may take until early 2023 to fully downgrade the legal status of COVID. I assume well hear from AndyO soon, admitting he was wrong, like he demanded from so many of us. Guided trips also had to be booked through a government-authorized provider. On August 31, Kishida made an official announcement encompassing all of the rumored changes, including unguided tourists. Visa-free, independent travel restarted on October 11. Which brings us to a threshold issue:when will Japan reopen?This week, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is in New York to deliver an address at the U.N. General [], Your email address will not be published. Japan eased its border restrictionslast week, raising the daily arrival cap from 20,000 to 50,000 and dropping the requirement for pre-arrival PCR testing for vaccinated travelers. (Updated February 12, 2023.). I wish you all the best with your upcoming tripsthanks again for everything. I have been to Japan many times pre-covid, and I am now going again this year late October. Like a moth to a flame.). So, youll be able to have the place mostly to yourself and everything will seem positively cheap! Try another? The total of guests at hotels and inns was 315.75 million, down 4.8% from 2020 and 47% from 2019. To enter Japan tourists simply need to: Return a negative PCR test within 72 hours of departure, OR provide a valid Covid-19 certificate of having had at least 3 vaccine doses (the certificate needs to be uploaded onto Visit Japan web) Not so much in the last couple of years, as this has been reflected in policy-making. In this case, his/her screen will be Yellow, but he/she can use Fast Track.. 2022 . If this does not resolve the issue or you are unable to add the domains to your allowlist, please see this FAQ. 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. For more details, see our Japan Covid vaccination and testing page. However, as we mentioned above, from October 11th onwards fully independent, visa-free travel to Japan is possible. In our view, koyo (autumn leaves) season is a good bet, and that takes place from mid-November through December. Thanks for all the updates and helpful info during this stressful and hard time, Tom!! Then theres the middle ground or base case. And the country is not rushing to change. This may also mean the end of the Visit Japan Web app. Japan will resume accepting some foreign tourists in June at the earliest, a government source said Friday, likely reversing a ban on their entry introduced during the coronavirus pandemic. Can you really see Japan's best bits on a budget? Find inspiration for your Japan holiday plans by exploring our latest brochure. Hi Tom, even if theyre off for a jog or on a bicycle. Dining out doesnt mean getting rid of the mask. We have all the answers you need about Japan's full border opening on 11th October 2022. However, Japan remains one of the few major economies with significant restrictions on travel still in place, including a cap on visitor numbers. Thats the sharpest fall on record according to the Japan Tourism Agency. Citizens of 68 countries now get visa-free travel to Japan. And thank you for providing this space for all of us. That theres more upside than downside risk in reopening and encouraging more economic activity. It also intends to abolish the daily arrival cap, which is currently set at 50,000, the report added. Why Expecting Japan's Reopening to Tourism Before Summer 2022 at Best is Unrealistic. Coronavirus . These include: checking body temperature on arrival, social distancing when possible and regularly sanitizing hands, in addition to wearing a mask. Early detection of postpartum depression? However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name Previously, travellers were required to join a tour group to enter Japan for leisure. Kishidas government has been trying to take advantage of the weak yen and accelerate growth by attracting more foreign visitors. Finally, the worst-case scenario is that Japan instead opts to revive its Go to Travel campaign just in time for fall colors season, and uses that to buoy the tourism sector through December. We have to carry it out in the not-so-distant future, he said. Kyodo, Nikkei, and NHK are reporting that this is to be determined, with government officials still deciding whether to proceed with this plan or start with lifting the daily arrival cap. Japan is finally open to independent travellers - and has now lifted even more border restrictions Written by James Manning Wednesday 12 October 2022 For two-and-a-half years, travel to. Fortwo-and-a-half years, travel to Japan has been pretty tough. Japan is finally open to independent travellers and has now lifted even more border restrictions. One wildcard is the downgrade of COVIDs legal status. If you are triple vaccinated, you do not have to take a pre-departure test. From the early days of Covid-19, our team of Japan travel experts has been closely monitoring developments and in constant contact with our network throughout the country. This is a necessary prerequisite for further reopening and the resumption of more inbound international flights, but this alone was not an obstacle dissuading most international visitors. For more than two years, Japan's borders remained closed to tourists. Guided trips also had to be booked through a government-, , independent travel became possible, but still needed to be booked through a government-, However, as we mentioned above, from October 11, onwards fully independent, visa-free travel, Yes! Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Japan. Any thoughts or tips of your own to add? UPDATE: The Japanese government announced on May 26, 2022, that Japan will reopen for tourists visiting on packaged tours starting June 10, 2022. However, after more than two and a half years of waiting, the country fully reopened to tourism. Lets have a look at the measures that are still in place, despite the reopening of borders. While I hope to see you around here on future updates, I know that probably wont be the case. Thats a wild card that could further extend any timeline. That may soon change. Please go to the Instagram Feed settings page to create a feed. Putting aside how I obviously need to be clearing my web history more often, it all feels so surreal now that is, how religiously I checked this comments section for news on Japan not even half a year prior, a somewhat embarrassing fact that Firefox is keen to remind me of. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida reportedly plans to make a decision as early as the end of this week, according to the news outlets sources. Cases are currently in freefall and will continue decreasing next month before bottoming out sometime between late October and early November. We know there are a lot of people overseas who want to come to Japan, Kihara added. 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