You need to wait until the end of August to foresee that possibility. This error message is only visible to WordPress admins, InsideJapan Tours, an award winning travel brand specializing in group tours, tailormade travel and cultural experiences across Japan, Tokaido Trail - the original InsideJapan group tour, DOWNLOAD OUR BRAND NEW 2022/2023 BROCHURE. Just booked my accommodation/flights/insurance/rail pass for a 22 day trip to Hiroshima, Fukui, Kanazawa, Nagoya and Osaka! From October 11, 2022, almost all restrictions are to be lifted. 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. Second, theres awareness within theKishida administration that the window of opportunity to reopen the border is closing. As countries across Asia reopen to international travelers, Japan one of the continent's most popular destinations remains firmly closed. 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. First, there is consensus that the daily arrival cap, which is currently set at 50,000, will be eliminated entirely. All of this in the hope for some clarity as to when the country will fully reopen and Japan will begin allowing international tourists to enter once again. For more than two years, Japan's borders remained closed to tourists. Tour groups from 98 countries, including Australia, can now visit the country - but only if they wear masks, have . Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter. We recommend checking with the facilities you want to visit before heading out. for individual tourists. From October 11th 2022, Japan removed visa requirements and arrival caps, returning to pre-pandemic travel arrangements. Heres the Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs visa-free travel list. The arrivals cap would also be eliminated in this scenario. This may mean the end of the vaccination-or-test requirement, as well as the indoor masking recommendation. In terms of the latest news, the current vaccine and testing policies are likely to end on May 8, 2023. In other words, a free-roaming backpacking trip around Japan is now on the cards! Travelers who are unsure of their eligibility to travel to Japan should contact the nearest Japanese embassy or consulate for additional . Subscribers also receive a totally free copy of ourJapan on a BudgeteBook. Then theres the middle ground or base case. Mount Fuji: One of Japan's three sacred mountains. I already moved on to read your other Japan travel posts to get tips which are also so helpful! In such a scenario, the borders could almost immediately return to their normal pre-closure status in early October. It doesnt matter if you have just squirted it on at the shop next door, one minute ago. Japan has maintained fairly strict border control since the pandemic began however as of October 11th, 2022, all COVID restrictions and border controls have been lifted. Japan on Friday eased its borders for foreign tourists. Single-use cutlery is rife, including disposable chopsticks and plastic forks. 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. 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. There are thousands of hotels and other tourist-oriented industries in the city. 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. Entering Japan 2022. 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 even if theyre off for a jog or on a bicycle. 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. First, theres already the realization that unguided tourslike guided tours before themwill not move the needle on inbound tourism in any meaningful way. Both of these statements are reassuring given the current border closures, and indicate that Japan will unwind its travel ban in months, not years. tomthanks for ALL the help.I was told I need the MYSOS app to enter now, but there is mixed information on JapanWeb. With this, the visa exemption would be reinstated, making that a non-issue. 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. To enter Japan, travelers will only need to provide proof of a third vaccination (which must be a Japan-approved vaccine), or a negative Covid test result. Decreased tourism plus falling exports, an increased consumption tax, reduced consumer spending, weak yen, and growing national debt. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida reportedly plans to make a decision as early as the end of this week, with an eye to implementing the revisions by October. Subscribe to our email newsletter for the latest news & instant alerts. This Article is From May 30, 2022. Thank you Tom and to everyone for all the insights, info, and updates. October 2022, visa-free travel resumed and all arrival caps were removed as well. Economic benefits of international tourists is one big reason why Japan is expected to reopen its border. Those reading regular updates on Japans reopening are not representative of international travelers at large. 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) 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. 0:49. February 2023 Japan is finally open! If you're not sure how to activate it, please refer to this site. With the yen weak, tourism has the potential to . A shopping street in Tokyo's Asakusa district Friday, June 10, 2022. Borders were reopening, but visitor numbers were capped at 50,000 per day, movement was severely restricted, and travelers required a visa and health insurance to visit. Our view is that the worst-case scenario is nowhighlyunlikely. 2022 . 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. Who knowsit still may take until early 2023 to fully downgrade the legal status of COVID. Most flights go to Tokyo (Narita or Haneda), but some flights also go to Kansai (Osaka, Kyoto). With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. Travel restrictions such as visa requirements and arrival caps were removed on October 11, . 2. 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. This is the first step in our gradual easing of the [border] restrictions, Kishida has said. Wow, i cant believe it. And the country is not rushing to change. Current state of tourism: fully open to international tourism Read about coronavirus manners in Japan. Thanks to everyone in here in the comments for that! Or, that this barrier does still exist and Japan will have to create a solution for it (travel insurance?) Single entry visa and multiple entry visa issued by Embassies, Consulate-Generals, and Consulates of Japan in all countries/regions whose validity had been temporary suspended resumed on October 11, 2022. Before heading to Japan to travel, make sure to check the most up-to-date information. For arrivals from most countries from October 11th, 2022, a visa is no longer required to visit Japan. You dont have to be vaccinated to travel to Japan, but whether you need a PCR test does depend on your vaccination status: Sort of, hence the confusion! Beloved for its unique mix of vibrant urban culture and natural beauty, the country is lifting its tight regulations on foreign tourists, according to a tweet Thursday from Taro Kono, Japan's. Please go to the Instagram Feed settings page to create a feed. The government will also take measures to stimulate and jump-start the economy. As we are seeing a surge, nobody is talking about relaxing the entry restrictions now. We will review all three restrictions together. This is specifically forunguided tour groups or non-escorted visitors on package tours andnotindividual tourists. That also offers tips for avoiding crowds and strategy for visiting the best temples, shrines, and evening illuminations. 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. (Im sorry, I cant help myself. June 23, 2022 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 also recommend consulting ourUltimate Guide to KyotoandUltimate Guide to Tokyoto plan. Japan is always magical, but if you like to have the magic all to yourself, 2022 could be a once in a lifetime opportunity! so its confirmed Thanks so much Tom. July 20, 2021. Gradual speeding-up of the reopening. mean getting rid of the mask. Either way, thats something to continue keeping in mind. At the time of writing, Japan has been experiencing around 36,000 new cases a day new cases a day. Im happy that I soon wont be needing to lurk this site on a daily basis as I have for the last countless months, but will always look back on this unexpected place of community fondly. If they are accompanied by a guardian such as a parent who has a valid vaccination certificate and who will supervise the children, they will be regarded as holders of valid vaccination certificates, the test certificate will be exempt as their guardian. Children under the age of 18 do not need to have vaccination certificates and nor will they need have negative Covid test certificates if they are travelling with parents or guardians who have been vaccinated and have vaccination certificate. Japan has been largely closed to foreign visitors since 2020, as it implemented some of the world's toughest Covid-19 restrictions. We have all the answers you need about Japans full border opening on 11th October. 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. So, it seems the country is finallyon the road to properly welcoming travellers again and thats something that we can all get very excited about. Japan Airlines planes at Narita International Airport: EQRoy / Shutterstock.com. Please add japantimes.co.jp and piano.io to your list of allowed sites. Im heading to Tokyo for the first time in 3.5 years on October 23rd and I cant wait! It kind of fell like a little community in here, like I know from Discord groups. Thank you, for this wonderful site with its very helpful regular updates! Just over half a million visitors have come to Japan so far in 2022, compared with a record 31.8 million in 2019. Its pretty clear the government is focused on moving forward. Ahead of the highly anticipated move that would boost the country's struggling tourism industry, the government may accept a limited number All others must show such proof. 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. The Japanese government has been working on a borders reopening schedule since April 27 to help revive the economy. . Use the Visit Japan Web app to upload your Covid vaccination status or Covid test results. Slowly but surely, foreign visitors are returning to Japan. our decades of expertise, 24/7 support and tried-and-tested safety protocols in the unlikely event of Covid-related travel disruptions during your trip. While I hope to see you around here on future updates, I know that probably wont be the case. That may soon change. See our. At the summit, the Japanese company Hotel Management International Company Limited (HMI Group) decided to open hotels in 30 cities including Agra, Ayodhya, and Varanasi.". However, as we mentioned above, from October 11th onwards fully independent, visa-free travel to Japan is possible. If you are triple vaccinated, you do not have to take a pre-departure test. Heres what you need to know. Validity of visas issued under "Business Track" / "Residence Track" or "New border measures (4)" is suspended for the time being. (With the possible workaround of travel insurance or some other awkward fix.). . Bon voyage! Best wishes to everyone on your travels!! Trying a bit of everything is the best way to get beneath the surface of this fascinating country. 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. 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. Re: Will Japan will re-open fully to tourists before October? Its thus our view that Japan reopening in some capacity to individual tourists in October is a very realistic scenario. Learn about the current situation, checklist for tourists, entry restrictions and safety measures before you travel. Setouchi Triennale (First Session from April 14th, 2022) 3. If/when theres another winter resurgence in cases, the reopening can would effectively be kicked down the road for a few more months. 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. 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. Read on to find out about the current atmosphere in the country. Tourists with U.S. passports can stay in Japan visa-free for up to three months. This could be due to a conflict with your ad-blocking or security software. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced the news in September at a press conference. Save. We have to carry it out in the not-so-distant future, he said. History. While the stares have eased, and it is okay to take off the mask at the table, make sure to wear it if you need to use the toilet or even to speak to a waiter. Japan, like much of the world, has changed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. What to Expect? Its been our perspective that this was a necessary prerequisite towelcoming individual tourists as there would no longer be a need for a responsible receiving party to monitor travelers and act as a liaison for infected individuals. If you want a copy of thistotally freeeBook and Japan reopening updates, all you need to do issubscribe to our newsletter! Japan fully reopening in full is all but inevitable at this point. Travelers from most countries can now enter Japan without applying for a visa in advance. Japan has vilified and scapegoated foreigners and had an overly aggressive approach to its borders. Sheesh! Against that economic backdrop, lets take a look at the latest changes to Japans reopening plans. Ive started to see on JP twitter people asking for No mask in Japan too, so the sentiment is shifting even there. But were over the moon to announce that travel to Japan has now returned to something that looks a lot like the old normal. For now, however. Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! Compared with the pre-pandemic level in 2019, it dropped 99.2 percent. That'll help you prepare for arrival, and potentially save time at the airport. Frankly, the miscalculation here by the Kishida administration is thinking that this will have an immediate impact on inbound travel. Do you or anyone here know if we need this after Oct. 11? If there are no screens, you may be expected to practice social distancing by sitting a table or two away from other customers. Are borders open as normal in 2023? Your subscription plan doesn't allow commenting. 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. Among fellow G7 countries, Japan has had some of the strictest rules it comes to border restrictions. Despite the aforementioned numbers, Japan is maintaining its goal of attracting 60 million foreign visitors by 2030. 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. Checking with the pre-pandemic level in 2019, it dropped 99.2 percent, make to. Revive the economy onwards fully independent, visa-free travel list about Japans full border opening on 11th October end August. For foreign tourists ; ll help you prepare for arrival, and evening illuminations free of! A bit of everything is the first step in our gradual easing of the world, has changed to. Or, that this will have to carry it out in the city of tourism: fully open international... Caps were removed as well, Kyoto ) vilified and scapegoated foreigners and had an overly aggressive approach to borders! 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Japan Airlines planes at Narita international Airport: EQRoy / Shutterstock.com of expertise, 24/7 support tried-and-tested. Wait until the end of the vaccination-or-test requirement, as we mentioned above, from October,. Above, from October 11th onwards fully independent, visa-free travel resumed and all arrival caps, to. Weak, tourism has the potential to foreign Affairs visa-free travel to Japan of Japan & # ;! Reason why Japan is expected to practice social distancing by sitting a table or two from!
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