If you want to travel to Japan for work: check the true nature of the work offered; get the correct visa before arriving in Japan; get legal advice before signing any contract Japan finally reopened its borders to independent foreign travelers and reintroduced visa-free entry from October 11, 2022. It was finally announced that from October 11, 2022, the borders would be reopening to visa-free tourists. Setouchi Triennale (First Session from April 14th, 2022) 3. Thanks for all the updates and helpful info during this stressful and hard time, Tom!! Quite simply,Japan is inflicting pain on itself by remaining closed. The country will allow visa-free entry for. (It took a few more days for the guidelines to be released, and the clarifying FAQ isstillbeing updated. 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. Visa-free, independent travel restarted on October 11. Ive missed it so much. Japan's struggling tourism sector sees a light at the end of the tunnel as "self-guided" tours make way for full travel. Yes, visa free tourism resumed October 11, 2022. "We will lift the ceiling of the number of entrants into Japan, lift the ban on. From October 11th 2022, Japan removed visa requirements and arrival caps, returning to pre-pandemic travel arrangements. For better or worse, Japan is an insular and culturally conservative countrya characteristic that is often valued by visitors. 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. Is Japan open for internationalindividual travelers? If youre planning a trip to Japan, there are some things you should do now. Visit our sister brand Inside Asia Tours. Travel agencies eye discounts for those vaccinated for COVID-19. In June, the country first reopened to leisure travelers from 98 countries including the U.S., but officials required a visa . Your email address will not be published. Dining out doesnt mean getting rid of the mask. The national border is under the management of central government, Koike said. Travelers from most countries can now enter Japan without applying for a visa in advance. Visa-free travel has also been reinstated for travellers from dozens of countries (see which ones here), though there are still several border measures in place. The basics. If you want a copy of thistotally freeeBook and Japan reopening updates, all you need to do issubscribe to our newsletter! Now is the time to start planning a trip to Japan. Slowly but surely, foreign visitors are returning to Japan. Im very glad its dead but am also appreciative of what existed while it did. Lets have a look at the measures that are still in place, despite the reopening of borders. 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. Are borders open as normal in 2023? Speaking of which, check out ourJapan Fall Colors Forecast & Autumn Foliage Viewing Guideto get started on planning your trip to visit Japans popular fall foliage cities, including Kyoto, Tokyo, Mount Fuji, Miyajima, Hiroshima, Himeji, and Nara. In our view, koyo (autumn leaves) season is a good bet, and that takes place from mid-November through December. Is this a here we go again moment looming? js.src = "//forms.aweber.com/form/28/412454028.js"; Economists fear a double dip recession in Japan due to the prolonged closures and restrictions. League rediscovering fervor upon fans' full-scale return, Nippon Ham's plant-based seafood is first for major Japanese food manufacturer, A Japanese photographer heads to Ukraine; a student flees to Tokyo. Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter. Starting November 1, 2022, travelers to Japan may pre-register for airport Immigration, Customs, and Vaccination review, and use "Fast Track" at major airports across Japan using Visit Japan Web. This is good news for travelers like you hoping to travel to . On Tuesday, the country. If this does not resolve the issue or you are unable to add the domains to your allowlist, please see this FAQ. You all made the (repeated) cancellations and premature excitement a bit more bearable. Its entirely possible that Kishida sees this polling and his sagging approval numbers and realizes that its time to move forward. 10 minutes. 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 . All you have to do is pick one of our artfully made Tours and your desired departure date. 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. As countries across Asia reopen to international travelers, Japan one of the continent's most popular destinations remains firmly closed. Additionally, the Japan National Tourism Organization has set 2024 as its goal for recovering to 2019 international travel levels. Sheesh! Can you really see Japan's best bits on a budget? Not so much in the last couple of years, as this has been reflected in policy-making. You do NOT need to be vaccinated with a Covid vaccine to enter Japan. Essentially, there will be no (legal) basis for the current border protocol effective May 8, 2023. We uncover the best of the city and put it all in an email for you. Subscribe to our email newsletter for the latest news & instant alerts. Jul 18, 2022, 1:40 PM. First, there is consensus that the daily arrival cap, which is currently set at 50,000, will be eliminated entirely. As frustrating as this whole process has been, Japan is not still (completely) stuck in March 2020. The total of guests at hotels and inns was 315.75 million, down 4.8% from 2020 and 47% from 2019. }(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. Passport validity required for traveling to Japan: Duration of intended period of stay. Koike said that Japans borders would fully reopen soon. At best, this helps with winter. Women in traditional robes at a shrine in Japan. Updated: Mar 31, 2022 / 10:45 PM HST. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Tourism is a big industry in Tokyo, as well as in all Japan, so this is the time to greet more foreign tourists by using this advantage of the depreciation of the yen, she said. On Thursday, Kishida announced that Japan will resume visa-free entry for individual travelers on October 11. If there are no screens, you may be expected to practice social distancing by sitting a table or two away from other customers. Best wishes to everyone on your travels!! sheeesh still cant believe my trip starting october 22nd might actually happen this time (). Japan on Friday eased its borders for foreign tourists. We recommend consulting the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. On June 10 package tours from overseas will start to bring tourists back to the country. Japan will reopen its borders to foreign tourists June 10, 2022, but only to package tour participants for now, officials said Thursday, as the country starts to cautiously open its borders to . As the Japan experts, weve sought all the requirement information directly from Japanese government sources and broken them down into easy-to-understand sections. Japan is finally open to independent travellers and has now lifted even more border restrictions. Moments after the Australian government announced that it would reopen the country's borders to international travelers later this month, Emily . Few countries around the world have been so cautious about reopening their borders to tourism after the cataclysmic shutdowns of 2020. UPDATE: The Japanese government announced on May 26, 2022, that Japan will reopen for tourists visiting on packaged tours starting June 10, 2022. Its says a lot about Japan is a socially conscious society that so many individuals choose to wear masks even without mandates in place! Either way, thats something to continue keeping in mind. If/when theres another winter resurgence in cases, the reopening can would effectively be kicked down the road for a few more months. 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. Among fellow G7 countries, Japan has had some of the strictest rules it comes to border restrictions. For now, however. 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. With this, the visa exemption would be reinstated, making that a non-issue. This is despite Japans Go to Travel campaign that subsidized domestic travel, which was offered at various times during the last two years. Experience the best of Tokyo, Kyoto, Hakone and Kamakura on this 9-night, low-cost Small Group Tour. Its pretty clear the government is focused on moving forward. 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. The Japan Times LTD. All rights reserved. Together, youll craft your itinerary. Some places expect more self-service, such as helping yourself to water, though this can change from one establishment to another. Will be heading back again in a couple of weeks. In short, the early October reopening is not just our most optimistic viewits now what we expect to happen. Japan's borders finally reopened to independent travelers in October 2022, and visiting Japan now is virtually as easy as it was before the pandemic. 2022, Japan removed visa requirements and arrival caps, returning to pre-pandemic travel arrangements. Japan is always magical, but if you like to have the magic all to yourself, 2022 could be a once in a lifetime opportunity! We have all the answers you need about Japans full border opening on 11th October. 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. According to the Japan Tourism Agency, Japan welcomed 31.9 million . Exercise normal precautions in Japan. February 24th, 2022 at 2:15 PM EST Skift Take Japan is clearly taking steps to prepare for a reopening to foreign tourists not just the gradual border easing that will take place next month.. See our, If you are boosted with a Covid vaccine, you do not need a negative Covid test before flying to Japan. Was less crowded than when I was there before, especially at the airport. That also offers tips for avoiding crowds and strategy for visiting the best temples, shrines, and evening illuminations. obsolete information. 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. As of October 11, 2022, Japan is open for tourism for independent travelers without a guide or a packaged tour. Just over half a million visitors have come to Japan so far in 2022, compared with a record 31.8 million in 2019. 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. 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. 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. There are also signs that stringent travel measures, including the border closure, are having a greater impact on Japans economy than previously believed. With that in mind, lets cover how we got here, why Japan maintains the strictest among the Group of Seven developed nations, and what could cause that to change, Again and again, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has said that Japan will continue to consider how the measures should be by taking into account the infection situations at home and abroad, border control measures taken by other nations, and progress in the rollout of vaccine boosters.. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced the news in September at a press conference. I already moved on to read your other Japan travel posts to get tips which are also so helpful! Since October 11th, 2022, people who travel from countries with a former visa-waiver agreement with Japan have been able to travel to Japan freely again! Were preserving this for posterity, but everything that follows is now (thankfully!) We also recommend consulting ourUltimate Guide to KyotoandUltimate Guide to Tokyoto plan. Think the need to adapt and live with the endemic virus will outweigh fear when it comes to Japans reopening plans? 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. InUnguided Tours in Japan Reopening Phase Rules, we cover what this entails and the recently-released guidelines and FAQ for these tours. 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. 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. There are only a few rules to keep in mind. Japan eases foreign tourism ban and allows guided package tours. 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.". From October 11, 2022, almost all restrictions are to be lifted. There are no quarantine requirements, and travel is visa-free for the vast majority of people reading this. All travel companies are different. Autumn is already a lost cause. 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. Entering Japan Plus:youll soon be able to spend six weeks in Thailand, visa-free. Yes, Japan will be fully open for tourists and lift its travel restrictions (to pre-COVID status) on October 11th, 2022. js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; Im so excited and happy for everyone! 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. Reopening to individual tourists in October presents minimal (political) risk and maximum (economic) upside. 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. You will receive a link to download the eBook and periodic emails when there's news to share. 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. so its confirmed Thanks so much Tom. I am so glad that our community died, and that all of us who were trapped in this purgatory for so long have finally been able to resume our travels, adventures and lifestyles. 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. Get planning with our guide to Japans 15 best hotels. Wearing masks indoors is still softly required by many shops and restaurants. In terms of the latest news, the current vaccine and testing policies are likely to end on May 8, 2023. 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. Bon voyage! 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. Before heading to Japan to travel, make sure to check the most up-to-date information. During the Bloomberg New Voices panel,Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said she would open the countrys doors tomorrow if it were her decision. The downgrade would pave the way for a normalization of social and economic activities in Japan, and should mean that non-residents are able to enter the country without PCR tests or additional paperwork. Heres what you need to know. Travel restrictions such as visa requirements and arrival caps were removed on October 11, . I came to your page because this comments section and its provisional community provided something both unique and welcome in a dark time for travellers of Japan. Updated overall advisory level after periodic review. 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. In other words, a free-roaming backpacking trip around Japan is now on the cards! With the ever-changing rules, it's hard to keep up with which countries are open for study, work, and tourism. But whatever winter wave occurs (and onewillhappen), thats unlikely to be an obstacle to reopening progress, as was the case last year. Think those will stick around for several months, or are simply theater to shift public opinion? This is the first step in our gradual easing of the [border] restrictions, Kishida has said. 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. Compared with the pre-pandemic level in 2019, it dropped 99.2 percent. Thank you Tom for providing us a platform to discuss thing amidst all the confusing developments and giving us updates. The Japanese government has been working on a borders reopening schedule since April 27 to help revive the economy. Cases are currently in freefall and will continue decreasing next month before bottoming out sometime between late October and early November. 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. Moreover, how this played out with Japans last announcement is also instructive. I have been to Japan many times pre-covid, and I am now going again this year late October. You need to wait until the end of August to foresee that possibility. Japan fully reopening in full is all but inevitable at this point. Japanese researchers may have found a way. 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. 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. 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) (See above 'Latest News') Short-term travelers to Japan will be allowed to enter Japan without a visa. Thank you, for this wonderful site with its very helpful regular updates! And giving us updates reading this reopening schedule since April 27 to help revive economy. What this entails and the recently-released guidelines and FAQ for these tours from countries. In our view, koyo ( autumn leaves ) season is a socially society! Are also so helpful border is under the management of central government, Koike said that Japans would... Will outweigh fear when it comes to Japans reopening plans: Duration of intended period of stay all but at! This can change from one establishment to another the Ministry of foreign Affairs wear even... 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