Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter. 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. If you're not sure how to activate it, please refer to this site. Thats a wild card that could further extend any timeline. The U.S. Embassy strongly urges any U.S. citizens considering travel to Japan to carefully review the information available from the Government of Japan. At best, this helps with winter. If you are triple vaccinated, you do not have to take a pre-departure test. Here's a quick breakdown of the details: Only tourists on packaged tours are allowed from June 10 Entry limit updated from 10,000 to 20,000 people per day We had a nice little community here, and that was greatly appreciated. Japan, like much of the world, has changed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Either way, thats something to continue keeping in mind. Even before the pandemic, many locals preferred to travel within the country, with domestic tourism totaling $21.9 trillion yen ($167 billion) in 2019, according to government-backed Japan Tourism . Several recent updates have centered around Japans internal debate over whether tostrip COVID-19 of its special status and downgrade it to the same level as the flu in Japans infectious disease categories. Visit Japan Web App also let me pre fill out for immigration and customs, and just use the QR codes for those as well. I was there for 11 days, mostly in Tokyo, and also to the bullet train to Sanjo (near Niigata) for a couple of days, and also a day trip to Mount Fuji with a driver/guide. Contents. In Japan, customers are expected to sanitize their hands when entering shops and restaurants. I will be in Japan from the second week of Nov. No doubt I will walk past some of you on here at the customs or one of the many beautiful places in Japan . Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has offered new guidance that we're covering in Japan Reopening to Individual Tourists: FAQ, Rules & Guidelines. TOKYO Japan will open its borders to foreign tourists in June for the first time since imposing tight pandemic travel restrictions about two years ago, but only for package tours for now . 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) The ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party recognizes these problems and realizes it needs to rebuild Japans economy. 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. Its thus our view that Japan reopening in some capacity to individual tourists in October is a very realistic scenario. Fortwo-and-a-half years, travel to Japan has been pretty tough. Guidelines for tourist attractions are straightforward. Who knowsit still may take until early 2023 to fully downgrade the legal status of COVID. These are questions among those planning trips to Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and this covers the answers. We were wrongthe unguided tours offered two steps forward but one step backwards. Travel restrictions such as visa requirements and arrival caps were removed on October 11th, and Japan is fully open for tourism. These include: checking body temperature on arrival, social distancing when possible and regularly sanitizing hands, in addition to wearing a mask. Thank you, for this wonderful site with its very helpful regular updates! 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. We then take care of all the arrangements, create you a totally bespoke Info Pack detailing every aspect of your trip and offer guidance and support throughout. Its pretty clear the government is focused on moving forward. This may also mean the end of the Visit Japan Web app. We recommend checking with the facilities you want to visit before heading out. Japan's tourism industry is still waiting for the country's borders to fully reopen [File: Kentaro Takahashi/Bloomberg] (Bloomberg) When Japan implemented a blanket ban on inbound tourists in. As for why Japans border is still closed over a year after most democracies reopened, that can largely be explained by the countrys apprehensiveness of outsiders. It was, indeed, a rare bright spot in such a dark, sad time. js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; Wherever you choose! Hi Tom and THANK YOU for everything this platform had AND still has to offer! If/when theres another winter resurgence in cases, the reopening can would effectively be kicked down the road for a few more months. Most flights go to Tokyo (Narita or Haneda), but some flights also go to Kansai (Osaka, Kyoto). Both of these statements are reassuring given the current border closures, and indicate that Japan will unwind its travel ban in months, not years. Subscribers also receive a totally free copy of ourJapan on a BudgeteBook. Dont get us wrong, we love Japan (enough to dedicate 22 years of our lives to the place), and part of loving Japan is marveling at how delightfully confusing it can be at times. 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. It aint over till its over.pls see my recent post which I HOPE isnt accurate and just some fake news, but Reuters is pretty accurate. October. 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. Exercise normal precautions in Japan. 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. Here is the lowdown on Japan's relaxed travel rules. What were those, you ask? 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. Government advice is for masks to be worn on public transport and some indoor venues but, contrary to what one might expect, there has never been a mask mandate in the country. 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. On January 20, Prime Minister Kishida announced that Japan will downgrade Covid to the same category as seasonal influenza on May 8. Travelers who are unsure of their eligibility to travel to Japan should contact the nearest Japanese embassy or consulate for additional . A shopping street in Tokyo's Asakusa district Friday, June 10, 2022. There are also signs that stringent travel measures, including the border closure, are having a greater impact on Japans economy than previously believed. Not sure whether youll ever see this, but just want to let you know that I saw your comment and really appreciate you taking the time to share. 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. Japan opens up to foreign tourists after two years 27 May 2022 Coronavirus pandemic Getty Images By Nadeem Shad BBC News After being closed to tourists for two years, Japan is opening its. (It took a few more days for the guidelines to be released, and the clarifying FAQ isstillbeing updated. And the country is not rushing to change. However, for a child below the age of 18 who is traveling with their parents, this is the policy (this is direct from a Japanese consulate email): For children under the age of 18 who do not hold a valid vaccination certificate three times. This is would allow a bit of wiggle room for Japans slow and belabored decision-making process that involves a lot of careful consideration and evaluating the situation. If anything has been well-established during the last two-plus years, its that inaction is Japans baseline, and anything that does happen occurs gradually and in stages. 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. Japan's public transport system is among the best in the world, its jewel the high-tech, high . The rules for. If this does not resolve the issue or you are unable to add the domains to your allowlist, please see this FAQ. Fully independent, visa-free travel to Japan is now possible from October 11, Sort of, hence the confusion! Its another symbolic measure, and coming at a time when an increasing number of international visitors have already moved on to other destinations and pent-up demand has begun fizzling out. So why aren't tourists coming back? Autumn is already a lost cause. New Galleries In Naoshima (March 12th, 2022) 4. Copyright - Sarah & Tom Bricker, Travel Caffeine. Up until now, the government has eased access to the country in baby steps amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 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. This will save you significant money on accommodations, attractions, temples, groceries, transportation, and even Michelin-rated restaurants! We typically spend a couple of months in Japan each year, and are ecstatic to be returning after nearly 3 years away. The political and economic appetite for fully relaxation now clearly exists, and theres a vocal chorus of politicians in Japanincluding those who were previously in favor of closed borderschampioning reopening. To differentiate the two, Ill also allow for a middle ground possibility of a bifurcated decision with the individual tourist reopening a few weeks after the entry cap elimination. Everybody have a great trip! Against that economic backdrop, lets take a look at the latest changes to Japans reopening plans. Moments after the Australian government announced that it would reopen the country's borders to international travelers later this month, Emily . 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. Things To Do In Kyoto Overview Start Here! I already moved on to read your other Japan travel posts to get tips which are also so helpful! Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stated that his top priority was formulating new economic measures and implementing these goals. It now appears that the time is hereor coming very soon. Amid the weakening yen, inbound travelers will have greatest economic effectThere are many foreign visitors who want to come visit Japan. Kihara added that eliminating the arrival cap alone was not enough. Table of contents. Was less crowded than when I was there before, especially at the airport. Thanks again for all the work you put into this. Traveling in Japan without constraint as a tourist is possible from October 11, 2022. If youre planning a trip to Japan, there are some things you should do now. This is now the same as the best-case scenario. Economists fear a double dip recession in Japan due to the prolonged closures and restrictions. October 2022, visa-free travel resumed and all arrival caps were removed as well. In June, the country first reopened to leisure travelers from 98 countries including the U.S., but officials required a visa . There will be a winter resurgence. We already have this email. Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Japan. ), 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. Would you consider visiting Japan later this year, or is international travel out of the question for you anytime soon? This is a major policy shift and will relaxif not eliminate entirelyJapans intensive COVID-19 countermeasures, including limiting the movements of infected people and their close contacts. Human behavior and sentiment dont change overnight, even if its economically advantageous and objectively safer to do so. "The Group's Director, Public Relations, Takamoto Yokoyama also said that after the development of the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Dham Corridor in Varanasi, the number of . Ready for the trip of a lifetime? If youre planning your trip to Japan, what do you think about these itineraries? 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. Why Expecting Japan's Reopening to Tourism Before Summer 2022 at Best is Unrealistic. Our trips to Japan come in two travel styles: Check out our Small Group Tours departures calendar, Check out our Best of Japan itinerary its perfect as inspiration for a first-time trip. In terms of the latest news, the current vaccine and testing policies are likely to end on May 8, 2023. even if theyre off for a jog or on a bicycle. Ive started to see on JP twitter people asking for No mask in Japan too, so the sentiment is shifting even there. It also intends to abolish the daily arrival cap, which is currently set at 50,000, the report added. Travel agencies eye discounts for those vaccinated for COVID-19. Most read in 2022 Japan's reopening, war in Ukraine -- our 12 most read stories of 2022. Heres the Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs visa-free travel list. Save. The reopening to tourism was very slow and gradual, but there are not any constraint anymore and anyone can travel freely to Japan. This could leave you open to exploitation and prosecution. On August 31, Kishida made an official announcement encompassing all of the rumored changes, including unguided tourists. Even though the Japanese government relaxed a prior mandate in late May, many people are still wearing masks outdoors. How do you view the news about guided tours? These are all our latest exclusive holiday, vacation and tour offers brought to you from InsideJapan Tours. It's official: Japan will reopen to tourism on October 11. 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