Yes, Japan will be fully open for tourists and lift its travel restrictions (to pre-COVID status) on October 11th, 2022. Fortwo-and-a-half years, travel to Japan has been pretty tough. Copyright - Sarah & Tom Bricker, Travel Caffeine. Japan finally reopened its borders to independent foreign travelers and reintroduced visa-free entry from October 11, 2022. Now is the time to start planning a trip to Japan. 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. Visa-free, independent travel restarted on October 11. Over two years into this, the seasonality of COVID transmission is well-established. With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. 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) { Commuters also wear masks when riding the train or catching a taxi ride. The Japanese government recently eased its COVID-19 entry restrictions, meaning tourists can now visit without being on a guided tour. Ive been following since the very beginning and only started actually posting at the very end, but I want you to know how grateful I am that your blog existed as truly the gold standard for Japan-related travel blogs throughout the pandemic. 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. js.src = "//forms.aweber.com/form/28/412454028.js"; From June 10th 2022, Japan opened to escorted tours. On August 23, specifics of the September relaxation measures were leaked to the same media outlets. Any thoughts or tips of your own to add? Your subscription plan doesn't allow commenting. Citizens of 68 countries now get visa-free travel to Japan. The government defended the program as a necessary stepping stone to open borders. Were preserving this for posterity, but everything that follows is now (thankfully!) The country will allow visa-free entry for. Lets see where THIS goes. 2022, Japan removed visa requirements and arrival caps, returning to pre-pandemic travel arrangements. But from 11 Oct 2022, travellers are free to explore Japan independently . Subscribers also receive a totally free copy of ourJapan on a BudgeteBook. This indicates that Japan is finally ready to move forward and sets the precedent for future changes during waves. Japans Ministry of Foreign Affairs has offered new guidance that were covering inJapan Reopening to Individual Tourists: FAQ, Rules & Guidelines. 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)? If youve received three vaccine doses, you dont need to take a pre-travel Covid test. for individual tourists. Given that none of the recent reports have even mentioned COVIDs status in regard to reopening, its possible our perspective was wrong. Want to receive free updates on when Japan will reopen for travel? There are only a few rules to keep in mind. Like a moth to a flame.). 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. You all made the (repeated) cancellations and premature excitement a bit more bearable. Thank you Tom for providing us a platform to discuss thing amidst all the confusing developments and giving us updates. oh wow!! japan, . 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 . It could start as soon as late November, but is more likely in December. 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. It kind of fell like a little community in here, like I know from Discord groups. According to the Japan National Tourism Organization, 206,500 foreign tourists visited the nation in September. Ghibli Park (November 1st, 2022) 2. The Japanese government has been working on a borders reopening schedule since April 27 to help revive the economy. It doesnt matter if you have just squirted it on at the shop next door, one minute ago. First, after reopening to guided tour groups, Japan reopened to individual tourists on October 11 of last year. Why Expecting Japan's Reopening to Tourism Before Summer 2022 at Best is Unrealistic. Thank you so much for this free and respectful space for everyones opinions that has helped us get through these difficult years. Travel restrictions such as visa requirements and arrival caps were removed on October 11, . In fact, you should act fast: the crowds are going to return, but it will take several months before we get back to the jam-packed conditions of 2019. Together, youll craft your itinerary. Youll be matched with a Travel Consultant wholl get to know you, your interests, your ideas and add their own advice and recommendations. 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. Japan is now allowing foreign nationals to enter Japan for purposes other than tourism so long as they have a sponsor in the country. In May, 2022, a highly anticipated announcement by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida led many to despair. Economic benefits of international tourists is one big reason why Japan is expected to reopen its border. Authorities have arrested Australians for working in the entertainment industry while in Japan on tourist visas. (With the possible workaround of travel insurance or some other awkward fix.). History. Its akin to the experience we had when we started InsideJapan in the year 2000, back when the idea of Kyoto being over-touristed seemed impossible. 2. At best, this helps with winter. We recommend carrying a tube of hand cream, as some formulas can be quite drying. 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. At that time, it was unclear whether unguided tourists would be allowed to enter. Among fellow G7 countries, Japan has had some of the strictest rules it comes to border restrictions. Before heading to Japan to travel, make sure to check the most up-to-date information. Thank you Tom and to everyone for all the insights, info, and updates. tomthanks for ALL the help.I was told I need the MYSOS app to enter now, but there is mixed information on JapanWeb. InUnguided Tours in Japan Reopening Phase Rules, we cover what this entails and the recently-released guidelines and FAQ for these tours. 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. Visa-free travel is possible for all countries that originally had this arrangement with Japan, which includes countries like Australia, New Zealand, the UK, most of Europe, the US and Canada. If you're not sure how to activate it, please refer to this site. 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. 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 . We recommend consulting the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Japan is finally open to independent travellers and has now lifted even more border restrictions. 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. 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. There will be a winter resurgence. In our view, koyo (autumn leaves) season is a good bet, and that takes place from mid-November through December. 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. Lets 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. "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 . 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. Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! As improbable as it mightve seemed even a week ago, Japan welcoming back international visitors who are not part of tours (guided or unguided) sometime before November is likely. 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. As always, Japan is cautious and conservative, with a slow and belabored decision-making process that often embodies analysis paralysis and usually defies logic. Thanks again for all the work you put into this. It was finally announced that from October 11, 2022, the borders would be reopening to visa-free tourists. That would mean individual tourists would not be welcomed back to Japan until sometime in the first half of 2023. var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; From 11. Aug 31, 2022. Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Japan. 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. =w=)b. 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. 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. 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. Japan Tourism: The decision means Japan will allow in a limited number of foreign . 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. Yes! At the time of writing, Japan has been experiencing around 36,000 new cases a day new cases a day. From October 11th 2022, Japan removed visa requirements and arrival caps, returning to pre-pandemic travel arrangements. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever.By subscribing, you can help us get the story right. Required fields are marked *, Free Money-Saving eBook & Japan Email Updates, https://www.travelcaffeine.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/mount-fuji-sunrise-field-autumn-foliage-japan-bricker.jpg, https://www.travelcaffeine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/travel-caffeine-new-logo-2.jpg, Is Japan Open to Tourists? It also intends to abolish the daily arrival cap, which is currently set at 50,000, the report added. Explore our latest brochure for Japan trip inspiration. Domestic hurdles: the possible come back of GoTo Travel and July's election. Japans economy has serious issues and inbound tourism was previously a bright spot. 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. That theres more upside than downside risk in reopening and encouraging more economic activity. Short answer: as incredible as ever but with far fewer tourists! Some places expect more self-service, such as helping yourself to water, though this can change from one establishment to another. See below for more details. Thatll help you prepare for arrival, and potentially save time at the airport. Travelers from most countries can now enter Japan without applying for a visa in advance. The new experiment is a way of testing how tourism providers deal with outbreaks of Covid-19. Children traveling with triple-vaxxed (ie, boosted) parents are exempt from the pre-departure Covid test requirement, whether or not theyve been vaccinated. 10 minutes. With the yen weak, tourism has the potential to . Kiyomizu-dera Temple with cherries in full bloom: f11 photo / Shutterstock.com Situation Summary As for you, Tom Id buy you a round at my favourite izakaya if I could! Japan has vilified and scapegoated foreigners and had an overly aggressive approach to its borders. On August 31, Kishida made an official announcement encompassing all of the rumored changes, including unguided tourists. Dj vu! (Im sorry, I cant help myself. 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. Either way, thats something to continue keeping in mind. of course the opposition (not all of it, from what I read) is against this. The good news is that we now have an answer to questionsweve been asking for nearly two years! We were wrongthe unguided tours offered two steps forward but one step backwards. Fully independent, visa-free travel to Japan is now possible from October 11, Sort of, hence the confusion! so its confirmed Thanks so much Tom. Here are all the details on visa-free travel, vaccination and Covid test requirements. Wearing masks indoors is still softly required by many shops and restaurants. One wildcard is the downgrade of COVIDs legal status. Was less crowded than when I was there before, especially at the airport. If youre planning a trip to Japan, there are some things you should do now. On Tuesday, the country. There are no quarantine requirements, and travel is visa-free for the vast majority of people reading this. 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. 1) Register for "Visit Japan Web". For arrivals from most countries from October 11th, 2022, a visa is no longer required to visit Japan. By September 14, 2022 Credit: Depositphotos Advertisement After. Posted: Mar 31, 2022 / 10:45 PM HST. 2022 . Use the Visit Japan Web app to upload your Covid vaccination status or Covid test results. This assumes thatJapan downgrades COVID-19 from its special status to Category 5 literally any day now orthat this is not a necessary prerequisite to an individual tourist reopening. Japan is finally open! 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. Can you write one last update about the boarder being opened. I wish you all the best with your upcoming tripsthanks again for everything. However, if you are not vaccinated and boosted, you will need to have a negative Covid test within 72 hours of boarding your flight to Japan. Most flights here are not daily, but a few times a week. 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. (Updated February 12, 2023.). And the country is not rushing to change. Setouchi Triennale (First Session from April 14th, 2022) 3. Women in traditional robes at a shrine in Japan. 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. Sponsored contents planned and edited by JT Media Enterprise Division. Any questions? Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced the news in September at a press conference. Please add japantimes.co.jp and piano.io to your list of allowed sites. 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. See details here. By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. 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. Ill be sticking around for the future updates and travel guides. All travel companies are different. What to Expect? Asia Welcomes Travelers, but Japan Says, Not Yet Countries across region are reopening borders to tourists, but Japan continues to turn them away. 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. A key challenge will be to make the country more responsible and open-minded to foreigners. (February 2023 Update). If you are unvaccinated, you have to take a pre-departure test. Re: Will Japan will re-open fully to tourists before October? 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. More likely, the impact wont be fully felt until next years cherry blossom season. Except for everyone wearing masks, things seemed mostly back to normal. in the Profile section of your subscriber account page. Kishidas government has been trying to take advantage of the weak yen and accelerate growth by attracting more foreign visitors. 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